Inspiration, Motivation, Advice?

Here's another request I got from a few people... What inspires me to do my art?
A lot of things inspire me. So much I could say everything. :-) But the one thing that inspires me most is life itself. I have my own little things that motivate me, like I want to bring happiness to the world through my art or that it just makes me happy and I know that's where God is calling me to be.
I always think, what's a life without color? Just imagine a world without art -I think I would die! The thing is, art is everywhere. You can't run away from it, no matter how far you run and that's what I love most about it- it will always be there even when other people can't see it.

Now that's basically what inspires me now you gotta find out what inspires you. Everyone's different, it's like trying to discover who you are. :-)

Here's some common problems people tell me they have,
Either they can't draw because they just have no idea what to draw or they can draw but they get stuck and never end up finishing it.

Here's some advice on how to get rid of that obnoxious wall...
1.) There is no such thing as, 'There's nothing to draw.' - You have the whole universe you can draw, it's just a matter of starting with something small.
2.) When you get stuck, put your unfinished drawing in a folder and ground yourself from it for a whole week, don't even peek at it. Once the week has passed, dig up that folder and take a look at your drawing. I guarantee you will discover the missing link to finishing your drawing.


One last thing... always, always discover new ways to create art. Never stick to one thing, because how would you ever know what you're good at? It's like using Crayola crayons all your life and being too afraid to pick up a paint brush! -Yikes!

And speaking of trying new things here's a little story I hope motivates you the next time your unsure to try new things...

About a year ago I had to paint a canvas 27 x 38. I never painted on canvas in my life before and I was commissioned to paint a forest. In my head I had no idea how I was going to paint this forest. So I had to do my research and look at different paintings of forests.
My first attempt wasn't working to well so I had to start all over. My second attempt I got the wrong color - by this point it was around 11 pm at night and it was due the next morning. I was determined to get it done, so I did a little more research and I came across some paintings these amazing artist did. Each and everyone of them had their own way of doing it. I watched them do it and although I never tried doing this technique in my life, I decided to take a risk and go for it. I didn't care that only the 'professional' artists did this technique, all I did was say to myself, 'I can paint that!' So I went back to my canvas and at this moment it was my third attempt and

as I started to paint I had no worries... I felt like I was in heaven! No kidding, it was amazing. Everything around me seemed to disappear and it was only me and that canvas. I was seriously glued! And before you knew it, I finished it! It was 3am in the morning! Believe it or not but I wish that feeling of a bit of heaven hadn't ended there. I looked at the master piece and my breath was taken away. I stood there for about 15 minutes just staring at it. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! I knew I hadn't done it alone! It had to be God Himself. It now hangs on my bedroom wall waiting to find it's home. Every morning I wake up and see that painting and just stare at it, even though I'm the one who painted it I still wonder what it means.

Now it's your turn! Happy drawing! ;-)