Inspiration Right Outside Your Door

Someone asked me the other day, “What inspires you as an artist?” My first response was, “Well, everything.” And it’s true. I can be inspired by the great milliners of the past, by today’s fashion designers, by art, music, literature, movies, other artists’ stories and the natural world that surrounds us.

The word inspiration comes from the Latin inspirare, meaning “to breathe into”. As an artist I need to remind myself that I cannot be continually creating. Sometimes I need to step back from the all-consuming work of creating hats and running a website business and find some kind of time and space for myself, and just literally breathe. I am fortunate to live on Cape Cod and for me, taking a walk at one of our marshes, allowing my senses to be reawakened and soaking in all of the beauty that surrounds me, is just the therapy I need to feel rejuvenated, energized, and yes, inspired. I call this time my sanctuary. Still, it can be tough when you earn your living from your art to break free from the To Do List that never seems to get done. It almost feels frivolous, like an extravagance that you can’t afford.

But I am learning that this time for personal inspiration and reflection is an essential part of living the artist’s life. This morning I ignored all my usual reservations about giving myself that time.  Instead, I got up early, fed our kitty Marmee, took a few swallows of coffee, grabbed the camera and headed out the door. From the moment I stepped outside onto our deck, I could feel myself relax. My shoulders dropped, my breathing deepened as I took in the thick smell of the morning, the soft early light, the twittering of the birds; I was home.

   
   Returning home to our tiny apartment, I headed up the stairs and spotted a small bird perched on the lattice fence bordering the patio below. It was a baby robin! We knew there was a robin’s nest beneath our deck as we had been hearing the babies chirping whenever the adults swooped in to feed them. If I hadn’t been out for a walk this morning I may never have witnessed this tiny creature’s first moments out of the nest. It felt like a gift.

Inspiration can be anywhere and everywhere, just waiting for us. Even right outside our door.

Thank you for visiting me at Hats and Horses!

Sally