INSPIRATION

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN INSPIRATION WILL HIT - IT OFTEN COMES AT THE MOST UNEXPECTED TIMES. WHAT DO YOU DO, TO CAPTURE THAT “AHA MOMENT”? THAT MOMENT WHEN THE PUZZLE PIECES FINALLY CLICK, FOR THAT TRICKY IDEA. TODAY, I WILL BE DISCUSSING INSPIRATION, AND HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF IT.

I RANDOMLY WENT DOWN A FRANK MILLER RABBIT HOLE, AND CAME ACROSS AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY KLAUS JANSON BACK IN 2018. I WAS WATCHING THE VIDEO, AND I NOTICED A SHADOW FROM FRANKS HAT WAS CREATING A COOL LOOK OVER HIS EYES. HE LOOKED LIKE A 1950’S DETECTIVE - RIPPED RIGHT OUT OF… “THE SHADOW” (PUN INTENDED).

THE HAT WAS CASTING A SUPER DARK SHADOW FROM THE BRIGHT STAGE LIGHTS ONTO FRANKS FACE. BUT YOU COULD STILL SEE THE WHITES OF FRANKS EYES - HOMIE LOOKED SUPER VILLAINESS. I PAUSED THE VIDEO TO SNAP A SNAPSHOT OF IT FOR REFERENCE.

YOU CAN FIND THAT INTERVIEW HERE:

https://youtu.be/s--asnHjWEw?si=7D9lK5s5_H7djRoQ

ITS IMPORTANT AS A CREATOR TO CATCH MAGIC AS IT HAPPENS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED WRITING SONGS, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, I WOULD FORGET MY IDEAS WHEN I WOULD GO TO RECORD THEM. AND FOUND THAT SUPER FRUSTRATING; I COULDNT REMEMBER A RIFF A LAID DOWN EARLIER IN THE DAY. I HAVE SINCE RECTIFIED THAT, WHENEVER SOMETHING COMES TO MIND IT GETS THROWN INTO A NOTEPAD OR VOICE RECORDING. THAT WAY NOTHING GETS FORGOTTEN, AND IF I DO NOT USE THEM RIGHT AWAY - I CAN CIRCLE BACK TO THOSE IDEAS AT LATER DATE . THAT APPLIES FOR MUSIC, COMICS; ANYTHING IN LIFE.

I HAVE SEVERAL BOOKS I GO BACK TO AS “COMFORT FOOD”. I WILL GET OVER ANY UNCERTAINTY, I MAY BE FEELING ABOUT MY ABILITY. OR I SIMPLY HIT A BLOCK AND NEED A BOOST OF INSPIRATION TO START THE FIRE BURNING AGAIN. WE ALL HAVE OUR OFF DAYS, DO NOT BE HARD ON YOURSELF. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN AND KEEP GOING.

HERE ARE MY INSIGHTS:

BUY A SKETCH BOOK & CREATE A FOLDER ON YOUR PC / PHONE FOR INSPIRATION. ADD PHOTOS, NOTES, LINKS, YOU NAME IT - INTO THE SKETCHBOOK & FOLDER. COME BACK TO THEM WHEN YOU NEED YOUR BATTIERIES RECHARGED.

FIND YOUR “COMFORT FOOD” BOOKS, MOVIES, MUSIC; THAT ALWAYS GET YOUR BLOOD PUMPING, AND REMEMBER WHAT ABOUT THEM EXCITES YOU. RETURN TO THOSE SOURCES OF POWER / INSPIRATION TO KEEP YOU ENERGIZED! RATHER THAN ALLOWING YOURSELF TO FALL INTO A CREATION BLACKHOLE. STAY ON TOP OF YOUR OWN CREATIVE WELL-BEING. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH - EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS, AND TAKE IN AS MANY INFLUENCES AS POSSIBLE. BE CREATIVE. EXPERIEMENT. BE CURIOUS. BE AN ARTIST. BE YOU.

THANKS FOR HANGING OUT AND TALKIN’ COMICS,

-SAM