Simple Inspirations

Inspiration is a tricky thing. It can come from anywhere or anyone, and it's extremely personal. No two people are inspired in the same way by the same things at the same time. The reasoning behind inspiration can be just as personal. And yet, it can be the most powerful source of energy we have.

My earliest inspiration was Popeye. I know that sounds odd, but bear with me on this one. I was that skinny little kid with glasses that bullies flock to. I would watch cartoons and see Popeye eat a can of spinach and go from bully magnet to invincible. It wasn't the first time I had heard of a vegetable having a seeming superpower, and I wanted to eat anything that would make me less of a target. So my poor mother had to explain to me about cartoons. I understood some of them could clearly never happen, like Bugs Bunny. But sometimes the need to overcome a personal flaw is just that great.

As an adult, I still look for inspiration wherever I can find it. I have found that each story has a different inspiration and the stronger it is, the more easily the story comes together. The original Delbert story came from my own experience of getting glasses and being teased for it. Thoughts of a Rescue Dog was inspired by my dog, Brownie. He was so afraid of the world when we adopted him. My kids are old enough to help care for a fearful dog, but I knew younger kids might not understand the difference between fear and bad behavior. My newest story, The Legend of Lavi the Brave, came from looking at photos my husband took while he was out hiking. Beautiful places like the forest in autumn inspire drawings and better illustrations.

There is a big difference between motivation and inspiration. The kids and teachers I work with motivate me to write and draw more. When students ask me what new story is in the works, that motivates me to create more. But when students show me a need, like fear of a situation, that is inspiration pointing me to a new topic. Those are the inspirations that require listening beyond what is merely heard.

In my studio, I have a wall of inspiration. It's a wall covered with photos, drawings are artifacts from special times. Some of them remind me of people who are rooting for me to succeed and write more. Some of them remind me of places that have inspired me at one time or another. Drawings I have done remind me of how I have learned and progressed as an illustrator. I look at this wall any time I am stuck for an idea or just lagging in energy. It gives me that little recharge to keep going.

Yes, inspiration is a tricky thing. As personal as it is, we all need inspiration in our lives. If you try and force it, you get nothing. But if you listen and look, and open yourself to it, inspiration will find you and help you to make the world around you a better place.