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Finding Creative Inspiration (Part 2)

by Meredith Mullins on July 25, 2013

Black girl in jungle pool, creative inspiration from Ruud Van Empel

Straight from the photographer’s imagination: World 26
© Ruud Van Empel

Diving Headfirst into the Creativity Pool

What exactly is creative inspiration . . . and how can I get some?

A few weeks ago, OIC Moments dove headfirst into the creativity pool to find out more about creative inspiration (“Find Creative Inspiration and Invent the Unknown“).

A diverse group of successful personalities offered insight—photographer Michael Kenna, entrepreneur Elon Musk, writer Mary Pope Osborne, and visual artist Donald Sultan.

volcano with star trails, creative inspiration from Michael Kenna

Tollman Volcano, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, 2003
© Michael Kenna

While these creators work in different genres, the common threads were clear. Pushing boundaries, taking risks, discovering, staying focused, working hard, persevering, being original, and experiencing the unknown . . . or better still, inventing the unknown. All these themes are at the heart of creative inspiration.

To add even more diversity to our discussion, this week we widen our circle to include photographer and digital collage artist Ruud Van Empel and food and travel writer Alexander Lobrano.

Creativity in the Writing World

American Alexander Lobrano is known for his personable and honest reviews of restaurants and travel destinations.

Alexander Lobrano, food critic who provides creative inspiration in his food writing

Alexander Lobrano
© Steven Rothfeld

He has written for just about every serious publication that features food, is a regular contributor to The NY Times T Style, and is the author of the book Hungry for Paris: The Ultimate Guide to the City’s 102 Best Restaurants.

In his world, creativity is simple. It’s good writing.

Alexander Lobrano—
“I don’t see food writing as any different from any other kind of writing. Good writing is good writing.

“Rather than adopting the haughty pose of critic, I write from the position of someone who loves food and is fascinated by all the messages that it has.

“I think, or hope, that people enjoy what I do because it is honest, witty, and provocative.”

Hungry for Paris provides creative inspiration for food lovers, a book by Alexander Lobrano

Lobrano makes people think about food in a context beyond just eating.

Although Mary Pope Osborne writes for a different audience—the world of children’s literature—she concurs.

Sunset of the Sabertooth, creative inspiration from The Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne

The Magic Treehouse Series: A timeless formula for successful storytelling.

“I think my young readers, like all human beings, enjoy an exciting story, one in which they can identify with the protagonists and feel the pain and joy of the heroes’ quest. In the end, they find satisfaction and reward. It’s a pretty simple and timeless formula for successful storytelling.”

Creativity in the Visual World

Good storytelling is not just reserved for writers. Visual artists also tell stories, or partial stories, to invite the viewer into their work.

Ruud Van Empel thinking, an artist who provides creative inspiration with his digital collage photographs

Ruud Van Empel
© Meredith Mullins

Dutch photographer and digital collage artist Ruud Van Empel is well known for his mysterious stories.

His characters, mostly children, are often set in a tropical wonderland. They look out with fearless, open eyes.

But, as a viewer spends time with them, the characters begin to seem just a little out of the ordinary, a tiny bit odd.

Why? Because they don’t actually exist, except in the imagination of the artist. They are constructed into being with an assortment of eyes, noses, mouths, hair, and clothes . . . and the magic of Photoshop.

What is creativity in Ruud’s world?

“Creativity in my world of artistic expression means finding good solutions to the artistic problems. When I start to make an image, I have an idea. I make a sketch. Then, the hard part comes, finding the right photos to make this work.”

young black girl in white dress in tropical wonderland, creative inspiration from Ruud Van Empel

World #12
© Ruud Van Empel

What Makes Creativity Successful?

Donald Sultan attributes his success to “the dogged pursuit of a particular idea that is unique to me.” In the art world, success is “acknowledgement of a rare and interesting vision.”

Blue and peach abstract, creative inspiration from Donald Sultan

Taut Lines April 5 1987
© Donald Sultan

Ruud Van Empel offers a similar response. “The best thing that can happen is to have exhibitions and have people coming to see the work. It’s great to have the work appreciated and for people to find it interesting. Of course, you have to realize that it is impossible to make everybody happy.”

Michael Kenna would rather not find out why so many people like his photographs. “If I knew that answer, I might change the direction of my work. It’s fine to ask people about my work. Just don’t tell me.”

St Petersburg balcony, creative inspiration from Michael Kenna

Often, creative success is about that commendable combination of talent and dedication.

Mary Pope Osborne believes that hard work and persistence have made her successful.

“I never gave up over the years. If something wasn’t working, I always tried a different way. I took lots of good advice from people smarter than myself, and I kept at it and kept at it.”

For Alexander Lobrano, “Honesty, wit and humor, and leanness are the keys to good writing, whatever your nonfiction subject matter might be.”

And Elon Musk, in his entrepreneurial efforts, believes that you have to convince others to join you in your effort, that there’s some reasonable chance of success, and that the reward will be commensurate with the effort involved. “That’s it . . . getting people to believe in what you’re doing—and in you—is important.”

Words of Advice

We’ll leave this creativity series with a few words of advice for finding creative inspiration:

Ruud Van Empel—
The most important thing is to follow your heart, do the things you want to do.

Donald Sultan—
“Work for yourself, don’t worry about others’ expectations. Work on your art to the exclusion of everything else, and let the devil take the hindmost.”

Michael Kenna—
“Follow the masters for a while, to gain confidence and experience, but then embark on your own path. Seek out what is special inside you.”

Mary Pope Osborne—
“Make the work fun. Approaching my daily work with joy has been as essential to my success as the willingness to work hard.”