The hottest Inspiration Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The mantra issue

Subtle Maneuvers • 1827 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Consider trying to incorporate a mantra into your creative practice.
  2. Don't be afraid to explore new ideas, even if they seem unconventional at first.
  3. Finding inspiration from unexpected sources can help break down resistance to new practices.
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On mistakes and masterpieces

lifeboat • 825 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Mistakes in creative work can lead to new ideas and directions.
  2. Frustration from mistakes can spark new energy and boldness in creativity.
  3. Mistakes remind us that the creative process is collaborative and not solely driven by our intentions.

you don't know what's gonna happen

Both Are True • 195 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
📚 Literature Inspiration
  1. You don't know what will happen when you start writing; ideas often change and new things emerge as you go.
  2. If you judge your idea too early you'll stop writing and miss the surprising material that comes out in the process.
  3. The messy, unexpected parts of writing often contain the best stuff—comedy, joy, and even darkness—so it's worth letting the process reveal things and sharing them.

Phantom Muse

Seven Senses • 1258 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Creative inspiration often feels like it's not from the artist, but rather comes through them. Many artists think of themselves as channels for a mysterious creative energy.
  2. Some artists, like Barbara Kingsolver and Hilma Af Klint, have connected with the spirits of past creators to gather inspiration. These experiences highlight the idea that creativity can link us to something greater.
  3. Our five senses, plus intuition, can help us connect with creative muses and the memories of loved ones. We can use rituals, art, and even food to honor these connections and explore our creativity.

I made you some poems

Austin Kleon • 2318 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🎭️ Culture Inspiration
  1. Creating art can be a source of comfort and inspiration. Making blackout poems is one way to express creativity and find joy in the process.
  2. It's important for teachers and artists to keep practicing their craft. Staying engaged in making things helps them grow and inspire others.
  3. Feedback from others can motivate artists to create more. Positive comments can encourage experimentation and exploration in their artistic journey.

GUT Visiting Artist: Gretchen Rubin

DrawTogether with WendyMac • 1257 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Gretchen Rubin highlights the link between creativity and happiness, showing how it boosts mood, energy, and social connections.
  2. She shares about her sources of creative inspiration, like reading and visiting the Met museum, and how those experiences lead to new projects.
  3. Gretchen suggests a creative exercise of keeping a Five-Senses Journal to spark memories, ideas, and gratitude through daily sensory experiences.

5 Reasons To Keep Trying

Trying In Public • 399 implied HN points • 04 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Someone out there is waiting for you to show them that it's possible, be the example they need.
  2. Every time you try, you learn and gather data, even if the outcome isn't what you expected.
  3. Practice doing what you say you're going to do, start small to build self-trust and confidence.

About the daily creative prompts 💌

#The100DayProject Newsletter • 511 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. The daily creative prompts offer practical tips, creative exercises, journaling prompts, and self-care practices to enhance your creative process and motivation.
  2. You do not need to be participating in the project to receive the prompts; they are like a daily creative love letter for anyone interested.
  3. Becoming a paid subscriber provides a daily prompt for all 100 days of the project, access to past prompts, and supports the project's sustainability.

#147 Makers vs. machines

Design Lobster • 339 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🪑 Design Inspiration
  1. Designers are exploring the blend of machine-made and hand-crafted designs, questioning if designers should also code to bridge the gap between design and engineering.
  2. The concept of 'Design Engineers' is gaining popularity, where individuals contribute to design with wireframes, mockups, and front-end code, streamlining the development process.
  3. The 'Cesca' chair, inspired by a designer's bicycle ride home, embodies the merging of machine aspects with handcrafted elements, prompting a reflection on designs that combine both.

Tomorrow is February

Austin Kleon • 2058 implied HN points • 31 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Inspiration
  1. February is the shortest month, making it a good time to start new habits or challenges. You could try reading more, journaling, or even going for daily walks.
  2. Many cultures have special days in February to look forward to, like Imbolc and Candlemas, which can help bring a bit of hope during the winter months.
  3. It's okay to take it easy in February. It's a time to go with the flow rather than force productivity, maybe even pampering yourself a bit with activities that bring joy.

Framing things: a personal essay

Design Lobster • 439 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Approaching work with care and reverence, handling it as if it's a precious artifact, can enhance the creative process.
  2. Taking time to appreciate the beauty and significance of ordinary design elements can lead to unexpected moments of inspiration.
  3. Reflecting on and framing our own work, treating each step with importance, can help in navigating through the ups and downs of the design process.

The importance of Nice Things

Design Lobster • 1278 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Collecting things can be a source of inspiration and help in the design process by providing a sense of unity and completeness.
  2. Finding inspiration laterally from various sources outside your direct field can lead to innovative designs.
  3. Nice things that inspire creativity and design don't necessarily have to be extravagant or expensive, they just need to evoke a feeling in you.

Reworlding art

Eucatastrophologist • 471 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Good art reveals reality hidden by our distractions and vanities.
  2. Teaching art should focus on harmony, integration, and revelation.
  3. Encourage creativity by emphasizing contemplation, embracing negativity, and not providing easy answers.

In Person > Online ⛲️

The Commonplace • 393 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Inspiration
  1. Twin vocations can complement each other well, benefiting both the individual and their families.
  2. Building connections with others is crucial, especially in solitary work, as digital connections can't replace in-person friendships.
  3. Progress in work is made through daily consistency, even if the results may seem unimpressive at first.

Writing Rhythm

So Here’s a Thing • 688 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
📚 Literature Inspiration
  1. In writing, weaving different elements together like characters, plot, and dialogue is essential for a compelling story.
  2. Just as a driving rhythm is crucial in music, a well-crafted prose needs texture and momentum to engage the reader.
  3. Find your unique 'Open G' in writing - discover your natural style and voice to make the writing process smoother and authentic.

Karen Bakker, 1971-2023

Marcus on AI • 3517 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Karen Bakker was a visionary with broad interests and expertise
  2. She was a successful academic, global adventurer, and political leader
  3. Karen Bakker's work focused on using AI to improve animal communication and addressing environmental dilemmas

Spirituals (Interview)

Flow State • 334 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎶 Music Inspiration
  1. Tyler Tadlock's music project Spirituals blends voice memos, digital instruments, and guitar to create beatless dance music.
  2. Tadlock's approach to music-making is organic and inspired by everyday sounds, emphasizing the importance of sounds' relationships.
  3. Tadlock finds inspiration in natural sounds, free improvisation, and underrated musicians like George Cartwright.

You Can't Win Them All

Between a Rock and a Card Place • 358 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Success is not always about winning or creating hits, but about the quality and impact of the work you do.
  2. Don't let pressure hinder your creativity; approach tasks with curiosity and a beginner's mindset.
  3. Embrace that not every project will be a success, as outcomes are often beyond your control, so focus on creating meaningful work instead.

The Ishiguro-Waits Edition

Why is this interesting? • 241 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
📚 Literature Inspiration
  1. Kazuo Ishiguro was inspired to improve his book after hearing Tom Waits' song 'Ruby's Arms.' It shows how music can impact writing and creativity.
  2. Ishiguro thought his manuscript for 'The Remains of the Day' was done before the song inspired him to change it. This highlights the importance of revisiting and editing one's work.
  3. Winning the Booker Prize and Nobel Prize shows that the extra effort can lead to great recognition and success in writing. Persistence can pay off big time.

ICYMI

Wild Holy & Free • 859 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Inspiration
  1. Center Black people in antiracism for better education for all.
  2. Antiracism education can be a joyful experience.
  3. Laugh at the ridiculousness of white supremacy to make the work more meaningful.

🤯 10 surprising ideas about design

Design Lobster • 519 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. In design, being obvious can be a compliment. It requires a creative mindset to see things as they truly are and eliminate the unnecessary.
  2. Design that makes people look good resonates more. A little flattery in design can go a long way in enhancing user experience.
  3. Embracing bad ideas in the design process can lead to wider exploration and better solutions. It's about challenging assumptions and sparking fresh ideas.

art delivery : 01.30.24

The NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH ART Society • 275 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. The artwork featured is by artist Rachel Comminos, known for her stunning and soft work with unique color palettes and shapes.
  2. The artist found inspiration in self-reflection after the passing of her estranged father in 2021.
  3. To read more about this artist and their work, consider subscribing to 'ART DELIVERY' from The Jealous Curator for a 7-day free trial.

The Art of Psychosis

Litverse • 259 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Inspiration
  1. Creativity can be seen as a form of divine possession rather than a conscious process.
  2. Insanity and inspiration are intertwined, with creativity often flowing from a state of being 'possessed.'
  3. Artistic expression for some individuals like Jim Morrison involves a deep connection to spirituality and a belief in being guided by external forces.

The Writing Process #1

So Here’s a Thing • 471 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
📚 Literature Inspiration
  1. Ideas for writing can come both actively and passively - sometimes they drop into your head, other times you need to create the right circumstances for them to appear.
  2. You need to understand what triggers your creative mind - it could be a specific place, activity, or even reading certain types of books.
  3. The creative impulse needs nourishment - figure out what fuels your creativity to keep it going.