You’ve just completed another project. A short film, VFX shot, animation, or something else amazing. Congratulations, you clever person, you. What started as an idea snowballed into a masterpiece, and you were able to see through to the end of yet another creative journey! ...Now what? 

Now you lie on the couch and stare blankly into the distance as if there is nothing left for you in this miserable world. After all, your project is over, and the dark clouds of gloom creep in, and rain drops of doubt and despair fall, telling you that you will never have another good idea again. Ever!

Sound familiar? While this may not ring true with many of you, my experience as a VFX artist has found the above scenario repeating itself time and time again. Finding the inspiration to create something new in a world saturated with entertainment can be difficult to say the least.

So without further-a-gloom, here are my top six ways to find inspiration and keep your creative juices flowing:

The thrill you get while completing a project often leads to thinking you need to apply the same energy to the beginning of the next project. Forgotten are the days of brain storming and painstakingly coming up with a project game plan. 

Don’t immediately rush into your next project. Take a breath, enjoy the completion of your work, and then dive into what you have next. It is amazing what a short vacation or even a good night of sleep can do for your brain and creativity. So rest, but not for long! Just long enough to regroup and get your head screwed on straight.

As I am writing this, I am listening to the incredible sound track of X-men Origins and loving every track. While it is no secret that music can be incredibly inspiring, its important to note that the universe is full of amazing sounds that spark our imagination. Foley artists are constantly using what is around them to make sounds that are unique and fit the tone of the movie. 

This is how the iconic lightsaber sound was created. How often do you take your headphones off and go somewhere, close your eyes, and listen? One of my favorite things to do when I lack inspiration is go to a pub, coffee shop, or train station, close my eyes and focus on what I hear. The simple sounds you hear all around can open up worlds of imagination if you just slow down and listen. 

This may seem like a strange way to gain inspiration, but when our senses are heightened and used to their fullest potential, the brain comes alive with new ideas. Who knows? By listening to what makes sound, you may discover something that you later can record and piece together for your next shot.

Sometimes arriving at the next great idea simply takes broadening your horizons. Literally. Take a hike, drive somewhere, or explore something new. You will gain new ideas that could lead to your next location shoot or provide inspiration for your next storyline. Take lots of photos, and consume every detail you possibly can. 

I have often found that while scrubbing through photos days after taking a hike, something jumps out at me as new and intriguing. Remember, the goal is to elevate all of your senses, and surrounding yourself with a new environment is one if the easiest ways to do just that.

While this may be more along the lines of keeping inspiration rather than gaining inspiration, it is important to note that few things take the place of writing your thoughts down. Don’t let a story idea or shot you can visualize escape you. Keep a small journal on hand which you can constantly add ideas and thoughts to. 

This not only helps you to articulate what you are thinking of in the moment, but it allows you to go back through your journal at times when creativity is lacking and remember what inspired you in that moment. So if you have an idea for an epic VFX shot that may seem impossible today, jot it down and describe exactly how you visualize it. When the time comes and you have the ability, it may be exactly what you need to take your work to the next level.

As independent filmmakers, it is important to analyze the work of great movie makers or other independent movie makers who make inspiring content. Everyone has their own idea of what makes an awesome movie, so whatever that is for you, carve out a time when you can sit back and enjoy the work of your favorite filmmaker or VFX artist. 

Analyze what they have created and the way they created it. This will help in gaining ideas that you can build on for your next project. A sure fire way to become irrelevant in the entertainment industry is to stop learning.

Most of what I do as an artist involves creating video tutorials on animation and visual effects for my site, BlenderBranch.com. I often find myself without ideas of what to create next, so I browse the collection of epic stock footage from ActionVFX. Let me tell you, nothing like some 4k explosives to get my brain cranking and coming up with new ideas. Browse, download, and test it out! 

Inspiration is a necessary part of any creative process. Without it our art becomes bland, stale, and uninteresting. So push those clouds of gloom aside, expose your senses to as many unique situations as possible, and you will see a creative flare-up in your work.

First time here? ActionVFX creates action stock-footage products for VFX and filmmaking, centered on user feedback. (We also have some great free stuff!)

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