Calling out all artists! What inspires you to draw or paint?

Question: Calling out all artists! What inspires you to draw or paint!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Plain and serious answer: the checks my clients pay me with!. If I don't produce the work they expect, I don't get paid!. I have learned to take the customer's expectations and apply my creativity and years of experience to the project!. That way, I can exercise my creative spirit and imagination, and have someone pay me to do it!.

I have no shame in doing this!. I have been accused of "prostituting" my talents but my response is always the same: Doesn't EVERYONE who works for a living do the same thing!. Look at all those bumper stickers that read, "I'd rather be fishing!" or, "I'd rather be sailing!" and any other, similar messages!. For forty hours a week they are NOT doing what they want!. They are doing what they need!.

Me, I get to do what I WANT and it satisfies my needs, both emotional and financial!. And, for fun, I get to do cartoons and fantasy art, some of which I sell and that makes it even better!

Of course, I do other things to relax and take my mind of of my "work!." I drive through the woods, sit on the beach, read my books and, of course, do Yahoo Answers!.

But you know what!? Most of these things inspire me in my artwork, both as a professional and as an amateur!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Everything around you! :D oh wait!.!. there's list!.!.!.

It can be!.!.!.
emotion - Can be found in the magazines, posters and stuff!. On the faces of people!
poses - observe the people, pictures in magazines/books/etc, models
object - anything!.!.!. uhm, how can I explain!? Find the object and draw in your own style, it could be colorful and such!.
words - words can be translated into arts, motion!.
works of people - can give you inspiration to draw your own stuff :D
the books - can be anything but, same as "words"!.!.!. But, it will show you the story and how author describes things that may give you idea to draw!.
buildings - inspiring but challenging because of perspectives!.
views - Goes along with emotions and poses!. :D Imagine Neo from Matrix jumping out in mid air from the building, evading the bullets!. XD
weather - woow, same as buildings!. but, it's like related to emotions!. (the woman in dress holding umbrella, looking at the clouds)
feelings and color - giving abstract stuff!. example: you paint yellow, that's happy color!. XD
songs - Very inspiring because they tell you what they're saying such as feelings and stuff!.
dreams - intriguing!.!.!. But it's also piece of imagination!

And, your own imagination! Very interesting yet intriguing because they are in plenty of forms and sometimes, unexpected stuff!. ^^

You mix them together into inspiring one, especially which because you made by your hands, your feelings and your imagination!. ^^ :D

In my own opinion!.!.!. the emotions, words, imagination, poses and finally pictures, songs! They do inspire me because they give me ideas (and even though I run out of ideas)!.

(Let your mind wander around in imagination~, don't hesitate to draw even it's not 'cool'!. Even it's not complete, finish it someday and come back for it later, then see how different from now!. (past vs present) and improve it into beautiful one!.)

That's all! (^_~)bWww@QuestionHome@Com

I spent quite a long time in and out of hospital looking after a family member, and was struck by how drab and dreary the hospitals are in the UK!. So i studied Colour and Art Therapy!. I create large colourful paintings to enhance the mood of patients and visitors in these dreary places!. As well as helping to enhance the hospital environment!.

I also add lots of texture so they are interactive for the blind and partially sighted!. But kids love that too!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

All sorts of things!. It can be the way two colours look together, watching a sheet blowing around on a washing line, a pile of decaying rubbish, the feeling of a warm bath, the taste of a pear!.

There is beauty to be seen in everything!. And beauty inspires me!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

All sorts of things!.!.!.!. colour; good bone structure; good eyes; reflections; shape or colour relationships; Fine Archtecture; People's feet on trains! The difference in hands; Water!.!.!.!.!.!. Anything and everything really!! It's always good to go to a good museum or art gallery and get inspired of course! I was just talking of everyday things initially!.
I hope this helps! Www@QuestionHome@Com

Since I was a young girl, I've been inspired mainly by the sights and sounds of the city; it's a good job I do, because that's where I've always lived! Sometimes I wonder what my painting would be like if I was somewhere else!Www@QuestionHome@Com

first its a love of drawing, second its curiosity like the things around me!.!.!.people, animals, different concepts, just seeing different things on paper, seeing if I can come up with something unique!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

lots of things inspire me hard to choose just one thing
I just have to be in the right mood to be creative, if I'm not in the right frame of mind I just can't get it right xWww@QuestionHome@Com

almost all the time, my answer would be: nature!.
nature has always inspired me ever since i was very young!. its always changing, never boring!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

when i need to relaxWww@QuestionHome@Com