Not Sure What to Create?
Sometimes the hardest part isn't making something. It's deciding what to make.
You might have a new sketchbook waiting on your desk, a collection of paints you've been wanting to use, or a blank canvas that has been sitting untouched for weeks.
That's where inspiration comes in.
At Mont Crafters, Inspiration & Ideas is a place to explore creative possibilities — from simple weekend projects and colour experiments to artwork, illustration, mixed media and handmade creations.
You don't have to follow an idea exactly.
Take one idea.
Change the colours.
Change the materials.
Combine it with another idea.
Make it your own.
Start With Colour
Sometimes you don't need a subject.
Start with colour instead.
Choose three colours and see where they take you.
Try:
- Complementary colours
- Warm colour palettes
- Cool colour palettes
- Monochromatic artwork
- Earth tones
- Bright contrasting colours
- Pastel colour combinations
- Black and white with one accent colour
The three-colour challenge
Choose three colours.
Create an entire artwork using only those colours.
The restriction forces you to think differently about colour mixing, value and composition.
Start With a Line
Take a blank page.
Make a line.
Then another.
Don't decide what you're drawing yet.
Try:
- Curved lines
- Straight lines
- Broken lines
- Spirals
- Repeating lines
- Thick and thin lines
- Overlapping lines
Gradually turn the marks into shapes.
Then turn the shapes into an image.
This can be a useful exercise when you're experiencing creative block because there is no pressure to produce a finished subject immediately.
Look Around You
You don't need to travel somewhere exotic for inspiration.
Look at ordinary things differently.
A leaf can become a botanical study.
A building can become an architectural drawing.
A coffee cup can become a still-life subject.
A street can become an illustration.
A shadow can become an abstract composition.
A collection of objects on a table can become a painting.
The world around you is already full of potential subjects.
Canvas Inspiration
A canvas doesn't always have to become a realistic painting.
Consider approaching it as a surface for experimentation.
Abstract
- Build the artwork from shapes, colour and texture.
Minimalist
- Use a small number of elements and allow plenty of open space.
Botanical
- Use flowers, leaves and natural forms as your starting point.
Geometric
- Build the composition around lines, shapes and repeating patterns.
Textured
- Experiment with different application methods to create surface variation.
Multi-Panel
- Create several smaller canvases that work individually and as a group.
Explore Canvas & Surfaces →
Creative Colour Challenges
If you feel stuck, give yourself a restriction.
Restrictions can actually create more ideas.
Challenge 1 — Three Colours
Only three colours.
Challenge 2 — No Black
Create your darkest areas by mixing colours rather than using black.
Challenge 3 — Warm Only
Use reds, oranges, yellows and related tones.
Challenge 4 — Cool Only
Use blues, greens, violets and related tones.
Challenge 5 — Monochrome
Choose one colour and explore its full range.
Challenge 6 — Opposites
Build an artwork around complementary colours.
Change Your Tool
If you're always using the same brush, pick another one.
If you normally draw with a pencil, try charcoal.
If you normally paint on canvas, experiment with paper.
If you normally work with colour, try black and white.
Changing your tool changes the way you work.
That change alone can produce new ideas.
Artist Inspiration Prompts
When you don't know what to create, use a prompt.
"Something I See"
Choose an object in front of you and reinterpret it.
"Something I Remember"
Create artwork based on a memory.
"Something I Imagine"
Invent a place, person, creature or object.
"Something From Nature"
Choose a natural object and transform it into artwork.
"Something Ordinary"
Take an everyday object and make it the centre of your composition.
"Something Unexpected"
Combine two things that normally have nothing to do with each other.
For example:
A fish + a city
A flower + a machine
A house + a tree
A bird + a vehicle
Let the combination become the idea.
Combine Two Ideas
One of the easiest ways to generate an original project is to combine two familiar ideas.
Try:
Portrait + Pattern
Landscape + Geometry
Botanical + Abstract
Typography + Illustration
Painting + Collage
Drawing + Watercolour
Craft + Painting
Nature + Recycled Materials
You don't have to invent an entirely new concept.
Sometimes creativity comes from putting familiar things together in an unfamiliar way.
Turn a Photograph Into Artwork
Photographs can provide useful reference material.
Choose a photograph and reinterpret it rather than simply copying it.
Try changing:
- The colour palette
- The composition
- The level of detail
- The background
- The lighting
- The medium
- The proportions
A photograph of a landscape could become an abstract painting.
A portrait could become a simplified illustration.
A street photograph could become a loose watercolour.
The reference provides the starting point. Your interpretation provides the artwork.
Find Inspiration at Home
Your home can provide countless subjects.
Look at:
- Furniture
- Plants
- Books
- Kitchen objects
- Clothing
- Windows
- Lamps
- Architectural details
- Family photographs
- Decorative objects
Create a still life by arranging several unrelated objects together.
Try different arrangements until you find one that interests you.
Find Inspiration Outside
Take your sketchbook outside.
Quick sketches and notes can become references for larger pieces later.
Look at:
- Buildings
- Streets
- Markets
- Gardens
- Parks
- Vehicles
- People
- Signs
- Trees
- Clouds
- Shadows
You don't need to complete a finished artwork outdoors.
When Creative Block Hits
Creative block happens.
The solution isn't always to force yourself to produce a finished artwork.
Instead, reduce the pressure.
Make something deliberately bad.
- Give yourself permission to experiment without worrying about the result.
Change the scale.
- If you normally work small, go large.
- If you normally work large, try a small study.
Change the medium.
- Try something you haven't used recently.
Copy your own work.
- Take an old piece and reinterpret it.
Set a timer.
- Give yourself fifteen minutes and create without stopping.
Stop looking for the perfect idea.
- Start with an imperfect one.
- Ideas usually develop through the process of making.
Keep an Inspiration Sketchbook
Create a place where you can collect ideas before you're ready to make them.
You can include:
- Quick sketches
- Colour combinations
- Photographs
- Notes
- Interesting shapes
- Packaging
- Magazine cut-outs
- Texture samples
- Project ideas
- Material experiments
It doesn't have to look organised.
Its purpose is to give you somewhere to put ideas before they disappear.
Experiment Without a Finished Product in Mind
Not every creative session needs to produce a finished artwork.
Sometimes the objective can simply be:
“What happens if I try this?”
- Test a brush.
- Mix two colours.
- Try a new texture.
- Draw with your non-dominant hand.
- Combine two materials.
- Paint over an old sketch.
- Use a different surface.
These experiments can eventually become techniques, ideas or complete artworks.
Inspiration by Medium
Looking for ideas based on the materials you're already using?
Acrylic
- Explore abstract paintings, landscapes, portraits, botanical artwork and textured canvas projects.
Explore Paint & Colour →
Drawing
- Try portraits, still life, architectural sketches, botanical studies and illustration.
Explore Drawing & Illustration →
Craft
- Create decorations, handmade gifts, paper projects, modelling projects and mixed-media pieces.
Explore Craft & DIY →
Kids Creative
- Find activities designed to encourage younger artists to experiment and create.
Explore Kids Creative →
20 Quick Creative Prompts
When you need an idea immediately, pick a number.
1. Paint your favourite place.
2. Draw an object from an unusual angle.
3. Create an imaginary animal.
4. Make an artwork using only three colours.
5. Draw your workspace.
6. Paint a sunset without using a photograph.
7. Create a pattern from a leaf.
8. Turn an ordinary object into a character.
9. Draw something using only lines.
10. Create a monochromatic artwork.
11. Combine a landscape with geometric shapes.
12. Create a handmade card.
13. Draw your favourite food.
14. Paint something using only cool colours.
15. Create a collage from different papers.
16. Draw a building from street level.
17. Create a fictional map.
18. Design a new character.
19. Reinterpret an old artwork.
20. Create something you've never attempted before.
Revisit an Old Idea
You don't always need a completely new idea.
Take something you created six months ago.
Ask:
What would I do differently now?
- Change the medium.
- Change the scale.
- Change the colours.
- Change the composition.
- Add texture.
- Simplify it.
- Make it more detailed.
Creating the same subject again is a useful way to see how your skills and artistic decisions have developed.
Inspiration for Families
Creative inspiration isn't limited to individual artists.
Try a family challenge:
Everyone paints the same subject
Compare the results.
Everyone gets three colours
See how differently each person uses them.
One person starts
Another person finishes the artwork.
Create a family mural
Each person contributes one section.
Story + Illustration
One person tells the story while another creates the artwork.
Your Next Idea Could Start Here
You don't have to wait until inspiration arrives.
Create the conditions for it.
Open the sketchbook.
Arrange your materials.
Choose a colour.
Pick an object.
Make a mark.
The first idea doesn't have to be the final idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do when I have no art inspiration?
Start with something simple rather than waiting for a perfect idea. Try a colour challenge, draw an everyday object, reinterpret an old artwork or use a creative prompt.
How do I get ideas for an art project?
Look around your environment, study nature, explore colour combinations, combine unrelated subjects, experiment with different materials or use an art prompt to get started.
How can I overcome creative block?
Change your environment, work at a different scale, try a new medium, create without worrying about the final result or give yourself a short timed challenge.
Where can artists find inspiration?
Inspiration can come from everyday objects, nature, architecture, personal experiences, photographs, colour, other artwork, materials and experimentation.
Should I copy artwork to learn?
Studying existing artwork can help you understand composition, colour and technique. When practising from another artist's work, treat it as a study rather than presenting a copy as your original work.
How can I develop my own art style?
Experiment with different subjects, materials, colour palettes and techniques. Over time, recurring choices in your work can develop into a recognisable personal style.
What should I paint when I don't know what to paint?
Try a simple still life, landscape, abstract colour study, botanical subject, portrait study or one of the creative prompts on this page.
How do I make my artwork more original?
Start with references and ideas, but make your own decisions about composition, colour, materials and technique. Combining different influences and experimenting with your own approach can help develop more individual work.