CHAPTER 6: GENERATING VISUAL ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS AMONG THE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS OF ART AND DESIGN IN NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA: A SURVEY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
A lack of inspiration for artists could be quite frustrating and discouraging. Some artists abandon their works due to they do not know the next step to take. Most artists are inspired by a whole lot of things, for instance, the environment they find themselves in, culture, nature, some objects, borrowed culture, other art and designs, and many others. Some artists are identified with a peculiar style. Some artists derive inspiration while they are sleeping; in their dreams, one never knows when creative ideas will come into someone’s mind. At times, while in an unusual place, an idea could flash into someone’s mind; this is called a “hunch”. Therefore, artists are advised to always keep or carry their drawing instruments wherever they are because this idea that suddenly comes up, is easily forgotten but if it is sketched immediately, later the artist could develop it further to what he/she desires. Jones (2023), buttresses this statement by mentioning that artistic inspirations have a way of striking at random times. Early in the morning and late at night. No one knows exactly where it comes from but every creative knows the feeling.   
According to Forgeard (2022), “art inspiration is everywhere, within us and before us. We may not always be aware that we are inspired by something as an idea affects perception and memory and therefore usually goes unnoticed.”  
Since inspirations are what art beginners and professionals crave, it has become pertinent to find out various ways in which an artist can generate them in case of an art block. Some artists still find it difficult to generate ideas when given a task that is the reason why this study has become imperative. Therefore, this study found out various ways designers/artists could be inspired whenever they are faced with some assignments or jobs, revealed some ways by which artists can develop conceptual and perceptual ideas and expressions through critical reasoning by engaging in various ways of visual artistic inspirations to enable the artists to view the world through various lenses and contexts.  By engaging in those suggested ways, this study is of the view that they will boost lost confidence, curiosity, imagination, and also enable them to create a personal style through engagement in various visual artistic inspirations when they’ve run out of ideas.