From the article: Keeping a Painting Creativity Journal
How do you organize and store the sketches, photos, torn-out pages from magazines, leaves, feathers, etc. that you've collected for inspiration and ideas for paintings? Share Your Storage Ideas
Sharing Ideas
- In my head mainly, but I sometimes do a quick sketch in a notebook or any old scrap of paper that is lying around.
- —artonabike
Everywhere!
- When I go and see the exhibitions of other painters or in the museums, when I read some articles from professional critics or technical books, and above all, when I go on a walk into the nature or towns and look at the variations of lights and shadows,geometric shapes, suggestive colors evoking some masters of the past. The pivotal point? To be receptive and in a good mood!
- —yover
Painting Ideas
- I have a box with folders in it of pictures in it for future paintings. I also keep a file on computer of pictures to use as reference for future paintings. Also carry around in my head ideas for paintings, trouble is I tend to forget some very good ideas I had. Should write them down and put them in the box.
- —Guest papaya
Idea Journal
- I've filled several sketchbooks (5x5, spiral, black cover). I had taken a sculpture class that had us use sketchbooks to gather ideas (via photocopies, drawings, cut up magazines) and a place to incubate projects/problems/direction. I make jewelry and find it wonderful to have a sturdy notebook that fits in my backpack or purse. Always exciting to start a new one, always exciting to flip through the older ones. I have totally forgotten some really neat ideas/designs and I was pretty happy to find them in my Journals. They would have lost forever if I hadn't put them in there. The paper is good quality (for painting or drawing) so it takes my experiments well (watercolors, stamps).
- —BleuEdee
Honing Skills & Getting Ideas by Flying
- I need to travel a lot by air and always have a small sketch book, pencils, sharpener and eraser with me. One of the skills I need to improve on is figure drawing and I have a large captive group of subjects once airside! At the same time I often get ideas for abstract paintings from the contrasting tones, colour, movement and shapes that abound in airports where there's a lot going on.
- —RosamundC
My Project Book
- I have a sketch book and at the front I sketch small items. Some of these are from real life. At the back I list all my ideas, and those that I pick up from the forum, like sayings, painting a day. Then if I need inspiration I look it up. I also note down tips for colour mixing, technical details, and specific goals. At the back is a wallet and I keep a few photos that I may do in the future.
- —Pioneergirl1
Storage for Paintings, Journal Pages
- I keep my journal pages (loose) bullcliped together with a cover I created from a board that has been decorated. I like to use this since I teach art journaling and it's easier to show the individual pages.
- —Guest Violette
Storage Ideas
- I keep a sketch/journal book and fill it with anything that hits my fancy. Sometimes I draw in it, I paste pictures into it, I put quotes in it, sometimes receipts that remind me of something, just whatever. And of course, a list of ideas for things I want to create. Sometimes I put in a new technique I've learned so I won't later forget it.
- —coleenfranks
Idea storage
- I keep a hard covered, tabbed, daily calendar and fill it with just about anything that falls into my mind.
- —rickardTTR
Idea storage
- I keep a notebook with all sorts of subjects: titles, ideas for paintings, painting tips, etc. I jot ideas down - slip into the proper category and I have it for when I can think of NOTHING to paint.
- —antiemame
