September 2024: Inspiration Ecosystem Pt. 3

We're continuing a topic we began last year: looking at inspiration as a resilient ecosystem instead of a finicky lightbulb. To help further illustrate the process, I want to show you an example of how a wide array of idea seeds grew and eventually came together into a fully realized piece for me in January 2023. I wanted to make a new abstract diagram painting for my Patreon members, and didn't have "an idea." I did though have a rich, fertile inspiration ecosystem to work with. Below are some of the sparks I had already collected in my notebook.

Pen swatches (new ink and dip pen) / doodles, 9-8-22.

A doodley mind map I made around 2am on 12-7-22 when I could not sleep.

A diagram note I made on 12-10-22 when I was "working" but getting nothing done. I wished that when I was "working" I was getting the smaller core of things that needed to be done, done.

Other diagram notes I made in December when I felt I had too much to do and was feeling overworked and wanting space.