Crazy Creativity - How To Come Up With Interesting Ideas

Hey everyone,

I often get asked about how I come up with my ideas and where I find inspiration. The truth is, it's pretty straightforward and doesn't rely on luck or some secret source. Actually, it's something you can start doing right now, no matter your level of expertise or your skills in drawing or painting. Let's dive in:

What 'Creative' or 'Interesting' Ideas Visually Mean?

In illustration and design, 'interesting' ideas are those that spark curiosity and engagement. They are concepts that break the mold, combining elements in novel ways or presenting familiar things from a fresh perspective. It's about creating something that not only looks good but also tells a story or evokes emotion. Here are some strategies:

Keep it Simple

Start with something basic: a single word, color, object, or feeling. The simpler, the better. This approach keeps you focused and prevents you from getting lost in complexity.

For example, choose a color, feeling, prop/tool, profession, etc. This is your creative seed. Let's try out some:

• red
• frustration
• fork
• killer

Combine Ideas

This is about contrast. Once you've chosen your simple starting point, research it, think about its most cliché stereotype, and consider its function. Put some thought behind the simple topic you choose. Now that you have some context, think of a different subject that shares some relation but is yet different. It doesn't matter if it's the total opposite, or the connection is minimal; as long as there is something similar in between, it can make a great case for looking at this topic from a different perspective. That's the goal here: combining the unexpected to come up with creative or interesting ideas. You can try out with more than two, depending on how this creative process unfolds. For example:

• red. Red is related to danger or action. How about choosing something opposite that shares the color, like an apple?
• frustration. Frustration is a feeling. How about someone frustrated in a happy place?
• fork. A fork is a tool for eating. How about someone acting as a servant or just using a fork-like tool not related to eating but for another function, perhaps a huge fork to feed cows?
• killer. A very dangerous profession. How about someone doing something cute after just taking a gig?

Each of these combinations of opposites, in my opinion, brings a lot of questions and narratives that can help for the next point.

Add Some Action

Assuming we are making illustrations or introducing character concepts, think about how characters' movements can be justified by the previous ideas, perhaps something in relation to their profession. This point is about giving them a reason to move. This does not mean action-fight-like compositions, but rather motivation.

• A red apple character is building an apple car fueled.
• A frustrated big old man is babysitting a bunch of kids.
• A farmer is collecting cow food with spaghetti shapes; maybe the cows have Italian symbols.
• A killer is just eating noodles around bodies while searching in their pockets for napkins.

Remember these are just examples, feel free to explore on your own.

Conclusion

The journey to creating "Interesting Ideas" begins with simplicity. By starting with basic elements like a color, feeling, or object, you set a focused foundation for your creativity. The magic happens when you blend these simple elements with contrasting ideas, creating narratives and perspectives. This process not only challenges conventional thinking but also opens up a world of imaginative possibilities.

If you liked this topic please find more here

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Unexpected Inspiration - 3 Tips to Improve Originality (Blue Bird PSD + 6h Video)

Finding Art in the Everyday: 3 Tips for Turning Any Object into Art

Creative Block? Two Steps to Translate References Into Stories! - Aunties PSD File + Process Video

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