8 Quotes That Will Inspire Creativity

There are many artists who believe that we were created to create--that we already hold the pen, paintbrush, chisel or camera, and all we need is a nudge toward the direction of our preferred medium. This list of inspirational quotes is the nudge you need toward a more creative lifestyle.

1. "I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues." Duke Ellington

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Did you just get into an epic fight with your best friend? Write about it. Did your boss just blame you for a mistake he made? Paint an abstract painting of you punching him in the face. Did you and your significant other just break up? Take an epic selfie, and photoshop it into a magazine worthy photograph only to post on every social media that you know he'll/she'll see. The best art is created when we are the most emotional, whether it is heartbreak, guilt, shame, excitement, gratitude, sympathy, etc. We create to express ourselves, and we are more attune to ourselves when we can identify what we are feeling.

2. "Nobody sees a flower--really--it is so small it takes time--we haven't time--and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." Georgia O'Keefe

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We all wish that we could pick up a paintbrush, look at a canvas and demand 'Hand! Create for me--a masterpiece! I would like it one day's time!" Yes, we all would love to create a masterpiece in an hour, but the reality is, that just does not happen. As artists, we must enjoy the journey of completion, not just the end product. Don't get frustrated that you didn't magically turn into Picasso in a day; have patience and enjoy the ride.

3. "Trust that still, small voice that says 'this might work and i'll try it.'" Diane Mariechild

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We have all experienced that initial gut feeling of why something works in an art piece, even when you can't really put it into words. When you begin your path of creation, don't hush that little voice in your head pushing you toward a particular direction--because more common than not, that little voice is guiding you toward something that you'll find spectacular.

4. "Inside you there's an artist you don't know about...Say yes quickly, if you know, if you've known it from before the beginning of the universe" Jalai Ud-Din Rumi

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When you have the impulse to create don't ignore that feeling! Your soul has the desire to speak out, and has every right to do so!

5. "Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn." Charlie Parker

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Your creation is your vision. In order to become a true artist, one has to stop comparing their work to others because every artist's vision is different. Do you know the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" That statement couldn't ring any truer; not everyone is going to love your work, but you're not creating for them, you're creating for yourself and using your own vision as your tool.

6. "I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck." Emma Goldman

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People who desire to create often have the idea that they have to reach fame in order to become a successful artist, or that fame and creation come hand-in-hand. That is not the case. Fame will come in time if that is what you wish; however just creating in order to reach fame takes away from the desire of creation. With that mindset, soon creating will just turn into a 9-5 job.

7. "The function of the creative artist consists of making laws, not in following laws already made." Ferruccio Busoni

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We should never settle with the laws and rules that have been set for us. Don't be discouraged with the overwhelming amount of art and theories that have already been established, because they are not set in stone. We all have the power to use our imagination to establish our own rules to follow. Art is subjective, and there is never one method to do something.

8. "A painting is never finished--it simply stops in interesting places." Paul Gardner

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Creation is a journey, not a goal that reaches completion. Our experiences are what guide our creations and we never stop experiencing, which is why we should never stop the act of creating. Don't be afraid to allow your inner artist to break free; it will only enrich the life you already have. Now go create something!