How can I get inspired when i am not feeling creative?

Blasting loud music, it’s good for your brain.

watch a good movie

Listen to music. It sounds rote but I know that when I turn on music when I am sleepy and bored I get so wound up and energized. Also good conversations with folks you respect or browsing through art/design mags.

Looking at the sea

With comissions I would think that you need to understand the patrons vision in order to be inspired.
I would ask to have coffee or a stroll along a water way with the patron and get to know them better. I have comissioned art before and I feel best about my money being invested when I feel the artist shares my vision. I know how ibwant the piece to “feel” and I rely on the artist to take my inspiration and be inspired him/her self.

Nature works best for me. Take a hike in the woods.

@ben good point. just looking at a leaf or a flower for a few minutes is pretty inspiring. I feel like I need to be wearing Birkenstocks after I said that. Oh wait, I am..

Look at other artwork and try to do the opposite of it. Also, weed.

You should take a look at this.

In the short term which is what you need this may be less beneficial than in the long term; but I have heard many recommendations for The Artist’s Way

smoke some weed

Talk about the project with someone fun or curious. They’ll ask you questions and in answering them, you’ll find the ideas that get you excited and raring to go, again.

I remember seeing some good answers to a similar question last December.

Our friend and fellow flutherite Dog has had some of the same struggles as a working painter and has written about them in these threads:

[ Progress thread 1 ]
[ Progress thread 2 ]

Maybe he will respond here, too.

Visit a local museum. Inspiration line the walls.

let lots of awesome music and surroundings (like forests) or something take you somewhere else, and maybe it will start your head filling up with stuff subconciously or conciously, and it’ll come out at some point… its this stuff that works for me normally, especially music, hope i dont loose that… =\

you have to let your mind drift and just go with where your imagination takes you. Music often helps. Keeping a notepad by the bed and writing down dream imagery is a good way to find ideas from within your subconscious.

Do something backwards. Turn something around and look at it from the opposite end. Start your painting the way you would normally finish it. Have an upside-down day.

Yes! That is the blunt and simple answer. I mean.. the way pro chess players get so good is by playing against themselves… They make a move, then reverse the board and play from the opposite side. Back and forth. It’s a pretty interesting experience.