By Leona Jaeger

Like everyone, part of my life is luck, the other part decision, and sometimes a bit of both. I have always been blessed with a creative side; my job at home is as a freelance illustrator and designer. People pay me to draw. I’ve been drawing since two years old, so the decision to do it for a living was an easy one.  But also, like everyone else, I have many responsibilities to family, friends and work, so my days get quickly eaten up by a list of things to do. So when do you find time to look for inspiration? Easy–you just need a moment. Really, just one moment.

Being able to actually find the time to create can ebb and flow, and that is a discussion for another day. But there are many people who don’t think they are even creative. If you have ever been inspired by something, then  you have the ability to be creative. What inspires us is obviously going to vary: a photo, a quick observation, a color that strikes us, a mood, a conversation, or even just one word, etc. for each thing is as individual as we are. That idea is nothing new.

But think of the possibilities. While sitting in an airport people-watching with my Dad (who claims he doesn’t have an artistic bone in his body), he makes this simple observation: how is it that each person has two eyes, nose, mouth chin and cheekbones, but no one looks the same, really? Five basic parts placed in the same small area (one’s head), yet millions of variations on those 5 basic parts exist. So I like to take that basic premise and play with it: How many things do you observe each day that, by luck and/or by your choice, can you use to inspire yourself to experiment, to be adventuresome, to create?

Let’s do the following little mental pull-up. Do your best to picture in your mind a quiet  winter forest scene. Trees, strong and tall, singular trunks. Each has a spray of branches that reach up and out appear to be touching each other. You approach closer, and you can view better where the branches truly connect. Or maybe you imagine yourself close enough to the tree to see the texture in it’s bark? How every tree has it’s own pattern? How do you interpret that? In a way, it’s not unlike many people, is it? Maybe the scene draws you in for the simple beauty and significance of trees standing tall, together and peaceful. Or maybe you notice the colors during the time of day: Is it a midday scene with the grays, whites, and brown colors on the trunks jumping off the clear turquoise sky? Or is it a scene at sunset, and the vibrant colors of the sky make you catch your breath a little? Notice those things, and remember them!

Whatever it is that strikes you–use it! That is what it’s there for. I constantly have a little notepad with me for when I’m out and about and something strikes me. It can be the something as complex as a forest scene, or something as simple as a happy dog’s tail. (It’s not unusual for me to use swirls in my art and projects, because I simply can’t resist the joy that a wagging tail evokes.) You may think that I, as an illustrator, sketch in that little notepad. I don’t– mainly because I have my four-year old child in tow. I tend to make short phrases or even one-word notes (e.g., “turquoise”, “happy dog”, et al).

What moves you, creates you, and it’s from that we create. Now go play!

Leona Jaeger has a B.A. in Fine Arts and has been a professional illustrator and designer for 20 years. She now freelances at home while taking care of a vivacious soon-to-be five year old girl, and loves it all (well, usually). As a way to keep in touch with her non-computer artistic roots, she also has The Very Happy Chair, a blog and side business where she takes forgotten and cast off furniture and home wares and transforms them into unique, unforgettable, functional art. She also dabbles in handmade jewelry and her list is constantly changing and growing, and that is perfectly fine with her. She credits her success in being creative to a wonderfully patient and all-around great husband, who gives her plenty of space to roam.

Summer Blog Tour! Don’t forget to check out our blog of the day Ramblings by Nicole!

Tags: Business, Creativity, Freelance, Ideas, Inspiration, Job, Leona Jaeger, Motivation, The Work at Home Woman