Where do you get your inspiration?

[AlexS]

Having a bit of a crisis of the imagination at the moment. I can't come up with a design for my next project - in fact, I can't even decide what my next project will be. I've looked through magazines, cleaned up the workshop, looked at galleries, and still haven't come up with any ideas that I'm completely happy with.

So where do you get your inspiration?

[Ianab]

Yeah.. I hate it when you just get a mental block:o

But I decide what I want / need / have been ask to make..
Then look at what wood I've got...
Then look a some pictures in magazines / web pages for ideas..
Make a few sketches with basic dimensions...
Then start building.

Sometimes though you just come across a piece of wood that just wants to be made into something... I've got a few in the shed like that, they just haven't told me what that something is yet :o

Cheers

Ian

[ozwinner]

Every time I walk in the shed I hear, psstt, psstt, over here.
Its the timber talking to me,.
Yeah, who is it this time says I, and the timber tells me what it wants to be. http://www.ubeaut.biz/thinkerg.gif

:confused: I thought this happened to everyone? :confused:

Al :confused:

[masoth]

Hmmmm, I didn't vote 'cause all the options apply. My major TWO problems are"

I don't have enough time; and
I don't have enough talent.BU GG A

soth:rolleyes:

[RufflyRustic]

Inspiration comes and goes as it pleases but I think the worst is when the inspiration and wood disagree and both rack off in a huff leaving me in mid-tool use going "um, hello?? where'd everyone go? I thought this was a team effort:confused: "

:D


Magazines - it's funny what a line or shape or non-wood item will turn into.
Books of woodwork, photos and plans, how to's
Other people's work, including woodworkers, metal workers, other medium artists - but it's always slightly different, rarely a direct copy
The wood itself
Orders
Furniture and stuff needed around the house
and lastly, whatever my muse decides at that point of time.
cheers
Wendy

[Ianab]

in fact, I can't even decide what my next project will be

In fact.. thats the main problem :rolleyes:

What do you want? What does your family want? Once you decide that you need a new table / fish tank stand / computer desk, then things will start to come together :)

Ian

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Hmm... all options apply except the first. Copying just ain't my thang. :rolleyes: Oddly enough, if I had to prioritise the order, they'd be in the same order as presented but the two main ones are:

I get ideas from other works, then do my own designs - This is how all my projects start. I get an idea, sit down to work out the details then head into the shed...

The wood talks to me and tells me what to make - Which is exactly what happens once I actually get into the shed.


Of course, when the shed becomes the shop (ie. paid work) it's a whole different story. Then it's Red Wine or the equivalent... but not as a source of inspiration. ;)

[mic-d]

The voice in my head tells me what to do, the other voice usually disagrees:)

Cheers
Michael

[Auld Bassoon]

Sometimes it's an upcoming project that needs some jigs or tools eg the dining table that's coming to the shed soon - needed a morticing jig (thanks Rocker), a tenoning jig (my own version), a nice big drum-sander (;) ), etc.

Sometimes it's a commission or just something that has come to mind that I'd like to make and to have.

If nothing obvious is appearing, then I just make another box or two :rolleyes:

[Driver]

First of all, what a great idea for a thread. Have a greenie, Alex!

I voted for red wine because, whenever I am presented with red wine as an option, that's what I vote for. Call me biased, I don't care!

Now, back to the subject of inspiration. I get mine from anywhere: other pieces, buildings, magazines, books, TV, movies, photographs, artwork - anywhere.

It seems to me, however, that if I have a completely open brief - especially if it's my own brief (in other words, I don't have a specific requirement but just want to make something, anything) - I can't find any inspiration. I get the woodworker's equivalent of writer's block. Which, I guess, is wooden block - boom, boom!:rolleyes:

However, if there are some specific constraints: type of object (table, box, cabinet etc); space in which it must fit; type of wood; my dear wife's very specific ideas as to what she will and will not tolerate :eek: - then inspiration is triggered by the nature of the constraint.

After that, the whole thing becomes much more fluid. I've said elsewhere on these forums that my designs tend to evolve as the object takes shape. I don't think I have it in me to make a precise drawing of a design and then convert it precisely into reality. Things happen while the process takes place: mistakes, for example (actually, mistakes more often than not :o ) to change the design as it progresses. This is not a recommended way to work, by the way, it just happens to be the way I work.

Which sculptor was it who, when asked: how do you turn a piece of marble into the figure of a woman? - said: "You just carve away all the bits that don't look like a woman."

Now that's inspiration matched to genius!

Col

[echnidna]

Every time I walk in the shed I hear, psstt, psstt, over here.
Its the timber talking to me,.
Yeah, who is it this time says I, and the timber tells me what it wants to be. http://www.ubeaut.biz/thinkerg.gif

:confused: I thought this happened to everyone? :confused:

Al :confused:


put ya foilie on Al

[NewLou]

Gidday AlexS:D

I love getting inspiration from the masters (like Krenov) and other great craftsman.........

the internet is my main source of inspiration. In my spare time I browse the web collecting pictures of my favourate 'pieces' I now have a substantial caltaloge of 'Works' to refer to for ideas.

Also period 'pieces' are also worth a real look n I collect discounted books on period furniture. BUT probably my favourate of all is my fellow forumites here at the Aussie Woodwork Forum. T

Those of you that read my posts regularly would see that I just love getting members involved in my design ideas and love when members give advise n feedback. I've truely got some fantastic information from my peers that I could never have got from any book or video................MAjic!!!!!

Regards Lou:D:D:D

[Andy Mac]

All of those options exepting the one about buying plans, something I have never done...oh, and substitute beer for red wine!:D
I often 'take in' (as opposed to 'take') other peoples/companies work, absorbing bits I like and melding them into something I prefer, or have the means to do.
Sometimes if I have a specific project to do but haven't finalised the design, I find myself scratching on the back of beer coasters with the Keno pencil while the beer lubricates that rusty process!;)
With junk sculptures that I do, which is not really applicable in the case with furniture design, I will lay out a selection of pieces I have on hand and switch them around on the floor, adding and flipping bits around untill it all sorts of gels. In very few instances will the work revolve around one given piece, although I have made furniture like that...the piece of wood is so unique that the design is dictated by it.
So Alex, do you have any special piece of wood that you've kept aside, with no real task in mind? Now's the time to bring it out, put it on your bench and settle back with the glass of red wine and let the timber speak its mind!!:rolleyes: :D

Cheers,

[Iain]

Negatives:
Red Wine=Philosophy
Beer=Comfy chair and sleep
SWMBO=Cutting lawn or similar uminteresting tasks.
Positives:
Some magazines
Daydreaming
Tape measure and space on wall where 'it' needs to go
Adaption of ideas
Plagiarism of sorts

[Bodgy]

Wandering around shops or other peoples houses.

I see something and think 'I could make that'

Problem is that our house is now full of furniture, table lights and boxes.

I often see that a mate's got a full dining set but needs a sideboard to go with it, or a mates just bought a big plasma and wants a table to match the wall units. I'd happily make these things, just for the cost of the wood, but don't feel comfortable in suggesting it.

When I finish the latest project (bookshelves and wall unit) I'm not sure what to do next. Maybe disassemble some of the earlier attempts and re make?

It seems that inspiration just happens (or not) and there's bugger all one can do about it.

[Waldo]

G'day,

For me inspiration can come from a colour somewhere, typography in a magazine or a promo spot on TV, like the new one on Ch2 at the moment, basically anywhere. Doesn't really apply to Alex's question, but maybe to apply it to it, it could come from a curve or shape on anything, then you see a chair and wonder how you could apply that yourself - at least that's how it works in my case.

Not that I make chairs, although I have turned one of our dining table chairs upside down and comented that I could make SWMBO 2 new ones to match, but I got told I've got too much else to do yet. Shot down in flames for trying, can't win anyway I try. :eek:

[MajorPanic]

If ya didn't vote "Red Wine" there is something wrong wif ya!! ;)

Alex, I would vote for ALL except #1.

In another life I was a commercial photographer so quality design (images) are somehow filed away in the back of the mind. When I see an interesting design I can correlate other similar stuff I've seen & come up with something I'd be happy to build, making my own adjustments.

[Wood Borer]

Good poll Alex.

Red wine and talking wood for me followed by sketches on paper or whiteboard or in my mind.

People who use plans or copy other work should do themselves a favour and experience the joy of your own designs whether it be woodwork or hardware or software or even going on a holiday.

[Grunt]

I get my insperation from Al.

I keep wanting to make wooden goats.

[Iain]

And bicycles, or is that bi-cycles:rolleyes:

[Rocker]

I will fess up, and admit that quite a few of my projects have been made from other people's plans and designs. In fact I bought plans for my current project, a rolltop desk. However, I am not following the plans exactly; I have made a number of modifications, since I wanted to use solid wood and raised panels throughout, whereas the plans called for a veneered writing surface and veneered plywood panels. I also went for a different method of making the tambour and installing the drawers.

Actually, I believe that, until you have acquired a fair degree of expertise and experience, it is wise to follow a design produced by an expert, rather than attempt your own design. I have noticed a number of projects posted on this forum by relative beginners have had fundamental design faults, because the makers were not aware of the necessity of allowing for wood movement in a project.

That being said, I think it is best to go for designs from top-quality magazines like Fine Woodworking, and to go for ambitious and demanding projects that will be challenging, but rewarding.

Rocker

[ozwinner]

I keep wanting to make wooden goats.

Wooden ya know it?

Al :p

[ernknot]

Must try that red wine theory, couple of outcomes from inspiration turned out as dove tailed BBQ wood.