The Maker’s Table - Ideas & Inspiration
Welcome to The Maker’s Table, a new series that will highlight O House’s artistic partners from around the world. To get things started, we spoke with Rob Bernal of @bkartchitect01 about how he finds inspiration and develops ideas.
For Rob, ideas are the product of an ongoing, hands-on process. Playing, creating, trying new things… all of these are important steps to shaping Rob’s ideas. He suggests that if your mind is completely blank, try something, even if it’s just a messy scribble. Sometimes, this is enough to plant an idea that grows into something bigger.
“Ideas do not come out of the blue. They are the result of a series of steps where you are actively involved.”
Rob also believes that inspiration isn’t solely internal; the world around us is brimming with fascinating sights that can kickstart a new idea. He is constantly observing his surroundings, looking for new ideas and inspiration. Even the most unexpected of sources may prompt an idea.
“Unexpected sources of inspiration are everywhere and happen constantly. From a post from another artist, to a picture on a magazine, to a sudden thought in my mind that comes from who knows where. Sometimes just watching the light come in through a window or the shadows provided by people on any given circumstance.”
Collaboration is also an important component in idea-generation. Rob teaches weekly webinars, and his students often inspire him through the questions they pose. Connecting with others, opening your mind to new perspectives, and exchanging ideas is a fantastic way to ignite that creative spark.
Rob’s experience shows that there is no one-size-fits-all hack for coming up with ideas. Sometimes, we might wish that were the case, but the process of developing and exploring ideas is essential to art, and is something to be celebrated in its own right.
How do you form your ideas? Let us know in the comments!
Check out Rob’s upcoming retreat at O House: A New Perspective on Perspective: Illustration and Exploration in Portugal
