EDIT: The competition is now closed for entries. Mike will choose the winners and we’ll announce them here on the blog shortly.
OK the holiday season is upon us, so it’s time for some fun. 🙂
Designer and Lateral Action writer Mike Kammerling has kindly created a limited edition of five inspirational prints for Lateral Action readers, which we’re giving away on the blog – so read on for details of how to win one.
The prints feature Mike’s treatment of the opening words of Homer’s Odyssey, as the poet appeals to the Muse for inspiration:
Sing in me, Muse
Whether or not you take the idea of the Muse literally, I think we can all relate to the experience of a certain indefinable something – call it inspiration, the unconscious mind, the creative zone, or whatever – that takes over at certain times and touches our creative work with a little unexpected magic.
As a poet myself, I love Mike’s choice of subject and his treatment of the text. And we’ve debated the idea of the Muse on more than one occasion here on Lateral Action, so I was delighted when he approached me with the idea of giving the prints away on the blog.
For the competition, Mike has created an extremely limited edition of five copies of the print, featuring the name ‘Lateral Action’ as well as ‘Tinder and Sparks’ (Mike’s own brand), and printed on luxurious reflective gold card.
For more detailed shots of the print, visit this page of Mike’s site.
For a chance of winning one of these prints, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what inspires your creativity.
We’ll leave the comments open for one week, and after that Mike will chose the five winners. (And he’s kindly volunteered to ship these to wherever you live in the world.)
I was reading the posts about Muses on Lateral Action and, drunk on the words, the first line of Homer’s Odyssey came to me. I remember thinking it would make a rather good print, and sat on the idea for a while until it worked its way into a style of its own.
So I thought I would give something back by giving some prints away, since I really owe its existence to this blog. And, of course, my own Muse.
If you’d like one of Mike’s prints to hang on your wall to remind you of that little spark of inspiration we’re all seeking, leave a comment below telling us what inspires you.
Comments will be open until the end of next Monday 12 December. After that Mike will choose the winners, who will be announced here on Lateral Action.
It could be a person, a place, a time of day, a mood, a piece of music or an artwork. It could be something sophisticated and artistic – or something as down-to-earth as the need to pay next month’s bills.
Don’t worry if it’s not something lofty and Romantic – Mike tells me he’s interested in hearing about what really inspires you, however magical OR mundane!
Thanks to Mike for such a generous gift, and good luck with your entries!
About the Artist: Mike Kammerling is a graphic designer, blogger and wide-eyed boy, whose mission at Tinder + Sparks Design is to make business beautiful. You can find more musings on design and creativity at his design blog and on Twitter.
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« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 … 10 Next »Fantastic!
I rely on a sense of serendipity and re-interpretation of what I find in real life... it's an organic approach, but it works!
My dance partner and I togther create moves and variations in Modern Jive that can only come from synergy and a HUGE dollop of creative flow. Together we allow each others mistakes to become next weeks class. This type of creative partnership in dance is rare. or at least has been so in my long dance life.
Reading. Historical research. Gathering the threads of history to weave into a new story.
And, well, musing...
(Thank you for this.)
"immersing in Natures sighs, book ended by man-made uglies"
My most inspired ideas come while I'm walking outside -usually with my energetic pooch! The combination of fresh air, deep breathing and visual beauty erase my stress and let my creative juices flow.
I'm really inspired by old letters or postcards, by fading signs on buildings, by thorough research, by double meanings in language, by water colors and ink drawings.
Yes, Julia, I too have sometimes been inspired by these. Thanks for reminding!
nature really inspires me, the way light plays over things, or how fog adds shapes to air...
I find inspiration in so many places, in just remembering to look at things differently, to take something out of context!
Becky, your second statement is THE source of inspiration for me most of the times. Not to lose those sparks of inspiration I always carry with me a pen and stapled pocket-size papers to scribble at least the key words if I am traveling. So my wife doesnt throw any bits of paper without first checking with me - such an understanding soulmate!
I know this is odd because it also frightens me but I'm inspired by a crisp, good quality blank page, especially if it is in a notebook and even more if I think it would be good to write on with my fountain pen. When ever I see one of these I want to own it and do something with it. They call to me. I have too many. Trouble is, it's also scary.
Beware, blank crisp paper sheets!
Things that inspire me:
The grey sea and its smells, the wet wind as it blows
The dark of night turning into orange-pink day
The sound of the first birds as I finish a sentence
The smile on your face when I finally come home
A handshake, a taste
A shiver and drops of sweat
Nature when it's dying or in full bloom
I have no religion but miracles do happen
Every day
Stunning prints Mike, Mark, I hope your competition goes well.
What inspires me is the detail in something.
You go to a church and you look up and a mason has carved an ornate rose in stone, it must have taken ages. The petals, the leaves, if it was painted I would want to touch is. the detail is what inspires me to think about the mason who died 400 years ago, what his name was, and is anyone of his descendants sitting in the pews looking up and seeing his mastery?
When on the motorway and you see someone animatedly singing to the radio... what are they singing, why are they singing, are they getting joy from it?
And as I look at the ordinary things, I take a closer look at the details and find inspiration in their (my) imagined story
Sarah, I too was enveloped by the strange feeling of anonimity of the great artisans whenever I visited old monuments, temples and churches in India.