As artists, we often search far and wide for inspiration, looking to grand landscapes, famous museums, or exotic locations to spark our creativity. However, some of the most profound inspiration can be found in the ordinary objects that surround us every day. Learning to see the extraordinary in the ordinary is a skill that can transform your artistic practice and help you create unique, meaningful work even when you're at home.

The Art of Seeing

At its core, finding inspiration in everyday objects is about developing what I call "the art of seeing." This is the ability to look at familiar things with fresh eyes and notice details, patterns, textures, and relationships that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Here are some ways to cultivate this skill:

• Practice mindful observation: Take five minutes each day to observe a single object in detail. Notice its shape, color, texture, how light interacts with it, and its relationship to the space around it.
• Change your perspective: Look at objects from unusual angles—from above, below, or extremely close up. This can reveal new and interesting aspects that aren't apparent from our typical viewpoint.
• Remove context: Isolate objects from their usual surroundings to see them purely as forms, colors, and textures rather than functional items.
• Consider the invisible: Think about aspects of objects that aren't immediately visible—their history, how they were made, what they're made of, or their purpose.

Household Items as Creative Catalysts

Let's explore how common household items can become sources of artistic inspiration:

1. Kitchen Utensils and Tableware

The kitchen is a treasure trove of interesting shapes, materials, and textures:

• The curve of a spoon can inspire a sculpture or the contour of a portrait
• Forks create fascinating shadows when lit from different angles
• The pattern of light through a glass can become an abstract composition
• The arrangement of dishes in a cabinet or on a table can inspire still life compositions

Exercise: Arrange kitchen utensils in an unexpected composition and sketch them, focusing on the negative spaces between objects rather than the objects themselves.

2. Textiles and Fabrics

Clothing, bedding, and other textiles offer rich visual and tactile experiences:

• The folds and drapes of fabric create complex light and shadow patterns
• Textile patterns can inspire abstract paintings or digital designs
• The texture of different fabrics can be captured through various media
• The way fabric moves and falls can inform sculptural work

Exercise: Hang a piece of fabric near a window and observe how light changes its appearance throughout the day. Create a series of quick studies capturing these changes.

3. Plants and Natural Elements

Even in urban environments, nature finds its way into our homes:

• Houseplants offer endless studies in form, growth patterns, and color
• A single leaf can reveal complex vein structures and subtle color gradients
• Fruit and vegetables provide lessons in organic form and color relationships
• Stones, shells, or other natural objects have intricate textures to explore

Exercise: Take a single leaf or flower and observe it under magnification if possible. Create a detailed study that reveals aspects not visible to the naked eye.

4. Mechanical Objects and Tools

The functional objects we use daily have their own aesthetic appeal:

• The gears of a clock or the components of electronic devices reveal fascinating mechanical patterns
• Tools have evolved to fit human hands and specific purposes, creating interesting ergonomic forms
• The wear patterns on well-used tools tell stories of use and time
• The precision of mechanical parts demonstrates mathematical relationships that can inspire geometric art

Exercise: Disassemble a simple mechanical object (like an old clock or toy) and arrange the parts in a composition. Photograph or draw this "mechanical still life."

Finding Stories in Objects

Objects aren't just visual inspiration—they can also inspire narrative work:

• Personal history: Family heirlooms, souvenirs, or gifts carry emotional significance and stories
• Signs of use: Well-worn objects show how they've been handled and used over time
• Collections: The items people collect reveal aspects of their personality and interests
• Juxtapositions: Unexpected combinations of objects can suggest narrative relationships

Exercise: Choose an object with personal significance. Create a piece that explores not just how it looks, but what it means to you or what story it tells.

Techniques for Finding Inspiration in Everyday Objects

1. The 100 Drawings Challenge

Choose a single ordinary object and challenge yourself to draw or paint it 100 different ways. By the time you reach 100, you'll have exhausted the obvious approaches and will be discovering truly unique perspectives.

2. Decontextualization

Take objects out of their normal context. Place them in unusual settings, combine them with unexpected companions, or use them in ways they weren't intended. This can reveal new aspects of familiar items.

3. Material Transformation

Recreate everyday objects in unexpected materials. A paper cup rendered in bronze or a spoon depicted in watercolor transforms the ordinary into something worthy of contemplation.

4. Scale Manipulation

Change the scale of objects in your art. Making tiny things enormous or large things miniature can dramatically shift how we perceive them and what aspects we notice.

5. The Random Object Exercise

Randomly select three ordinary objects and challenge yourself to create a cohesive artwork that incorporates aspects of all three. This forces you to find connections and relationships between unrelated items.

Famous Artists Inspired by the Ordinary

Throughout art history, many renowned artists have found profound inspiration in common objects:

• Giorgio Morandi devoted his career to painting subtle, contemplative still lifes of bottles, vases, and boxes
• Wayne Thiebaud elevated everyday foods like cakes, pies, and candy through his distinctive painting style
• Claes Oldenburg transformed ordinary objects into monumental sculptures that change how we perceive them
• Marcel Duchamp challenged the art world by presenting unmodified everyday objects as art, asking us to see them in new ways

Conclusion

Finding inspiration in everyday objects isn't just a practical solution when you can't travel or visit museums—it's a profound way to deepen your artistic practice and develop your unique vision. By learning to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, you train yourself to be present, observant, and open to beauty and meaning in all aspects of life.

The next time you find yourself searching for inspiration, remember that it might be sitting right in front of you on your kitchen table, hanging in your closet, or nestled on your bookshelf. The ordinary world is extraordinarily rich if we learn to see it with fresh eyes.

What everyday objects inspire you? Share your experiences in the comments below!