What kind of mood are you in today?
Designers and many creatives use mood boards to help define, inspire and direct their next project. If you have ever spent time on Pinterest browsing, you have probably come across a mood board filled with images that show consistency and aesthetics. You may have even created one yourself. I find myself using them more and more as I begin to think of new collections. What colors inspire me... what subject matter means something to me? It's a helpful reference when I am sitting in the studio, staring at a blank canvas or piece of paper. It's a starting point, a place to draw inspiration from and lead to the next step.
I am drawn to nature. Most of my boards reflect this value. I find beauty in things that are alive, in transition or even dead. I am always snapping photos on a walk, holding everyone up when traveling because I want to capture the moment. I used to fear this meant I wasn't being present, but I can't let that stop me. Each image eventually lands on a board or a folder in my phone and helps my next piece of art.
These images were taken in March at a Florida beach. I was surprised by the warm colors that showed up on that spring day. It immediately put me in a cozy mood. Much like I would imagine a crisp fall day up north. It was peaceful and inviting, like a warm hug from a long-lost friend. These colors need to be captured and recreated. I can't wait to incorporate this dusty orange color into a sunset or an abstract collision piece, or possibly a bloom. There are so many possibilities circulating by just one moment on the beach in March.
So, I ask you, what mood are you in and how do you use it to define, inspire and direct your next steps?