When inspiration strikes....or doesn't!

If you can believe it, it took inspiration about 2 days, 15 hours and 38...39 mins to hit me, but in the mean time lets say inspiration did not strike, I did not get to "pass go" and did not get to "collect $200". Boy, but if having inspiration means 'passing go' meant me selling a painting and 'collect $200' meant collect $200, then I'd find a way to pull inspiration from thin air! That's just it right, if you knew that inspiration equals you getting what you want from doing the thing you love, then maybe you wouldn't put inspiration on the shelf when you find it. When there is no risk we are MORE willing to do what needs to be done, but when there's uncertainty especially in the art world, we tend to play it safe. When one is inspired 'safe' is not what I imagine them feeling, safe comes in when your back is against the wall, the clock is running down and you're expected to pull a rabbit out of a hat. When inspiration doesn't hit you over the head like a ton of bricks, do you go looking for it or do you keep biting your pencil and hoping that it'll just show up on your paper? Well I've done both. My favorite is getting up and doing ANYTHING else, not only enjoying the break, but taking time to get a new perspective. On the other hand I am one to sit and stare at a blank canvas hoping inspiration pops out and hits me on the forehead. Don't get me wrong safe is good to start with, but if a beginner is ever to reach the next level, reach your higher potential then safe is not your friend, neither should it be your neighbor to borrow a cup of safe from. So the next time you're stuck, don't wait for inspiration to find you, go find it!