As an illustrator you need to understand the human body - but having looked at and understood nature, you must develop an ability to look away and capture the balance between what you've seen and what you imagine.
Quentin BlakeRead
I don't wait for inspiration. I'm not, in fact, quite sure what inspiration is, but I'm sure that if it is going to turn up, my having started work is the precondition of its arrival.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Inspiration often follows action, so it's important to start working even if you don't feel inspired.
Quentin Blake emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and beginning one's work, suggesting that inspiration does not strike randomly but is more likely to occur when one is actively engaged in their creative endeavors. By acknowledging uncertainty about what inspiration is, Blake encourages a proactive approach, proposing that the act of working serves as a catalyst for creative thought and ideas.
Themes
InspirationWorkActionCreativityMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker might use this quote during a workshop to encourage participants to start their projects without waiting for the perfect moment.
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