Inspiration and motivational stories from famous creatives

18/03/2024

If you’re passionate about bringing something new into the world, then you might find inspiration from famous creatives who faced and overcame adversity and setbacks in their life. No job is easy and it can be motivational to read the stories of popular artists, writers, entertainers and musicians who rose to the challenges of life to build a successful career.

Vincent van Gogh

Maya Angelou

Ludwig van Beethoven

Coco Chanel

Emily Dickinson

Oprah Winfrey

J.K. Rowling

Leonardo da Vinci

Stephen King

Frida Kahlo

Vincent van Gogh

Undiscovered in his lifetime, this now-famous Dutch painter only ever sold one painting while he was alive - and it was to a mate. Regardless, he overcame mental illness and poverty, creating nearly 1,000 works and several masterpieces in just the last two years he was alive. His story is one to hold up. It shows us that, even if you have struggled, it’s possible to share your vision with the world and create to your passions and interests. Van Gogh experimented with new styles, techniques, colours and shapes - using nature as his guide. So, to follow after him, spend some time outdoors, just observing. This can get the creative juices going and maybe you’ll create your own “Almond Blossoms”.

Maya Angelou

Maya’s memoirs, essays and poems are famous across America and beyond. Talking about identity, race and feminism, the trauma of her childhood SA and time spent mute in her younger years has shaped a loud and strong voice in adulthood. She’s not only a prolific and influential author, but she’s a civil rights leader as well. And an incredible testament to overcoming adversity and abuse to make something good in the world. To follow her path, think about how your creative art can heal your mind, express your deep-set emotions or teach others about your background. The life you’ve led until now can be a source of inspiration and strength for others, even if it has been a hard one.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Deaf, ill and isolated in later life, Beethoven - one of the greatest and most innovative musicians of all time- had an incredibly tough go of it. The German composer began to lose his hearing in his late twenties, becoming deaf in his forties. But regardless, he’d go on to make some of his most beloved and triumphant works including several string quartets and his famous 9th! He’s an icon of perseverance through a disability and shows what you can create with a little adaptation. To create like Beethoven, find a way for your art to speak for you, draw your inspiration from within and communicate your emotions in new and experimental ways.

Coco Chanel

Despite her distressing legacy as a Nazi sympathiser, Coco created the iconic Chanel brand, whose designs revolutionised the fashion industry. They were understated, high quality and elegant with a modern silhouette that was way before their time. The poverty, orphanhood and sexism of her early life, were simply fuel for her ambition. She worked as a singer and seamstress to make ends meet before she was able to open her own atelier. Despite all this struggle, she created a lasting fashion empire known for an unmistakable signature look. Coco is an inspiration for branding and finding one's own style. Start with your tastes and vision, moulding them into a calling card that’s uniquely yours.

Emily Dickinson

Poetry was forever changed by this American wordsmith. Her application of language, imagery and form were just as innovative as she was secretive about her work. While most of her poems were found after her death, they’ve been a great gift to the world. Her isolation and hermit-like nature didn’t cramp her creativity and her works never belie the loneliness she must have felt. To make something just as original and meaningful as ‘Wild Nights” or “Hope”, read as much as you can. Play around with sounds and words, tapping into your imagination to create unique formations.

Oprah Winfrey

A creative and media icon, Oprah was persecuted in early life. Born into poverty in Black America, she suffered abuse and discrimination. She was even fired from her first TV job for being unfit due to her caring nature. But this adversity became armour that she used as protection for the fight, pushing her way to the top of the TV landscape to become the first black woman billionaire in history and host of the world’s most popular talk show. Her guests have included celebrities and even members of the Royal Family! Plus, her magazine sets trends in literature and pop culture. In short, she achieved her dreams by never backing down. You can do the same if you set clear goals for yourself and make incremental progress toward them; learning as you go. Then, when you do make it, give back by using your voice to support others on their journey.

J.K. Rowling

If you like Harry Potter, you’ll know who this single mother on welfare is. The number of hardships J.K. faced included depression, poverty and rejection (12 times!) of her first book. Refusing to give up, she persevered, turning Harry Potter into a beloved worldwide phenomenon and securing her place in history as the world's first billionaire author. Magic is real when you refuse to give up and know you have something important to share. So use your personal experiences, childhood imagination and hopes for a better world to create fanciful works that surprise and delight your audience. Even if you get told “no”, push through. Ensure the world gets to see your vision.

Leonardo da Vinci

One of the world’s most brilliant minds, this multi-talented Italian polymath faced many obstacles and frustrations in his career. An illegitimate son, there was no money for proper schooling, so he was self-taught. His ideas were so wild that they were scoffed at by contemporaries and many pieces were even lost to time - until recently. However, that didn’t stop da Vinci. He filled countless notebooks with ideas and inventions and his works cover a wide range of subjects from art to engineering. To take after him, write every single idea you have down somewhere. You don’t know what will be a winner one day. Cultivate a sense of curiosity and experiment with new methods and materials - keeping your approach fresh and remaining open to new ways of working.

Stephen King

This American author built a powerhouse career off of horror and science fiction, but he struggled with alcohol and drug abuse for a long time. Plus, many of his early stories were rejected by publishers over and over, fueling his cycle of self-destruction. He’d get into a near-fatal car accident that left him with severe injuries and chronic pain in adulthood as well. But despite this, he persisted, becoming a true bestseller and working to overcome his addictions. Want to be like King? Create to escape and make things that others will find entertaining. You can use your fears, dreams and experiences as a source - pulling from them to create fantastic worlds.

Frida Kahlo

This influential and unique artist from Mexico may have never reached the world stage. She contracted polio, was involved in a serious bus accident and had chronic health problems. Then, when she got married, her relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera was tumultuous at best. However, her art is so original and expressive - with themes of identity, culture and politics - that it served as a coping mechanism for her and inspiration for the generations to follow. Her self-portraits, still lifes and surrealism spoke to the duality of reality - what’s in our mind and outside in our world. Learning from her will see you face your trauma and pain head-on, using art as therapy and a way to explore yourself and the space around you without thinking about convention or tradition. Chart your own path!

Want to explore creativity more deeply? Have a look at these creative processes and techniques for more inspiration.