One of our favorite things to do is to ask the folks we are inspired by what they are inspired by. We’ve shared some of their responses below.

Shreya Shethia | Filmmaker

I am inspired by a lot of things. It depends on where I am and what is happening. It feels like magic at times, like I am walking and thinking about a problem and how can I solve it and then suddenly a song starts playing, or I overhear a conversation or some a picture, which somehow answers the dilemma I am in. So sometimes it’s just in the moment that things seem to inspire me. Read more>>

Michael Shaun Sandy | Director, Actor, Writer, Producer

Everything from the clouds in the sky to the people that walk the Earth to the ocean floors beneath us. There’s so much to discover on this planet. We as people with all our complexities, our beliefs, thoughts, words, and actions. Read more>>

Sandy Knutson-Grebner | Designer/Creator

I’ve always had a knack for seeing things as they “could” be rather than their original intended purpose. My creative side comes from my mom. She was an expert miniaturist and there were times she needed a piece for a diorama or doll house and when she couldn’t find it outside of our home, she ended up making the piece from discarded other means. This always intrigued me and taught me to re-use/re-purpose things to keep them out of landfills and bring new life to something that perhaps outlived its current use. Read more>>

Moe Wakai | Photographer and Textile Artist

I find immense inspiration in the creative energy of fellow artists and the meaningful exchanges I have with friends. My brainstorming process often unfolds organically during conversations with others. While they might not even realize it, these everyday interactions serve as invaluable brainstorming sessions for me. I’m constantly absorbing their thoughts, reflections, and intentions, which fuel my artistic endeavors and drive my work forward. Read more>>

Girlacne | Fashion Designer and Nightlife Icon

My creative inspiration derives from iconic queer pop culture, nightlife, and high fashion runway shows. My creativity is a homage and love letter to the queer people who came before me, and paved the way for me to be the most authentic version of myself. Read more>>

Austin Sather | Makeup Artist

I get a lot of my inspiration from a little bit of everything. From nature to basic art, I can pull inspiration from almost anything. I also get most of my inspiration from artists I’ve looked up to from the beginning. Artists such as Sam Fine, Kevyn Aucoin, and Pat McGrath. Read more>>

Zack Morrissette | Artist and Writer. Donut enthusiast.

Art of all kinds, movies, cartoons, other comic strip creators. I draw a lot of inspiration from the stuff I grew up on. When I was a kid, I’d flip over to channel 56 in Boston after Saturday morning cartoons and watch Creature Double Feature. Two back-to-back monster movies. I watched some real garbage that I absolutely love and thanks to streaming services, I can see all that stuff again. I regularly search for other comic artists on social media to see what other artists are creating. And I read a lot. That’s where my love of noir came from and it’s Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and others that inspired me to write a pulp novel. But of course, I grew up on Mad Magazine, so my detective had to be funny. So he’s a cyclops, a private eye (GET IT?!!) and he solves fairy tale crimes in enchanted 1940s Los Angeles. We’re actually trying to make that into an old timey radio play with the direction of my pal Mike Kallio. Lately my work has taken on single panel, black and white monster themed comic strips. That’s what makes me happy these days so that’s what I spend my time on. I recently struck gold with a series of comics about Dracula and his cat, Mister Mittens. The idea that even Dracula himself must contend with the will of a stubborn cat is funny to me. Especially when you read Dracula’s exasperation in Bela Lugosi’s voice. People seem to enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them, so I sit down a few times a week and write out some ideas. Read more>>

Chris Pimentel | Storyboard Artist & Illustrator

It’s funny, I feel like I’m inspired by so many random facets of art and design that I usually explore different inspirations depending on what I’m doing. My social media is filled with architecture, fine artists, and recently the world of DND. Growing up though I was very inspired by comics, animal drawing, anime, and cartoons like Disney films and cartoon network. I would find time to watch anime like most artists my age in high-school. I watched shows like Dragon ball Z, Samurai Champloo, Knights of the Zodiac, Digimon, Gurren Lagann, Avatar the last Airbender, Studio trigger shows like Little Witch Academia and now recently Frieren. I think my work still reflects that today, but now I’m more inspired by films and music that make you feel something or give you a sense of escape, movies that are fantastical in nature, I always reference Guillermo Del Toro and his movies like Pacific Rim and even Tron legacy as personal favorite films haha. For me I want the work I make to make you feel something but still through the use of cartoons or with super heroic characters. I’m a sucker for an emotional story with a sprinkle of fun action. Read more>>

Kimberly Anokwuru | Artist & Social Media Influencer

I am inspired by a multitude of things in life. Where do I begin? I’ve always been a great dancer since the age of being born lol but it led me to singing, acting & more. I would say music, art & culture inspires me. I was born in New York & I’ve always been expressive when it come to my speech. When I was in highschool, you can see me on the speech & debate team. It gave me energy to tackle specific topics, to conjure up different conversation perspectives. Read more>>

Josette Rofer | Mother, philanthropist

I am most inspired by an incredible 8 year old boy, Bradley. At 6 years old he started a flower business. I may have planted the seed by saying, “when my hydrangeas bloom, you could sell them” But it was his idea completely to sell the flowers and donate all the money to 2 year old Connor year that was diagnosed with Leukemia, Read more>>