What current artist inspires you?

From the world of literature, poetry, painting or music?

Usually when it comes to best ever I'd say WB Yeats, the greatest Irish man ever. But of current artists, I have a high regard for Karl Hyde of Underworld.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNOQTt7AULw

Jack the Stripper

Kylie

xLisaBx

Gaga. She's inspiring for so many reasons, music being only one.

Permabear

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Jack the Stripper

Getting a hard on for a poet is a little disturbing.

Zaph

If you're not being creative in the same field as the artist in question, exactly how are they supposed to inspire you? It's something I've never understood. I'll enjoy their music or writing (well not the poetry, that's a load of pretentious bollockology), but I can't say I've ever been inspired by any of it.

Earthhorse

Zaph wrote: »

If you're not being creative in the same field as the artist in question, exactly how are they supposed to inspire you? It's something I've never understood. I'll enjoy their music or writing (well not the poetry, that's a load of pretentious bollockology), but I can't say I've ever been inspired by any of it.

The same way you can be inspired by events and people in your life though they may have nothing to do with the field you're working. If you're only inspired by artists in the same field you're missing out.

Ulysses Gaze

Jason Becker. Brilliant guitar player who at 21 was diagnosed with ALS and given 3 to 5 years to live.

He is still alive 27 years later and still writing music.

Tigger

Permabear wrote: »

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Robert Boyle was the greatest Irishman he is the father of chemistry
And Charles Boole would be almost if not more influential due to inventing the logic gates all electronics use,
Personally for the arts Beckett was great and probably the most universally accessible and I'm pretty sure Swift reinvented satire into what we use today.
Yeats was overrated and nobody really likes Joyce.

retro:electro

Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Grace Kelly, Kurt Vonnegut, Walt Whitman.

Junkyard Tom

Rambo.

Mountainsandh

Earthhorse wrote: »

The same way you can be inspired by events and people in your life though they may have nothing to do with the field you're working. If you're only inspired by artists in the same field you're missing out.

I was going to agree with Zaph, but actually I've thought a bit and I don't fully. I like photography as a hobby, and music can inspire me in that domain. No particular artist springs to mind, I like lots of different genres...






Actually, John Martyn, great photo inspiration for some reason.

If we're talking Irish artists, young Sara Baume (artist, writer) stands out for me. She only has 2 books written, and I haven't even read the second one yet, but scenes from Spill, Simmer, Falter, Wither have touched me so much that they're still with me.

Atoms for Peace

Run the jewels

take everything

Robyn.

Summer wind

Willie Nelson. Almost 84 years old still performing and doing great:)

Earthhorse

To add an actual answer, Mark Kozelek, specifically his work as Sun Kil Moon and, uhm, Mark Kozelek. An amazingly frank, original and prolific songwriter, as well as a skillful rewriter of other artist's material (to call them covers doesn't do them justice) and a successful collaborator with other artists. I sincerely believe Kozelek will be remembered as a songwriting genius and will be a touchstone for future generations of musicians without ever breaking through to the mainstream.

He's a difficult artist to get into so it's hard to post songs that'll wow the listener as his work really rewards repeated listening but here's some examples for the curious:

https://youtu.be/WM17NqDfh4o

https://youtu.be/3nSuTSyymvU

https://youtu.be/H8i2tOfzyfk

Arghus

Zaph wrote: »

If you're not being creative in the same field as the artist in question, exactly how are they supposed to inspire you? It's something I've never understood. I'll enjoy their music or writing (well not the poetry, that's a load of pretentious bollockology), but I can't say I've ever been inspired by any of it.

I can't play a note, but I've lost count of the number of times over the years that I've felt a refill of vim and vigour and renewwed readiness to attack the day anew thanks to some great piece of music that I've just listened to. That counts as inspiration to me. What else could it be?

Anyway. Recent artists that inspire? Lately for me it's Sturgill Simpson. I love his honesty and humility and ability to write a great song that comes from the heart. Seems like a straight up guy too. Been following him for a few years and it's inspiring how he's managed to stay true to himself, become relatively popular and known and get better with each album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y61yLz8vAZ4

Your Face

Finn Balor.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Zaph wrote: »

If you're not being creative in the same field as the artist in question, exactly how are they supposed to inspire you? It's something I've never understood. I'll enjoy their music or writing (well not the poetry, that's a load of pretentious bollockology), but I can't say I've ever been inspired by any of it.

You can get creative in the same field.

Reading Terry Pratchett when I was in my late teens inspired me to start writing.

gramar

Pat Ingoldsby.

Special Circumstances

Queen Bey.
"Where would social media be without her" as Marilyn Monroe said.

buried

Alan Moore

Darren J. Cunningham

Bob Mortimer

biko

Jack the Stripper wrote: »

Kylie

When I feel down in the dumps I think "what would Kylie do"? And then I perk up and start dancing and singing.

WWKD

Simple, Damon Albarn

One of his songs/recordings is currently in a crash site on mars. Does get any better than that

Balmed Out

Tigger wrote: »

Robert Boyle was the greatest Irishman he is the father of chemistry
And Charles Boole would be almost if not more influential due to inventing the logic gates all electronics use,
Personally for the arts Beckett was great and probably the most universally accessible and I'm pretty sure Swift reinvented satire into what we use today.
Yeats was overrated and nobody really likes Joyce.

George Boole was English but did a lot of work and was a professor in Cork where he lived till his death.