artisitc inspiration?

Yes, just start drawing, painting, doodling, whatever. Don't wait for "inspiration". Indeed, if it comes at all it will probably come BECAUSE you are working. Reverse the arrow of causation: you aren't working because you are inspired; you are inspired because you are working. (usually)

I think the only way to be inspired is to begin the work. The PROCESS itself becomes the muse rather than something apart from you and the medium.
I approach a blank canvas and simply do something--almost anything-- to it. That provides the stimulus for the next thing I do and the two of them generate WITH ME the next. And so on. The real problem for me is knowing when to stop.

Glad to see this thread ressurected. Ive been dealing with a design problem lately and have pored through my art notebooks (I keep ideas in pretty detailed notebooks composed of quadrille paper).
Ive been sdoing multiples of a same scene and last few days just saw some of my ideas on tryptichs and dyptichs.(I like odd numbers most). The notebooks have provided me with untapped masses of inspiration > Ive been adding to some of the subject matter of several and have been even further inspired to get on with some as soon as I finish these damn works for the show

I can relate to this.
Mostly, I get a few big mistakes on the paper/canvas/wall/screen and have plenty of inspiration to creat what I had originally intended.

My advice to ogviok (sp?) is to make mistakes, and be fearless. You must first be a master of the medium, and then after that you can form a bond with it and try and communicate. If that makes sense.

Of course certain technical abilities will enable you to enjoy your drawings more.

For trees; I would recommend learning about what they're composed of, how they actually take the appearance they have. And then try to build it out of macaroni or craft sticks or something.
Make it your goal to draw a blueprint from multiple angles. After you did th print and craft stick sculpture you should have an easier time with the tree drawing.

Elmore LEonard (screenwriter and crime novelist) stops writing each day, in the middle of a senetnce. He says that this is the best way for him to stir up his story line.

In the summer when the weather is good, I go for a walk in a park or along a river with my camera. That's my hobby. When it's raining or too cold, I go to the wood working studio in the basement and make something out of wood.
Most of my lamps are home made too.

It coming from bottom of your hearts. It is just happening. There is no such process that the creating mood is coming.

A great nights sleep and coffee