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February 15, 2006
...pondering about process...
...this was a trade for a lovely necklace from the sale - more on that later...
There is art talk flying around the internet. Mav had an amazing three-part discussion about what is art and Lisa started asking about talent. I am sort of interested in people's brain process.
I have realized that process for me is sort of long term (relativity). I let an idea germinate in the recesses of my brain. Every once in a while it'll sort of pop up to the surface and then I think on it a bit, but then I consciously push it back to this little soil area in my brain. But then it just unfurls. Does anyone else have that? Do that?
The flip side is that when I am busy, like I have been with all the work at work and with all the softies I needed done. Those ideas didn't pop up at all.
Now I have some things percolating with softie ideas. Ideas that played out in a completely different way than when I planted them in the soil. It excites me to put an idea in my little greenhouse and see how it plays out.
So how about you?
Do ideas come at you?
Do you search out the ideas?
What things inspire you?
Posted by wendy at February 15, 2006 06:52 AM
Comments
My creativity is definetly short-term. When I put fingers to keyboard, things seem to show up from nowhere. Your post made me think, though, that maybe "nowhere" is my own "little soil area" that I just haven't consciously found yet.
I have a writer friend who never leaves home without a little notebook in which she records all sorts of little inspiring snippets. I have tried this, myself, but somehow I always lose the notebook, the pen, and then finally I'm just frustrated at feeling as if I *have* to record inspiration.
As for what inspires me...humor inspires me. What I see in people's eyes that draws out the very core of them inspires me. Learning, mystery, quiet, body language inspires me.
And today you have inspired me!
Posted by: Alisha at February 15, 2006 08:30 AM
i feel like my process changes from day to day... sometimes things just flow... other times things need to germinate. the drawing a day thing has definitely been part of a way for me to experiment and worry less about process....
i think everything inspires me.. the good, the bad, and the ugly....
most of the time i don't search for ideas - but obviously there are times when i need some kind of parameter to get going....
this is a great topic wendy!!
xo
Posted by: lisa s at February 15, 2006 04:38 PM
I'm with you and Lisa. There is an ebb and flow to my idea stream. Actually when my mind is quiet, this is the most productive place for ideas to germinate. When I am having idea onslaught, it is difficult for me to make any progress on any of them due to too much noise.
Posted by: ladylinoleum at February 15, 2006 07:24 PM
it's lovely to read your words today... i sometimes i feel that my head is swimming with ideas and i don't know where to begin... i'm learning that you can't rush these things that they do indeed need time to germinate and that they will unfurl when the time is right...
Posted by: sarah at February 15, 2006 10:04 PM
(love and adore these softies!) my inspiration comes in fits and spurts, often triggered by everyday encounters - lines in nature, saturated hues....in the past it has been a frustrating process, but i have learned to surrender to its whimsical nature and just let it flow as it will.
Posted by: Ky at February 17, 2006 10:35 AM