Luring A Muse
5:29 PM |
| Sunken Gardens Full Spread Stillman & Birn Beta Sketchbook 11 x 8.5 inches watercolor and ink |
1. Purchase a toy your muse wants. The more she wants the toy, the better your chances of luring her back. This can be any kind of art supply—sketchbook, tube of paint or brush. Interactive toys seem to work best.
2. Go some place for fun and turn your muse loose. Note: the place must be some place your muse will have fun regardless of cost, convenience, appropriateness. If your muse is bored, it won't work.
3. Mix well and play! Engage, explore, set aside expectations of perfection, greatness, and just have as much fun as you and your muse know how to have.
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Just because she's a party girl, don't mistake her for a lightweight. Her position is quite clear when it comes to having fun.
She is not in the least bit apologetic for this attitude. If it's not fun, she's not going to do. If she can't find a way to make it fun, she's gonna walk.
Sam walked out on me back in November. And I can't say as I blamed her.
She was sick of web sites, business management, and accountant stuff. It wasn't fun. I wouldn't let her draw in the margins or on any important papers. Solving problems in a methodical, linear style is the antithesis of having fun for Sam.
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But when she's had enough of me not having fun, of saying no, of doing activities that bore her to death, she leaves. Goes on a walkabout. And she only comes back when she's damn good and ready and not a minute before.
However, I found over the years, that certain things make her more inclined to come back sooner. And one of them is a fun new art toy, like a new Stillman & Birn sketchbook, and going to someplace that offers her the chance to do something fun, learn something new and that challenges her in some way.
Then she smiles and lights my life up. It's a wondrous thing when your muse is happy. It means you're happy.
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These sketches were all done on location at Sunken Gardens, located in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Color was added later—there's too many fun things to do in St. Pete!) My partner in adventure, Kathy, from over at Catching Happiness, also did a post on our day. You can read about it here. It was a fabulous, fun day, and I think Sam just might be back to stay for a while!
*Does not work for all muses.
12 Creative Thought(s)
I must get me one of those sketchbooks if it woke your muse It should make mine sing. :) Welcome back Sam.
ReplyDeleteLaure you were missed. So glad to see you and Sam are back and with something wonderful too. Looks like a lovely place to go and how fun to go with another Artist in like mind. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pages! My muse has been too tired lately or perhaps I've been too tired as even though I've heard my muse whispering that this might be fun to draw or that might be fun to paint, I just haven't had it in me to stop and do more than say sure before getting back to moving. I am slowly getting my crafty stuff over to my new house and even slower, setting up but it's getting there and then I will give my muse a treat - - maybe even a new class if things mesh well!
ReplyDeleteGlad you got Sam back! I know how it feels to loose your muse. So breath and enjoy. PS: if you get a chance I changed my blog to a new one. The correct link now is tonikellystudio.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThanks Laure
Welcome back Sam - we've missed you! And Laure - great sketches - we've missed you too. I'll be watching for that review.
ReplyDeleteHi Laure, I was SO glad to see your new blog post. Good to have you back with your muse. Do take good care of her!
ReplyDeleteYour post made me remember a quote I've read somewhere : Money can't buy you happiness but it sure can buy art supplies. My husband burst out laughing when he read that one :-)
This post made me smile! I am looking forward to the review of this journal...I find the S&B journal names and styles confusing, so never know which one to try.
ReplyDeleteWill you have your 2013 class schedule up soon?
So thrilled to see your new post, and I'm glad that "Sam" has come for another visit. Hopefully she'll be around for an extended stay! I wish you days of joy with your art, rather than getting bogged down too much in the 'business' of art.
ReplyDeleteHaving a new art toy, an opportunity for fun and play sound like a great combination for rekindling some art time.
I've been a bit sluggish with art since last November, maybe I need to find a muse. But... I said to myself yesterday - Feb 1 is the beginning of a new month, so forget about January and embark on the rest of the year making (and enJOYing) more time for art. I'm making an art calendar for 2013 and I look forward to putting more art in my 2013 days.
Welcome back!!!
Love your finished sketches--now I need to finish mine. (I sort of forgot about them last week.) I just linked to your post in mine, also.
ReplyDeleteI also look forward to seeing your final review of the sketchbook.
Welcome back Sam and Laure. I've missed you both. My muse has gone on a walkabout too and I can't seem to find just the right toy to entice her. Beautiful sketches. I'll have to visit the gardens sometime when we are on our annual trek to FL. We finally got winter in W. Michigan. Over 18 inches of lake effect snow since Thursday and should get another foot before it's over Monday. Unfortunately it's too cold to even play in the snow. (6F this am) I hope my muse is having fun someplace warm. Looking forward to seeing more of your sketches and review of the sketchbook. ;~)
ReplyDeleteSo happy that you're back-Sam too! You were greatly missed by so many of us 'travelers'. Your work and classes are so stimulating! I can't wait to get back into painting often. I've missed it and your work too!
ReplyDeleteDear Sam ... shame on you for going walk-about when Laurie most needed you. It is not nice to take off for parts unknown. Laurie had better learn from this lesson and remember how to trap you when you even think about going on walk-about again.
ReplyDeleteLet's talk!