Feb 12 2009
Scratch the Itch
You’ve seen chickens scratch the ground looking for food. Have you realized we creatives go through a similar process when we’re looking for an idea to work on?
In her book, The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp defines scratching as the search for an idea to get you started.
I’ve seen it called doodling, moodling, freewriting, brainstorming, mind-mapping, etc., depending on how you work and what you like to do. But you don’t have to figuratively reinvent the wheel.
As you look for something to strike that creative spark, look to those that have gone before. If you paint, look at paintings you admire; if you write, read the masters or read authors you admire; cook, look in old cookbooks. The list goes on.
Don’t worry that you’ll inadvertently steal someone else’s work. The spark you get from whatever you look at, from whatever you see or hear or do, will lead you in a different direction than the inspiration.
Go ahead. Scratch.
I see feeding the artist within as a different process, though. That goes along the lines of Julia Cameron’s concept of artist dates.
Thank you for coming by and leaving a comment. Make yourself comfy and come back as often as you like.
Best,
~Jen