There are two questions I hear a lot that really drive me nuts. One is, “Where do you get your ideas?” and the other is, “Why are you only wearing one sock?” Personally, I think it’s rude, intrusive and none of anybody’s business where I got my sock. But seriously, sometimes people really do inquire about the creative process. So let us take a gander at some of the roads most taken in order to make with the semi-humorous ideas:
- Sometimes I will just sit out back swinging in the hammock and listen to the soft wind whistle through the bugnut tree.
- On occasion I chew bay leaves and stare emptily into the brambles.
- Often I take to repeatedly tossing my stuffed panda up on the roof where it will roll its way down and land in my waiting arms. Of course, every once in a while I throw it too hard and have to retrieve it on the opposite side of the house. This slows the process down a tad. Also, and this happens more frequently than I like to admit, it has been known to catch up on the old TV antenna that I should have taken down 15 years ago. This results in me having to use a ladder to retrieve the stuck panda. I considered buying a slew of backup pandas to keep things moving along, but I figured that would only lead passersby and visitors to remark, “Hey, there are pandas all over your TV antenna. And why do you still have a TV antenna anyway?” Bottom line, tossing the panda is a labor intensive, iffy proposition at best and I only use it when I’m really desperate for ideas.
- Once in a while I will unroll the yoga mat, which is, in actuality, a black velvet painting of Elvis that I grew weary of looking at in 1997, and plunk down in the lotus position with a bag of chips and a cold beer. I should probably mention that it’s Elvis side down, due to my allergy to some chemical with a long name that’s in the acrylic paint. Plus, think about it, how many ideas do you think you could come up with if Elvis is staring up at you from the potato chip crumbs?
- Every now and then I will stand up, spin until dizzy and then sit right down and draw whatever comes to mind. this has led to some very funny, but poorly drawn, ideas. Also, you have to really practice this one or you’ll find yourself drawing on furniture or pets.
- Lately, I have taken to simply putting on my thinking cap. I know it’s a cliche , but it does work. Plus the soft bunny lining and the earlappers help to keep me warm on those occasions when I’m thinking outside the box, where the wind chill often drops below freezing.
So, that’s where I get my ideas. Some of them anyway. I hope this means that people will “A” that “Q” much less “F” in the future.
If the above basic principles help you to get some good ideas yourself, all the better. Particularly if you are an inventor or an amusement park ride designer. Happy idea getting, friends.