This post is part of my series, Courting the Muse. Subscribers to my email list receive a weekly prompt focusing on one aspect of creativity.
This week’s prompt: Magic in the Mundane
Sure, sometimes the Muse comes FLASH BANG POW whacking me upside the head with a cluster of comic book thought bubbles—like Batman knocking some sense into Robin.
But sometimes she just comes with a gentle nudge and a casual hmmm…piquing enough interest on my part to pay attention and look around.
Like the other day when Maggie and I were on our daily walk.
We were a couple miles down the trail, almost to Big Hairy Rock when her 10,000-100,000 times greater than human sense of smell launched her into puppy nose-gasm in the weeds.
I’m not making this up. Well, maybe I made up the nose-gasm part but let me just say whoever peed there must’ve been some sort of forest superhero.
Coulda been a lion. Possibly a bear. Or maybe something as harmless as a squirrel.
My mind immediately went into oh shit mode, creepy crawly back of the neck tingling mode–
I was out on an isolated trail alone with a dog who at that moment was caught up in some canine olfactory fantasy and would be of no use whatsoever if something decided to eat us.
Did I mention it was late in the day, later than I like to be out and about and the section of trail we were on was deep in shade and it would soon be dark and—
Ohhhhh…what’s that?
The muse gently–gently guided my attention to a patch of sunlight across the trail. Apex predators were forgotten as I noticed some faint little baby patches of light behind it.
It wasn’t spectacular. Wasn’t even special. But I found myself snapping a photo and thinking about it on the way home. And throughout the evening. Probably in my sleep as well. By the time I woke up the following day the hmmm was a full fledged HMMM
And this is what happened with the help of a little oil pastel.
A few oil pastels and the muse was on fire!
This will be part of the series I began here in my first post prompted by light. When I have enough finished I’ll release them as a collection.
Ah, but meanwhile I can see myself exploring this idea further on a large panel. Layers and layers of translucent reds.
Or blues…
What about you? Did this week’s prompt resonate with you? Are you beginning to see creative potential in things previously overlooked? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Remember, the more we notice things, the more the muse takes notice.
Be back next week-
I am enjoying reading your muse writings. I need ti get inspired to paint more! I am going to challenge myself this week to gesso some canvases and start a painting. Thank You!!
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear that, Marcia! This is exactly what I hoped people would get out of this blog.
And did the foracious dangerous animal smell turn into something else?🤣
Nah.She finally sniffed her full and we headed on home. I have no idea what was so entertaining.
I sometimes take pictures with my cell phone by accident. While moving the phone, things are blurred and out of focus. Those pictures I find very often inspiring.
Hi Kerstin! I accidentally took one of the inside of my pocket. It was pretty cool. I posted it on my FB page as a ‘can you guess what this is quiz’. Lots of answers, none of them right.
Love this blog post, your inspiration and series ideas!
Can’t wait to see the series!
Hi Karen! Glad you like the post! I’m excited about this series, you’ll be one of the first to hear when it comes out.
I am not an artist, but I do enjoy your musings! When out in nature, it’s so fun to notice the way nature reflects light and forms. Especially as I age, I appreciate these moments as art.
Thank you Colette. My intention with this blog is to encourage people to do just that–to open their eyes and notice the world. Thank you so much for sharing.