Part 1: Nothing Special

So I’m walking Maggie along the gravely little dirt road wondering if there’s going to be any inspiration today. It’s late afternoon on a gray day, dripping and dull.

I’m not seeing any color anywhere.

Maggie doesn’t care, the after-rain conditions are ripe for interesting doggie scents. She walks along sniffing things I don’t want to know about while I do what I can to conjur up the muse.

“Hey Lucille”, I say. My Muse’s name is Lucille–don’t judge me for naming the voice in my head, it’s long story, someday I’ll tell you about it–but not now. “Lucy, gimme a hint, send some inspiration my way”

Because I’m at a loss here. There’s nothing–

WHACK!!! She slaps me upside the head stopping me in my tracks.

Nothing? Whaddya mean? LOOK AT THAT LEAF!

She points me to a nothing special leaf, just another one that made it through winter. It’s lying there on the road waiting to be smushed. It’s the one pictured at the top of this post.

And not a very pretty leaf at that. Any color it may have had once upon a time is long gone. It practically blends in with the mud and gravel.

So I say to the Muse, Really? What am I looking at, it’s just a leaf lying in the road.

And she says WELL, MAKE IT SPECIAL!

Part 2: The Secret

This is where I’m going to let you in on a little muse courting secret: The closer you get to something the more interesting it can be.

In other words, zoom in.

And then zoom in closer.

BINGO!

This is something I can work with!

So I did. On my iPad. Painting is on hold right now while I pack up the house. We’re moving in two weeks (shock face emoji here). But when supplies are packed and there’s no room to paint anyway, there’s always a way to make art on the iPad. Even with my feet up on the sofa. Or in bed.

So here’s a quick digital sketch inspired by Ms.Leaf up there.

Maybe someday I’ll turn this into a painting.

Part 3: Your Turn

So that’s the magic trick this week: Zoom in. Closer. Closer still. Find the leaf, the crack in the sidewalk, the crumb that looks like Elvis—whatever. Look until something clicks.

And if you do, tell me! What did you find when you got up close and personal with the world? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear what grabbed your eye (or smacked you upside the head like Lucille).

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.