The Beginning...A Lump of Clay

The Dreaded Blank Sheet of Paper, The Shapeless Lump of Clay, The Silent Musical Instrument – where does one begin? Where would YOU begin? Some say they have no idea, but the truth of the matter is that so many ideas are tumbling around all at once that it takes some sorting out and organizing to know where to start! Once begun, the project becomes somewhat easy – just follow the path! One idea leads to another and to another and yet another. The same idea can expand or contract, be broken into bits and pieces, turned upside down or sideways, repeated, changed by color, medium, or by instrument, stated backwards – or upside down and backwards. Once begun, there’s no end to the magic that can be created. How else do we explain the un-ending lists of art works, musical compositions, dances, books, and all kinds of inventions that just keep growing every day? Even without the usual resources at hand, music is hummed/sung/drummed, pictures are drawn in the soil or on cave walls with a charred piece of wood, dances are improvised in celebrations around the world and inventions come about as solutions to problems encountered!

Whew! That wasn’t so bad for a beginning, right? Yes, I had to begin somewhere – even with the idea of talking about inspiration. I suspect that each of you reading this blog have found your inspiration in many of the same ways as I. But, as an artist, it’s always a question that I get when people are looking at my work. So, let’s share ideas about this!

I grew up on a farm in central Indiana – a hog farm! And, yes, of course we also grew corn to feed them and soybeans, oats, wheat and alfalfa because crops had to be rotated. OK, OK, I know you’re asking, ‘What does this have to do with inspiration?!’ “A LOT,” I say. Whatever you’ve experienced in your life is going to show up somewhere. So… here’s the PINK, POT-BELLIED PIANO.

You see, although I was a piano student from an early age and loved practicing, there were times when my mind wandered out to the barnyard because I loved being with my Dad. Although I didn’t think of a piano in the shape of a pig until a few years ago when I began to consider all the possibilities, it was a way of reminding myself of all the good times I shared with him.

What experience in your life can lead to the creative moment? What problem do you need to solve? Be “off the wall” and “out of the box” – try the unconventional – even if just for fun! Have a good laugh about how far the silliness can take you before you find a sensible, but unconventional, solution. Life is good!