Art as Literary Inspiration

 Art can be many things to many people, relaxing, stimulating, inspiring. You don't have to be an artist to be inspired by a work. I love to visit my local art museums and spend time with paintings or sculptures and imagine the story that goes with it. 

If you give a group of people a copy of one painting, like the one attached to this blog by artist Andrea Kowch, you will get five different stories. Maybe a bit similar but each writer will see something different that inspired their tale. 

So my challenge for you today is to get out your laptop, tablet or even on your phone. Google an artist or just a general theme such as paintings of a street in Paris. Take a few minutes to really look at the art. Are there people, what are they doing? Are there actions happening? 

Set a timer if you need to. Next open your word doc or notebook and start telling the story of that scene. It doesn't have to be obvious. Such as a woman running from the tornado in the painting. Maybe she's running into the storm to save something or someone. Maybe she doesn't even see the storm and is running to get her pie from the oven before it burns. 

Don't let your inner editor stop you. Set a timer for your writing time as well. Maybe only 10 or 15 minute blocks. Now you don't have time to overthink and make changes to your tale. Your muse has the wheel and drives the story forward. You can edit or make needed changes after you finish. So what are you waiting for. Go get inspired! 

If you like the paintings in this blog by Ms. Kowch, you can see them on exhibit a the Deland Museum of Art in Deland, FL  through April. Magnificent pieces that will tickle your muse :)