The Creative Habit, a question from Annie Salness

Annie Salness, a fabulous artist I met through Karin Jurick's "Different Strokes from Different Folks" blog, sent out the question "The Creative Habit" an artist's habits, routines, or rituals of preparation for their day, their work, a new project, etc. She was kind enough to ask me to participate. Here is what I posted to her question:

My creative habit...now, everyone will know I am a nut~

I just need more hours in the day!

I have a full time "real" job that keeps me busy Tuesday through Friday. I paint nights and weekends. I joined the group "Daily Painter's Marketplace" to remind me of my commitment to myself to paint daily, if only for an hour.

I work from home as a medical transcriptionist sitting typing one report after another. I have the TV on in the background with painting videos playing. I think some of the technique and inspiration sinks into my subconscious while I am typing. I also place the reference photo of my current and next project near the computer screen in my visual field while I work. It may sound crazy, but when I go to actually paint the picture....it seems easier. I could be totally wrong, but I am convinced the brain absorbs your entire surroundings, even when you are not aware.

If an idea for a painting pops into my head, I immediately write it down or sketch it on any paper I can find.....sometimes the thought totally disappears 15 minutes later if I don't write it down. I know I have forgotten more paintings than I have painted.

So much of my inspiration is quite by accident. For instance, the other day I took all my leftover paint on my palette and mixed them altogether...really expecting to get a horrid brown. To my surprise, I have this beautiful teal blue. There are so many wonderful things to do with this beautiful color. My only problem now is I have no idea how to recreate my new favorite color.

If I feel there is nothing left for me to paint and my little bag of inspiration is empty....I paint my old familiar stand by, a pear. I love paintings pears. I paint a small pear to get back into the groove.....If the pear comes out ugly, oops :(

For more from Annie Salness and other artists regarding the Creative Habit, visit "What is Your Creative Habit".

Torrie