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Creative Block - Who Is Riding In The Barrels of Your Skull?
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by Les Anderson
Once again, you have reached that familiar place called creative block. It's the old artists' nemesis. Creativity is your thing, but the lack of ideas is like a weight on your shoulders. Where do you go for inspiration? Let's look in a different place to help you overcome the latest creative block. I say, go to the true artistic masters of the art. Not the masters that may first come to your mind when one mentions "masters", but the artists, poets and writers of yet another generation. I'm referring to true masters of the written word. Think no more of the past ancient writers of journals, classic literature and traditional poetry. Try a different source of inspiration. "He knows just where to touch you, honey, and how you like to be kissed. He'll put both his arms around you; you can feel the tender touch of the beast." These lines were written by one of the preeminent poets of the 20th century, born Robert Zimmerman, better known as Bob Dylan. The words are lyrics to the song, "Man Of Peace" from Dylan's 1983 record album, "Infidels". Truly these words inspire the visual artist and the writer alike. People try to decipher a deeper meaning behind the lyrics of Dylan, but I question why. I say enjoy the picture he has painted with his words and use the words to inspire and motivate. Consider these: "But all the while I was alone. The past was close behind." Hmm, "The past was close behind." Simple, but powerful. Even the title of that song, "Tangled Up In Blue" from Dylan's "Blood On The Tracks" album released in 1975, makes you stop and think. Or how about, "...Shakespeare, he's in the alley with his pointed shoes and his bells, speaking to some French girl, who says she knows me well." Picture that if you will. Again, these lyrics come from a song with a provocative title, "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again", from "Blonde On Blonde", 1966. There are those who will suggest that better examples of Dylan could be presented. The point is creative block. The point is you are desperate for a new place to start, a new beginning, inspiration, motivation, something, anything. I say to you, the poets who came before and who are still with us have offered up artistic expression in unique ways. Bob Dylan's lyrics are sometimes deep, sometimes fun, but they still motivate and inspire me now. That, my friend, is the point. Use song lyrics from the masters of the art to get you out of your slump. Another from "Man of Peace": "Well, he can be fascinating, he can be dull, he can ride down Niagara Falls in the barrels of your skull." Chilling, but inspirational. For the author with creative writers block, Bob Dylan is but one of many writers and poets from which to draw for brainwave stimulation. Have you heard this: "The lunatic is in my head...; There's someone in my head, but it's not me." Those words are from the song, "Brain Damage" from the Pink Floyd record "Dark Side of the Moon" released in 1973. Pink Floyd is another great inspirational source of ideas and stimulation to purge the brain of writers block. The whole point is to get you going. Look in a different direction for inspiration. Look in places you have not thought of before. Search for the masters of the recent past. Look at Lennon and McCartney, Paul Simon, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Many of these veteran creative artists are still around, and their work lives on. The list is long and the source of creative inspiration is vast. The bottom line? You can overcome a creative block by opening your mind to motivation by sources outside the box. Source the true artists, poets and authors of the not-too-distant yesterday. When you do this, you will surge your brain with new and different ideas. The source is almost limitless and you have an added benefit: You can listen to the actual artists and writers recite their own poetry, painted on the canvas of your ears using the brushes of a musical symphony! |
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Copyright © 2007-2008 Canvas and Pen / Levi's Rain™.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Copyright © 2007-2008 Canvas and Pen / Levi's Rain™.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.