I usually just make beads, I look through my books and mags. and I’ll say to myself, this technique looks interesting “I’ll try that today”. When the day comes (which it eventually does) that there isn’t a technique that catches my eye, then I pull the tubs (like the ones the store brought lunch meat comes in) “play” with the beads with some of the stringing mags around me and see if anything strikes me, if not then it gets all put back in the rolling set of drawers I have and I’ll try again on another day, I find that if I try to force something, nothing will come, but sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with an idea, and will write it down for later.

Do you all clip artwork out of magazines, or print images to create idea files or visual art bulletin boards? What do you sound yourself with visually, while you work on your claying or hand work?

Do you keep your computer on, and shift images. Do you listen to music? Do you watch tv? Must you create in absolute silence alone methodically, or do ideas or concepts pop into your head while you are driving to the grocery store?

Do you get your best ideas while working with the clay, like warming it in your hands to start out the process, or is your stuff already out, ready to go, and you jump to it to create, do the next step, then leave, and come back?
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For everyone suffering from creative block, I just wrote and article with a few tips that will help you with that. It should be up in a few days, so stay tuned. Until then you can look around here for inspiration!

Thank you for all the great comments everyone! Sorry I can’t respond to each one personally, but comments are now coming into the blog faster than what I can respond to.

This is a great sign, since this means you are all beginning to communicate with each other and are building your own community. Keep those great comments coming!