“Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses.” —Amy Tan
Artist Pepe Leduc lifts the lid on a box of old paper, and inspiration leaps out. Creative interplay with the medium ensues, as his brainwaves rip up Beta and tear through Alpha.
While seeking inspiration for play verse, aka haiku, it finds me, like paper finds ink.
This post shares with creative people of all persuasions, the thoughts of artists and others about that elusive spark of creative impulsion that may leap into an old pond, like a frog, or out of a box of old paper.
“Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.” —Pablo Picasso
“Art Nouveau got its inspiration from nature. The Bauhaus got its inspiration from engineering.” ―P. J. O’Rourke
“[The Muses are] the goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science and the arts. […] I would especially like to recourt the Muse of poetry, who ran off with the mailman four years ago, and drops me only a scribbled postcard from time to time.” ―John Updike
“Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.” ―Johannes Brahms
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” ―Jack London
“Disappointment is an endless wellspring of comedy inspiration.” —Martin Freeman
“We’re always in the middle of two energies. Gravity is sinking you down; inspiration is pulling you up.” —Mandy Ingber
“I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled poets to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.” —Socrates
“Only those things are beautiful which are inspired by madness and written by reason.” —Andre Gide
“Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.” —Bo Bennett
“There are little gems all around us that can hold glimmers of inspiration.” ―Richelle Mead
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GODSLAUGH.ME 
This post is delightful. I have read through it twice already and will bookmark it for later, too. The graphics were so peaceful. I particularly liked the haiku rain and haiku moth graphics. The quotes were inspiring, too. My favorites were the Updike quote – fun. And the Socrates quote which describes how I feel about some of the poems that appear on my screen when I write. And your haikus, CES were excellent. The flow of change in the haiku was calming and reminded me of how change occurs always and everything is impermanent (how Zen!). My favorites were the teahouse walls haiku, and the haiku scars, but they were all delicious. Funny just before I read your post I had written a haiku on the back of my grocery list. 🙂 So I was in a haiku state of mind. Thank you.
Thank YOU, LuAnne. I imagine a tasty haiku on the back of your grocery list. 🙂
Inspiration is persistence. At least, it is for me. And like Lu Anne, I’ve read this twice all ready, too, and I am about to read it again. Wonderful job, as always.
Thank you, George. You are not the only genius who finds the light of inspiration in persistence.
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Thomas A. Edison
Haha. I won’t disagree.
Thank you, George. You are not the only genius who finds the light of inspiration in persistence.
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Thomas A. Edison