When it’s all in your head

This post is part of my series, Courting the Muse. Subscribers to my email list receive a weekly prompt focusing on one aspect of creativity.

This week’s prompt: Muse & Music and the Song that Just Won’t Quit

Part 1: Please, not in public! 

My muse is fickle. Or maybe it’s just ADHD. One week she’s turned on by light or color or squirrels with fluffy tails. Today it’s worms, ear worms. You can get rid of real worms but the song that rattles around in the space between your ears–sorry, that’s there forever. Or until a new one comes along.

Sometimes they’re inspiring, mostly they’re crazy making and all too often they just embarrass you. 

Like when you find yourself rocking a ten pound sack of potatoes in the checkout line–rocking out of habit and muscle memory because once a mom always a mom, even to a sack of produce. And then you realize you’ve been crooning  Don’t Bogart That Joint  to the potatoes because it’s such a rockable song.  A lullaby for stoners. Not that you would know anything about that, right? You just saw Easy Rider freshman year at that theater in the Village that reeked of weed. And all you remember is the song, the stink and Peter Fonda.

Anyway, so you’re standing in front of a whole bunch of strangers in the grocery store, rocking and crooning to a sack of potatoes when you realize all these strangers are either A: nodding their heads and humming along.  B: smirking and rolling their eyes or C: avoiding eye contact altogether. And now that song is stuck in your head and everyone else’s.

Forever.

And there’s not enough apple flavored Ivermectin in Tractor Supply to save any of you from this worm.

Part 2: Backstory: How it happened

 HRH Bobby Kennedy Jr., His Royal Healthiness, had a worm in his brain from eating worm eggs instead of getting vaccinated for common sense. Well, big effing deal–I have a worm in my head too. Only mine was nefariously planted by those wily folk at NPR.

I remember exactly when and where it happened. I was on Dorsey Drive a couple of weeks ago, waiting for the light to change so I could hop on the freeway and head home. I was listening to Public Radio, you know, where grownups talk grownup things and will soon lose their jobs because of it. I guess they were doing a story on Bob Dylan. Or maybe Bob and Joan Baez.  Diamonds and Rust. came on just as I was merging with the traffic AND BAM!!! IT’S BEEN PLAYING IN MY HEAD EVER SINCE.

I like this song, I really do. But of good Lord–every time I turn around someone has it on Spotify or Pandora. I hear it in the wind when I walk Maggie miles away from anywhere. I hear it in my sleep.

And the Muse keeps humming along.

Part 3: The Painting

It was my last demo at the gallery before I move. I began by working some pastel magic on a work in progress and wrote about it last week. There was still a bit of time left when that was finished and since the ladies got to see how I finished a work-in-progress, I figured I’d show them how I start a new one. I told them about Diamonds and Rust, how that would be the inspiration for the new painting.

Then I pulled out some heavy watercolor paper and  R&F Pigment Sticks.

I’ve gotta tell you about these things–OMG, run out right this second and get some! They handle like lipstick but they’re oil paint and the most fun ev-ah! There’s lots of brands out there but R&F is my absolute favorite–and they’re not paying me to say that (although R&F peeps, if you should stumble upon this blog I’d be happy to have a conversation with you).

I wasn’t able to finish it during the demo so I took it home and set it aside for a few days. Truth is, the bit about diamonds had me blocked. I mean, diamonds? Really–how do I paint that?

I was stuck.

And then the muse did  one of her famous head slaps reminding me the song was for inspiration, not literal interpretation. As Homer would say, “D’oh!”

This is where inspiration took me–

I came up with that title on the fly right now because it reminds me of an old rusted out baby blue wheelbarrow we used to have. If someone else wants to interpret the title as lost love, well that’s fine too.

I was fond of that wheelbarrow.

This will be available as prints later this spring along with all the other pieces I’ve been saying will be available. If you want to know when I release them, be sure you’re on my list.

Added bonus–when I was searching my photos for the wheelbarrow I discovered I have a WHOLE ALBUM OF RUSTY THINGS!!! A whole album of inspiration. So now I’ve got enough inspiration for a whole ‘nother series.

All because Bob broke Joan’s heart once upon a time.

Part 4: Your Turn

I’d love to hear from you—has a song or a random spark ever taken over your life and/or your creative process? Of course it has–do tell. Drop a comment below and share your story! Thanks for reading, and pay attention to the signs your muse is showing you.

Even if it’s worms!

Till next week–

PS-Hey Bobby–this one’s for you!