Walking And Art

Today, while I was walking my dogs through windy fields, the idea for my fifth book blew into my head. The story, the voice, the whole nine yards. I can't recommend walking enough as a spur to creative inspiration. It is when I am walking that about 82.6% of my ideas for books, characters, and class exercises come to me. Plus, I am also reaping the benefits of exercise while I am mulling over the writing. Walking is good for both body and psyche. So go take a hike, already!

Another interesting thing happened today. I was having lunch with a friend and mentioned my class field trip this coming Saturday to write at the Mt. Holyoke College Art Museum. My friend said, "Did you know that there is a Janet Fish exhibit there now?" I certainly did, and that was the primary reason for the field trip. Janet Fish is a spectacular painter of light as well as domestic event. I wanted my students to see and respond to her paintings. It turns out that my friend is also a great admirer of Janet Fish's paintings, and indeed has a huge Janet Fish print on her dining room wall. She liked the idea of the field trip and the exercises, and might accompany us to write.
I've been incorporating the concept of ekphrasis into my classes lately, ekphrasis meaning the response of one form of art to another (think Keats's Ode To A Grecian Urn). I think it's a fabulous jolt to the imagination to put your characters into paintings, or have your characters respond to paintings (or other art forms). That's what we'll be doing Saturday. So in addition to a walk, get thee to an art museum for some inspiration.