It is not uncommon in artistic circles to use prompts to get creative juices flowing. Quilting bees issue monthly challenges to innovate familiar blocks. Writers share a verb and see what words appear on the page. Mica and Noah Scalin lead 30 day Creative Sprints on the internet and results are shared online by many participants.
I belong to two local creative circles that use monthly prompts. When I am pressed by the studio work schedule, I can resent these commitments. I do not fail to use the prompts, but I do alter my approach to them. I have set time limits on the exploration of the theme. I have prepared in advance a design format to use for an entire year. This month, I put the two prompts together for one project.
Blue and tangle inspired a mosaic of fused cotton fabric on felt, which was stitched together by a tangle of lines of variegated thread.
Several days later, I cut the work into measured squares and free-cut triangles and rectangles. The free-cut pieces are stitched together and sandwiched between two layers of construction mesh. I like where this is going, but I do not where that is!
Do you use prompts to ignite your creativity? Do you let play inform your work?