Creativity

I have been working on my new layout for several years now, and even though it's small, I still have only 70% of my space finished; or close to it. So, 30% is still blank space. I was thinking how strange this process of creativity is and the strange feelings it brings to the stage. I have heard stories of stage writers and choreographers that literally get sick trying to come up with an expectable idea. We, as modelers in miniature, in one degree or another have similar feelings at times. The stage writer is under pressure but we, of course, are not. But sometimes we can feel a bit of stress if we stare at a blank space and can't seem to fill it in our minds. Then you have to tell yourself; it's a hobby! It's fun! No stress allowed! But then stage two takes over. The idea seems to pop into your head from nowhere. The feeling is similar to a.....? I can't think of a similarity. It is so unique. Well, this morning it happened to me. It is my joyful noise! I will start a new thread soon. It will be called, The house on the hill. I hope you will enjoy following along; and I hope I don't make a mess of it.

Coffee! I need coffee

 

What a beautiful way to describe it; "my Joyful Noise!"

But I find it hard to believe you could, let alone would, "make a mess of it" by the time you are done. False starts and re-routes don't count, as long as you keep at it!

I've known the joy of those "Ahah!" moments when an idea perfectly completes a vision (at least in my career as an electronic design engineer, not so much in my hobbies). Nothing like it...

 

This hobby is one of a carpenter, electrician, historian, civil engineer, craftsman, artist, problem solver, mechanic, painter, and then... yes, creator. When my creative juices take a hiatus, I put in a decoder or 2, when that doesn't grab me, work on a bridge or maybe decal a car, when that goes awry, I research or put in scenery somewhere. Haphazardly jumping from one to the other works for me as long as I am fairly organized about which ever one I'm working on. Keep at it long enough and VOILA! Look what you've "created". As long as one has a plan when the entire layout is blank, then eventually it will come together.

THE ONLY thing that is detrimental to the progress of our layouts is when (for whatever reason) we shut the door and never go back in to the layout room.

 

I get that thing too, in a lot of fields. I have an unfinished project lying around in a box somewhere for some time, and after a time, bam! The Idea. Usually when looking at something that might be useful to the project, but not even thinking of it.

I believe that process is a subconscious one, the brain already has all the little bits of information, clues, a few visual memories here and there, it all percolates down and brews for a while, and then the light bulb above one's head goes on.

Either its an inspiration of an idea, or coffee's ready. In any case, coffee helps stimulate the little grey cells...

I'll watch for your new thread.

 

I was telling a friend about my new idea, and he laughed and told me about an old Laurel and Hardy short film called, The Music Box. He told me it won an Academy Award. He also said it is the most popular of all the L&H short films. But what was so great is I could see it on youtube. I watched the whole thing and laughed so hard!!! I can see how my idea made him think of this old film. It was so fun !

 

I, too, remember that movie, viewed many times. Candy, you could do wonders with that scenario, even to having Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy on the stairs struggling with the piano. I look forward to your imagination at its finest.

 

It's nice to see others enjoy your postings as much as I do. I'm hoping these encouragements supply some encouragement.
Sounds like you have some new plans coming. Best wishes with them.

From what I've read I may be starting something soon as well.

 

Good luck !! Go for it!!!!

 

The Music Box

 

Much more realistic than most modern stuff.

 

They did their own stunts. They didn't have CG graphics to create whiz-bang special effects. They had to have an actual plot. They worked for a living. They had to use actual humor, clean, no cussing, no references to bodily excretions. They had real talent!

I remember this one from way-way-way back. Must have been on the Saturday Matinee on one of the local channels. They always cracked me up.

 

The TV station in Milwaukee had them back in the '70s & '80s.
Now I get mainly old unrealistic westerns and early 1900s crime drama.
But most do have trains. (Didn't want to wonder to far away)

 

My house will be accessed but concrete stairs as in the short movie but not nearly as high. I will need enough stairs to reach about 20 scale feet. I've ordered two packs of these steps. They have a landing every six steps up. I was thinking I could lengthen the landings just a bit. I've got to figure all this out. The harder I think the more smoke emanates from my red hair.

 

Smoking red hair. I remember that from my red head former spouse. Our red head daughter's smoke came from her high energies and charm.
The little ones skirt was hard to control as well.
Good morning all.

 

Some where seen a colorized. Was much more interesting, being use to see color films.

 

If you think hard enough your red hair might start to glow. Then we can find you even in the dark.

Just keep thinking. Thinking brings solutions to problems or challenges. Or just let it aside for a few hours or so, and then The Idea will pop up when you're looking at something completely unrelated (that's how I came up with my crinkled aluminum foil rock mold).

With your record so far, I'm not worried.

 

The creative process is kind of like going on a cruise. No, not that kind of cruise- the kind that usually starts out at the gas station. Get yourself a cold Coke and a pack of smokes, get your mind into that green DeSoto of yours, (OK, so in my case, it would probably be a CMW '53 Ford hardtop, dark blue with dual glasspacks, please. Let's ride 2nd gear through downtown Hicksville and rattle the store windows some.) roll the windows down and take a ride down your layout. Take some back streets. What do you see? What would you like to see? What was there before? What could be there next? What would you take from memories, both your own and those of relatives? We've seen the imagination that has gone into not only this layout, but your previous one also. Just let your mind run loose at odd times and you should find more than enough ideas to fill your remaining space, all while having some fun along the way. In fact, I'll bet you'll have to pick and choose. I know I did.