i_need_to_work_on_my_imagination Piso Mojado it disappeared with puberty. any tips on getting it back? 030219 ... frAnk it never actually disappeared. your flesh will always attempt to betray your spirit, especially as you grow older. don't listen to it, or any various influences that cause you to attempt to deny the child within you. the fact that you desire it is evidence that it is present. no one can tell you how to do it. it is a secret that will only be revealed by yourself. john lennon once said, "when i was a boy, everything was right." we all are somewhat deceived thinking childhood has ended. becoming an adult doesn't mean we give up what it meant to be a child, it's more like we take the child with us along the journey, for he/she will be very important every step along the way. 030219 ... x hang out with kids 030219 ... ever dumbening though i think padre frAnk is correct in saying that no one can tell you how to do it, our telling of our own paths might be useful. taking three art classes and (the following doesn't leave this room) playing role playing games have pushed my brain into unfamiliar, sometimes uncomfortable areas. gardens and walks are good. live_jazz is good. i started down these roads after being surrounded by people with huge imaginations and wanting to release that from within myself. warning: it can be a slow and frustrating process, and will often feel very derivative. in the end, in my experience, human interaction is required. but then all roads lead to rome, and yours might be less populated. good luck! 030219 ... x For me, it never really went away. I think a lot of people get the feeling that they are not "good at" being creative and so stop. I've felt that way with drawing/painting type art. I decided to go on with it anyway. But sometimes you just need to find things you like to do. I like gardening (yes it requires creativity). I like sewing things without patterns. I like writing things without a purpose. The reason I said to hang around kids though, is because they still have that open ended creativity (as previously mentioned). Doing art with kids really makes me excited about doing art in general. I absolutely love how open they are to anything, and how full of ideas. Try fingerpainting. Try not being afraid to be messy. Try not being afraid to make a certain realistic picture. 030220 ... Piso Mojado thank you three for the thoughts and words and insight. 030220 ... monkey out in space i find that letting my mind wander into all corners of life - be it whatever - is a good way of getting things started. i believe it's a great way to examine possibilities and break down "reality", thus, finding alternate realities. open yourself to anything and everything, that is, let yourself be inspired by the world - in all meaning of the word. 050919 ... daxle "Oh I give myself such good advice but I very seldom follow it" 050919 ... alice in wonderland 050919 ... daxle yup, good work 050919 what's it to you? who go blather from