Inspiration in Artwork

By: Aaron Van Fossen

Aaron Van Fossen is an author, illustrator, musician, soccer goalie, graphic designer, and all-around artist. He has been published by Vision Forum magazine, and in 2008 won the David Melton “Written and Illustrated By” national competition by Landmark Books. Currently, he is studying Graphic Design at the University of Northern Iowa. When Aaron is not writing or making art, you might find him attacking the road on his bike, making music, chugging chocolate milk, singing Disney songs (wait… what was that?), blowing bubbles from the dish soap bottle, lifting at the gym or playing sports. 

Great! You've grabbed a pen, your journal is open and your laptop is fully charged. Hours have been spent in the library, books have been read and you have opinions on all of them, good and bad.

Now you have decided that you want to write a story.

But, the screen is blank. You now understand how that little “curser” received its name as it teases you with its blinking…blinking…blinking… and you cry out, “I can’t think of anything to write!”

You need some ideas. How do you find them?

Something that has helped me tremendously with my writing over the years is my love of art. It isn't just looking at the artwork that’s inspiring. It’s the story-sparking that the artwork encourages if you engage your senses and ask questions.

The five senses are exciting starting points for story ideas because our senses bring back such strong memories. Something as simple as a cool breeze billowing through an open window could remind you of that night on the beach when you were ten… It was early evening and you put on a sweatshirt because the breeze rippling the ocean sent shivers down your arms. It was too cold to swim, so your dad got out a Frisbee and tossed it to you. No matter how hard you tried, the ocean breeze caught the disk and sent it twirling in a crazy arch so that it landed far from your aims. You were worried he’d be frustrated, but both of you laughed so hard your sides hurt.

See what I mean?

Artwork is always teeming with images that can stimulate the senses. What can you (or the characters in a painting, if there are any,) see? An ancient forest? The ocean at sunset? A playground? A group of horsemen? What can the characters hear? What can they smell? How do you feel as you look at the artwork? Hot? Playful? Soaked? Tired? Vertigo? Why?

This is “ The Herring Net” by Winslow Homer. My short story "Prout’s Neck" was inspired by this painting, and the opening sentences draw from its mood and the five senses:

The pale moon of late spring cast its ghostly light down upon the face of the dark waters, touching each wind-driven wave-top with flecks of cold silver. Sighing breakers crashed endlessly upon the beach, weary after their journey from the corners of the earth. Above the tideline, whirling gales chased dry sand against the rocks, forcing each particle to sing in the piercing hymn that blended with the sounds of the mighty deeps.

A small craft bobbed amidst it all, looking everything but in control as she rose and fell at the whim of the waters. Two figures sat inside, looking far too large a cargo for the vessel which carried them. Without any warning, rain suddenly began to pour, the heavy drops plummeting into the bay like tiny comets. Only one manned the paddles, just able to direct the boat as the churning waters propelled her forward.

Another thing artwork can do is prompt questions. Have you ever noticed how great kids are at asking questions? They are so good at it that many of us cringe when we feel that all-too-familiar tug on our shirtsleeves. During the summer, I work at a YMCA summer camp and these are just a few of the questions I’ve received from kids over the weeks: How does grass grow? Do teachers go to the bathroom? Is it ok to stomp on bugs? What do you do if you find a bat clinging to the basement wall? Do worms sleep? What makes wind? Why do people plant daffodils but pull up dandelions when they’re both yellow flowers? How many snowflakes does it take to make a snowball?

I think writers can learn a lot from kids. Homer’s “The Herring Net” has plenty of unanswered questions: Who are the two characters in the boat? What are their names? What are they doing? How long have they been out in the rain? Where do they live? Where are they going? Is this scene the beginning of the story... somewhere in the middle... or the climax?

Let your imagination run wild! Next time you see a piece of artwork, think of it as a still-shot from a movie. Let the mood of the painting ignite your senses, ask a few questions, and soon you will be finding that big idea you have been so desperately looking for.