Wet Canvas

Recently I have become active on the website WetCanvas.com. It is a great forum for connecting with other artists and learning from them.

I came upon a new post titled "How To Think Like A Surrealist"

It really opened up my mind to new ways of thought in a few very simple steps, and I can see it as a source of inspiration in future works of art. I could try to explain it in my own words, but I shall instead quote the Author "Mark_Sheeky" (again the original link can be found above)


"There are simpler ways to trick the conscious mind into releasing control. Let's try a surrealist game.

1. Start with word association of objects. Begin with a word or object; a cat for example. Then, without really thinking, think of something like that object. Repeat this a few times; You might have cat, dog, lead, bowl, cup, drink, eat, meat etc.
2. Now do the same; but this time try word disassociation. Starting with one object, each subsequent word or item should be as different from the preceding one as possible. Again, you should avoid thinking or pondering on each word.
3. Then try the same thing but with images or situations instead of words.

Now, different as you think the words in the word disassociation game are you will, upon analysis, find that they are connected. In fact, if you think of any two situations, as unconnected as possible you will find a connection because that connection was formed in your very brain.

When you see that connection you can see the meaning. And when you can instinctively see the meaning between two things that at first appeared unconnected, that at first were as unconnected as you could have possibly imagined, then you are thinking like a surrealist."

Whenever I am out of ideas of what to sketch or paint, I will try to play this game with my mind and see where it takes me.