Creativity Is a Funny Thing: Finding Inspiration in Everyday Moments

The other day, Matt and I stopped for lunch in Ardmore on the way to my sister’s place.

As we walked into the restaurant, I spotted this rusted metal contraption sitting out front. I really wish I had taken a picture to show you.

My immediate thought?

“That is a retro R2-D2.”

I could see it in my mind—struggling to roll along on wheels stiff from age and rust. I could even hear the creak of the wheels as it slowly inched along.

Matt looked at it, tilted his head, and said, “That’s an upside-down old propane tank.” Then he looked again and added, “Okay, I can kind of see what you’re talking about.”

We both stood there for a moment, wondering aloud why such a thing would be in the middle of a sidewalk outside a restaurant. Still no answer.

Art Is Everywhere (Even in a Pile of Rocks)

Fast-forward to this morning: I was helping Matt move rocks for a patio he’s building. (Let’s just say I hope it gets finished in my lifetime. Notice this is Matt’s project, not mine. 😉)

After filling a 5-gallon bucket with rocks, I stepped back to admire my effort. I looked down and thought, “Holy moly, there’s a rock shark in that pile trying to escape!” The crater left from my bucket looked like a shark mouth coming right out of the pile.

Pile of rock waiting to be hauled and poured into place. Creativity in everyday moments - a shark coming out of the rocks.

And just like that, my imagination was off. How would I paint a rock shark? What colors would I use? Could I add movement somehow?

That’s how it starts. My mind catches on something odd or whimsical, and the ideas start tumbling around.

Sketch First, Ask Questions Later

I always keep a sketchbook nearby. Not because I’m a brilliant sketcher, but just to get the basic idea down before I forget. Most times, I scribble a few words underneath the sketch to jog my memory later. Because more than once I’ve flipped back through old pages and thought, “What on earth was I trying to say with that?”

Sometimes, these ideas develop into a painting right away. Other times, they linger quietly on the pages for months—or even years—before suddenly becoming the thing I have to paint immediately. And still others? They’ll forever live in the sketchbook. Quiet little maybes. Untouched but still part of the process.

The Beauty of Interpretation

My art—and how it's interpreted by others—has especially taught me to appreciate different perspectives. Something I see as a whimsical robot might look like a propane tank to someone else. Or a rock shark to me might just be a pile of granite to another. And that’s okay.

Because creativity is messy. It’s personal. It’s sometimes funny and strange. But it’s always real.

Thanks for reading The 3rd Flamingo — a blog for art lovers, creative wanderers, and anyone who’s ever made a beautiful mess.

🎨 What sparks your imagination in unexpected places? Leave a comment or share your own “rock shark” moment below. I'd love to hear how your creativity finds you!