Sleep and art

Baby is sleeping

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2010

One of the things our fast paced society is going rogue
on is sleep.  We just aren't doing it apparently.  Hard
problem.  Because I know a vitally important part
of creativity is sleep.  We crave it, but aren't good at
doing it.  Tonight in my once a week community college
writing class I'll teach an essay on  The Heady Thrill of 
Having Nothing to Do, by Scott Adams.

His major point is that our incredible technology,
smart phones, and even this laptop I'm writing to you
on, are wrecking our creativity, because we don't have
down time.  He is the creator of the Dilbert series.
And he things boredom is essential for thought, and
creativity.

But sleep is an entirely different dimension, and
imagination flourishes when we get enough of it.
Two days ago wired by worry about family members
and friends scattered over this planet, and politics,
I didn't sleep at all.  My brain was fried and I dragged
myself around. Anecdotally I'd say that sleep drives
this artist.  So if you are exhausted, do yourself a favour
and go to sleep.  Apparently even a 26 minute nap helps.

Having a sleeping-for-creativity day.