what "creative magnet" means to me
I made it up! You can make anything up!
I consider myself a student of The Art of Noticing by
and give major credit to my Typography II professor in college who introduced me to this book.After sharing the book far and wide (with co-workers, friends, sisters, and the like) I decided to create my own sort of noticing laundry list, similar to some of the prompts in the book. I like to call these my “Creative Magnets”. Giving the name capital letters seems much too official but please let’s roll with it.
The way I define a Creative Magnet is anything I’m keen to notice while out and about in the world. And it can be random! Truly anything that demands one more second of looking, or an object that is novel in its surroundings. It’s like having a hungry part of my brain that’s only fed by being out in the world and really noticing what’s around me.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve done my best to compile a list of my personal Creative Magnets.
This list will likely never decrease in size. In fact, it’s subject to double in size! Triple! I’ll never not be inspired by the things around me!
Take a read through the list below and share your Creative Magnets in the comments (if you feel so moved). I would love to hear them!
When sidewalks are embossed with words, years, or last names
Finding a pen on the ground, bonus points if it’s a clicker
Latte art
Armored trucks
Sticker slaps on random things, light poles included
Bathroom graffiti
Fruit stickers
Perfectly smashed down Sharpie markers (not the brand new, too pointy ones)
Tags on clothes that have little embroidered messages
Footprints in concrete, especially if they are kid-sized shoes or dog paws
Grocery lists (both created and found)
Cupboards of mismatched mugs
Pigeons
Handwritten signs
People wearing fun earrings!
Thrifted books that have names or inscriptions in the front cover
Creative magnet! Love this. Subscribed to Rob and now to you. I love this synergy. 🥰
I'm a photographer, and often will climb over guard rails to jump in drainage ditches or go down unmarked paths, etc.. just to see what the average person doesn't and photograph it. When people comment on my photos and ask where it was shot, they're often stunned to find it was in the local grocery store parking lot or behind some building they thought they knew well.. Inspiration is hiding everywhere!