Let’s get one thing straight: Creativity is not polite.
It doesn’t show up when you light a fancy scented candle, sip herbal tea and say “I’m ready to be inspired now.”
Nope. Creativity prefers to crash your shower thoughts, whisper in traffic, or pop up mid-toilet break like, “Hey, draw this weird thing real quick.”
If you’ve ever wondered where your next big idea will come from, it might not be on a vision board. It might be hiding in the back seat of an Uber or inside your half-forgotten dream about talking goats.
Here are 10 wonderfully weird, totally unexpected places creatives often find their best, wildest, most brilliant ideas — and how to catch them when they strike.
1. The Shower (a.k.a. The Sudsy Sanctuary of Genius)
There’s something magical about warm water and your favourite soap that unlocks creative portals. No distractions, no phones; just you, your thoughts and the soap suds.
Creative Tip: Always keep a notepad nearby, ideas can disappear just as spontaneously as they appear. Your “shower idea” brain is pure gold and it should be treated as urgently and delicately as the plantain that you never take your eyes off while it’s frying.
2. That Dream You Barely Remember
You know the one — where you’re painting upside-down zebras on the moon and it somehow makes emotional sense. Surreal? Yes. Worth painting? Also yes.
Creative Tip: Keep a dream journal by your bed. Or voice-note your sleep-drunk randoms when you wake. Picasso would be proud.
3. Overheard Conversations
The world is a walking script. That couple whispering sweet nonsense to themselves at the cinema? Gold. That child asking why clouds don’t fall? Platinum. Let’s make use of our Poetic (artistic) License and call it research, not eavesdropping.
Creative Tip: Don’t be creepy. Just curious. And subtle. Bonus points if you turn snippets into characters, quotes, or visual art.
4. The Toilet (yes, really)
Let’s not pretend. You’ve had some of your best thoughts in there. It’s quiet. You’re seated. You’re away from expectations. It’s oddly… sacred?
Creative Tip: Next time you’re stuck on an idea, take a bathroom break. No shame. Greatness begins in weird places.
5. During Boring Tasks (a.k.a. The Muse Loves Mundane)
Folding laundry. Washing dishes. Untangling your headphones (do people still use those?). When your hands are busy, your mind wanders — and ideas sneak in.
Creative Tip: Embrace boredom as a creative gateway. Some of your most brilliant concepts are hiding behind a pile of socks.
6. Playing Games or Solving Puzzles
Games activate problem-solving parts of the brain — and sometimes unlock unexpected metaphors, themes, or colour palettes. Tetris has inspired more than one abstract painter. And why do you think we put up so many puzzles and riddles on our instagram page? To inspire you of course!
Creative Tip: Swap your sketchbook for Sudoku once in a while. Watch what happens.
7. In Traffic (a.k.a. The Slow Crawl to Enlightenment)
You’re frustrated. You’re staring into space. Suddenly — BAM! The concept for a painting about emotional gridlock hits you like a Danfo bus.
Creative Tip: Keep a voice recorder handy for those moments; Because who knew brake lights could spark brilliance?
8. Lost in a New Place
Whether it’s a new city or a wrong turn in your neighborhood, being lost shifts your perception. You notice shadows, colours, signs — things you usually ignore.
Creative Tip: Take a walk somewhere unfamiliar with no destination. Your inner artist loves a little chaos.
9. In the Middle of Cleaning Your Studio (and Finding That One Weird Thing)
That dried-up paint blob? It looks like a cat in a hat. That scrap of fabric? Instant collage material. Chaos gives birth to creativity.
Creative Tip: Clean up your space and let yourself get distracted. That “trash” might be your next masterpiece.
10. During a Full Existential Crisis at 3 A.M.
The “How did I get here?” spiral sometimes ends with the idea for a life-changing artwork. Your breakdown might just be your breakthrough.
Creative Tip: Keep a notebook next to your bed. Midnight madness has its moments.
So… Where’s Your Weirdest Idea Spot?
Was it in line at the bank? During a breakup? At your cousin’s wedding while pretending to enjoy small talk with distant family members who swear you were ‘this little’ the last time they saw you?
Creativity doesn’t care about being polite. It crashes in whenever it wants — your job is to let it in, wherever you are.
Final Note: The moral of this quirky tale? Your next great idea might not come from a brainstorming session. It might come from the bathroom, your dreams, or while deep in a beans-cooking trance. And that’s the magic. So stay open. Stay ready. Because inspiration is lurking… in very unusual places.
