Not Knowing

Free post

I read an article about the artist for the Calvin and Hobbs comic strips, Bill Watterson. He mentioned that he was doing the comics as a daily life review but added in a character Hobbs, the stuffed tiger doll, for another character who was a friend who always stood beside him.
When artists look at other's works sometimes we have the thought "How in the world do they think of this stuff?"
When Watterson is asked this question his reply is he takes it from things he experiences and watches currently and traumatic moments. Not only situations he was put in but ones he has heard about and seen.
Sometimes Watterson says he cannot think of anything and is stuck on one project for days.
He keeps a book handy with him to write down any inspirational scenes or sayings that would help for later topics. Watterson says his technique most of the time was to sit down at his desk, pencil in hand, and stare at the paper until an idea comes to him.
I find when I want to draw but cannot find an idea a very difficult and annoying situation so reading that professionals also have problems with that comforts me. Hopefully it comforts others too.