I get ideas in the middle of writing about how to get ideas. The simple act of walking down the path of writing about new ideas makes new ideas come into being.
Drawing and writing is even better. Then you are using both sides of your brain. Drite (Draw Write) your old ideas and problems and look at them upside down. Sounds funny but you would be surprised how useful this is for getting cobwebs out of your brain. Drite old cobwebs and watch them turn into a tapestry. Have fun with it. Relax to solve problems. Have a wacky Wednesday and do everything wrong and see what happens.
I am a Northwest artist who is fascinated by faces and people. I work with a brush drawing of a face or human figure. Then I apply ink, paint and gel in various layers to create rich colors and textures. Along the way my images are painted, scrubbed, rinsed off, then ink and paint are reapplied until the final image is finally revealed. The process of discovering who the figures will become keeps me "intrigued and absorbed."