One of the most challenging aspects of creative work is keeping your creativity alive. If only it was as easy as taking a nap or giving your creative muscles some rest, but as countless creatives have shared with us, keeping one’s creativity alive is something that requires effort and intention. Below, we’ve shared some of those perspectives, stories and advice.

Callie Lawrence

Creativity is the most pure form of self expression in my opinion. When you really look at a creative’s work, you can really unpack who they are in the small details that make their work original. For me, I am always expressing myself through my love of nature and animals. When I’m feeling stuck, the best way for me to get over the hump is to plan a day trip to explore with my dog, Hank and my camera. Read More>>

Maggie Moak

In a world that constantly demands availability it can be extremely challenging to slow down and emerge into our own creativity. We need creative minds to keep the world spinning and for me, that means letting go of what society demands of us and tuning into the art of being present in the moment and creating with my hands. Read More>>

Debbie Silberberg

There is an intuitive, free flowing, dreamy quality to my creativity. I walk through my 100+ year old back yard and find surfacing pieces of glass, pottery, metal, and shells and use these treasures to create pieces of artwork. The act of walking over rocks and through trees opens my creative spirit. Sometimes I pick up a piece, like a handle for a red wagon and know instinctually what I will be creating. Other times, I have a scavenger hunt to find the correct pottery size to finish a piece. Read More>>

Ethan Qua

I just try to make cool art and music that makes people laugh! I find that when I start taking myself too seriously, the art ends up coming out weird and not right, so I try to avoid it. I think human interaction’s really important to my process. I love making art with my friends and seeing their reaction to what I’ve been working on. Read More>>

Fahim Akbar

Honestly, I often find myself in creative slumps, especially when I’m deep into drawing and animating for one of my videos. When that happens, I’ve learned that stepping away and engaging in a different creative activity helps recharge my inspiration. Sometimes, I switch from digital art to sketching in a notebook as a way to go back to the joy I felt for drawing since I was a kid. Other times, I play creative games like Planet Zoo or Prehistoric Kingdom, allowing myself to create in a fun and relaxed way.  Read More>>

Momo Boosamra

– Child-like curiosity. In a world filled with an overwhelming amount of things sent our way to “influence”, i like to find that wonder and magic that so many of us lose as adults. Not only being open-minded, but being adaptable, teachable, and passionate through it all. Our dreams aren’t planted in us for no reason – it’s up to us to nurture that seed into whatever magic fuels us most. and when it all goes astray – re-grounding with what sparks our imagination the most Read More>>

Hannah Benson

My creativity has always flowed in various forms throughout my life. At first it was drawing and painting and then eventually it formed into makeup and digital content creation. Every once in awhile creativity can be hard to come by, especially if there is no inspiration. So in order to find inspiration to keep that creativity alive, you have to find the beauty in everyday things. You have to scour the internet for inspiration and ideas and moments that move you enough to get off your ass and create something inspiring.  Read More>>

Emilee Marburger

Keeping my creativity alive as a photographer feels like an adventure. Imagine this: one day, I’m crawling in the grass to capture a flower from an ant’s perspective, and the next, I’m dangling fairy lights in front of my lens to add a dreamy glow to a portrait. It’s all about keeping things playful!

There was a day I challenged myself to photograph only reflections—puddles, mirrors, shiny spoons—you name it. By the end, I had a gallery of upside-down worlds that made me feel like I’d unlocked a secret dimension. Read More>>

Ashley Artrip

Creativity, for me, blooms at the crossroads of the unexpected. I find magic in the collision of different worlds—where architecture influences software design, where ancient philosophy reshapes modern leadership, where a morning hike sparks a breakthrough in problem-solving. Read More>>

Charity Stewart

I often work in production mode, crafting hundreds of identical glass designs. I find the repetitive process meditative and therapeutic. Yet, creativity is in my blood—I must experiment with new ideas and techniques or else I feel stagnant and frustrated. Read More>>

Heather Davis

I keep my creativity alive by immersing myself in the art and culture that inspire me most—particularly Renaissance art. Visiting art museums allows me to connect with the timeless techniques of the Old Masters, such as their use of light, shadow, and composition, which I incorporate into my wedding photography to create images with depth and drama. I love images that are evocative and that stay with you. Wedding Photography is special in this way, as the images will live in many lives for generations to come. Read More>>

Julio Cesar Flores

Creativity, for me, isn’t something that just happens, it’s something I actively nurture. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is from a quote that Pablo Picasso said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”. Creativity doesn’t come from waiting for inspiration to strike; it comes from engaging with the world, staying curious, and constantly creating, even when I don’t feel inspired. Read More>>

Karen Altree Piemme

In the work I do every day, I facilitate workshops in the creative process with a wide range of people within our community (people experiencing incarceration, people experiencing housing insecurity, youth in the foster system, seniors experiencing dementia, etc.). These workshops are designed to help participants access their imaginations and use the tools of theatre and storytelling to bring their ideas to life.  Read More>>

Leyla Cui

I keep my creativity alive by immersing myself in a continuous dialogue between observation, introspection, and creation. My process is deeply influenced by literature, philosophy, and everyday encounters that evoke emotions and memories. I see art as a way to translate complex, often contradictory feelings into visual narratives, which keeps me engaged and constantly evolving. Read More>>

Serra Utkum Ikiz

For me, creativity is not just about making art, it’s also about the way we live our lives. Some people naturally have a creative mindset, but even then, it’s important to find ways to keep that creativity alive. When I hit creative blocks, especially in my visual work, I turn to writing or experiment with different mediums to see things from fresh perspectives. I also enjoy exploring alternative social media platforms, which often spark new ideas and inspirations. Read More>>

Yang Qian

When I start an illustration, I like to create little stories inspired by the people and objects around me. I can’t help but fantasize every day, and this always leads to interesting scenes in my mind that I want to bring to life on paper. Read More>>

Herman Mayfield

My creative inspiration emerges powerfully from the everyday routines and experiences around me, coupled with the unique and unconventional ideas that I’ve been blessed with. I actively seek out hair showcases and networking opportunities within our vibrant profession, knowing the value they bring. I proudly acknowledge the legends, both local and international, who have shaped my creative process.  Read More>>

Jazmine Alexa

Before fully answering this question I think that it’s really important, at least to me, to just briefly break down what “creativity” means/is. I recently listened to an episode on the healthy hoes podcast on Spotify where the host, Ri, was talking about creativity and how we as a society often view creativity like it is for a “collective few” like you are either a creative person or you are not and the reason I’d like to to start answering the question from here is that creativity is NOT just for a handful of people, it is for everyone.  Read More>>

Kaytlynn Nochowicz

It has taken me years to figure out what works best for me and keeping the desire to create alive. As a teenager, I would stay up into the early hours of the morning playing with my makeup and hair, so as an adult, I decided to go to cosmetology school. I thought that turning a passion of mine into a career would make going to my job a cake walk, but there is something that happens when you monetize your creative passions. A small bit of that spark can fade and leave you in almost a bit of an identity crisis. Read More>>

Amara Hoddy

I keep my creativity alive by staying deeply connected to my everyday experiences—whether it’s running my thrift boutique, managing my modeling agency, or creating content as a young mom. Inspiration comes from everything around me: the unique pieces I curate, the people I work with, and even the challenges I face. Read More>>

John Butera

I have always wanted to entertain in some way. In college, at St. John’s University, I was on the radio as a dj and sports broadcaster, reporter on the college TV, and writer for the newspaper. During and after college, i was at WFAN. After college, I worked at WRCN as promotion and marketing director, while being the morning show funny man. Read More>>

La Toya Jones

I find my biggest inspiration in nature. I’m constantly amazed by the little details, like the intricate pattern on a dragonfly’s wing or how sunlight dances on a seashell. There’s so much beauty in the natural world, and it sparks ideas that I might never think of on my own.

In my art, I really try to capture that beauty and uniqueness. I want each piece to reflect the depth of nature and share that sense of wonder with others. It’s my way of keeping that magic alive in everything I create, and I hope it inspires people to see the world around them in a new light. Read More>>

Jasmine

For me, keeping creativity alive involves continuously seeking inspiration, embracing curiosity, and maintaining a mindset of exploration. Regularly consuming art, music, literature, and culture beyond my niche helps spark fresh ideas. Visiting galleries, attending performances, and engaging with other creators can open new creative pathways. Collaborating with fellow creatives or joining discussions fosters the exchange of ideas and perspectives, often leading to innovative approaches. Read More>>

Shiyao Wu

My designs often reflect fragments of my daily life because I believe everything around me influences my creative process. Over the past four years living in NYC, I immersed myself in the city’s diverse neighborhoods, soaking in the unique styles and cultural vibes each area offered.

Even something as simple as walking down the street and observing restaurant designs becomes an artistic experience for me. I naturally view the world through a designer’s lens, paying close attention to details like store layouts, graphic placements, and color schemes—elements that shape the modern aesthetics and personality of each space. Read More>>

Joanna Emerson

We all are creative in various ways. Some of us paint. Some of us have green thumbs. Some of us do carpentry. I love to write and world-build–that is my preferred creative outlet. When people go too long without doing something creative, they wither. People are like C.S. Lewis’s wardrobe. We look at the surface and there doesn’t seem to be much that’s impressive. And then we open the door and find that it’s an awfully big wardrobe. That’s the potential that people have, and we can spur that in one another.  Read More>>

Raine Kittelstad

For me, creativity comes from responsibly taking on new challenges. If a client’s request is something I haven’t done before, but I know I can keep their hair healthy while delivering the service, that’s where the magic starts. I go back to my foundation—what I know works—then I start playing, testing, and refining. That little spark of fear when you’re stepping into something new? That’s what pushes you into creativity. If you never take on something different, you stay stuck in what you already know. Read More>>

Carolina Quintana Ocampo

For many artists, artist block can be one of the hardest problems to overcome. I’ve found that it can pop out of nowhere and can stem from our mood and other places. There’s no direct way to solve it, but I’m glad that I’ve figured out what to do when I feel it. I start by having fun. I grab messy mediums like oil pastels, charcoals, etc. and sketch whatever comes to mind. Just to get out whatever emotions are stuck.  Read More>>

Sharvette Mitchell

This is such a great question! At my heart, I am a creative. Mitchell Productions started with web design services and has since rolled off of that service and is more broadly focused on marketing, visibility, and branding strategies. Having been in this space in some way shape or form since 2008, there is always a need to stay creative. This is simply because the landscape is always changing. Read More>>

The Lipsmackers

Creating songs is a collaborative process for the Lipsmackers. In practice sessions, we bring an idea or even partially-created song to the other members and see how everyone responds. We share suggestions to both improve the song as a whole, and to include everyone’s own flavor to their parts. It’s important to support and encourage risk-taking and trying new things, even if they’re not expected to work right away. Read More>>