Keeping your creativity alive has always been a challenge, but in the era of work from home, where the lines between work life and home life have blurred and where burnout and social disconnection are rising, creativity is at risk. We’ve asked some of the most creative folks we know for advice on how to keep one’s creativity alive.
Devon Ortiz
So to back track a little bit, I assembled a group of talented photographers and models in a little community I created to share creative concepts I would love to do with this talented group. We pick a date and location for the theme and we create magic that day. Read More>>
Mandy Hull
A big part of keeping creativity alive is staying close to what’s happening in the resin art business. It doesn’t come from sitting back and trying to “think of new ideas”—it comes from seeing the problems, the gaps, and the pain points in real time. Read More>>
Mathias White
Since I was young I’ve always paid special attention to light, how it moves, shapes a space or face. I remember being fascinated by the different colored street lamps along the road. Light, by nature, is never static, its always changing and offering a new perspective. As a gaffer, that idea translates directly into my work. Read More>>
monica jackson
Creativity is the spark of life—it’s what fuels my passion for designing immersive experiences that engage all five senses. Through my portfolio of work with my company Prissi Productions and in live events, I stay deeply attuned to the world around me, observing what evokes happy feelings, and connection with the people around me. Read More>>
Kristen Kellogg
I keep my creativity alive by finding new inspirations every day. This could be from being outside on our beautiful property getting inspiration from nature, talking with friends and family about their lives, or watching the joy and interests of my children. Read More>>
C.H. Carter
This might sound funny, but one of the ways I keep my creativity alive is by having specific time set aside to allow myself to be creative. If I don’t add that writing time to my schedule for the week, I find that I start making excuses why I should handle other things instead, tackle chores, do the laundry. Read More>>
Cade Wilson
I keep my creativity alive through pouring into hobbies that support the best version of myself. For instance, I love to cook and bake; so, making a nice meal after a long week or even making smaller, more time/budget friendly meals after long days really helps to cleanse my brain and let it focus in another creative area. Read More>>
Ania Nun
I don’t try to keep creativity alive in the conventional sense. For me, creativity is not something to maintain, it’s something to access. My work often emerges from uncomfortable states: processing painful experiences, trauma, dreams, intrusive thoughts, physical sensations, and unresolved emotions like anger or rage. I don’t ignore these states, I follow them. In my work, I try to make these internal conditions visible. Read More>>
Joseph Oxley
Creativity, in my opinion, is born from exploration and time. Muted Entity is an exploration of hand-brewed coffee and the creative process. This journey spans four years, beginning with the six months I spent living in Japan in 2020. Navigating a new country I had previously only studied, and later navigating post-pandemic New York, forced me to move differently. Read More>>
AriDy Nox
For me, creativity is what emerges when I have created the conditions to be truly and deeply inside of myself. When I have journaled, when I have set aside time to lie in the grass on a sunny day, when I have played my ukulele very badly and with much joy. Read More>>
Delaney Hathaway
Ever since I was a child, I remember being told again and again that I was destined for a life in the arts. I absolutely loved performing in front of people and always found art classes in school relaxing, easy, and fun. Read More>>
Dalimar Vega
Creativity, for me, is a constant state of awareness. Inspiration is everywhere if you stay open to it — a flavor, a memory, a place you’ve visited, even a moment from everyday life can spark an idea. In baking, I love working with what each season naturally offers. Read More>>
Chris Barron
I watch movies pretty much every day, so that’s a big part of it. I feel lucky to work in a field that I genuinely love, because it never really feels separate from my day-to-day life. Even when I’m just watching TV or online content, I try to stay an active audience member—whether it’s a film, a commercial, or something quick on social. Read More>>
Jungsoo Kim
Maintaining creativity actually comes from discipline. It requires the commitment to show up at the studio even when I don’t feel like it or when I feel lazy. Some days I may not produce many ideas or sketches, but it’s important not to feel discouraged by that. Read More>>
Karina Longo
Creativity, for me, often begins with music. Sound has always been a kind of catalyst, like a call that invites a response, and that response tends to become poetry. I’ve always felt a need to enter into dialogue with art: to question it, answer it, and often merge it with my own truth and perception. Read More>>
Emma Adkins
I have a very long list on my phone of every random tattoo idea I’ve ever had and think sounds cool. These ideas will pop into my head at the most spontaneous times and I have to write them down before they are gone from my brain forever. Often it comes from seeing things out and about. Read More>>
Donna T. Brown
I try very hard to be present with my thoughts when my creative juices are flowing. At my age, I can’t afford to dismiss or make mental notes of these thoughts because they’re fleeting and I’m forgetful. While prayer and meditation triggers my creativity, for the most part, ideas enter my mind randomly. Early morning is the most fruitful time of the day for me. Read More>>
Tracy Marie Oliver
Creativity and Playing the Long Game I fell in love with words and writing in the first grade when my teacher read my first story aloud to the class. I was astonished when, at the end, everyone—even my arch nemesis, David Altmeyer—cheered. I was hooked. Read More>>
Eric Sherman
What keeps my creativity alive isn’t the search for ideas—it’s the inability to ignore problems. I don’t experience creativity as something abstract or artistic. For me, it starts with friction. Something doesn’t work the way it should, and once I notice it, I can’t really let it go. It stays with me longer than it probably should. Most people move on. I tend to stay. Read More>>
Laura Tarchini
Creativity isn’t something I need to keep alive, it’s always been present from a very young age until now. I used to paint only when I felt sad or lost. It was a form of therapy, and in many ways it still is. But I realized I can use all of my emotions to fuel that creativity, both the positive and the negative. Read More>>
Courtney Wadd
I find it surprisingly easy to keep my creativity alive in this industry because there’s always something new to explore. Lash artistry is so much more diverse than people expect. There are countless styles, colors, textures, curls, and weights that allow for endless customization. Whenever I feel like I need a creative boost, I make it a point to learn a new style or technique. Read More>>
Michael Deloach
Knowing myself, creativity isn’t something I have to chase, it’s something I already live in. The key is protecting and nurturing it. I pull inspiration from my real life, from my residents, my events, the seasons, and my personal journey, so instead of waiting for ideas, I stay intentional about documenting what I’m already doing. Read More>>
Jayson Andrew
The most important thing I can do to fuel it is to live. When I allow myself to be present and receptive to all things around me, it naturally fuels my creativity. I’ve made the mistake in the past of sitting down to write a certain number of songs in a certain amount of time, which definitely did not work. Read More>>
Kate & Logan Horn & Clancy
Kate: For me, a big part is novelty. Finding new materials to work with, selling at new events, seeing the beautiful new art my friends make, and all that good stuff. They give me inspiration and ideas to build on. I try to never get too stuck in a groove. When I try new things and experiment, that’s usually when I make my best work. Read More>>
Billy Conahan
The first time I got a reaction onstage I was immediately hooked. The joy of eliciting a reaction from strangers was a revolutionary idea for me. Finding what people will respond to is definitely a part of the journey. When you’re a stand up, you look for laughter. Read More>>
Jessica Tour
Creativity, for me, is something that’s constantly nourished through life itself. Travelling has been one of the biggest gateways it expands my perspective, shifts my energy, and opens me up to new ways of seeing and feeling. Being in different environments awakens something in me that I can’t access when I stay in the same place for too long. But more than anything, it’s people. Read More>>
Alejandro De Armas
I keep my creativity alive by staying inspired to everything around me. That could be art in a museum, a film I’m watching alone, or just the beauty of where I am. I’m always trying to absorb those moments and build off those inspirations in my own way. Keeping an open my mind is always a helpful tool in this process. Read More>>
Miracle Poole
Keeping my creativity alive has been a lot like keeping my kids alive. Making sure they’re well fed, are prepared for the weather, and given lots of love and space to explore and grow. Of course, I can’t feed my creativity broccoli, but I find that encouraging words work just fine. I love speaking life into the things I create. Read More>>
Erik Adigard
Africa, where I grew up, is where my curiosity and imagination first took shape; and where they began to guide my life. Over time, my travels shifted from places, cultures, and languages to more conceptual territories, through a career as a visual designer and teacher. Read More>>
Patrice “PATARROZ” James
I keep my creativity alive by being grateful to be living. I believe everything around us exist to experience. Music is a constant motivator. The universe has its own score. Have you ever just sat in silence somewhere just to hear the soundtrack to your surroundings? Every experience positive or negative is an opportunity for creative expression. Read More>>
Brian Agu
Key thing for me has always been to not be afraid to make a decision. Sounds crazy but trusting my gut and dreaming big. Whatever you set your mind towards. Make it big. Your brain will drive you with ideas towards that goal. Read More>>
Piper Robbins
In order to keep your creativity alive, you need to convince yourself that it can never die in the first place. Giving yourself the luxury of working with multiple mediums will give your creativity abundance and nourishment. I cannot only do one thing. Some days I paint with oil, some days with acrylic. Some days I practice my viola, other days I compose. Read More>>
Mwendwa Rwakatare
I keep my creativity alive through three ways; by maintaining a curious and contemplative outlook on life, by constantly finding ways to be inspired to create, and simply through the act of constantly creating. Maintaining a curious and contemplative outlook on life has helped me see things from various perspectives. I find that helps life feel full of novel experiences. Read More>>
Wisdom Abraham
I keep my creativity alive by constantly ENGAGING in activities around my craft.. e.g more recording, street freestyles with other artists and creatives, more song writing ,watching documentaries of bigger Artists talking about their success stories learning from them and also beat making….. Read More>>
Shelah Ball
Growing up, I always had this nagging thought that art didn’t have as important of a place in the “real world” as all the intellectual and professional pursuits of adulthood. But I have been proven wrong in the best of ways. Creativity has been an undercurrent in my life since I was a small child. Read More>>
Vinnie Velez
Keeping my creativity alive means never ignoring the ideas begging for life inside me. As an actor, writer, and filmmaker, creativity is life. I have a strong belief that creativity flows through us all, throughout our lives, like energy. Learning to listen and tap into our creative consciousness is everything. There is a reason why my Instagram handle is @TheSeekerOfMagic. Read More>>
Sara Powers
For me being creative is how I escape from everyday life. Being able to make things and then share them with others is something that drives to me keep creating new things Read More>>
Cloe Galasso
Nature keeps my creativity alive! Sitting down to watch the water move under. a breeze, or hearing the leaves crack under my feet. Every time I feel stuck in my work I will just go out for long walks try to reach the nearest park to take my shoes off and walk on the grass. Read More>>
Xavier Nwamba
For me, creativity isn’t something I chase, it’s something I stay connected to. First and foremost, I keep my spirit aligned with God. Everything flows from that place. When I spend time in prayer, in the Word, and in quiet moments just listening, that’s where the melodies are born. Sometimes it’s like a whisper… sometimes it’s a full song download. Read More>>
