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.
Lawrence Greenidge
Living a vibrant life has always helped me keep my creativity alive. Having new experiences, visiting new places and honest conversations with friends are some of my go-tos. I believe music and creativity are reflections of our lives. They help us express ourselves and communicate with each other. Read more>>
Almasi Maluki
I keep my creativity alive by finding art in my day-to-day life. From the people we meet to the routines we practice, to the places we find ourselves, there is art; furthermore, there is a story. Read more>>
Jane Trieu
It’s a combination of having discipline, being open to new things, and being connected to your community, but also knowing to trust your intuition which requires a lot of self-reflection and commitment. Out of the ones mentioned above, I think allowing time for play and experimentation is the most important because it can often lead to different paths to approaching creative problems for the future and helps build intuition. Read more>>
Christan van Slyke
What a good question! Some days are more challenging than others. I try to stay focused on the things in life that motivate me and help keep that spark alive. I find without motivation, creativity falls short. Read more>>
Matthew Kurtyka
This is a great question. As a creative and someone who’s livelihood is based off of creative output, I have spent years navigating this challenge. As it is very important to honor our bodies as well as what is feeling alive for us. When we have clientele or a schedule full of appointments, we can’t easily call everything off if we’re “not feeling it”. Read more>>
Rebeca Sanchez Montero
There are times when I feel like it comes out naturally out of the blue, especially when I get a lightbulb idea. However, creativity is something that I often research and work on. I’m often inspired when I scroll through artists on Instagram and go to gallery shows and art museums where I discover old masters and new local artists, which makes me itch to explore and experiment. Read more>>
Ann Floyd
Every time I hit a mundane or lack of creativity, I tell myself that “it’s okay”. I simply take a break. Doesn’t matter how long it takes, because I understood that I don’t have to force myself to come up with any design if I can’t or not feeling it. I wait for the creativity to flow. Read more>>
Bobbo Byrnes
Strummer’s Law: to get output, you need input. Read more>>
Sarah Ivey
Keeping my creativity vibrant is more than a job for me as a user experience web designer. It’s a way of life. I nurture every facet of my creative self to fuel my work. Here’s how I keep that creative flame alive: Read more>>
Sheri Ptolemy
The best advice I ever got was from my Creative Writing Professor at UBCO, Matt Rader. I was really struggling to stay productive one summer. I am very driven and like to accomplish as much as I can with the time I’ve given but I couldn’t write anything, no matter how hard I tried so I emailed him and asked him how he stays motivated. Read more>>
Michel Von Loh
Creativity has pretty much taken on the status of religion for me these days. Prior to that first pandemic lockdown in the spring of 2020, I’d probably have placed my creative urges and the ability to act on them more in the realm of a luxury (much like and undoubtedly stemming from its close association with education in my own life), but now I’m fully convinced that personal creative expression is as much a basic human need as food and healthcare and maintaining social contacts. Read more>>
Chara Kontopoulou
I think everyone is creative, just some people have more of it and can’t live without it. Creativity for me is seeing things from a different ankle than the majority. Read more>>
Daniele Jones
Feeling creative is what makes me feel alive! I feel most happy is when I’m in a flow state – whether it’s figuring out the next brushstroke on a painting, out on the water paddle boarding, trail riding on my bike, designing a website, or just improvising in the kitchen. Artistically, I often set up a series of challenges to be figured out later. Read more>>
Silvano & Melissa Clarke Barba
We love surrounding ourselves with like minded, creative people. It’s also a huge help when one of our customers wants us to create a new product for them. We will design it from scratch (pattern, sizing & execution). This gives us ideas for future products and definitely opens the creative door in our heads. Read more>>
Marlon Martinez
The way I keep my creativity alive is by constantly engaging in the music I love the most: jazz. Jazz music is the freedom of expression through improvisation and collaboration. This music calls for fresh creativity all the time, and every time I play this music, I’m challenged to deliver on-the-spot ideas that are genuinely me in that moment. As a jazz player, I’m also contributing to the longevity of this historic music that’s still thriving. Read more>>
Adriana Alexatos
For me, its not a question of how I keep my creativity alive but about allowing it room to breathe and live along side me. Creativity for me follows me outside of my studio and inside of everyday life. Knowing what I can do with time and materials that I have available and an ability to create what I need from what I have. Read more>>
Alex Prequel
In my work I keep my creativity active in curiosity and the desire to do something new, in most moments the moment in which I am most creative is making my Flashes (pre desings). they would be pre-designs that people can later book and get tattooed, but they are in the best of my choice, it is very different from making a costum design for a client, the creation is free and the creativity comes out better. Read more>>
Raquel dos Reis
I keep my creativity alive reading books, watching movies/tv show, talking with people in the industry, going to the museums, festivals… I like to see the world in different perspectives, so when I’m working I have more creativity. Read more>>
Misty D. Panda
I am always looking for new ways to do things. I keep myself on my own toes basically. I look for inspiration and inspiration is everywhere. I watch others because the creativity from others makes me wanna be more creative as well. I love that we all feed off of each other and see how beautifully creative we all are and with that comes the inspiration I need to keep my creative juices flowing. Read more>>
Caesar Osiris
Keeping my creativity alive involves embracing the belief that creativity is an inherent aspect of being human. It’s not limited to artistic pursuits but permeates every aspect of our lives. From mundane tasks like cooking and cleaning to more expressive outlets like writing or dancing, there’s always a creative way to approach things. I find that creativity is not just a skill but a mindset, a way of seeing and engaging with the world. Read more>>
Lisa Danaë
I write about my everyday experiences and emotions, so in order for me to be creative, I draw inspiration from life itself. Whether you’re traveling and exploring new places or going to a house party, creativity is all around. As creatives, we feel pressure to work nonstop which tends to lead to declining social invitations and missing out on life experiences. I was fighting this for years, but eventually I realized that living life wasn’t a distraction at all. Read more>>
Vivien Luo
For me, creativity is all about curiosity and an open mind. I’m truly grateful for the experience of different projects that have helped me develop and improve my skills in creating graphics, illustrations, and other digital products. Read more>>
Sydney Sweeney
Creativity is in everything I do. Job wise, I am an artist and an art teacher. I obsess over colors when I’m working on various commissions ranging from handmade digital stickers to a 2 by 5 feet acrylic painting. I love trying new crafts and am always up for a new creative challenge depending on my clients vision. Read more>>
Eliset Paricaguan
First it started that my children needed a glass. but I didn’t want a common glass bought in any store. I wanted something that would make them stand out. That when they saw the glass they were carrying they would realize that it was difficult to get and above all that it said their name. that is, a glass designed and thought about them. This is how my idea grows. Read more>>
Black Rock Candy
Creativity is the best part of what we do. When we write our music, its coming from personal experiences or feelings, which is such a great way to deal with life ups and downs. When we get inspired by an artist or a band, all of those creative juices start to flow and its the best feeling. Read more>>
Brit Tobin
I’ll never forget the first day of an elective art class in college. Lesson one: close your eyes and scribble. Odd. I immediately felt the urge to check my tuition statement and wondered why I paid so much for an “art” class for scribbling. But there was a lesson to be learned — it’s a lot like any discipline that requires creativity. Read more>>
Sandy Mays
Some of the biggest challenges designers have to overcome are fear, self doubt, and financial constraints, but for me, it’s time. Balancing self-care, financial responsibilities, and non-creative work can consume so much of our lives, we have little time to delve into the creative process. Finding time to be creative is an ongoing challenge. Yet ironically, the less time you spend thinking about the creative process actually helps cultivate creativity. Read more>>
Paul Nevins
For me, keeping creativity alive is about surrounding myself with people who inspire me, and helping in their creative pursuits. I grew up in a very musical household, and there were always older kids in the neighborhood who had a band. They were writing original songs, playing shows, and making recordings. Read more>>
Roxi Satni
I keep my creativity alive, as you keep the fire alive. like watering a plant, to me is something that needs to be constantly feeding and nurtured. I think creativity is part of live and yes it applies to create (art) but also to the ability to live the the life in the way you want. Read more>>
Kory Shore
Imagine an infinite library. It’s open 24/7 and is everywhere but can only be seen by those who are open to seeing it. In it, is every pure creative idea and thought; dark and light, magical and harsh, ancient and unimaginably futuristic. Read more>>
Jacyn Tremblay
Creativity can’t be forced. I think it was during the pandemic that I really made a conscious decision to “make a space” for my creativity. For me this is music-writing, recording and feeling the freedom to do it without a tight deadline. Read more>>
KARYCHANEL
keep my creativity alive by simply allowing myself to create. Sometimes being a creative, we are perfectionists and want to get everything right the first time, that when it doesn’t happen, it creates sort of a creative block, so just allowing yourself the creative realm to just be, and not be afraid to mess up or make mistakes makes it possible to keep your creative sense alive. Read more>>
Marckens Cesar
Well I usually take walks in the park , or go to beach I’m usually creative when I have a peace of mind so when I’m looking for creativity I just get lost in a nature. Read more>>
Haofang Dou
Maintaining my creativity is paramount in my journey as an artist. Constantly generating new ideas and seeking inspiration breathes life into my illustrations. One of my primary wellsprings of creativity is everyday life. Whenever a thought crosses my mind, I dedicate time to brainstorm about it. Read more>>
Stefanie LaHart
Keeping creativity alive is essential in the field of digital marketing, especially when working with ethical, sustainable, and compassionate brands. I have several strategies I’ve honed over my 20 years of experience. I engage in cross industry inspiration meaning I draw inspiration from various sectors, not just marketing. Read more>>
Rina Shin
The way I keep my creativity alive is by focusing on producing art that gives me joy. I also try to have a general gratefulness for life and things that exists around me. Appreciation is how I find beauty and meaning – this is where my creative ideas come from. Read more>>
Reco Wright Jr
It’s actually funny to me on how I keep my creativity alive. My mind is racing a million miles per hour. Anyone that knows who I am personally would know this about me. I’m very random and come up with outrageous topics or conversations out of nowhere. Not to mention this world is a humongous topic right? Read more>>
Keerthi Shanmugam
Creativity is always present in nature, I would like to share some of the aspects with respect to my views and from the society that mends my pathway. As a holistic approach to life we always intend to become the spiritual being that’s always present in us. Read more>>
Christopher Cucufate
Well before I started photography I always had a passion for cinema or movies or even video games etc. so sometimes from the movies in the past and present it inspires , gives me ideas to either incorporate what I’m doing or gives me a spark to try something new . Read more>>
Leila Dandan
Honestly, I feel like the biggest creativity killer is being overly self-critical. I used to say my secret was staying up really late, but I realized it only worked because I have worse judgment when I’m tired. My favorite songs have come from ideas I wasn’t sure I liked or from taking risks I don’t usually take. Read more>>
Markeyia Callahan
I’ve always prided myself on the ability to consistently stay planning. Meaning always to have several options to make the original plan work. Being inspired & very determined to not mimic the examples of failure I may have witnessed or often seen, I knew I had to stay focus on the absolute greatest parts of me! Read more>>
