Keeping Your Creativity Alive

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.

Chelsea Diamond

There are times when it can be very easy to slip into burnout or a creative block. The main thing that helps me keep my creativity alive is allowing it to flow wherever it chooses too. Although I am an event planner and designer, creativity shows up for me in a variety of ways. I allow my creativity to show through my fashion, my home decor, through writing, even through how I choose to wear my hair. Read more>>

Nat Bradley

I’m frequently asked about the sources of my inspiration and whether I ever experience creative blocks. First, I must express my deep passion for art, experimentation, discovery, and expression. When you are really in love with something, it is easy to stay interested. I have learned to focus on the creative process rather than fixating on the end result. Read more>>

Dan Vanderhoof

I had to learn, through trial and error, that creativity or inspiration is not something you wait for or depend on, it’s something that wakes up and grows wings only when you are working. All the problems of lack of creativity or whatnot come from inaction. As soon as you act, as soon as you pick up that brush, that’s when you find inspiration. So the hardest part for me is getting started. Sometimes I hate walking into the studio. Read more>>

Steven Salgado

Working is my primary means of keeping my creativity alive. As an artist, I engage in projects that continually inspire me. I particularly love being involved in theater or film projects, as they not only fuel my creativity but also give me a sense of vitality. Read more>>

Ricardo Bello

I keep my creativity alive by thinking that we always need to innovate. Sometimes we have an idea for work or life, but we always need to reinvent ourselves to move forward. This pandemic, for example, was an example of having to keep creativity alive to find an intelligent way to survive amid the chaos the world has experienced. We need to innovate and renew to always achieve new successes in our personal or professional lives. Read more>>

Anais of F.A.M.E Worldwide Inc

Creativity is all around us, all we need to do is tap into that source. As kids, the source is always with us. While growing up that source starts getting pushed to the back by habits and teaching of others that start to shape our lives. Once we’re adults and have the freedom to outgrow what no longer fits us, we can comb through the teaching and habits that no longer fit and replace them by tapping into our Creative source and being truly honest with ourselves. Read more>>

Britt Davis

To keep my creativity alive, i keep myself “Creatively Hydrated”. Just like the body needs water, our creativity needs to be fueled. Sometimes I have ask myself “did you drink water today? I do the same with my creativity – did you do something to hydrate your mind today? What I love most about this, is the range of fuel I can take in. Passion projects, podcast, books, articles, documentaries. Read more>>

Paul Hibbard

I love film and everything I do as a filmmaker is to partake in this remarkable and at times intimidating industry. In a way, this seems like a no-brainer. Filmmakers should love film, but from where I come from in the midwest, that’s not always a given. But the passion for film is what keeps me driven. Read more>>

Nancy Cortés

As an artist I have to keep my creativity active and in the moments when I feel stuck I look for new activities, such as taking workshops, going for a walk in a new park, finding new music, watching documentaries about people who inspire me, etc. Read more>>

Rachel (R.A.) Hemsley

When I was a kid growing up, the curled shavings on my windowsill left over from my dad unsticking the window weren’t bits of caulking — they were tiny fairy scrolls. I wasn’t a film school student sitting in a sandwich shop in Orange County on a rainy day — I was the main character in one of my novels or movies, sitting in a pub in England. Being a writer from a young age, people expected me to be imaginative and fanciful about the world. Read more>>

Tori Piscitelli

I keep my creativity alive by enaging in other artists’ work involving their stories and break them down to to relate to mine. I am always looking for new techniques to add to my work to expand my portfolio. I also work with and bounce ideas off my partner, Dray Reid, to see what new and exciting projects can be created. I do, also, engage with other artist quite frequncy in my class as well in critiques helps me stay engaged. Read more>>

Michael Cuartas

I feel most creative when I have a camera with me. It may sound like a simple answer but it’s true! Read more>>

Kim Koehler

How do you keep your creativity alive? When I felt alone as a teenager, I would get lost painting all weekend. When I was frustrated with my day job, I created my own greeting card line on the side. When my daughter was born with a life-threatening heart condition, I began writing a blog daily and sending my work for publication. People who don’t make art will sometimes say, “Oh I’m not creative” but I believe everyone is and it does not have to be something you sell.

Sin Kennedy

Switch it up and change your environment. I have been one of those that get in that “grind” mode where you wake up, work, and sleep then repeat it all over again the next day. That gets repetitive and starts to eat away at your soul. The best way I have found to keep my creativity alive is to get out and change my environment or do something I normally wouldn’t do. Read more>>

Nic Starr

I learned a long time ago that there is nothing new under the sun… Music, Songs, Stories. The only thing different is what we do with the notes or chords, and how, or why we tell the stories that are tell. I keep my creativity alive by telling these stories utilizing my own life experiences, my perspective, my environment. There lies the difference, or the niche that makes you different, or allows you to find your own space, your own voice. I’ve learned to embrace my Voice… the good, the bad, and the ugly. Read more>>

Liane Pensack-Rinehart

I have always been crafty and artsy growing up, and was heavily influenced by my Mom who when she wasn’t teaching, was scrapbooking, quilting, or finding craft ideas to keep my sister and I entertained. Before discovering chocolate and artisan bonbons, I was a software engineer. When I wasn’t programming for my day job, I would start various side, craft projects – making blankets, scrapbooking, learning to make earrings, or hand sewing keychains. Read more>>

Tetiana Riggs

I am consistently looking for new clients and developing new ideas. I work with children on their creativity with daily crafts. I am an artist who has a notebook near my bad so if an idea sparks in the middle of the night, it’s documented. I surround myself with other artist who give me encouragement and the inspiration to keep painting. As my creativity enhances, with the coming year I foresee a new journey through art. Read more>>

Joanna Gates

I am a Confident, Creative, and Optimistic Self-starter with an Open-Minded attitude of curiosity, dedicated to helping people to help themselves. What I do is multifaceted and flexible as I work to support the best interests and goals of my clients; as an Educator, Counselor, Coach and Mentor. Read more>>

Zijie Zhou

I feel that maintaining the vitality of creativity is somewhat akin to the laws of nature; just as nature has its sunny days and its torrential rains, a creator’s state can also fluctuate between good and bad. However, if one attempts to appreciate the beauty in these unpredictable changes, then creativity can occur at any moment. Maintaining a detached perspective to observe and discover the beauty in these fluctuations is key. Read more>>

Olivia Ogren-Hrejsa

Creativity is available to everyone, and you cannot use it up. However, when my resources are depleted, as when I am over-committed or nearing exhaustion, my creative spark reduces to a low-burning flame instead of the previous brightly lit fire. To keep my creativity alive, I have learned that I must allow for rest and space. Practicing physical and mental rest and allowing for off-time in my schedule has been a surprising challenge for my workaholic tendencies. Read more>>

Santosh Kumar Ketham

Creativity is fuelled by challenges, crises, and problems in my experience. The hunger for solutions drives thinking beyond the conventional, encouraging exploration and experimentation. Importantly, taking risks by breaking away from traditional approaches is key. Read more>>

Krista Hill

As a full time artist, keeping my creativity alive is essential. This starts with self love and self care. I acknowledge that I am a vessel for creativity, so I consume inspiration to keep it flowing. My biggest inspiration is found in nature and culture. I travel far and near as often as I possibly can. The deeper into nature I can go the better. Read more>>

Madison Thomas

In times where I find it difficult to gather ideas, I do absolutely nothing. Although this Sound strange, there is truth and beauty in doing nothing and being more in tune with your own life and experiences to keep creating alive. I never like creating under pressure unless I’m in the right place and mindset to do so. Read more>>

Denise Campbell

Creativity, to me, is more than just a spark—it’s a dynamic force that requires nourishment. It thrives in diversity, so I intentionally surround myself with individuals from various backgrounds and disciplines to keep my creativity alive. No one person holds the monopoly on good ideas; therefore I network! It’s really the cultivation of a community of innovators who inspire and challenge each other. Read more>>

Tristan Kilmer

As an artist deeply committed to nurturing my creativity to new spaces, I’ve discovered several essential practices that have helped me sustain and evolve my artistic spirit over the years. Exploration and experimentation lies at the core of my creative journey. I delve into various art forms from hand animation to live action, experiment with different techniques such as VR and CG , and consistently challenge the boundaries of traditional approaches with new ones. Read more>>

Mario Loor

I usually wake up with music in my head. I have made it a habit to work on something everyday. Jumping out of the same routine always helps too. Books, music, films, art and watching interviews get me inspired pretty quickly to start making new stuff. Read more>>

.MXXNSAMURAI

First time I made my own music was when I was 16 years old and I was always in my bedroom, alone naked, smoking, staring at the ceiling, making beats and writing, recording songs. but after my teenage era, there was a time during my first year as an adult, where I tried to stop making music for a while because of personal issues and I wanted to try new things but every time I listen and discover new music, gave me so much creative ideas and it made me want to still continue making music and I just can’t let my talent go, so as soon as I turned 21, I got back on my feet and started making music again. I really can’t move on from music. Read more>>

Ana Milena Rojas

I like to think of creativity like a strict diet, only this diet requires me constantly feeding myself art and design. For instance, on my way to work I make a conscious decision to get there by walking down different streets every day. I try to be present and aware of my surroundings. Read more>>

Nigel Aves

Reinvigorating my creative spark is a journey, not a destination, and the path should be paved with exploration, play, and a big dose of rebellion! Here are some of the ways that I get my creative juices flowing: Coming from the world of film and darkrooms, if I’m stuck on a project, I will often think back, “How would I do this using a darkroom?”. It often triggers a new idea. Read more>>

Chris Tos

It’s probably the inverse for me, creativity is what keeps me alive. I’m someone who easily becomes bored, so I need to be constantly involved in something new or engaged in a significant project. Being a kid at heart makes me an adventurer. I’m always exploring, immersing myself in situations and experiences that fuel my creativity in a seemingly endless cycle. Read more>>

Chanicia Ansah

To keep my creativity alive, I keep a mindset of curiosity, explore diverse interests, and seek inspiration from various sources. Embracing challenges and maintaining an open mind. Read more>>

Carolina Polanco

I usually listen to music and move my body freely. I close my eyes and let my imagination see what it wants to see. I really like to feel the music and let myself go. Sometimes I draw color shapes and try to find things in them; I also see the clouds, when there ar them, of course, and I do the same. Walking outside is something that helps me a lot when I’m overwhelmed and feel like my creativity is going away. See trees, flowers, animals and more helps me to imagine stories. Read more>>