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.
Liv DeJonghe
I like to quote my own lyrics from time to time to remind myself and loved ones – “Simply living is creating something new.” We are a living reminder that our existence in itself is nature expressing itself. Sometimes creativity becomes stagnant and that’s okay. It’s all apart of the process, even our creativity needs breaks. There are certain things I have found that fills the creativity bucket. Acceptance is a huge one. Maybe right now it’s accepting that creative magic isn’t coming to you. Read more>>
Mia Rio
I’m a night owl. When it’s all quiet and peaceful, that’s when I flourish in my creativity but my best ideas come in my hot showers. Even if I’m not working on anything official, I’m still writing, whether it’s music or films. I keep a catalog going to keep my mind active and my skills sharp. Read more>>
Samuel Gunawan
As someone who is pursuing creative work, it is definitely not an easy task to have a constant flow of creativity whenever you are presented with work and projects. Though, I personally believe that creativity itself is not something that you have to wait for the momentum to achieve something creative. I strongly believe with the fact that in order to get the creativity flowing, you have to push yourself to be creative by trying to do the job, regardless of how bad or good you might think the result may be. With this constant pushing of creating something is how one keeps their creativity going. Read more>>
Steven Mark Revland
Since I was a child, over 65 years ago, creativity was about all I had. Growing up with ADHD and dyslexia, I couldn’t pass any courses in school so I put all my energy into art and music, which for the last seven decades has served me well. Multiple appearances on HGTV and a best selling memoir are the results of hard work and tenacity. Never give up on yourself because you are all you have. Read more>>
Enzo Kristensen
I believe creativity is something that is born in either a serene or aggravating environment. Lucky for me, both of these go hand in hand within the film industry. From the classic Hollywood actor lifestyle of working a second job while doing casting calls and rehearsing lines in the spare time to producing and running an indie film production on. a shoestring budget. One thing I do believe most of us creatives experience is that when either the passion of the industry is up to your neck with work and deadlines or the quiet nights walking on empty streets, some of the best creative thoughts are born within those moments. Embracing the process and not trying to force it is what works for me. Read more>>
AnnMarie Fox
Dealing with unhealthy friendships/relationships, economic pressure, toxic work environments, illness, negative news, and unexpected life changes has had an adverse effect on my creativity. I had to ask myself, “How did I go from being inspired and motivated to stifled and out of touch?” The first step to solving any problem is to acknowledge that there is one. I had creator’s block due to stresses within and beyond my control. One of the best pieces of advice that I received was to never worry about issues beyond my control. I can only piece together a plan to handle issues that I can fix. Read more>>
JAY-LEN
I keep my creativity alive by constantly creating ideas and expressing myself through different mediums of art. For me this looks really spontaneous. When I have the urge to make music I have at it. When I want to paint I get right to it. When its time to do an event or performance, its lit. When its time to travel im packed. Feeding your natural born talents is the best way to tell God, “thank you.” Read more>>
David Khasar
If you’re like me, you understand that your creativity is a living thing. It’s something we actively have to work on or it can be completely lost. I do a few different things to actively work on my creativity. For example, when I want to write, I just start writing. Whether it makes sense or not, I will start writing just to steer my mind in the right direction so I can focus on what I’m supposed to be writing about. Crawling can still be a form of progress. Last year, I took on the popular mantra, “Trust the process, becasue nothing comes overnight. Read more>>
Vitor Matera
Travel is the best way to keep my creativity on track, in order to make the best of my work, every time I sit in my station. Travel allows me to see lots of art and experience another culture. Be around people that inspires you is also a good way to keep it your creativity working on, because you are always trying to find new ways to reach your goals. Creativity is not about sit on a chair and wait ideas to pop, it’s a process that once you learn you become a creative person. Read more>>
Steve Deitz
At 900lbs, creativity isn’t just an idea, it is a cornerstone of our culture. It forms the very core of our mission. As a future-focused experience design agency, our team thrives in an inspired ever-learning environment where adventure isn’t just encouraged — it’s a Core Value. Our talented technical developers, artists and designers are well-versed in a myriad of tools as we tell stories in unique ways. We embrace our industry-agnostic capabilities to manifest the “art of the possible.” From augmented reality and immersive, multi-sensory spaces to intuitive user interfaces and generative AI art, we have a lot of fun as Design Tomorrow, Together. Read more>>
Jordan Brett
My passion for what I do as a photographer is enough to keep my creativity alive. I figured out that when I truly found my craft which is something I love and became obsessed with, a lot of other issues disappeared like seeking for creativity, worried about jobs, money, etc. I became very confident in who I am, what I am doing, and the general questions that one asks about themselves. I struggle to take breaks/time off but I force myself to because it’s a necessary action to keep the mind refreshed. Read more>>
Julia Shaw
My creativity thrives on the ever-changing canvas of nature and the untouched spaces that time has graciously adorned with its brushstroke. I find inspiration in the unexplored corners of my surroundings, where nature has reclaimed its space, weaving a tapestry of textures and color combinations that never fail to captivate my imagination. Read more>>
Taylor Ricks
I keep my creativity alive by doing simple stuff for myself. I go on walks, workout, read, draw, look at inspiration, stuff like that. I try my best basically; that’s all that I can do. Read more>>
Michael Maynard
I was told by one of my early mentors that “creativity doesn’t mean a thing…unless it solves a problem.” So unfortunately I deal with “problems” on a daily basis. Many might say that they have met some incredibly creative people…but have they? let’s not confuse engaging, charming, and entertaining with true creativity. Creativity truly travels it’s own road. Read more>>
Isaac Rendon
Rest, Sleep, Nap (I dream about scenarios and write them down when I wake up). One day I’ll tackle these ideas and stories. Do thing’s you don’t normally do in your procrastination (make a new hobby). Socializing with new and old friend’s. Watch movies, from your favorite genre’s to new genre’s youre not normally into. Music, expand your music preference; One of the biggest thing’s is this very thing music really takes my thought’s or sometimes provides the space to have me run free in thought. Read more>>
Vanesa Surtzy
Keeping my creativity alive has never been a problem for me. If anything, I have recently begun to accept that I will never be able to keep up with it. My creativity is a never ending stream that I will spend the rest of my life chasing after. For every concept or project that I have the opportunity to execute, twenty more ideas arise from its inspiration. I dream of new things to create, far surpassing the time I will ever have to do it – far exceeding my skills and physical abilities. Thankfully, I have yet to reach my first dry spell but if this were to ever happen, I might find myself looking towards the trees, skies, and oceans in search for a push. Read more>>
Ernesto Mandowsky
Creativity is the sheer act of sharing whatever it is that you are creating with the world. Every time you share your art with someone else, there is an opportunity to spark an idea or connection that previously did not exist. I ensure to share my creations every single week. Although sometimes they are met with confusion, these opportunities teach me how i can improve my storytelling of the art I am creating! Read more>>
Danilda Polanco
As an architect, my commitment to a dynamic and thriving creativity is deeply rooted in the symbiotic relationship between my extensive travels across Europe, Asia, and beyond, and my profound connection to my Hispanic roots, hailing from the Dominican Republic. Each destination I explore contributes a distinct layer to my design repertoire – from the intricate details of European architecture to the diverse cultural tapestry of Asia. Read more>>
Josh McCausland
This is a really loaded question. I think the thing that drives me most is that spark you get from something. Whether it be, watching, listening, or experiencing something, there is always that spark of joy you get when you know something is great. I try to run with those feelings to see how far I can take them. Read more>>
Zhongqi Li
Watching movies or reading books are really great ways for imagination fuel. I really enjoy visiting museums. During these times, I can explore unique perspectives from history and nature, or draw inspiration from those outstanding artworks. That’s how I keep my creativity flowing. Read more>>
Chip Oliphant
I keep my creativity alive by being open to new opportunities and finding inspiration in life’s surprises. I believe that in order to create anything, especially art, you need to have an open mind and a true understanding of how to express yourself. If you take an open minded approach each and every day, you will find that creativity doesn’t seem to dry up. There is always something that will unexpectedly present itself throughout the course of a day, and as a songwriter, I choose which moments to use as a tool to inspire creativity. Read more>>
Jodie Vickers
Immersion in the arts, pulling ideas and inspiration from everywhere, seeing what isn’t always written out. I love estate sales, antique malls, studying a painting that catches my eye, unusual, quirky home decor, interesting shapes and forms I see in my cracked screen protector. I love collecting things I find interesting and incorporating them into a design in an unexpected way. Creating has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, it’s like an innate part of my brain. Read more>>
Jessica Godinez
Being in the catering industry, I’m constantly looking for new ways to make eating dessert fun. I always try to add my twist to all my services so that my clients and their guests have a fun one of a kind experience. Read more>>
Tilesha Williams
I stay creative by exploring diverse topics, engaging in activities that inspire me, and regularly challenging my thinking with new ideas. Read more>>
Rebekah Gaillard
Movies and music are a constant source of inspiration for me. Anytime I watch a film, I find myself dissecting the cinematography, colors, and angles, and often these elements are woven into my photographic style. When listening to music, I deeply investigate the lyrics, extracting emotional storylines that shape the concepts behind my images, which are often based on specific tracks or albums. Read more>>
Johnny Beehner
The key to keeping my creativity alive is through avoiding complacency. That is not easy when you are married and have kids. I have not always been married with kids, obviously, so it used to be a lot easier. As a stand-up comedian, my main creative outlet is sharing what I see in the world, or MY world rather, onstage in an interesting, unique, and entertaining way. When I started stand-up, it was pretty easy to be creative as every experience I had had never been put through the funnel of my writing process. Read more>>
Jantzen Peake
I was born with the gift of being creative. Ever since I was a young buck I loved to draw, paint, and sculpt. I find most things in life tend to get boring after a while, then depressing. Creativity has been that light within the darkness for me making life worth living. I am always drawing in my sketchbook when I can. I see the world differently through my creative lens. A plain white piece of paper is my launch pad to inventing new realities. Read more>>
Jordan Laurenti
“My creativity mainly stays alive by feeding the fire. I draw inspiration from my favorite pastime artists and the music that inspired me from the very beginning: Bob Marley, Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, John Mayer, and Phish. I feel that it’s important to always go back to what first inspired you and listen to those songs. I listen to multiple artists, and I am still discovering new artists daily, but sometimes an old walk down memory lane can really reignite the flame of creativity and the sense of passion that got me started in the first place. Read more>>
Prymrr
It’s all about vibes and inspiration! First off, who you keep around you. Keeping that positive vibe can go a long way. That way we can share ideas and vibe together. I also constantly keep myself busy. When it’s not music, it’s posting up a video on my social media, acting or spending time with family. No matter what keeping true to myself and having fun with it. Read more>>
Ismat Shahid
I have always been a creative person and it is something that comes naturally to me. But everyone has days where your creative instincts or energy can get quite low. For me this usually can happen due to any daily life factor. I could be in the middle of an extremely creative episode where my brain would constantly come up with something and I would be highly focused on creating an artwork but then something like my daughter falling sick would throw me off. As an artist for me it is then very difficult to get that focus and creative energy back to where I would want to create something. Read more>>
Amy Newton-McConnel
Sylvia Plath wrote, “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” Self-doubt can destroy our creative process. Not believing in yourself and fearing the criticism and rejection from others, hinders the flow of creativity. When posed with the choice of creativity and the voice of self-doubt, I choose creativity. To sustain my creative spirit, I have trust in myself and my artistic abilities. I create art for myself and to share my interpretations with others. Embracing the challenges that come with creative inspiration helps me express myself and explore new possibilities. Read more>>
Marisa Sturino
I keep my creativity alive by surrounding myself with other creatives! I’m blessed enough to have lots of creatives in the family, and we are always inspiring each other by what we do. Read more>>
Sara George
The way I keep my creativity alive is by looking for inspiration in everything. Art is all around us — in nature, on tv, in music, in the conversations we have with one another. Sometimes I’ll be out and about and I’ll look at something and immediately see a photograph. I’ll start thinking about how I would frame it if I had my camera on me. Sometimes an interaction between two strangers will inspire a poem or a short story. I can always draw inspiration when listening to music. Read more>>
Brian Kostar
, I navigate through the real world’s via sarcasm and puns as a personal coping mechanism, however that often translates over into my work. Thankfully I have a hyperactive brain, it doesn’t seem to want to shut off at times lol . But seriously, It can be a double edged sword at times…it is truly a blessing and a curse. The abundance of ideas sometimes makes settling on the main ones to focus on challenging. Read more>>
Carolyn Mason
Curiosity and experimentation are key to my artistic practice. I keep an eye out for organic shapes as well as new materials wherever they may be. For example, I find satisfaction in foraging for materials in hardware stores, seeing the range of their potential, and subverting their intended use. In addition, inspiration comes from the marvels of biological life both aesthetically and metaphorically: patterns of flowers, vines, and fungus; the magic and regeneration of underwater plants; and the mesmerizing serpentine movement of snakes are continually inspiring to me. Read more>>
Yazmin De la torre
considers that the most important resource in the life of a human being is to use their maximum creative potential to be able to propose solutions and provide innovation to improve the world, each element that is born to become an idea materialized beauty to the world in the same way and rhythm in the one that evolves. In creativity we find all our demons and at the same time all the harmonious angels within the deep consciousness to live in harmony through colors, sounds, flavors, sensations in the most sublime melodies that are divine by being reincarnating the subtle figure . elemental architecture that solves and enjoys creating content and value in people’s lives. Read more>>
Rachel Weaver
Community, continued learning, and seeking inspiration are the main ways I keep my creativity alive. Spending time with my community and friends gives me a huge boost in creativity. I have found a really amazing creative community in North Texas that knows the importance of supporting each other and creating spaces where we can share our creativity and art. Watching live music from local bands, going to art shows, galleries, and performances, and attending curated events provide a lot of inspiration and opportunities to explore my imagination. Read more>>
Zackary Petot
Creativity is a constant for me, from a young age I was always interested in art and decided at a young age to go to school for art. After graduating with my Master of Fine Arts and moving to St. Louis, Missouri, I remembered something one of my college professors said, “You are the only one to carry on your creativity in your art practice, no one else will care if you stop making or leave art all together.” That statement has stuck with me and has been accurate since leaving my academic career. Keeping up with my art practice takes dedication and commitment. Read more>>
Zak St. John
I think the first thing to realize with creativity, is that it will come and go. We can’t always be full of inspiration and drive to create. Something I heard recently in passing, really resonated with me and I feel its appropriate to share. As a creative, its in our best interest and in the end user’s best interest… to be selfish. By that I mean that an artist should create so that they are fulfilled. They should create something that moves them. That inspires them. That lights that passion and love inside them. In fact, if you look at the most beautiful art, the best athletes, the best music, etc. Read more>>
Rae Mueller
My day job is pretty black-and-white and scientific, so there isn’t a lot of room for creativity. That’s why art is so important to me. Creativity and the desire to continue making art, even when I feel uninspired, is a muscle I have to work. I’ve found that the less I create, the less desire I have to create. I had an artist and mentor tell me the same thing – that inspiration won’t keep flowing in, but to keep creating anyway. When I have no motivation, I try to find a different medium, technique or subject to learn. My medium of choice is acrylics because I feel comfortable with it, but sometimes that comfort turns into complacency. Read more>>
Tami Wolff
Some people say that their meditation is prayer for them, while others engage in guided meditation, and my meditation is cooking and food. meditation is, in its definition, a practice of mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. My creativity through cooking is my meditation. Read more>>
Jamie Nicole
Keeping creativity alive can certainly be a challenge! I think that creativity can mean different things to different people, but, to me, I view creativity as exploration. It’s the opportunity and willingness to try new things. Creativity exists as a means to invent and pour yourself into different facets of your art/craft. Personally, I am endlessly inspired by fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs around me! I see the energy, thought, and persistence they pour into their work, and their unique abilities shining through is always fascinating to me. It gives me a perspective of stepping back and ensuring that my work is just that – mine. Read more>>
2MamaBees
Staying abreast on industry trends, not only in the toy industry, but also interior design is always 2MamaBees top priority. Our team pours passion and creativity into curating each new item to ensure all products not only encompass multiple levels of sensory play, but also aesthetically compliment any indoor or outdoor play space.
Yashashree Samant
Growing up, I was obsessed with stories, both historic and those unfolding at present. Stories both in fiction and reality inspire creation, innovation, can establish peace, or occasionally spew hatred. In advertising too, memorable campaigns tell stories of brands, products, and companies intertwined with our lives, taking a stand and improving our lives. Read more>>
Georgia Collins
As a stained glass artist, I choose to take a lot of my inspiration from the natural world. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or in need of a break, I take time to walk around the woods outside my studio. There’s something very healing being surrounded by nature, and I love to incorporate flora and fauna as well as the local landscapes in my designs. Read more>>
