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.
DD Haeg
For me, I find that creativity is much like the cycle of a flower — there’s time when it flourishes and blossoms, and times when it dies, rests and rebirths. Trusting in the cycle of creativity is important. For my projects, I notice that sometimes it moves quickly through the cycle–and other times it’s slow. When I self–published my book, BLOSSOM in the Beauty of Being, this creative process took over 1.5 years to complete, and there were times when ideas popped up and then died but took another form. For example, I first thought the book was going to be oracle cards, but soon after starting the project, creativity led me in the direction a book format. I love this so much because, like life, creativity is mysterious, unpredictable and flowing. One thing that also helps my creativity flow is spaciousness. Being out in nature helps me feel spacious in my mind, body and soul. If I feel constricted, then things don’t flow. Read more>>
Ana Maria Nava
I try to be aware of my surroundings, of events and things in nature, there are a thousand little wonders happening around us all the time. In my Studio I explore many ideas that I think have potential, I make a lot of samples and experiments constantly. This exploration is an aspect of my work that I enjoy very much, even if some of this experiments do not work sometimes. In these sessions I explore creative ideas and technical aspects of my work. I believe in working at the studio, in having a schedule, of course sometimes ideas can come at unexpected times and places ( in that case I take notes in order to develop them later on) but mostly they come from working, drawing, designing, model building, from meditating about them. Traveling, going to Museums, art shows, just seeing and experiencing the world around me is a way to keep the creativity flowing. Read more>>
Daniel Tintle
Creativity is something that comes natural when you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not something you need to sit down and go “okay let me try and create something,” – you’ve already lost. It should come to mind naturally without having to dissect it out of yourself. The telltale sign your passionate in something is when you can’t turn it off. When your mind gets absolutely bombarded and overwhelmed with creative thoughts that you actually need to figure out a way to organize them and compartmentalize. THAT is when you know you are in the right space. I find the most telltale symptom of not being passionate about something is when’re actually unable to be creative about it. When you run out of gas soon after starting, you probably should try something else that makes you feel inspired soon after thinking about it. But if you have a deep connection with something, there will always be an unlimited flow of creativity to keep it pushing forward. Read more>>
Nan Wollman
The more I do, the more ideas come. Read more>>
Vasilikí Vaikousi
I always felt the need to spend my time creatively – express myself by letting my emotions turn into stories and images though movement, writing and performing altogether. To keep creativity alive, I think, one has to focus on becoming a good listener, an observer of all sorts. Then the process of creating stays effortless in the moment and you automatically approach your work from a place of openness. Like a sponge, you take in what you see, what you hear, you process it, you let it out. On that note, creativity is something that can’t be forced. It is something that actively happens because it fulfills you. That is the literal meaning of the word which I find noteworthy. In todays age however a lot of times one tries to find fulfillment and validation in the wrong places and that’s where creativity fades. It is easy to get caught up in results which I think takes away all the natural joy that comes along with the act of creating. We all have expectations – but one has to be cautious too that those expectations don’t lead into the trap of allowing your work to become result focused, and loose its spontaneity. Once you start thinking about how your work will be perceived, you unconsciously start creating while worrying about people’s opinions which blocks genuine artistic expression and reduces truthfulness and authenticity. Read more>>
Jada Howard
I love this question because, from the outside looking in, it may seem as though keeping your creativity alive is a process separate from everyday reality and living.. however, it’s not. An important aspect of keeping your creativity alive is by authentically, and presently living your life everyday. I know, it sounds like that can’t be the entire gist of it all.. but it is. Creativity is found in the daily mundane, it’s found in the way that someone may wake-up and make their morning coffee, creativity is found in the way that someone may do their hair routine a little differently that day, or even try a new recipe. Life within itself is a creation and the epitome of creativity; Being present in life, seeing life for all of it’s beauties, and trinkets.. is how I keep my creativity alive. Read more>>
Thaïs Castralli
There is a quote by Picasso that says: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”.
I believe that just like inspiration, creativity is an ability that can be learned and practiced. To become good at anything, we learn the activity, we do it and fail, and we do it again, and fail again. If we keep doing it, our brains recognize the task as relevant and it becomes familiar. I think I have chosen to see creativity that way because it doesn’t limit it to the idea of an innate capacity or a gift. It is motivating that we can turn a learned skill into a natural ability; and creativity can be used in any area of life: from finding a solution to a project in stalemate, to writing a book, to developing a way to teach or entertain children. Creativity has been on my mind. I spent the past six months in a hospital for medical treatment. I experienced a range of emotions. But soon fear, anger and guilt were substituted by apathy. I was numb for a long time. I couldn’t possibly imagine a reality beyond what I was living. And that is not because that reality couldn’t exist, but because I lacked the imagination to envision it. Today I see the development of that apathy as a shield for preservation. As time progressed, with the help of great professionals and great friends, an urge to fight back the apathy and return to life appeared and started to grow. Read more>>
Katie Morgan
In my writing, I keep my creativity alive by carrying around a notepad. Sparks of creativity are just that..sparks. They go as quickly as they come so I write everything down before it’s lost.
Then, I run my ideas by my boys. Children are little balls of electric imagination. If you want to feel creative, look at the world through a child’s eyes. Everything becomes magic. Read more>>
Chris Chang
As a visual storyteller, I always keep my senses open to keep the creativity alive. I take inspiration from everything I consume daily – a podcast episode, a pop song, or even a Pinterest board. Meanwhile, I think what’s more important is to learn from the great works that are already out there and create a system to organize your inspirations. The most challenging part of kicking off a creative project is the initial phase where you set up the visuals and tonality of your stories. But once you have a visual/audio vault to draw inspiration from, the stream of creativity will bring the project to where it should be. Read more>>
Maureen Joyce Connolly
Creativity is a tricky thing. It can grow rusty if we don’t nurture it. I spent most of my adult life working in science working for a major pharmaceutical company and then my own business where I consulted with pharmaceutical start-ups. Needless to say, I had a hugely overdeveloped left brain from the analytical thinking that was required for my job. When I decide to write I knew that I would need to develop the right side of my brain and felt it had been woefully neglected out of necessity. I also understood intuitively that the only way to nurture my creative side, I would need to proceed slowly and with a certain whimsical attitude. I scheduled time to daydream for at least twenty minutes a day. I engaged in painting and photography; two pursuits I knew I would not excel in and therefore I could relax while doing. The same with the culinary arts. I could experiment and the outcome whether edible or not was really not that important. In a sense I relaxed into what my creativity was craving which was a sense of freedom.
Now as a professional writer, I take time to literally smell the crayons, from a box I keep on my desk to remind me of childhood pursuits. It never mattered if I colored inside the lines, I was just happy to get color onto paper. I often include silly little sidebars in my story that I know will be excluded from the final draft but I love that they are there, hiding, and fun to encounter when I do revisions. Read more>>
Seaven
I keep my creativity alive by simply living life. When I do run into a creative block I just take a step back and breathe , and take a break. Like go experience life … go out , chill, maybe even party until I get the vision back in me. Life is really my biggest muse when I am creating , I wouldn’t have much to write about if I didn’t go so many places and experience so much life. Read more>>
Shane Appell
Having a career in music is a rollercoaster. Through the hard and easy times, I’m always finding new inspiration to keep my creativity alive; In everyday life, working with other artists, or analyzing other forms of art. In this industry, you have no choice but to adapt to keep from plateauing. I always refer to the quote, “I believe what stops the evolution of art is style”. Read more>>
Cana Brumfield
I keep my creativity alive by drawing inspiration from nature-whether it be in my own backyard or on my various travels. The natural world sparks my interests, curiosity, and creativity. Through the patterns on insect wings, discovering new plant and animal species on my travels, and admiring the tiny details within the world we live in, I am constantly finding new sources of creativity. I keep a journal where I collect various bits and pieces of nature, as well as sketch things that inspire me. I reference this journal in my home studio and use it to ignite my creativity. Read more>>
Sarika Srivastava
As a Crafter, I believe that creativity is a muscle that needs to be exercised regularly to stay sharp. Here are some ways I keep my creativity alive: **Experimentation: I love trying new techniques, materials, and tools. Experimenting with different mediums and approaches helps me discover new products. **Learning from failures: When projects don’t turn out as expected, I try to identify what went wrong and use those lessons to improve my next attempts. **Community engagement: Participating in online Crafting workshops , watching other experienced Crafters video tutorials , and sharing my work with others helps me stay connected to the creative community and stay inspired by their stories and experiences. **Curiosity: I maintain a childlike curiosity by asking myself questions like “What if?” “Why not?” and “How can I?” when approaching a new project or challenge. **Patience: Recognizing that creativity is a process that requires time, effort, and patience helps me stay committed to the journey rather than getting discouraged by setbacks or self-doubt. **Challenges:** As a creative mom, I face challenges like: 1. Time management: Balancing family responsibilities with creative pursuits can be tough. 2. Self-doubt: Comparing myself to others can be discouraging. 3. Fear of failure: What if my projects don’t turn out as expected? Read more>>
Don Izzo
I get my inspiration from seeing the creativity all around me in everyday life. I’m typically drawn to visual examples such as a mural on the side of a building or a park bench made to look like a person holding an umbrella. There are so many interesting objects if you just look around. I find opportunities to be creative in some of the simplest things. Such as bringing my granddaughter’s crayon drawing to life as a sculpture for her to paint, or helping to build a six foot long cardboard dinosaur with my grandson for a school project. And yes, we both got an “A”! He kept that dinosaur in his room for 10 years and then finally donated it back to the school. I also like to go to art shows and craft festivals. Just talking to the artists and seeing their work, and passion, is another source of inspiration that keeps me creating. Having my artist friend Wendy Costa as a mentor in my own creative journey has been invaluable. Read more>>
Jiangying Guo
For me, creation is a self-reflection of life driven by curiosity. Much of my inspiration comes from daily life, and creating feels like an impulse to realize my inspirations. Whenever I have new ideas, I can’t help but act on them. This feeling is like seeing something novel, interesting, or beautiful and feeling the urge to capture it, thinking, “I must record this quickly, or I might miss seeing this scene again.” I still don’t know why I always have this feeling, but the recording process is like collecting, it is a hobby. Looking back at old photos from time to time is very interesting, and sometimes seeing the same things again can inspire me anew. Sometimes this recording turns into creation, like redrawing some discontinued vintage beer cans, and this became my illustration works. For instance, when I saw a friend’s pants that could transform from long pants to shorts with a zipper, I wondered if it was possible to create modular pants, where each segment is a different color, allowing people to mix and match colors and adjust the length for more flexibility and personalization. I often have many such interesting ideas. Another example is seeing some beautiful interior designs in magazines and wondering if changing the carpet color or adding an extended space would make it look better. These ideas then turn into my illustrations or 3D digital art. Read more>>
Jessica Good
Creativity in my life consists of challenges and the ability to push myself. A person can not be creative in the same stale environment and for that reason I have learned to embrace the unknown. I am consistently changing up my work. Creativity encompasses so many aspects. It shines through my art. As my life changes, my art reflects it. Read more>>
Gabrielle Stratmann
Keeping creativity alive intertwines embracing a vibrant existence, immersing myself in life’s experiences, and committing to the process and rituals of creating. The simple act of staying curious and continuously learning leads me down unexpected creative paths all the time. A great example of that for me recently was teaching myself how to embroider. I ended up falling in love with the slow, stitch-by-stitch process because it forced me to slow down, breathe, and relax. At the same time, I was inspired to create my own designs reflecting my personal illustration style and story, which have led to my own line of embroidery kits, a huge part of my business. Understanding how one small decision—taking a new class or trying something new–can have a big impact on my creative journey keeps me inspired to find opportunities to try new things. Read more>>
Cordaro Starlings
In order to keep my creativity alive, I immerse myself into the cultures of art. For example, when it comes to me partaking in writing, I continuously read different genres to fuel the vehicle of literary depiction. I have also began studying playwrights and film work to morph my writing from books to the stage and big screen. With my photography, I am constantly engaging in self-help courses that can improve my work from lighting to final edits. Read more>>
Jonn Nicholson
I love to be creative and to do things for people that spark joy and inspiration. As someone who works the music scene I put together large charity Jam nights multiple times a year for multiple styles of music from new wave to rock and metal to Halloween classics. I do these to not only push myself but to also give my performers and audience something to express themselves with. Outside of that I also cosplay as Captain Jack Sparrow, I’m in a clown troop, and I am the Nashville Krampus. All of these things to give the community multiple outlets to have fun and keep that childlike spark of creativity alive. Read more>>
Katyana Rocker-Cook
This is actually something I feel very passionately about, not just for artists and creatives, but for everyone no matter what industry you’re in. When you’re a kid, you play constantly. You imagine, you daydream, you create worlds and stories from thin air. You interact with the world around you, and the media you’re exposed to. And then around the time you hit puberty, and certainly by the time you’re a fully-fledged adult, you’re not allowed to do that anymore. Why? Sure, the working world doesn’t allow us time to literally play make believe anymore, and we do have responsibilities that you don’t have in childhood. But I don’t think anyone should ever stop daydreaming or imagining. Or even playing! When I go to Disneyland (which anyone who’s ever met me will know, is a lot!), I fully immerse myself in the imagination and time given over to playing. I’m flying a spaceship and escaping laser blasters; when would I ever get to do that in real life?! Read more>>
Emily Olson
For as long as I can remember, I have loved to create. From painting to origami and everything in between, making things with my hands has always made me feel most like myself. Even at a young age, I was never the “I’ll do whatever you want to do” kid at playdates. I always had multiple crafts planned out and could barely wait until my friend arrived to get started. I was not very confident, though, so I never considered art as something I could pursue as a career. Regardless, my arts and crafts continued to grow with me, and I eventually realized that I had something to offer. When I was twenty one, I moved from the east coast to San Diego, California, where I met some of the most creative and inspiring people I have ever come across. I created my brand, BeYoutique Crafts, which represents the importance of being YOU, and got to work. My friend and I spent most of our time making jewelry, and set up a table every week by the beach to sell it. Read more>>
Simone A. Francis
I keep my creativity alive primarily by dreaming big and executing small. I have always been someone who creates and imagines grandiose ideas; always thinking about the potential for an idea to make a difference in someone’s life. By dreaming big, I am always pushing myself to embrace my own audacity and to think beyond the confines of what exists. Giving myself the unapologetic freedom to never stop dreaming, and allowing my mind to run free often, creates a safe haven for my brain to tap into the power of imagination. By executing small, I ground myself. Being able to navigate big pictures and minute details is often a delicate balance that many struggle with. However, I have found this to be one of my strengths and I have therefore leaned into it in my practice. I am a firm believer that although you should not strive to always do it all, there are many benefits to knowing how to do all, or at least many, of the things. With executing small, I continuously practice the smaller, more intricate skills and development areas, which allows me to grow and evolve over time. I think this is an essential component of keeping creativity alive — you have to grow. Read more>>
Kristel Saxton
I believe that my creativity comes from several different places and there are many things that need to be in alignment for my creativity to flourish. In order to keep it alive I need to focus on: having new experiences, engaging in other types/styles of art and keeping my mental health in a good place. First of all, having a new experience is always something that inspires creativity for me. I feel that a lot of my best pieces are made when I look at the same things in new ways. One of the ways I will do this is to awaken different scenes which help me feel tuned into the world in a new way. For example, going to a new coffee shop and trying something new will get my mind thinking in new ways about what I’m drinking/tasting/sensing which then inspires me to look at the world in a new way. Another thing I might also do is to go to a new area in my town with a camera, any camera, and wander looking at the world and thinking about what I’m seeing. Read more>>
Agata Marino
I keep my creativity alive through observation, visualization, and action. There are endless ways to “do,” and I continually try to visualize them in my mind and then practically test those I find most suitable for the final project. Even in everyday life, for example, if I need to go grocery shopping, I don’t always take the same route but look for new paths, observe the environment around me, the people, and seek inspiration. Another technique I use is the “what if?” I ask myself what would happen if I took a particular action and then visualize it in my mind or imagine myself in someone else’s shoes. Lastly, I find it important to write down everything that catches my attention and then read it again to find a source of inspiration. Read more>>
Josh Delson
As a game developer, keeping my creativity alive is all about finding that sweet spot where “What’s Been Done,” “What’s Possible,” and “Good Ideas” come together. I always keep an updated list of my good and bad ideas, which helps me reflect and grow. I love brainstorming with other creatives since it opens up new perspectives and makes the process so much more enjoyable. Plus, I’m all about experimenting with my ideas and treating every failure as a learning opportunity. This approach keeps my creativity flowing and makes every day feel like a new adventure! Read more>>
