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.
Maya Nettles
When it comes to creativity, allowing yourself to envision how you want certain things to look and becoming an innovative person to develop new ideas, will continue to keep you open minded and thinking outside of the box. Starting at a young age, you have the so much freedom to discover new things and new ideas. As you grow older, you begin to tap into different avenues. Whether it’s music, art, cooking, or journalism, you develop a sense of curiosity and passion for what you are doing. Overtime, you’ve established your own way of thinking and sense of direction to stay motivated in seeing the idea through. Read more>>
Smitha Katti
One the biggest things to knock my creativity out of the window is self doubt. Often times we see other people creating something extremely beautiful in what appears like effortless methods. That’s when self doubt creeps in and you start thinking that what you create is nothing in comparison and maybe you should stop creating. In such circumstances, I always remind myself- “I just need to bring version of me to the table. What I create today, has to be something I enjoy creating and sharing and the true value of it can only be decided by me. There will always be someone doing it better, but that does not undervalue you. Trust the process and keep creating”. And when in doubt, take a 20 minute break and create something fun that is just for you to restart your creative juice flow. Read more>>
Kate Mcneil
Creativity usually comes from within, however, I find that creativity can also come from others around you. I love meeting new people and connecting on a deeper level. Sharing stories of your past, challenges you have faced, or even moments of joy and despair can bring you closer to someone. When you create that bond with someone, the happiness you feel when they are successful can help foster your own creativity and success. Spending moments with those I love, bouncing ideas around and talking about ways to navigate life, keep the creativity alive within myself. They help keep me focused and centered on what’s important and how to bring my ideas to fruition. Read more>>
A.j. Forget
As every artist knows, creativity is fickle. Creative energy has a tendency to show up in abundance when you are least able to act on it, and is often in short supply when you need it most. I am sure that we all have experienced that feeling of being on a long walk, far from your tools, and having an idea that you can’t wait to work on. Likewise, I know that we have all experienced sitting in front of a blank screen, cursor blinking at us, and feeling that the words just won’t come. As much as this might seem like just a frustrating irony of being a creative, I think that the solution to the problem is actually found in those examples. The solution, so far as I can tell, is rest. Read more>>
Erika Pifher
I am currently working as a full time artist, but also have the experience as a former art teacher, which gives me a unique foundation and keeps my creativity alive. I approach my work with the same curiosity that I encouraged in my students, experimenting with different techniques, mediums, and styles as if I myself were learning something new. This reignites a sense of discovery and adventure in my work. Maintaining a daily painting practice, even if it is just for a short amount of time, helps to keep the creativity flowing. Read more>>
Phillip Gladkov
In today’s world, creativity has never been more accessible. With high-quality cameras in our pockets and countless free programs available for everything from drawing to video editing, we have more resources than ever to bring our ideas to life. And yet, even with all these resources at our disposal, it can still feel incredibly hard to finish that project you started or find the motivation to dive into the next one. Read more>>
Jared Shoup
Being a tattoo artist for over 20 years now, I can honestly say I have never felt like I’d lost my creative ability. If anything, I feel it’s improved over the years. Art is always a very creative medium. No matter what style of tattoo my Clients request, I’m always open and willing to execute it. That’s the best part about being in the this industry, the ability to create art & add my spin to what is requested. Doing tattoos daily keeps my creativity alive! Read more>>
Daniel Sulzberg
My creativity comes from deep inside and is a part of my personality that I have had since I was a kid. If people were to describe me in 3 words, creative was always one of them. So keeping creativity alive is as simple to me as keeping myself alive. The way that happens is that being creative is a priority for me. The same way that a pro athlete needs to train daily, I need to be creative in order to be happy. Read more>>
Laura Mcmullin
Keeping my creativity alive has been one of my greatest struggles. As an artist, I feel like there is an expectation to be creative all the time. It takes a lot of work to produce imagery and ideas within my head. As a photographer with a background in acting, I’ve found that creativity thrives in the tension between observation and immersion. Coming from the world of theatre, I learned to see the world through a character’s eyes; to experience the world through a character. That perspective fuels my photography today. I keep my creativity alive by staying curious, always looking for stories around me, and by staying open to possibility – the possibility that a session may go in a different direction than I was anticipating or that something might go wrong. Acting taught me to embrace vulnerability, and in photography, I use that same openness to connect with my subjects and environment. Read more>>
Dareline Estrella
Keeping my creativity alive has been and continues to be a process for me. I’m definitely my toughest critic. Aren’t we all? When I stay too long in my inner world, my creativity tends to become stuck. I end up overthinking every single detail, which often leads me to pause the project I’m working on. The only way I keep my creativity alive is by getting out of my head and into my body. This includes going for long walks, doing yoga, or even dancing. A good friend of mine told me that movement helps you reconnect with your body, and it has been helping me ever since. Read more>>
Mike Blum
I have a simple answer to this question but I’m going to give you a little back story first so that this makes sense and has context. The advice I’m about to give is not mine. It originated for me with Barry Cook, the director of movies like Disney’s “Mulan.” I met Barry decades ago when we both worked at Disney Feature Animation. Barry, of course, was a big-time director. At that time, I was working in the technology group at the studio. My undergraduate degree was in Computer and Electrical Engineering and I had a Masters degree in Computer Science. I started out working for Disney as a coder and worked my way up to lead small engineering teams, then much larger ones, and eventually I transitioned over to a production role as one of four main supervisors on one of our features. Read more>>
Ciel Chen
My innate curiosity drives me to explore new techniques and perspectives in my art. I find that experimenting with different materials not only enriches my work but also sparks inspiration. For instance, although I began with illustration, I am continually exploring animation and other art forms. Each new experience refreshes my creativity and helps elevate my artistic career. There are times when I experience burnout if I focus too narrowly on one thing, which can lead to a creative block. When that happens, I switch to a different medium or project. This shift allows me to gain new perspectives, and when I return to my original work, I often find that I’ve experienced significant growth. I love learning from other artists as well, whether they’re in fields I’m familiar with or totally new areas. I really believe that inspiration is universal, and it’s so refreshing and exciting to see how others view the world. Read more>>
Michelle Ramirez
My flame of creativity was very low before 2021. I was never a consistent sketcher, or painter.
I turned to art after I almost lost my husband to a diaphragmic hernia.
75% percent of his stomach was lost, and it was becoming septic. He made it , but it was dark time and still a long recovery. Read more>>
Shawna Stroup Billet
Most artists experience creative block at some point of their career. Whenever I experience this, I find the best way for me to reignite my creativity is to get out in nature. Experiences are meant to be lived, and when we do this we find the purpose of being. For the past 10 years I have been enjoying camping, hiking, and backpacking. I feel I am most healthy and creatively influenced, when my senses are fulfilled with beauty and exercise. These type experiences humble you, they bring life and survival down to the basics and one realizes you don’t need “stuff” to feel fulfilled. Your senses are awakened and your time away from technology allows you to take it all in. Almost every time that I return home from a trip, I am at my easel the next day reliving those best moments through my paintbrush on canvas. Read more>>
Kaitlin Greco
It’s so difficult to be creative in a world that encourages conformity. Tik Tok trends of ‘clean girl aesthetic,’ ‘mob wife,’ and ‘brat summer’ infiltrate our decision making process to be one and the same. To not stand out. For me, I’ve found it really important to always try to live an authentic life that is true to who I am and the values that I hold inside myself. I think spending time by myself and pursuing my passions helps me to be creative. Whether it is channeling my creativity into styling an outfit from the depths of my closet or working on my next novel, I feel most creative when I take a step back from social media and the expectations of others. Read more>>
Janette Carmichael
As a realistic pet portrait and wildlife artist, it can sometimes feel like you’re just a human photocopier and I think it’s difficult for many people to recognize the amount of creativity that is really involved. For me, it comes with immersing myself in every part of the process and not just the rendering of a photo, so every piece is uniquely my own. With my wildlife art, and pet portraits as well if the client is nearby, I go out and take my own reference images. Photography gets me outside and away from the drawing desk when I need a break, but it also brings me closer to the subjects I like to draw and I feel that it makes a big difference in the connection I have to each drawing when there’s a memory and experience attached to every reference image I take. Read more>>
Nathalie Figaro
I keep my creativity alive by staying curious and always learning something new. Whether it’s exploring different perspectives, engaging in conversations, reading, or trying out new hobbies, I find that exposing myself to fresh ideas and experiences fuels my creativity. Taking breaks to recharge and letting my mind wander also helps spark new thoughts and approaches. Read more>>
Elysa Hochman
Growing up, I knew I wasn’t a genius or someone with an easy path to success. I understood that I had to build something for myself, starting from a place without clear opportunities. This realization drove me to embrace creativity as my strength, knowing that I could use it to surpass others who seemed naturally gifted. Instead of striving for perfection, I focused on being inventive and original. This mindset became a source of motivation, inspiring me to push myself creatively. Read more>>
Wenyao Mi
I keep my creativity alive by constantly seeking new experiences and inspiration, both within and outside the design world. For me, creativity thrives when I step outside of my comfort zone and immerse myself in unfamiliar environments, ideas, and perspectives. This could mean traveling, exploring new art forms, reading about different disciplines, or simply observing the world around me. Inspiration often comes from unexpected places—street art, nature, architecture, conversations, or even random textures and colors I encounter in everyday life. Read more>>
Sheeja Puthanhouse
Creativity, for me, thrives on uncertainty. Each time I pick up a palette knife or experiment with new materials like sand or glass, I step into the unknown. There’s no guarantee of the outcome, and that’s the beauty of it. The unpredictability keeps my process alive and exciting, turning every stroke or splash of color into a discovery. Read more>>
Abel Martinez
When you decide to work on what you truly want to do for the rest of your life, it stops feeling like work and becomes an incredible part of your daily life. I keep experimenting and creating based on my everyday experiences, my stories, and what’s happening in the world. In the world of music, creativity is never an issue because it comes naturally from all these experiences and the constant desire to explore new ideas. Read more>>
Kim Watson
I think curiosity drives my creativity and motivates me to continue writing. photographing and filming people and the world around me. I love examining the human condition. There is so much to learn about and the people who inhabit this planet are fascinating. If you need creative inspiration just venture beyond your comfort zone and you’ll find it. Read more>>
Lily Abha Cratsley
I keep my creativity alive in two seemingly diametric ways: by engaging with more art and by distancing myself from art. The first strategy involves filling my calendar with an abundance of stage plays, film screenings, concerts, gallery openings, and more. Whether it be a black tie event with a massive budget or a bumbling backyard mess, each performance challenges me to hone my taste and discover what choices I think work (or don’t work) in service of storytelling. And when I find myself so enmeshed in the narrative that this critical lens shuts up, that’s when I know I am watching something truly magnificent, something I hope to make my creative endeavors more like. Arguably my favorite section of this engagement is getting to debrief with a friend afterwards and unpack the experience we just shared. Read more>>
