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.

Mark Kelner

From a very young age, I just saw things in a different way. It was incredibly isolating, if not lonely. Lots of acting out. Lots of problems fitting in. And creativity at that time was more of a liability and, perhaps, a curse. The same goes for being a child of immigrant culture. I was first in my family born in America, having parents just arrived from the Soviet Union weeks before. Leaning in to that duality later in life, however, helped established the beginnings of a professional art practice. As did asking questions—about my own competing self-identities and what that look likes visually. But most importantly, what defines America and why? Read More>> 

Bethany Wire

I keep my creativity alive by never letting it fall too far out of reach. Even when I’m tired or overwhelmed, I try to create something. Some days that means designing a curriculum or writing a lesson plan with a twist, and other days it’s stringing beads with Rosie at the kitchen table, some days it is building a castle in the sky because I’m too exhausted to do more. I stay inspired by looking at the world around me. I find creativity in storytelling, in animal care, in repurposing things around the house. I don’t need everything to be perfect, it just needs to be meaningful. Read More>> 

Amy Guidry

I’m constantly thinking about paintings that I’m working on or wish to do in the future. I keep sketchbooks everywhere so I can do quick thumbnail sketches as they come to mind. This process also applies to any paper I can find so I’ve amassed many scraps of paper, envelopes, and loose sheets full of sketches as well. I find inspiration through books, music, movies, dreams, and even the news. Any time I’m inspired by something or come across a topic to explore, I jot down some notes and a sketch. This gives me a lot of material to work with when I’m ready to start a new painting. Read More>> 

Adora Drake

I keep my creativity alive by staying curious and making space for inspiration to show up in my everyday life. I try to pay attention to the things people are saying in conversation, the art on the street, other successful women, and the random stories I stumble across online. I love learning about different cultures, subcultures, and voices that don’t always get heard. That kind of stuff fuels new ideas. With that said I also value my quiet time. Some of my most creative ideas happen right after taking a good nap! Read More>> 

Dr. Dennis Boseman

I stay creative by staying connected to real life. Most of what I create comes from what I’ve lived through—good and bad. My kids, Dennis and Brooklyn, inspire a lot of it. Watching them grow, hearing how they think—even in the tough moments—keeps me grounded and open-minded.

Music plays a huge role too. Sometimes a single song hits a nerve and sparks something new. I also stay tuned into other artists—not to copy, but to stay sharp. People like Jamie Hickey, Antoine Davis, Mark Brettrager, and Matthew Taylor always push the envelope. Even newer artists like Seth Clark, Christine Toporcer, and Alex Vitus keep the energy fresh. Read More>>

Zoe Nestle

I find inspiration by surrounding myself with art. My studio is filled with pieces I have made and work from artists I admire. I also love to step outside the studio to visit galleries and museums. Music also plays a role in my creative process; sometimes a single lyric or verse can spark an idea that will inspire me. However, I have also found that vacations are a wonderful way to keep my energy alive and flowing. Briefly stepping away gives me space to recharge, and by the time I arrive home, I am bursting with ideas and ready to dive back in. Read More>> 

Black Baccara

“I often keep my creativity alive by frequently composing and keeping my skills up and creating new ideas. I always enjoy writing music for the band and making demos in Logic. When I’m not working on making band music I often like to practice composing other genres of music to keep myself interested.” – Luke Read More>> 

Brenna Malmberg

I keep my creativity alive by trying new things and creating, even when it’s not perfect or for a specific purpose. As someone who does a lot of creative work, it can be easy to put a lot of pressure on creating and capturing my work. When I overthink or build a project up into more than it is, a creative block can set in. I avoid a creative slump and keep creativity alive by picking up another creative hobby, going out into the world to be inspired or creating with my kids. For me, any place or activity can be an inspiration, so sometimes I just need to mix it up if I feel like life and work aren’t creative.  Read More>>

Nico Padilla

I’ve always believed that creativity isn’t a linear process, but rather a call to create. You can’t force or mass-produce something real, it must be authentic, coming from the source of your inspiration, from the deepest longing of the spirit.

We live in a world where hustle culture is incentivized and doing nothing is frowned upon. Yet it’s often in those quiet moments of nothingness that we can truly listen to our inner selves. Read More>> 

Christopher Tashjian

As photographers, we often have to find a balance between client work and personal projects. I believe you can keep your creativity alive by participating in personal shoots or themed shoots that fit your brand and aesthetic. Themed shoots can allow you to express your creativity and network with other creative photographers. I also believe in community.  Read More>> 

Molly McKenzie

I keep creativity alive by following what I am enthusiastic about.

I read something a while ago that I felt really made sense and that is the Greek origin of the word “enthusiasm” which means being touched by a divine presence or being moved by the spirit of god. Whatever I am excited about seems to allow me to connect with the child in me and a never ending flow of ideas. It makes the process feel less effortful and more engaging. Read More>> 

Brandi Slovinsky

I’ve always been very transparent and open when it comes to my art. I’m a self taught artist. I been doing art my whole life.. . But in 2020 my art came to a stop, along with my body, When I was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)…So past few years I have learned to adapt and adjust how I paint and use other avenues of creating like graphic design. Read More>> 

 Jessa

The pursuit of keeping my creativity alive is a conscious and deliberate effort. Since childhood, I have always enjoyed the art of turning a jumbled mess of stuff, from scraps of paper to balls of yarn, into a beautifully designed finished product. However, there have been times in my life where outside factors weighed me down so heavily, that to even think of creating something seemed impossible. I was forced to do the inner work of noticing my pain and how it was inhibiting me from doing what I love, and then removing myself from the environment that was causing it. Like a butterfly going through metamorphosis in order to fly, I too, had to completely transform my life in order to be free. Read More>> 

Xingyi Sun

As an illustrator, I need to be creative to draw. For the past few years, I had time periods when I couldn’t draw for weeks because my creativity ran dry. Now that I’ve been dealing with this problem for long enough, I’ve came up with some solutions that can help with keeping my creativity alive. The first solution is to fill my head with interesting things once in a while. Some professionals like to call it “building a visual library.”  Read More>> 

 KT Duffy

Creativity has never been something I’ve had to “keep alive.” I’ve had a constant drive to make things since I was a kid, whether that meant building weird inventions or taking things apart just to see how they worked. That same curiosity drives me now. My ADHD is actually a creative superpower; it propels me into juggling multiple projects at once, and I genuinely thrive in that kind of environment. I get really excited about learning new tools and diving into unfamiliar territory, and I often take on projects specifically because they challenge me to grow.  Read More>> 

Ivan Nevesenko

I don’t keep creativity alive. I think it’s the other way around. In these difficult times — for me, and for my homeland — the need to tame fear and pain feels especially urgent. Cinema is what helps me survive. I turn overwhelming, destructive emotions into something I can shape and release — scripts, films, essays. My work isn’t planned or strategic — it’s a natural, almost involuntary response to the existential dread that has grown more terrifying with each passing year. Read More>>