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.

Elin Tegels

I find my creativity comes from inspiration. A lot of my free time is spent in new environments or places that I find interesting. This includes museums like the Minneapolis Institute of Art, botanical gardens, exhibitions, or pop-up experiences. This is why I love to travel. And when in new places, I find myself seeking out these experiences to gain inspiration and increase my creativity. Read more>>

Mr. Enlightenment

I keep my creativity alive by participating in writing sessions with other creatives, going to workshops, listening to music and studying the lyrics of some of my favorite artists. I also get my creativity sparked by conversations with friends and experiencing life. Read more>>

Trent Rowland

I keep my creativity alive by making sure that I am NOT always viewing my life through the prism of what I can create with it. For me, I try to make sure that that part comes second. I want to be fully engaged in my life and the experiences that I’m fortunate or unfortunate to live through. Then, I can mine for what I want to create. I find that the well is deeper that way. There are more specifics to pull from and more emotions to summon. Read more>>

Stephanie Narewski

Being an Interior Designer, your creativeness plays an extremely important role. You don’t want to give all your client’s the same design, furniture, layout , etc. Each space and client you want to feel special and unique. To keep the creative ideas flowing I am constantly gaining inspiration from online websites such as Houzz, Pinterest, furniture suppliers and printed magazines. Read more>>

Kelly Galeazzi

The never ending cycle of feeling utterly creative and then losing it within the blink of an eye. Creativity is like building blocks. You have to continuously put them together to make something exist. You’ll have days where your creativity is blocked and you’re just full blown exhausted from your day to day work life and activities, that having a creative spark out of the blue is just non existent. Read more>>

Jamie Goode

Staying Creative isn’t easy, but it does help by avoiding ruts. If you get stuck doing the same things every day in the same way, your brain doesn’t get much new to work with, so I try to keep it simple by mixing things up. I work on a variety of types of projects, from construction work (building my own props for my studio), working at my home office, working in the studio, and sometimes I go play billiards pool in the middle of the day (because it’s my release on things). Read more>>

Georgette Jackson

Because I love to write and it’s a gift from God, it’s not difficult for me to keep my creativity alive. I make a point of writing something every day even if it is just one sentence. I am a published author of three books, an anthology, and three more books waiting to be published, so I’m constantly writing. I also love to paint, but haven’t done much of that as I have with writing. Read more>>

Leilani Bell

To maintain my creativity, I search for inspiration from the world around me and my ability to connect with it. Instead of trying to forcefully keep creativity alive, I concentrate on nurturing it and staying in tune with both myself and my environment. I believe that nature embodies genuine creativity, and all things manmade, in some way, imitate its elements. So, I draw on nature’s ingenuity to maintain the flow of my creativity. Read more>>

Dani Smith

Oh that’s such a good question and an important one when you’re in a creative field like photography! I have a few ways I like to keep my creativity alive. One of my favorites has been to carve out time in my schedule for personal projects. My husband and I love to come up mood boards and plan our own photoshoots together.  Read more>>

Eric Calande

I think creativity and curiosity go hand-in-hand. To stay creative, stay curious. Ideas can materialize from so many sources. The words of another, an emotion, a song, a found object, a new material, a beautiful vista, they can all be sources to spark creativity. Being curious about all these things (and more) can lead to new experiences, new thought processes, new views. Read more>>

Gabriel Vargas

The truth is that today, after 3 years creating digital content and within the world of journalism, I have been able to talk with great figures in the media and they have always told me about consistency. So I believe that consistency in the work will make you grow sooner or later, especially since there is already at least 1 person waiting to read your work, so the commitment is no longer only with you, but also with the people who watches and reads and follows you and your content. Read more>>

Vincent Lombrana

The world is full of inspiration. I constantly look for things that peak my interest when traveling or even on a daily basis. It can even be from experiences, new and old that stuck with me. It can come from anywhere unexpectedly. I feel like that is the most important aspect of keep my creativity alive, finding that inspiration. Of course, like any other artists, creative blocks do come. Its just a matter of finding that inspo again to have that fuel to make something new again. Read more>>

Tom Sys

Every artist has their channel of creativity. Just like a painter has brushes, colors, and a canvas, or like a musician has an instrument, an actor has a stage or a camera to channel their creative impulses. As soon as I graduated from college, I knew I probably wouldn’t be performing daily anymore. The everyday practice that school put upon us fell away and it was unlikely to be working on a creative project every single day. Read more>>

Heather Bunkelman

I love to surround myself by nature and art. Taking a moment away from work and appreciating natures beauty can be so inspiring to me. I love to read and go to museums, both of which provide me endless fuel for my craft. Read more>>

Lauren Gray

Without creativity, I wouldn’t have a business! My brand offers photo shoot themes and set ups that you don’t normally see, so I’m always brewing up new ideas and planning them out. I have a few ways I stay inspired, like market research, imagination, education, and being a part of creative communities. The most important key is my ambassador team- a group of powerful, strong women who always bring amazing ideas to me and also to bring my crazy visions to life. Read more>>

Mel Soul

Life has shown me that trials can be turned into art. The best art I’m able to create comes from writing songs. Read more>>

Sam Jordan Dudeck

It’s hard not to be creative in this wild world we live in, undergoing this roller coaster ride we call life – where each and every day is a new experience; a new perspective of old emotions, a fresh conversation with a familiar face, a life-changing event or another walk down the rutted trails of the mundane. Read more>>

Oluwaseun Taiwo

That’s a very good question. I can say that I keep my creativity alive by setting aside time for creative activities, exploring new ideas and experiences, collaborating with other event planners and decorators in this field, also by finding inspiration in the world around me. I can say that I am very good when it’s comes to researching ideas. Read more>>

Terra Leone

Continually being creative for me is in essence just following my curiosity. I started seriously studying Digital and Traditional Art in 2018. Before that I did metal smithing and jewelry design work. Drawing and color combinations were very familiar ideas to me. It gave me a foundation to build upon. I think digital work is much faster and forgiving than traditional art. Read more>>

Holly Chester

I believe creativity is always alive in all of us, but we tend to push it aside or close the door to it completely due to our busy schedules or own self-doubt. I admit it is often difficult to be creative, so this year I explored a new opportunity. I attended my first artist residency at Chateau Orquevaux in France. It was a beautiful place to unwind and focus solely on being a creative individual for 2 weeks. Read more>>

Kelly Korver

Immersing myself in nature helps me keep my creativity alive. Intentionally slowing down whenever I’m outside, whether it be on a family hike or a simple walk to our backyard garden, does wonders for reigniting that creative spark. Read more>>

Nycole Fry

Creativity is what drives me forward. It’s essential to recognize that creativity is a collaborative effort and to understand how forming a connection with yourself and the creative process can enhance your life and the lives of those who interact with you or your art. Creativity is not just about making a masterpiece. It’s about co-creating something novel, embracing the cycle of death and rebirth, being aware and present with emotions, and allowing the flow of energy to produce something innovative. Read more>>

Isabella Thatcher

I think this is such a wonderful question, and one that I feel like every person would give their own unique answer to, because there are so many ways to do so. The arts have played a central role in my life since I was born. They have shaped me as a person and helped me to learn and grow in so many vital ways. Working in the arts, especially as a freelance artist, is a bit of a unique situation. Read more>>

Mike Khukuri

Keeping creativity alive is integral to my life. I don’t follow a strict routine, but I make sure I dedicate at least an hour a day to create and another hour a day to meditate. I’m a dreamer by day and a commercial advertiser at night. At the end of the day, I’ve exhausted all of my creativity and rarely dream during my sleep. Read more>>

Shakeema Bouyer

I believe that I have always been an innovative and creative thinker. I tend to look at situation from various points of view and if something is bought to my attention that I missed, I am able to bring that to where I am in my thought process. By nature, I write out my thoughts and ideas. If I think of something, even if I can’t implement it right away, I outline what it will look like from start to finish. Read more>>

Joe Staton

I love this question. I’m someone who gets bursts of creativity come through and I get very excited about expressing and using that. I come from a highly creative family, and I was talking to my mum last night about a project I want to do, and her words of wisdom were the same as they have always been – just do it. And she’s right – if there is something you want to do, there are a thousand reasons you can come up with to not do that thing, but if you are serious about it then you just have to. Read more>>

Dakíra

creativity keeps me alive in a lot of ways. when I’m stagnant and not aligning myself properly, it pains me. I get tough to be around when I go too long without creating. Creating is the spark in my life. Makes me feel whole, purposeful and it genuinely brings me joy. I can always count on it when I struggle to find any light anywhere else. Read more>>

Debbi Moore

The simple answer is; interaction with people. In my workspace, I am constantly challenging myself to create beautiful and unique table settings for each of my brides and/or clients. Each event is tailored made. At times, my clients aren’t entirely positive of what they want and we work together to design an experience for their guests. Read more>>

Dominique Begnaud

I keep my creativity alive through actively and passively seeking out opportunities to build my creativity. As a creative therapist, I often have the pleasure of witnessing clients tapping into their creativity in sessions to tackle problems and to build their self-esteem. Over the years, I have come to realize creativity is expansive. As a trained artist, I used to feel that if I wasn’t making art, then I wasn’t using my creativity. Read more>>

Joe Aleshaiker

I have been passionate about producing music since I was 13 years old, and now, at the age of 26, my journey has been filled with various challenges that tested my creativity. To keep my creative spark alive, I’ve learned the importance of starting projects that genuinely excite me. By working on things I’m passionate about, I find it easier to stay motivated and inspired. Additionally, I’ve cultivated a daily production habit that lasts for months on end. Read more>>

Austin Glaeser

To keep my creativity alive and thriving, I have developed a two-pronged approach that involves taking breaks and engaging in multiple projects. By striking this balance, I find myself better equipped to nurture my creative flow and produce innovative ideas. Keeping my creativity alive involves cherishing both quiet moments of relaxation and the excitement of engaging in diverse projects. Read more>>

Kayla Cardinal

There are a few ways I keep my creative mind active. One: My art studio. If you could see the inside of my brain, it would look like my art studio. Organized chaos of color, photos, memorabilia, canvases, shelves of paint brushes and paint, drawers of ribbon, craft paper, art tools…. You get the picture. I love to sit up there, musics playing and be in the moment. I surround myself with a safe place to create whatever comes to mind. Read more>>

Bran Merritt

I can’t take credit for my creativity. I believe my mother bestowed all of her creativity to me. Sadly, she left this earth on August 9, 1999, but she graciously left her wonderful gift of creativity to me. She was creative in her photography, artistry, painting, making up impromptu silly songs, and in her selfless ways of giving back. Read more>>

 

 

Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move

From Indecisive to Confident: developing decision-making skills

Indecisiveness is a killer. It can bring even the most promising projects, relationships, and ventures