We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists, professionals, and entrepreneurs in the world and one of the most important questions we ask them is around keeping one’s creativity alive. Below, we’ve highlighted some of those responses.
Kameron Walker
As an artist i allow myself to completely soak up every little thing around me that could be used for creating. At times those moments causes me to pause from living and meditate heavily on the things i see. for its the small details in everyday life that captures the best ideas even when im at a standstill where artist block takes over, ill find any and every thing i can witness in the world with my two eyes that could provide the means of purpose in my work. Read more>>
Terry T
I Keep My Creativity Alive By Allways Trying Something Different Or Doing Something Out The Ordinary Like. Read more>>
Randy Kent
Movies and current television inspire and continue to keep my creative juices flowing. Television especially these days is extremely important and inspirational because of the depth of character work they can get into over the course of many episodes. There is nothing more creatively charging than seeing something different or fresh on screen, whether that be a particular camera shot, a piece of music, an actor who has a unique way about them or the way a story is told. Read more>>
Maryam Ahmed
I have never been one to sit still. I think it is very easy to get stuck on the hamster wheel, as they say. My creativity comes from the disruption of a standard day. I rely on morning walks to generate ideas, plane rides with enough time to scribble down notes and build concepts, and movement to stay in a creative flow. I’m at my lowest level of creativity when I’m stuck behind a screen all day, so I do my best to organize meetings and project blocks in a way that doesn’t take from my time to myself. Read more>>
Jacqueline DeLeon
As a digital marketer, creator/influencer, it’s easy to want to compare – & perhaps even easier for others to as well. It’s also the number 1 offender of lack of creativity. I don’t look at what others are doing, or recreate others content. The idea of Bucks County Mama, LLC came from being alone, meditating, looking around, & allowing the space for my own creative downloads to happen. To this day, I still practice this for inspiration. My source of creativity is a stream that never ends, flowing from curiosity, connection to others, & witnessing life. The simplest things can be full of magic, just slow down to see. Read more>>
Ethan Pines
I suppose it’s a combination of terror, finickiness and being a middle child. 1) Terror. I’ve been freelance since 1994 and a full-time photographer since 2003. There is a certain amount of money I need to make every month, and that amount has gone up pretty regularly over the years. We’ve got a mortgage and a child; we bought the land across the street; life in SoCal is expensive in general. (No regrets in any of these areas.) So every month, I live with a bit of terror. Read more>>
Nick Moore
Let me start off by saying that I don’t believe I’m the most abundantly creative person out there. For me creativity comes in waves. Ill go weeks at at time or maybe months without diving into a project. I have a bit of a “strike when the iron is hot” kind of ethos, which I suppose comes with the ADHD “super power” of hyper-focus. I keep it alive by riding the waves and trying to let go of all the pressure that can come with a big project. Theres always going to be something you wish you could have done better or differently. You just gotta let all of that go and take what you’re doing at face value. Read more>>
C Scott Stevanus
I keep my creativity alive by traveling all over the world, as well as searching the internet for European styles making their way to the United States. I am constantly researching new products and materials to incorporate in the floral business. As we are a custom design studio not relying on wire service business, I also need to anticipate the needs of my customers. Brides also add an additional level of creativity needed to incorporate their vision and concepts to make their wedding a one of a kind event. Read more>>
Ioana Stoica
I don’t know whether I actually keep my creativity alive, or it keeps me. I think creativity (as well as many of the qualities we value), is innate in human beings. “Keeping it alive” seems to me to be a matter of nurturing that gift and doing our best not to restrict, limit, or drown our natural creative nudges or the creative process itself. Read more>>
Sophie Lasher
For me it’s variety! I’m an artist of many media and that’s what keeps me going. I’m primarily a photographer right now, but I’m also in the beginning stages of a printmaking business, I teach elementary art (which encompasses just about every medium), and I do graphic design for a queer startup. It sounds like a lot to juggle, but it’s actually my secret to creativity. When one type of art gets stuck or doesn’t quite work how I want it to, I just switch to a different one and it sparks completely different ideas. Read more>>
Anya Kalia
A way I like to keep my creativity alive is by writing scripts with my friends and performing them in front of family members. It is extremely fun to create characters and make stories for them. I also like taking acting classes and challenging myself to learn new techniques. Improvisation is great as it allows me to quickly think on my feet and explore different scenarios. Read more>>
Chimen Kouri
After publishing two books, writing became a chore. I was too focused on the logistics rather than the creativity of it. While writing book three, I promised myself I wouldn’t fall into a routine. I plan on playing with the next story as if I’m playing with Barbies. I think that’s what you have to do to keep the creativity alive – just have fun with it. Writing book three makes me feel like I’m returning to my childhood self – back to the days when I was a little girl playing mermaids in the pool with my friends. Read more>>
Anthony Leto
Staying consistently creative hasn’t been a problem for me yet thus far in my journey. Most of the time I find myself uncomfortable if I remain stagnant for too long. It’s almost like an addiction to creating. Fortunately I have extremely talented & driven creatives in which surround me. The family I have at Indapendant Studios, Trackout Studios, & The Hippie Circle keep me on my toes inspiring me to keep pushing toward our dreams! Read more>>
Amey Goerlich
I am constantly inspired by our community of performers who give so much to us and South Broadway in Denver. We have so many cool and different shows at our theater and i am blown away by the imagination that everyone puts into the shows. From Idiot Theater (Modern Clowning) to The Character Show where we have new original characters presented by different people each month. Read more>>
Selena Krivoruchko
When your job requires you to be creative on a daily basis, it can be tiring. Being able to create on a whim is often hard. Getting put on the spot by a client to give an idea, can sometimes be impossible. And some days, I feel like I don’t have a creative bone in my body. Then, I remember how I heard my idol, Michael Bierut talking about this exact topic at a creative conference I attended. Hearing him mention how it can be hard to feel creative on a daily basis, reminded me how it’s okay to be human. Read more>>
Jacob Stewart
The first few years of my career have felt like a grind. I fought to establish myself and get my career off the ground enough to make a living and support my family. In that time, I lost sight of the reason I got into the film/video industry in the first place; my passion for storytelling and creativity. I spent a lot of time last year figuring out how to reignite my creativity. The biggest step I took was creating time where I was away from my phone. I found that when I am on my phone, I am taking in a lot of information at once, which left little space in my brain to create. Read more>>
Aubrea Thompson
Creativity to me is very important for my career and the life I have developed as a Creative entrepreneur. There are so many ways I keep my creativity alive is by remembering what I do this for. I remember that this is all fun and inspiring to others that don’t even know that they can be as creative as they want. I love to do my own passion projects to get my own creativity out. Read more>>
Uncle Flood
Creativity. That is always the artist struggle, isn’t it? I have found that creativity comes when one is happy and content, at least in my experience, I suppose some would find creativity in sadness and despair, however I try to stay on the bright side of things. It seems that ideas and thoughts come easier with a clear mind and peace and quiet. Read more>>
Karis Battle
I keep my creativity flowing by constantly seeking new experiences and perspectives. I often take time to explore different cultures, whether through travel, books, or films. This exposure to diverse ways of life and thinking broadens my creative horizons. I also regularly collaborate with other creatives – designers, artists, photographers. These collaborations are a goldmine for fresh ideas and unique viewpoints. Plus, I make sure to set aside time for personal creative projects that are just for fun, no pressure. It’s all about mixing things up and keeping that creative energy vibrant! Read more>>
“ETERNALS” AKA Alexander Thomas & Nikki Carmela
Aside from creating art, we spend a lot of our time experiencing art in different forms. From reading, checking out different art museums & exhibits, practicing yoga, painting, etc. There are so many ways to experience the world around you that may spark your creativity without you even realizing it. Read more>>
Meagan Meehan
I keep my creativity alive by always staying in touch with my inner child. I always walk down toy aisles in stores, I get character inspirations from Halloween costumes, I never miss an opportunity to check out the latest children’s books…it’s amazing how profound they are when you read them as an adult. I also love visiting museums…they are such inspiring places! Read more>>
Brendan Krake
I feel like a lot of artists that I meet have a specific structure or formula they use when they go to write a song and I think that works for a lot of people but I feel trapped if I start with anything like that. My best writing is done when it’s effortless, I’ll be sitting there eating a sandwich and a chorus will come to me. I seem to thrive in the chaos of just piecing things together and I think thats my greatest strength when it comes to creativity because I just kinda roll with it, whatever happens, happens and I don’t try to tamper with the flow of my natural creative process. Y’know, Why try to fix what isn’t broken? Read more>>
Timothea Biermann
For the past 25 years I have taught K-12 art for Denver Public Schools. It was pretty challenging to prioritize my personal creativity and art practice. I have spent much time writing and developing curriculum for my classroom and the school district. This professional work is a different type of creativity expression, and is quite fulfilling. I teach students art skills, techniques, and studio habits, as well how to observe, analyze and create art. Although I took classes at local arts organizations, my pile of unfinished artworks was stacking up! In 2008 I began graduate school at Savannah College of Art and Design. Read more>>
Keary Alaniz
I keep my creativity alive by having unique experiences to draw from. I am Mexican-American, and I grew up in a bilingual household, learning both languages. Over the years I have evolved as a musician and picked up piano, guitar, bass, and drums. These are the instruments I use to create a wide variety of sounds. Traveling, adventure, and keeping an open mind has led me to lead a life rich in experience. So far outside of the US, I have visited China, Mexico, and Canada. In China, I got the opportunity to teach English to bright young children. Read more>>
Brad & Tara Harrison
Brad: I just try to stay constantly inspired. I listen to a lot of new music, get out in nature, and am always trying to see the interesting in seemingly ordinary things. Teaching our kids also helps to keep me inspired. Tara: Our kids help a lot with my creativity. They’re always looking at things in new ways; asking questions I wouldn’t think to ask. They push me to think out of the box and stay weird! Being out in nature also helps get me out of any creative ruts. Hiking, playing in the creek, and breathing in the fresh, mountain air really awakens the senses. Read more>>
Shelby Fleming
I think everything around us and our experiences shape how we create. The more we expose ourselves to, the more material we have to pull from. As a mixed media multidisciplinary artist, I think it’s important to be open to learning new things, going on long hikes, and doing movie marathons. There is no telling when inspiration will hit you or how you will be inspired to create but your mind needs data to pull from in order to create. The people and communities I surround myself with also give me creative energy and inspires me to continue creating. Read more>>
Jonathan Morris
A lot of my creativity comes from my relationship with patience. Being patient with myself and my ideas is an important part of my process; remembering that my success is not reliant on speed helps keep my mind clear, but it also reinforces that I have time to learn and grow at a steady pace without compromising the attention I need to put into my physical and mental health and the health of the relationships in my personal life. Read more>>
Drew Scott
Creativity to me is joy and my intention is to share that joy in everything I create. My creative journey started with crayon drawings on the walls of my room at the age of 2 when I told my mom, “I am an artist. I make beautiful things.” I started designing jewelry at 9 and fell in love with gemstones: the beauty, the ancient history, and the energetic properties. My first jewelry business started at the age of 10, I had friends at an after-school daycare in an assembly line making friendship bracelets that I sold at recess. Read more>>
Dante J. Cutley
I keep my creativity alive by setting goals for myself. With photography, there are so many photo styles ie: Fine Art, Portraits, etc, that it gives me the opportunity to learn each one and find a creative space with in them. Read more>>
Courtney Eastman
My curiosity and sense of adventure are the main driving forces behind keeping my creativity alive! I’ve had a natural curiosity for the peculiar things in life and the stories that are seldom told, and by leaning into that, wanting to showcase the world through a creative-mind’s lens, and wanting to keep history and these forgotten places alive, I’ve allowed myself to show a my creativity through social media. Fortunately for me, the journey I’ve now found myself on of showcasing the world of the weird and strange, the creativity is never truly depleted. Read more>>
Shane Ragoonan
It’s been eight years of performing live, creating new music, and finding ways to entertain people and I feel like every year that passes by, it gets harder and harder for me. Every time I do something at a show and the people love it, I’m always thinking to myself, “well how are you gonna top that one?” One of the ways I keep my creativity alive is by self challenging myself to outdo what I did before and try not to do the same thing so that it doesn’t get boring. Read more>>
Adrian Reynolds
Keeping creativity alive is critical for me, and I have devised various routines to foster it. First and foremost, I value curiosity and am always looking for new experiences and knowledge. Whether I’m reading a range of books, studying different art forms, or engaging in intriguing conversations, I let my thoughts wander. In addition, I make an effort to set aside time for creative pursuits. Read more>>
Darrell Somers
The hard part about being creative in my art is finding time to sit down and paint. I get inspired from my past memories and seeing things throughout every day. When I finally get to sit down and start painting, I get lost in the painting. Unlike my art, my writing tells me when I will write. Like a recording that plays over and over in my mind I hear two or three sentences over and over until I put them down on paper. After I write the sentences down there will be another sentence then another until there are no more. Then I wait until another recording starts playing. Read more>>
Michelle Kaffko
I work in the creative field of photography, but as a small business owner, which is filled with mundane tasks in sales, marketing, bookkeeping, management, and more. But it’s so important to keep tapping into my creativity to innovate and keep everything in the business fresh. I’ve found the easiest way to do that is to foster an environment where I’m not the only one responsible for being creative, and others can feel free and empowered to be creative too. Read more>>
Jared Hale
I keep my creativity alive by always looking at things in a different light. When I find a subject that interests me I don’t always make the most common version of that subject, I like to add my own spin on things to add a little flair. Read more>>
Dari Litchman
Creativity is the most innate part of me. I am 110% visually stimulated and I soak it all in. I am constantly inspired – a lady walking down the street wearing a wacky outfit, the silver underside of leaves showing before a storm, a vintage Christmas window display, a walk down the aisle at my favorite thrift store, a gorgeous pot of vegetable soup. To keep it alive I look at a LOT of visual information – YouTube videos, Pinterest, and Instagram. I am always following fantastic artists and watching endless DIY videos. Read more>>
Taeler Buchanan
I’m happy for the opportunity! Thank you for having me. Well, to answer your question, I actually try to release my creativity in a number of ways.. I don’t typically stick to just one lane of expression when I write. Currently, I regularly publish book reviews on a “bookstagram” blog I host on IG, @readandpose, where I also create themed photoshoots (or book shoots as I like to call them) for the books I review. I’ve also written film scripts in the past, children’s stories.. I even created my own set of “story” flashcards to help my son and other littles recognize sight words as they read. Read more>>
Madhu Akasapu-Smith
Creativity is what keeps me alive and sane sometimes! In times like now, where we emphasize mindfulness and meditation, pursuing creative projects can not only be therapeutic but also meditative. Read more>>
Varcy
I use everything around me to inspire me no matter the mood or circumstance. I try to allow myself to create whether I fail or not. I find comfort in executing projects because it lets me know what’s possible. I try to keep a steady flow of creativity even if it’s just for me to intake. Read more>>
Lamar Neal
That’s been a question I’ve asked myself a lot in the past six months. I’ve been creatively depleted lately and it wasn’t until I went on vacation I realized why: I’ve allowed the mundanity of life to sweep me away. To keep creativity alive is to find ways to make life and keep it interesting. Break from your norm. It doesn’t even have to be a grandiose change, like traveling to another country or wandering the streets until 3am. Read more>>
Macrofocus
Creativity is inherent in everyone regardless of background, social status, or other variables in personal orientation. As much has been written with scientific certainty regarding our neurological and biological responses to the creative process or humanity’s orientation to it, truly artistic individuals find never-ending avenues of inspiration in their creatio ex nihilo – creation out of nothing. We artists are always moving beyond the rationalism of the scientific realm and into existential territory with our need to express, explore, and decipher meaning in a world simultaneously balancing beauty and extreme ugliness. Read more>>
Aileen Martinez
There are many things that I like to implement in my life to help keep my creativity alive. I greatly enjoy traveling and visiting new places, meeting new people, and placing myself into new experiences. This allows me to see past myself and create new pathways to others that ultimately leads me back to myself. I don’t need to travel far always; visiting new areas in my home state can be enough. Creativity to me is simply finding new ways to problem solve; what that looks like to each individual is part of the fun. I do not wish to be dull and boring. Read more>>
Christy Ross
Teaching art to my students and adults keeps my creativity abundantly growing as an artist. The role of art educator is something I take very seriously because I know kids and adults have very little chances to explore their own creativity. The time I’m teaching must have an impact. Exploring creativity soothes our souls, calms are minds and brings brightness to our lives. Read more>>
Jonas Wald
While I do consider myself an avid creative, for my whole life, keeping up the pace that I do can honestly be exhausting and I’ve been burnt out several times over the past few years. Though I wonder in those moments how I can keep this whole creative thing alive, I find that what gets me out of the funk is my continued exploration of new artists and other media. I heard the sentiment somewhere before, not exactly like this, but something to the effect that everything is a copy of a copy. Without this great creative work, we wouldn’t have this other great creative work! Read more>>
Maya Nicole
I keep my curiosity alive by staying in tune with myself and my emotional evolution. There is a desire to understand my inner workings in sometimes extreme ways. I find the answers through my creative pursuits. Each medium brings me steps closer to clarity, even though “At times.” it’s fleeting. I once heard in a sermon that you cannot have passion with pain. In the perspective of my mind, I am constantly in pain even underneath the happiest of moments. Acknowledging that truth while I pursue peace keeps me creative. Read more>>
Ivy Brown
By being aware of life’s little things, not always focusing on the bigger issue’s but being present for each moment and finding the beauty, humor and love in every moment. My appreciation for art and the artists I work with and what they create continue to inspire me. Seeing a spot on the road as art, being aware of what is going on around me and not walking around with my head in my phone helps to keep life fresh and inspiring. Read more>>
Enrique Puerto
To keep creativity alive and constant, I like to interact deeply with nature, I usually go running inside different forests, visit beaches, connect with the sea, listen to birds singing, or simply observe the simplest things in life, nature around me. That is a way to connect with some experiences from the past from which I can draw inspiration, often nostalgic in a good way. Read more>>
Joshua Meyer
I love the conversation about creativity because it goes so much deeper than what we generally understand. To me, to be human is to be creative. It’s the essence of life and love and flow and if we are feeling a block, it’s a sign of an imbalance somewhere in our lives. I believe that creativity comes from an unending source, so it’s more about not blocking it than keeping it alive. This source is passionate about creating! The ideas that want to come forth are begging to be given life and we simply have to quiet ourselves enough to let them be born. Read more>>
Kennedy Kohlman
For me at least I need to constantly engage with the world of creativity that exists outside of my own mind. Creativity in my opinion is like a battery. In order to recharge this creative battery one needs to intake various forms of creativity. I do this primarily by actively engaging with the artistic communities I find myself a part of both in the physical world and online. Hearing a powerful poem inspires and drives me to create something of equal beauty and descriptive power. Hearing an emotion-filled melody makes me want to create music that can evoke feelings in the same way. Read more>>
Kara Adams
Creativity for me is something that comes and goes with the day, time, or circumstance. I have to be honest and say that there are some days when I can’t seem to make a creative thought appear in my brain and then I have other days where I have so many thoughts that I can’t keep up with everything. I don’t have a one size fits all or instant cure for keeping creativity alive, but I am always searching for new forms of inspiration. Over the last year I have changed up how I approach life and therefore have discovered the things that inspire me. The first thing I have tried to make a real effort at over the last year is to have new experiences. Read more>>
