With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity alive as it’s one of the best defenses against the rising trend of automation. Even if you don’t buy into all the hype around AI, keeping your creativity alive has always been a challenge and as so we’ve connected with some of the most creative folks in our community to discuss tactics and strategies for keeping your creativity alive.

Kali Rocha

Everyone- and everything thing- has a story. Being curious and open enough to ask, being fully present and truly listening with empathy is, to me, the very definition of how to keep creativity alive. I became an actress because I love crawling into the skin of a character whose story I can tell, as authentically and humbly as I am able.  Read More>>

Jayvaughn Warren

As a movement artist, I believe in order for me to be able to complete a motion I have to see myself do it over and over in my head. In order for me to see myself doing things I haven’t done before, I have to use my imagination.

Even as a stuntman I have to use my imagination a lot. Since I was a child I’ve always valued the power of imagination. Read More>>

Qingyuan Fan

As a game developer working specifically on level design and system design, I would say that my creativity mostly stems from my real-life experiences and various gaming experiences. The book Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon resonates strongly with me because I also believe that my imagination is essentially a recollection of past experiences. My game and level design ideas often originate from games I’ve played or places I’ve visited. Read More>>

Chava Floryn

Creativity is the driving force of life itself. I truly believe that every moment offers a chance to connect with this creative energy, and it’s in those moments that magic unfolds. Creativity thrives in the present—in noticing the small wonders that surround us. For me, there are three key elements that keep my creativity alive:
1. Staying curious and open to the world. Read More>>

Jason Pchajek

Fortunately I’ve always been a creative person, so on some level it’s fairly easy for me to keep that alive.

For me, it almost always goes back to when I was a kid at the family cottage. Every summer my family would pack up and head out to there to spend time together. Unfortunately being a kid who loved video games and spent a lot of time on my computer, we didn’t have a t.v. or internet out there–to this day we still don’t actually–so I needed to find something for myself to do. Read More>>

Emily Bourassa

I have three lists hanging on the wall in my studio, and they’re embarrassing enough that I hang them up behind the door, so that no one sees them. I keep them on the wall even though I really don’t want you to see them, because they’re a really powerful tool for me. The titles are Grow, Learn, and Achieve, and there are 10 or more things listed out for each of those areas. Read More>>

Anjum Mariam

I think creativity is a way of being. I live in my creative world- my creative cocoon, a sanctuary of books, art, stories, poetry, illustrations, colour, travel, trees, the wilderness, day dreams and imagination. My everyday is filled with creating and the process of design- observing the world around, absorbing inspiration, finding moments of awe and wonder and putting pen to paper as the cycle of creativity flows. Read More>>

Bibi Fuentes

Creativity is at its most potent when it draws from the raw, unfiltered realities of the human experience. For me, music, art, and writing are the vessels through which I can capture the subtleties of what it means to be alive—the complexities, the contradictions, and the deep emotions that shape us. My work isn’t just about creating beautiful things—it’s about weaving an undertone of the real, messy, and beautiful truths of human existence. Read More>>

Ty Little

At BlueRobin we just try our best to immerse ourselves in as many different things as we can so we can remain radically open-minded. I believe when you’re radically open-minded, you give yourself the opportunity to discover creative concepts you can’t unlock without the open-mindedness. When dealing with brands, you have to have this approach to all possibilities. Read More>>

Tristan Roland

Creativity can flourish and wither in a fleeting moment. Whether by pure happenstance or forcing oneself to indulge in the creative play of curiosities. Life as we know it can be enriched with inspirations or void of all imaginative pleasures. It is the role of the subjected to break free of their social parameters and the norms in which we are encased in.  Read More>>

Talitha Barkow

Creativity is like a plant. You need to nurture it with water (input), sunshine (charge), and good soil (environment) to keep the plant alive and healthy. With consistent care, the plant will survive harsh weather and pests to produce fruit and flowers. Nurturing your creativity requires daily input, charge, and a good environment to endure all manner of difficulties, and in the end, produce something beautiful. Read More>>

Thomas Petborisooth

The thing they don’t tell you in Tv & Movies is that whatever it took for you to get to where you wanted to be will be what it takes for you to maintain that role or position. The best way I can express how I keep my creativity alive is to keep what put me on this creative path in the first place alive: actualizing my inner child. Growing up in the 90’s (yes, it was the best decade) I was flooded and stood upon the decades before but it was also a time of a lot of risk and experimentation in the world. Read More>>

Mariona Mora

I stay creatively alive by staying present and paying attention. I’m always collecting small moments—things that catch my eye during the day, like the way fruit is arranged at a market, or the texture of a fabric, or a color combination on the street. I take photos or screenshots and save them in a folder on my phone. They become quiet reference points I revisit when starting a new project. I also think creativity grows when there’s space for it, so I try to protect unstructured time whenever I can. Read More>>

Creighton Holmes

Creativity is something that is constantly fueled throughout everyday life. Whether it’s something I read about, experience personally, dream about, there is always a source of inspiration to follow throughout everyday life. All these factors influence my creativity on the guitar and what I write musically. I’m ruled by the heart, so whatever I end up playing is usually a derivative of whatever is going on at that moment.  Read More>>

Ira Thackeray

Ira Thackeray, Founder of Tree of Life Stories

My creativity has definitely seen its ups and downs since the very moments I discovered how powerful and amazing it was. Sometimes, it can be hard to feed your imagination and creativity, and that’s when I have learned blocks happen. It is very clear that having to struggle with burnout is difficult, especially when you want to use your talent and creativity, but you find it hard to. Read More>>

Jennifer

My creativity is deeply connected to my work as a dancer and teacher, and it’s constantly renewed through my adult ballet students. Teaching adults requires a special kind of inventiveness—no two people learn ballet the same way. I’m always experimenting with how to explain a concept, adjust a correction, or structure a class so that each dancer feels empowered and engaged. In that process, I’m not just teaching ballet, I’m translating an art form into a new language that resonates with each unique person in front of me. That challenge keeps me creative every day. Read More>>

Holly Hintz

As a pastry chef, staying creative is very important to me. I feel like I have always been creative and artistic, and instead of expressing that creativity with paint or textiles, I use dessert. To keep my creativity alive I make sure to follow other bakers and pastry chefs on social media, and I subscribe to industry publications that showcase new ingredients, new techniques and give insight into what industry leaders are doing. That’s Big Picture stuff. Read More>>

Vijat M

I keep my creativity alive by constantly feeding my imagination. Inspiration comes from everywhere for me—pop culture, vintage aesthetics, ’90s music videos, the glamorous world of advertising, and even the thrift store down the street. But I’m especially drawn to surreal visuals and anything that goes against the norm. I love taking things most people would never think twice about—crazy, over-the-top, unexpected stuff—and making them mesmerizing and unforgettable. It’s about how I see them and bring them to life through my lens. That’s where the transformation happens. Read More>>

Seattle Kay

To keep my creativity thriving, I constantly seek out new concepts and ideas. One of the most exciting aspects of music composition, is the endless possibilities for creation. Whenever I find myself feeling uninspired or dealing with writer’s block, I turn to a song I deeply resonate with. Often, this triggers a flooding of new ideas, laying the groundwork for some of my best work. I also make it a point to explore new techniques and styles, often by studying the music of other artists. I truly believe every artist has something valuable to offer, and there’s always room to experiment and grow. Read More>>

Jess Van Winkle

The queer community keeps my creativity alive. I didn’t really find myself as an artist until I came out as a lesbian. I am endlessly inspired by queer history, drag and performance art. I see a ton of live performance of all kinds- theatre, dance, comedy, variety, runway, on and on. I’m always looking for new ways to push boundaries in fashion. Read More>>

Emily Wise

Creativity is a living breathing thing. The trick of keeping it alive for me is treating it like any other important relationship in my life. It is somehow both my primary partner and a child I care for and protect at all cost.

Through personifying it in various ways over time, I have deepened my relationship with it.
Through deepening my relationship with it, it has given back to me tenfold, regardless of the reception of me or my work. Read More>>

Cynthia White Anderson

Keeping my creativity alive is an exciting choice that I step in, along, around, and out of every day. Setting short and long-term goals helps me keep on track with a variety of projects – I like to keep it fresh by exploring new things. One way I keep my ideas flowing is using a visual journal where I sketch, make notes, and paste in mementos and photos. Read More>>

Natalija Lesjak

Creativity thrives when nurtured, and I keep mine alive by staying open to inspiration, experimenting freely and reflecting mindfully. Nature is a constant muse—its textures, colors, and organic forms often spark new ideas. But inspiration also hides in simple, everyday moments: the way light falls on fabric, an unexpected color combination, or a fleeting conversation. Read More>>

Sandhya Lohani

As an Interior Designer, I keep my creativity alive by seeking inspiration from diverse sources,
a multifaceted approach, drawing inspiration from the unexpected and embracing the unique needs of each project.

Keeping current with the latest trends whether it be color palettes, fabric innovations, and material advancements allows me to transform spaces into vibrant expressions of personality. It’s not just about following trends blindly, but about understanding the underlying principles and then applying them with a fresh perspective, ensuring the final result is both stylish and timeless. Read More>>

London Michalske

I keep my creativity alive by seeking out inspirational experiences, places, and people. Inspiration is the foundation of all creativity. Aesthetical experiences usually are my top choice when looking to be inspired. Optimally beautiful
experiences encapsulate both a muse (or muses) and a place simultaneously for me. For example, one place I find a multitude of these aesthetic experiences is Burning Man. Read More>>

Bruce Bayard

I keep my creativity alive by giving it a break on a regular basis. I’ve lost track of the number of times I quit being an artist. Running headlong into a creative block is a common occurrence. Frustration and disappointment seem ever present. The thing is, in the early days of this cycle when I quit, it used to be devastating to think that my life as an artist was over. Then I’d have an inspiration for another creative project. The more this happened, the less dramatic each cycle was, until it dawned on me that this was just my normal way of recommitting to the creative act. Read More>>

Flarik Akhmetov

For me, my art is not just a hobby or a way to earn money—it is a way of life and a means of expressing my own worldview. Since I specialize in tribal tattoos, it is important for me to study the history and traditions of the tattooing process in order to preserve this knowledge for future generations. This very goal sustains my creativity and inspires me. Read  More>>

Lily

As an artist and a high school history teacher, I keep my creativity alive by drawing inspiration from the people and world around me. My students often share photos of nature, encouraging me to paint them, which is incredibly touching—it reminds me that creativity is meant to be shared and celebrated. Nature, especially botanicals and flowers, serves as a constant source of inspiration for my work. To keep my artistic energy fresh, I rotate between different projects, from painting and digital designs to crafting bookmarks, coasters, greeting cards, and even crochet scrunchies. Read More>>

Nyah Greene

Creativity is something that has been a part of who I am since I was much younger and even as an adult. I’m not much of a trend-follower as I am one to try and create new things and see where it goes. I love looking at other mediums of art to keep my creativity flowing. Whether it’s in nature, details in a piece of clothing, a print or texture in food, I see creativity all around me. Read More>>

Debrice Hill

“As a teacher and instructional coach, I’ve found that keeping my creativity alive requires intentional effort and a willingness to explore new ideas. Here are some strategies that help me stay creative:

1. *Stay curious*: I make time to read, attend workshops, and engage in conversations with colleagues and experts in my field. This helps me stay updated on best practices and inspires new ideas. Read More>>

Dianne Mikeska

With my weaving, I try to follow the sudden inspiration. My tapestries mostly lean toward a certain style, but every so often I see something and my mind starts to whirl … how would I weave that? Putting aside ego and the internal critique of “that’s not me,” I accept the call of the challenge. From a bedspread pattern at El Cosmico to a vintage cross stitch turkey purse, unexpected inspirations have pushed my creativity and craft forward. Read More>>

Jaimie Rosenthal

When you look around, creativity can spark at any given moment. Looking at things in a new perspective is an opportunity to see angles in which you wouldn’t before. Remembering that, it helps spark new ideas I wouldn’t have noticed. Whenever I hit a block, or am just having a rough time with imagining my next steps and need something to do that will invigorate that creative spark- something as simple as going for a walk or visiting my favorite coffee spot can kickstart a new bit of inspiration. Read More>>

Coco Tsai

I believe creativity is truly the starting point of everything. But not everyone is naturally overflowing with ideas or born with endless inspiration—and I’m certainly not one of those people. To keep creativity alive, I think the first step is to keep your five senses alive. That means not just letting them function passively, but consciously expanding their sensitivity—making intentional connections between what you see, hear, touch, and allowing those sensations to blend and transform through your own imagination. Read More>>

Caitlin Mathes

I think the key, for me, to keeping my creativity alive and flowing has a lot more to do with pitfalls to avoid. I think it is a natural state to be creating, and sharing, and playing. The trick is to keep too much outside influence from telling you that what you make is not good enough, or doesn’t make sense. A favorite idea from Lynda Barry that I hold onto is the idea that every kid can draw a tree… and freely, but at some point someone says- ‘that doesn’t look like a tree,’ and the kid takes that on and decides there is probably only one worthy way of drawing a tree Read More>>

VantiAvi

A lot of what keeps my creativity alive is seeing the people around me create. I’m extremely lucky that I live in a city that values the arts and that I’ve cultivated a community of people who also love to create. It’s helped not only keep my creativity alive, but has inspired me to keep on creating even when I’ve felt pretty down. Especially after COVID, it was quite hard for me to create because I felt like I was in a solitary little bubble, but after coming to uni and having lived where I currently do, it’s really helped me stay creative and continue to do what I love Read More>>

Brandi Grayson

I keep my creativity alive through living deeply, expansively, wholeheartedly, and authentically. Creativity isn’t something separate from me; it’s the very force that moves through me, shaping how I experience and express life itself. Read More>>

Nicole Utama

Traveling is definitely one of my favorite ways. Meeting people from different cultures and being in new environments always sparks fresh ideas and keeps my mind engaged. Especially with interior design, I believe the places you visit leave a mark on you. I like to pay attention to the little things around me—how shadows and lights are cast, the materials being used, or how people naturally flow through space. Once you start noticing those things, it’s hard not to see them everywhere you go. Read More>>