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.

MICHELLE HOTALING

To be a creator that releases stories as often as I do, I consciously frame the world as a beautiful, nurturing place. In times of strife, I seek out the helpers and sources of inspiration. I filter through my most beloved memories, recognizing that every moment offers a chance to explore life on a macro level, or to delve into the sensory details of the most mundane. Suddenly, beauty emerges. A story unfolds. I live in a 4th-floor walk-up and sometimes I rush through the ascent.  Read More>>

Mia Alexandra

I think something that’s not talked about enough among creatives is the importance of having a life outside of creating. I see a lot of talk about hustling, living and breathing your art, working yourself to the ground etc, and that can be hard as a young starting out artist to cut through that noise. Because for me, what actually keeps me creative is all the things I do outside of my acting. It’s laughing with my friends, spending time with family, cuddling my dog, going to the beach, reading my favorite books.  Read More>>

Janessa Sanderson

Honestly, I stay creative by living life with my eyes wide open. Inspiration doesn’t always come from fancy places—it’s in the way the light hits someone’s face at sunset, a moment of connection between a couple, or even just watching their kids play. Their curiosity and imagination remind me to loosen up and see things differently. Read More>>

Suzanne Rothmeyer

“How to stay inspired” is a big topic in the photography world… whether you’re shooting weddings, branding, editorial, or commercial. My answer? I make time for personal projects. Even when my calendar is full of client work, I try really hard to fit those projects in – even if it’s just me trying something out solo rather than bringing together a team of other vendors. Read More>>

William Bourret

Creativity is something significant to me. It allows me to embrace who I want to be, and it has helped me become confident in sharing my art.

Something that has helped me keep my creativity alive is looking for pose ideas, whether on Pinterest, Google, or Unscripted. I make something like a mood board for a specific session. Read More>>

Krisanne Barnett

Keeping the Creative Spark Alive: A Journey of Innovation and Resilience
As a creative, the pursuit of originality is both a passion and a discipline. For me, keeping creativity alive is an ever-evolving process rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to embrace failure as a stepping stone to innovation. In a world that thrives on fresh ideas, my approach to staying inspired is a blend of exploration, connection, and learning from the unexpected. Read More>>

Bailey Lang

Helping people build sustainable, enjoyable writing practices is central to my work, so it’s critically important to sustain and enjoy my own writing and creative practices.

I’m someone who likes a lot of structure and a lot of novelty, so I infuse both elements into my creative practices. I journal first thing in the morning almost every day, which gives me structure and consistency. I also try to reserve at least some time each day for creativity so that it’s part of my everyday routine. Read More>>

Nastka

I keep my creativity alive by constantly exploring new visual inspirations — from nature, fashion, and architecture to fine art and street culture.
Music and books are a big part of my creative process too; they help me tap into different moods and emotions, which often shape the direction of my designs.
And of course, every tattoo I create is a collaboration with my client, and their energy and stories always inspire something unique and meaningful. Read More>>

Alina Markeeva

I stay inspired by everyday things — from a cool coffee cup to trending sounds on TikTok. I scroll with purpose, notice what catches my eye, and think how I can make it my own. But honestly, the main thing is to not be afraid to be yourself. In UGC, people connect with real energy, not perfection. So I just create, even if it’s not “ideal” — that’s where the magic usually happens Read More>>

Ember Sherman

I take a lot of classes and continuing education to keep my creativity alive. I try to do projects just for myself, at least once a month. I love learning new things and skills, so it’s always an adventure to find something new and try it out. I’ve also volunteered in the past at my church on our creative team and that also helped keep my mind sharp. Read More>>

Heather Nichols

I always thought I noticed every day things in the world that others don’t. I would watch an amazing sunset and look around to see so many people not noticing the wonder Mother Nature has displayed. I was surrounded by beauty and when I felt my life in need of something of worth that was not work or getting lost in a book, I thought about capturing those moments others miss. I started with just my phone and at the end of 2019, I purchased my first digital camera. The world completely opened up.  Read More>>

Grace Kabuya

As I age, I’m starting to believe more and more in past lives. I read this concept in Buddhist teachings that explains our births as a single link in a chain of suffering, and that we experience and endure numerous births that reach so far back in time to a near-unreachable place. I believe this especially in terms of my creativity, it’s always been a part of me.  Read More>>

BJ Neblett

I guess I’m one of the lucky ones, as there has never been a question of creativity for me; it is something that just seems to come naturally. I’m sure I got it from my mother. She was an actress and always on the go, always into something, be it print ad modeling, doing TV commercials, a recurring part on One Life To Live, movie work, or any of the other dozens of projects she was involved in throughout her career.  Read More>>

Stephanie Agatonovic

For years, I was a painter-oil paint was my medium of choice. But then, I started a family, and the chemicals in the studio became too much to be around. So, for a while, I was just “mom.” My creative pursuits were put on hold-or maybe, just evolving. I learned to sew to make my kids’ Halloween costumes, took up crochet to make hats to keep them warm, and always kept crayons and paper on hand for spontaneous art sessions to fill the fridge with new creations. Read More>>

Didem Mert

“I’ve been going through a creative block…”

That wall is always spoken about as such a shameful and negative experience, yet each and every one of us creatives has hit that wall time and time again. I’ve been there too, trying to continually push myself to make and develop new ideas when my body and mind are telling me hell no. Over the years I’ve realized in every other part of my life that going with my gut feeling has never led me astray. With that in mind, why do we try so damn hard to push against a moment in time we aren’t feeling as inspired? Read More>>

Jhonu Alicia

A few years ago, I realized, the only way to truly keep creativity alive is to make it external. I used to believe that because my creativity was personal, it must also stay internal. It’s for me and no one else could possibly understand it, or worse: They would understand, and hate me for it. It was a silly thought, but I had it until I found myself pep talking with creatives and scolding them about not putting their art in the world and hoarding their creativity. I realized, “Oh, I’m a hypocrite… I need to stop that.” Read More>>

Poppy Roberts

I have always been a creative. Growing up, I was always in art, theater, or music at any given moment, and I can confidently say that hasn’t slowed down in the slightest as an adult. My husband or any one of my friends can tell you that I am always doing something to keep that part of my brain active, my house is a minefield of craft supplies at all times. Writing has become one of the more interesting ways to fuel my creativity because it carries so many possibilities.  Read More>>

Mina Rose

As a dancer and choreographer, creativity isn’t just something I tap into occasionally, it’s a constant demand in this industry.. I’m often asked to create something on the spot or build a piece around a theme I didn’t choose myself.

And while that can be exciting, it is exhausting. Creativity isn’t a switch you flip on command. It needs space, time, and inspiration. And if you access it to often too much, you end up getting a creative block or burn out. Read More>>

Meen Monthon Intra-Promphao

In this world full of reasons for you to just give up, being “alive” is enough, is such a…hopelessness that I have been telling myself. I always have these repeated voices in my head, “If you’re not someone, you’re no one,” which led me to ignore the fact that, because I am no one, I am someone. I have been spending years growing up in different scenes of reality. I have seen so many things in my life and perceive the worlds I have seen in such a…way. It opened my mind, but also got me to the point that I questioned myself a lot, “What was all this for?” Read More>>

Kiera Johnson

While I enjoy being a content creator, there are times where I hit mental roadblocks. Sometimes I don’t feel inspired creatively, feel overstimulated from seeing so many other creators & trends on my timeline, or I’m simply not in the mood to create. I’ll admit that I’m even hard on myself, creating overwhelming deadlines for me to have a certain amount of content completed. When I realize these things , something that helps is taking a deep breath, and remembering why I started creating. Making it fun. It can be as simple as being inspired by a song I love, or a movie I’m watching. It inspires me to recreate a scene or a memory.  Read More>>

Aki Yoo

Creativity is at the center of my business since I focus exclusively on fully custom design work. Maintaining that creativity is a continuous challenge and one that I’ve found cannot rely only on inspiration.

At the beginning of the process with a client, I ask for basic inspiration ideas to get a feel for colors, themes, and the general vibe that the client is aiming for. Ultimately, I convert that inspiration into the creation of formal mockups that incorporate the core ideas provided by the client for their review. Read More>>

Cindy Hudson

We are inspired by what we are able to do with the songs we love. One of our specialties is taking older songs (and hymns) that people know and love and rearranging them to feel new and innovative! Sometimes this means adding yodeling, and according to the comments that we receive, people love it. This puts a distinctive twist on our songs. Although we don’t create original songs, we do put a unique twist on popular favorites that make our style distinctive.  Read More>> 

Moxie

When you start seeing the world as art you start seeing all the aspects it offers. Creativity is all around us if we look for it. From the colors of the sky, to the music we hear passing a club on Red River. Creativity will stay alive because it’s all around us and it’s constant. And I use that creativity to impact my drag and my performances. Just have fun with it! Anything can be creative! Read More>>

Holly Negreiros And Dante Aguilar

Sometimes the hardest thing you can do when running a creativity-based business, is keeping your creativity alive; so how do I do it? I go outside. I read. I draw, write, and paint. I create. I can create my own world by appreciating everything that’s already in it. By listening to the birds sing, hearing the trees sway, and being influenced by other creative minds as I turn a page, I can use all these things around me and create something else of my own; art.  Read More>>

Aileen Kill

As an artist, I draw endless inspiration from the vibrant pulse of everyday life—especially the bustling energy of markets teeming with people and stories. There’s something magical about watching how folks interact with my work: what grabs their attention, the questions they ask, what treasures they’re hunting for, and which pieces make them pause just a little longer. Those honest, unscripted moments? They’re pure gold for sparking fresh ideas and gently nudging me to tweak my approach. Read More>>

Max Mather

I keep my creativity alive by cultivating a visual language that feels distinct and true to my practice. Consistency with my aesthetic allows me to experiment freely with new concepts and techniques, while still producing work that feels recognizably mine. I’ve intentionally built an expansive art practice — blending digital tools with traditional methods, continuously exploring ways to collage these approaches into something new.  Read More>>

Anna Berladyn

It’s not always easy to stay creative, especially when work takes most of your energy. But I try to find moments that recharge me.

Art has always been my way to reconnect with myself. I love learning about artists, especially from the past. I’m not a fan of modern art trends — I’m more inspired by the lightness and freedom of Impressionism, and the smooth, flowing lines of Art Nouveau. Read More>>

Farah George

I keep my creativity alive by exploring diverse topics and experimenting with new approaches, but a big part of my inspiration comes from social media. I use it to discover trending fashion and makeup looks, embrace recycled seasons, and teach others about affordable dupes and products. It’s all about taking what’s trending, adding my unique twist, and turning it into a masterpiece. Plus, I love sharing my creations and knowledge to inspire others to express themselves and make fashion and beauty accessible to everyone. Read More>>

Hunter Knolmayer

How do I keep my creativity alive?
A better question is “How do WE keep creativity alive in this world?”
By passing it on to generations to come, THAT’S HOW!
Let me explain, and allow me to give you an opportunity to play a part in this movement; empowering children to embrace their creativity! Read More>>

Chris Levine

I’m constantly shifting between mediums and challenges. Whether I’m acting, writing a play or producing a feature film, I really thrive when I’m telling stories across different platforms. I don’t wait for inspiration- I chase it by staying active, working on multiple projects at once and allowing one form to fuel the next. Read More>>