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.
Josh Hinkin
I keep my creativity alive by not limiting my process to what’s comfortable. I often find that if I continuously create similar pieces or use the same style too often in my practice it can lead to burnout or a block. But by opening myself to new methods, styles, or practices it broadens my mind and creativity into new planes so that I may explore them. When I find myself lacking inspiration I look to nature as well as emotions to channel in what is laying just beyond the surface, to bring something entirely new into existence! Read more>>
Javier Tamez
Working in the tattoo industry as an artist I feel like designing, painting, and tattooing on a daily basis is how I keep my creativity going. My clients bring new concepts and ideas when they come into their appointments creating new design challenges. This allows me to collaborate with them one on one as they watch me design and create their vision. You never know if you’re going to go into black and gray, color, or both,and type of style. Read more>>
Tatiana Jones-Waldon
I keep my creativity alive by believing in myself always. By taking the time to perfect my craft and the things I love. It is very important to never lose sight on what makes you…you. I am the owner and founder of ComfortCakesCo. A bakery I started in my home. My business started off with making cookies and homemade candy, after I found a love for baking specialty cakes I decided to revamp my business. Every poundcake is made from scratch using a recipe that has been in my family for over 40 years. Our peach cobbler and cheesecake jars are prepared with fresh ingredients as well as our cookies. Read more>>
Caitlin Dellinger
Keeping creativity flowing can be challenging at times. When I get busy with orders, I am so focused on getting things done, that my creative side sort of goes on pause. If I think of a new idea, I make sure to write it down in my notes to visit later and then expand upon the idea. When I have more free time, I get inspiration from traveling, talking to friends and family, social media, museums and TV. Read more>>
Max Berlin
Honestly? Other people. As a full-time creative, and especially as a music composer, I try not to hermit myself in an effort to shield unpolished ideas from the world. Collaboration is essential for me, not only for healthy inspiration, but also because I believe in the process of joining together to create something larger than yourself. Read more>>
Ben Brummerhop
I keep my creativity alive by marrying my art with my love of music. Although there might not be a story behind every piece of my art, there is definitely a song. I am also inspired by the collaborative aspect of my commissioned artwork. I bury words, numbers and symbols in the layers of my work. I am inspired by the world around me. I pay attention to the subtleties of life and bring that into my process of being a creator. Read more>>
Adrian Edelist
The beauty industry is all about trends. Whether it be the clothing we see walking down the runways of Milan, or the trends we see beauty influencers teaching on Tik-Tok, beauty is constantly evolving. In cosmetology school, I would cut out pictures, and glue them into a look-book to show clients what the most contemporary looks were at that time. Read more>>
Jessica Shraybman
This question really gets to my heart. In all candor, I never wanted to be an attorney. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirt. I always wanted to do so many thing! I have wanted to own a coffee house, wanted to perform in Cirque du Soleil, wanted to go to art school, wanted to become a fashion designer and so much more. Read more>>
Yolanda “Quiet Storm” Gates
I always want to remain a student. Teachable. Once you achieve so much success it may seem as though “You’ve Made It” to others but for those who stand in that mountain top, we understand there are levels. Bigger mountains to conquer, more to learn, and more evolution to take place. So I keep my creativity alive by being open to learning new skills, like new forms of writing, ways of other cultures and backgrounds, learning about our world and our way of life in general. All these avenues inspire my writing. It inspires how I perform while on stage. I’m always looking for an opportunity to be a student, to soak up all the knowledge that surrounds me, then flip it to spoken word pieces, essays, quotes, etc. Read more>>
Melisa Caprio
I make creativity in my life a priority. I set time each day or a few times a week to tapping into my creative energy. I try to approach everything I do in a creative way. In my photography, my books, my weekly radio show, and podcast. I surround my living space with art that inspires me, so I am always reminded of the beauty of creativity. Read more>>
Chris Mardiroussian
As an English Lecturer at California State University, Long Beach, I am surrounded by inspiration on a daily basis. Since I work with hundreds of students, I learn so much about them throughout the course of the semester and their life stories motivate me. Oftentimes, we have classroom discussions and students contribute meaningfully based off of their unique experiences. Or, they write about their lifelong hurdles and triumphs in their written assignments and when I read them, I can’t help but feel inspired and motivated to write a poem or story that connects to them. Read more>>
Joseph “DJ Dimension” Mercado
I’m not sure if here is one answer for this question so I’ll share a story of how creativity has been alive in my life every step of the way. You see I have always been a creative person, as a kid I can remember loving art in all forms and as life went on I found music to be my passion becoming a DJ and during the early 2000’s I reached a point of becoming a rising star in the genre and creativity went from imagination to competition. Read more>>
