How to spark your creativity
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There’s a creative fire inside of everyone. And it isn’t all that elusive – it takes on multiple different forms, and is an integral part of our human experience. From artistic skills to the ability to solve problems… if you feel that yours is missing, the odds are you just haven’t tapped into it yet. These prompts will help get you started.
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Step one: Mindset change
The creative process begins with your own mindset. With curiosity, motivation and determination, your journey into creative exploration can begin.
Turn off all devices. Switch off from tech for as long as you need to feel that mental reset and relaxation. Go with the flow: depending on how you’re feeling at the time, this could take a few minutes, several hours, an entire day, or perhaps even a little longer.
Sit with your thoughts. Observe your thoughts, sitting with them for a little while in silence or accompanied by music. Allow your breathing to slow down – a mindfulness technique for relaxation and meditation. For this one, be sure to unplug from your devices (or at least keep them on silent!) to keep distractions at bay.
Pay attention to your negative thoughts. It’s easy to fall into ruminating cycles every now and again – it happens to the best of us. This one may take time but will be so worth it: practise positive thinking and learn to be your own cheerleader. For starters, try positive self-talk affirmations, gratitude writing, and approaching everything you do with kindness.
Know that you aren’t alone. Embarking on a new artistic project can be daunting. It can also feel lonely at times, for instance if it’s a new hobby that none of your family and friends are into. But don’t fret, because someone else is doing the same as you – there will always be opportunities for new encounters and relationships along your artistic journey.
Lean into success stories. Learning more about the life stories of artists and other creatives whom you look up to can be incredibly inspiring and motivating for your own journey. But please be careful not to overwhelm yourself with thoughts of comparison: focus instead on mapping out the little milestones, or ‘wins’, you can look to achieve.
Figure out what brings you joy. And take it slowly. Be honest and authentic with yourself, and this will permeate throughout any project you take on next. Spend time thinking about what makes you happiest deep down. Is it bringing characters and worlds to life digitally? Or is it working manually, using your hands to shape and carve out something new? Connect those dots to figure out your next creative passion.
Step two: External influences
External factors, such as people and the environment surrounding you, can have just as much influence on your thinking as you do. This is why it this second stage, it is important to keep your focus on a positive and uplifting mindset until it becomes routine.
Share your ideas with loved ones… If you already have ideas brewing for your next creative challenge, reach out to someone you trust for their feedback or suggestions. There's a good chance that in doing so, you'll find encouragement and motivation.
… but steer clear of nay-sayers. You don’t need another reason to doubt yourself or hinder your sense of creativity. Avoid confiding in the Negative Nellies in your life, and keep your mind feeling encouraged and free of self-doubt.
Take a shower. Sometimes the best ideas come to us when we're in contact with the elements. Stuck in a rut or negative thought cycle? Give your mind a rest, and take a hot or cold shower, using the water to wash away any anxiety and tension you feel.
Go for a walk in nature. The outdoors can be extremely healing. Nature can help us recharge, relax and reset our minds. The various senses we experience when nature bathing (natural light, sounds and surrounding elements) all play a role in stimulating the different parts of your brain required for ideation and creativity.
Use all of your senses wisely. You might be excited to cook a new dish, try a new sport, or discover a new music playlist. Whatever you do, let yourself soak up the sensory experience of it. This alone might spark new ideas and steer you in a completely new direction.
Declutter your space. Tidy space, tidy mind. Some of us may thrive in messier spaces, but generally, a cluttered mind can more easily become confused, frustrated and sense a lack of direction. A mind which thinks clearly acts with intention, purpose and drive. So clear out your creative energy by tidying up what will become your creative space, even if it’s only a small area of your bedroom or your kitchen counter.
Step Three: Little acts of doing
Next up, we’re leaving procrastination in the past. Pick up those tools and begin creating. Try to keep your mind clear of self-doubt and hesitation, and enjoy the process. If it ever becomes stressful or tedious, allow yourself to step away and clear your head for a while.
Do something creative, but try it by hand. Even if you’re more digitally inclined, try to first pick up pencil, ink, paper, paint, paper, kitchen ingredients – whatever physical and manual materials you might have lying around. Using your hands requires more brain power, and can stimulate your creative thinking (as well as your memory) in exciting new ways.
Use prompts for mindful journaling. Writing is also a form of creativity. If you're a visual person, take a break from your usual artistic techniques to lean into gratitude and mindful journaling. Never lose sight of meditative techniques like this one, as they'll help make your mind more composed and resilient to challenges ahead. Here are some ideas to help get you started!
Get involved in online art challenges. Look out for creative prompts to test your skills with across online art communities and forums, as well as social media. You’ll often be able to find these via hashtags. Popular examples are #Sketchtember, #Inktober or #StillHereStillLife.
Learn a new language. Learning a language stimulates the brain, and grows your awareness of new cultures and ways of thinking. It improves your memory and helps you feel more connected to others. Finding like-minded artists abroad to exchange ideas with, as pen pals or on social media for example, can be one great way to enhance this skill.
Take yourself out on a creative date. Make time for yourself. Free up your schedule for a little me-time, and find out about the latest cultural exhibitions and events near you. And why not also step outside your comfort zone by discovering something new – like a different genre of film, a new play or musical? As much as we love being with loved ones, time alone allows for self-reflection, self-discovery, and newfound energy.
Take time to travel and experience something new. Travelling is enriching. It opens your mind to new places, people and cultures – even if only locally. Throughout history, artists have been inspired by the world around them – from Anni Albers’ love for pre-Columbian art and textiles to Pablo Picasso’s curiosity for African Period. Spark your inner-childlike curiosity by wandering around somewhere new.
Try skill sharing with someone you know. The process of learning doesn't have to be a solitary or monotonous one. Swapping creative skills with someone, or learning each others' skills together, can be a fun and relaxing way to go about it – and not to mention, mutually beneficial.
Collaborate often. Working together – with people whose experiences, walks of life and artistic knowledge differ from yours – can contribute hugely to your own creative thinking. Get out of your own head and allow ideas to fuse by working collaboratively, as often as you can.
Step four: Keep experimenting
The more prompts you have to stimulate your creativity, the better. But if there's one thing to take away, it's that experimentation is one of the most valuable traits a creative person can possess. It's finding that curiosity and open-mindedness to trying something new – taking sensible risks and stepping outside of your comfort zone – which will truly make a difference and keep you going even during rough patches.
Experiment with different supplies. There’s no doubt that art supplies can quickly add up in cost, but don’t let that put you off exploring new creative interests. Keep your options open: search for more affordable supplies or software discounts which may be available to you, or ask someone you know about borrowing their tools if they’re willing so you can give them a try. And remember that you’re here to experiment: we’re never aiming for perfection, and this also means that we don’t always need the perfect tools and setup to express ourselves or create amazing art.
Experiment with new techniques. If you’re just starting out, try hand sketching before jumping into digital software. Why is this important? Pencil and paper not only lets you experiment more freely, but at this stage we’re also not aiming for perfection. Making mistakes is human, and an important part of the creative process. Mistakes make ideas stronger, which is something we can easily forget as digital artists with our ever-present ‘undo’ button. Traditional medium will also get you used to the sensation of drawing, which surprisingly isn’t as easy to learn backwards once we’ve mastered the smoothness of digital drawing. Cherry on the cake: your eyes will feel less strained, with one less screen to look at.
Experiment with your surroundings. Just as with other aspects of life, such as working and studying, you might find that you think better in certain types of settings. If your surroundings are beginning to feel stale, get those creative juices flowing again by opting for another more stimulating space – such as a café, library, public park, or artist co-working studio space. Simply stepping away and coming back to a project later with fresh eyes can also do wonders in overcoming creative blocks.
Experimentation is the enemy of creative blocks. Experimenting will help you grow as an artist, from discovering new facets of your practice to honing your art style in unexpected ways. Don’t hesitate to explore new tools and techniques, such as unconventional digital brush and texture packs, and incorporate these into your practice. Lean into the power of mood boarding by setting up your Pinterest boards, spend some quality time learning from video tutorials, and try to collaborate with creatives in other disciplines too. But as before, avoid those unhealthy cycles of self-doubt and comparison, by making sure that the research and experimentation you’re doing feed nicely into your goals and milestones. ✺
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