Nurturing Your Creativity As an Artist

Every creative type deals with mental roadblocks and periods of malaise. Constantly feeling pressured to produce original content can really put a damper on the satisfying aspects of the work, leading to further frustration. How does one get that fiery inspiration back? Here are several activities to get you rolling again.

Recording Your Best Ideas

Often, the stroke of genius that we cherish the most will come under strangely unpredictable circumstances. You may have had some trouble keeping track of your best and brightest epiphanies throughout time; if so, give these suggestions a try.

The first and perhaps most common method of brainstorming is that of carrying around an artists' sketchbook. Here you can record images, phrases, charts, timelines, and other spatial or verbal content that moves you. None of it has to be neat and tidy, and you can even color code the sections that take highest priority. By keeping your sketchbook with you as much as possible, you can rely on it as a steady reminder of your passionate projects, and a straightforward tool for developing them further.

Another great way to maintain a backup supply of crafty concepts is by starting a treasure chest. In it, you can store drawings, photos, magazine clippings, fabric, and other miscellanea that fuel your creative thinking. Doing so can take a lot of the tension out of those exciting moments when you feel inspired – you can simply come back and revisit the material later. The knick knacks will serve as a physical reminder of what caught your attention, and the amazing idea you had as a result.

Managing Your Bigger Projects

Consider breaking your long-term endeavors into smaller, more concrete chunks. This can lighten your mental load by allowing you to focus on one step at a time. Without focusing too much on the final destination, you can sit back and enjoy the ride! What is thrive, you ask? To thrive is to be full of vitality despite challenges. Remind yourself that you can actualize that enormous new painting you've been dreaming of.

Most artists have a sense of fierce internal motivation that drives them towards excellence. If this sounds like you, maybe you also know what it's like to get carried away with the amount of work you take on. Make room for the ups and downs of your creative energy by segmenting your large projects into reasonable portions.

Seeking Inspiration Beyond Art

Staying in the studio for too long – attempting to manifest a miracle for the piece you're working on – isn't always a reliable strategy. In fact, it can lead to a major crash that may last for days. In this sort of scenario, one of the best things you can do for yourself is take a break. Seek out opportunities that are unrelated to art. You'd be surprised at what your mind will discover while you're making observations elsewhere.

Long nature hikes, movie screenings, or anything else that relaxes you can free up a lot of space for your thought processes. If you return to your work and still don't have a new spark to move forward with, just put the project away for a while. You may be able to come back to it in the distant future and find that your life experience has given you just what you need to complete it.

Collaborating With Others

The greatest news of all is that you are not alone in this struggle. There are always other artists out there who know what you're going through and can offer sound advice. Consult with a friend or a colleague who may have other inventive strategies for you to test out. Even a short conversation with a fellow creative thinker can be enough to get you going again.

No matter what, remember that this cycle is natural and that you have not lost an ounce of talent when you are dealing with burnout. Give yourself room to breathe, and watch as all of your creative vigor comes rushing back on its own.