It’s no secret that every now and then I fall into a massive creative rut, both with my blogging and my artsy pursuits. It just happens, whenever that pesky thing called LIFE decides to get in the way. I’m not afraid to acknowledge that sometimes I just get stuck.
At the moment, however, I’m back, and with a VENGEANCE. So today I thought I’d share my top tips on how get out of that creative rut, and get back to flexing those artistic muscles:
20 ways to add creativity to your day
Experiment with a new technique
There are two things you should know about me – I’m a lover of detail, and I like my surfaces smooth.
So when I saw this post by Alisa Burke, all about creating art using only a palette knife, I thought NO. This one isn’t for me. But you know what? Pushing my boundaries, and trying something that made the obsessive-compulsive-inside-the-lines-colourer in me want to scream, was really easy.
At the start I told myself it wouldn’t matter if I didn’t like the results, but surprisingly, I did! And I haven’t stopped thinking about the project I’m going to incorporate my painting into (spoiler alert- it’s going to be a journal cover)
Take an online class
I love taking online art workshops – a sure fire way to push me into pulling out my brushes is to watch or listen to somebody else having arty fun. There are so so many I could recommend, but to get you started check out these 15 creative workshops to try for free.
Talk to people
Now I know this can be a challenge – I actually don’t have any ‘real life’ artistic friends (if you do, you’re lucky!) But this is why I just love the internet. Online it is so easy to build yourself a great community of like-minded people. Join in a #ccbloggers Twitter chat; comment on an Instagram post; join a Facebook group. The possibilities are endless.
The other day, I was feeling utterly uninspired. I hadn’t painted or doodled in a while, and I felt like all the great things I’d signed up for were getting on top of me. But I hopped over to the Brilliance Ignition Facebook group and started a thread – before I knew it, comments were rolling in offering tips and encouragement. Sometimes human interaction is all it takes.
Now, I know I’ve been pretty vocal about what I loathe about Facebook groups, so one thing I will say is that it’s important to find one that fits with your personality. Avoid the ones that zap your energy. No mood hoovers allowed!
Flick through your old work
As an unapologetic pack rat, I save everything, from my A-Level sketchbooks to the doodles I scribble on the backs of envelopes. Take ten minutes to flick through your old art journals; remind yourself of techniques you haven’t tried in a while, or a colour combination you used to love, or doodles you couldn’t get enough of. Chances are, the combination of nostalgia and inspiration will leave you with a fervent desire to get messy.
Try something a little bit different
I’ve been taking part in Jo Gifford‘s #newdivadaily challenge since the beginning of the year. The idea is that each day you will try something a teeny bit different – maybe you’ll take a different route to work, or order a different flavour of ice cream, or read something by a new-to-you author… it doesn’t have to be a big change. Read more about how this process has helped me think more creatively here.
Hold yourself accountable
If there’s one thing that always, always, without fail, pushes me to action it’s peer pressure. Knowing that I ‘have to’ do something or I’ll let somebody down is a big motivator for me. That’s why I take part in so many creative challenges, and always have a friend keep me on track.
So there you have it – my top tips for getting out of that creative rut and rediscovering your mojo.
What are yours?
20 ways to add creativity to your day
