As an artist, it's important to constantly seek out inspiration and stay motivated in your art practice. However, most artists will tell you that it can be hard at times to stay inspired. Life isn’t always inspiring, churning out piece after piece while trying to go through the motions of day-to-day life, and the numerous other stressors life presents us with can often drain all of the glitter and fairy dust out of our creativity.
If you’re in a creative rut here are five tips to help you stay inspired as an artist:
Set goals and challenges for yourself. Having something to work towards can help keep you motivated and focused. This could be a specific project, a deadline, or even a daily drawing or painting practice. Aside from long-term goals, I also like to revisit some of the ‘beginner’ lessons, like drawing 50 squares and trying to create an original image in each, or having someone draw a few random marks on a page, and then making a piece out of that. There are tons of challenges for artists as well that can help stimulate creativity by forcing them to look at things in a new light.
Seek out new sources of inspiration. It's easy to get stuck when you're relying on the same sources of inspiration over and over again. Mix things up by seeking out new sources of inspiration, whether that means visiting a new museum or gallery, trying out a different art medium, or simply looking at the world around you with fresh eyes. This could also be things like going to a new restaurant, playing a genre of game you normally wouldn’t or checking out a new book. It’s also good to take a step back and relax when you get to this point. Sometimes you shouldn't even try to find the inspiration, but just take in the world around you and let yourself see things without trying to think of what they could be.
If you are looking for inspiration though, check out my Inspiration Morgue, the folder where I save the things I find inspiring https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11KF8A4HEnTOihpL8J-UmyzU07zxzwMxQ?usp=share_link or you can check out my Pinterest where I go to find inspiration for myself
On that note, you should also take breaks and give yourself time to relax. It's important to give yourself time to recharge, both mentally and physically. Creativity and productivity are not unlimited resources, and they have to be recharged like most aspects of our lives. This could mean going for a walk, taking a nap, or simply taking a break from your art practice for a little while. Self-help and self-care are all the rage now, so it’s not hard to find options, but instead of waiting for the well to run dry before you start noticing, it’s good to set up a small bit of time to rest and recharge every day. Find a system that works for you and be sure to commit to taking care of yourself.
Surround yourself with supportive people. Having a supportive community of fellow artists or art lovers can be a great source of motivation and inspiration. Consider joining an art group or club, or simply reaching out to other artists online or in person. It’s important to note that support isn’t just a group of sycophants. You want to surround yourself with people who are capable of giving constructive criticism, but who also have their minds focused on the possibilities. When looking for inspiration, there are no replacing people who inspire you and enjoy sharing ideas that inspire them.
Experiment and try new things. Sometimes, the best way to stay inspired is to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. This could be a new art medium, a new subject matter, or simply a different approach to your art practice. By trying new things, you can discover new sources of inspiration and develop new connections. The idea of being stuck in a ‘rut’ can be viewed as having paced back and forth in the same spot for so long, that you’ve worn a hole in the floor that is now guiding your path. So, what do you do to fix it? Step outside of the well-worn. We are all made up of our daily actions, and it’s not just a metaphor, but also the neural make-up of our brains!
Remember, staying inspired as an artist is all about finding what works for you and incorporating it into your art practice. When you find yourself stuck, it’s likely that you’re not so much stuck as you are burnt out. As a creative person, your mind thrives on new connections, novelty, inspiration, and imagination. Unfortunately, the world we live in rewards consistency, productivity, and niche. You’ve likely found what works for you in your career, and it’s been serving you well, but your lack of inspiration is telling you that it’s time to learn and grow.
Don’t be afraid to try something different and let your imagination run wild again!
Comments