Four Tips To Jumpstart Your creative Practice
Making art on a regular basis can seem daunting. For me, a long time artist, it still has its challenges. Sometimes, I can have that spark of inspiration and no time to get to it and other times, I have loads of time and nothing but vapor in my creativity pockets. I have found that being kind to myself and maintaining a schedule list are the perfect weapons of choice in this battle.
I use the same approach in my creative work as I do in my daily life so there is a seamless connection to how I live and what I do. It allows that I will have days where my energy is needed to support another part of the goings on and that I have also made sure to keep my art as a priority in there too. The last thing I want is to make something like painting sessions a stressful addition to my planned day.
Set the scene.
I start by collecting my thoughts and reference images and even doodling a bit with ideas. Whatever works for your preparation of both mind and plan of action. It always helps to have some idea of what I am trying to achieve both personally and in the painting. Do I want to explore a series of color options? Am I wanting to capture the light and its contrast? Do I just want to doodle today and see what pops up? This last one can be challenging as we are so driven to an end result that letting go and not editing can be tough!
Having a dedicated space for creating art is a luxury that, if you can manage it, is well worth moving things around for. It can be a barrier to have to constantly put your easel and paints up and out of the way, so if it is just sitting there, inviting you to come play, you may find yourself filled with ideas all day long!
Focus
There a million and one things to create and as many ways to do it. While exploring different methods is wonderful, don’t get caught in the fear of missing out (FOMO) if you are happy with your chosen medium. Remember, every artist is different and some spend an entire lifetime perfecting colored pencil work with great fulfillment. It is YOUR practice. Chasing after “all the things” can lead to wasted time, energy and money and keep you from fulfilling your goals. So focus on what you are doing and why.
Don’t judge.
Judging is a pointless exercise unless you are following through with constructive steps to take you where you want to go…with love. Remember, you are focusing on your strengths and building those, not frustrating yourself with things that chip away at your will to live! Set realistic goals and let go of your concern for how others will see your efforts. Perfectionism is important in certain circumstances (like architectural drawings and surgery) but don’t let it rob you of trying new things.
Take a break.
Sometimes we need a break from our lives and our art to be able to appreciate it, change course or to rejuvenate. Allow yourself to have time off, even if it is just an hour, to refresh yourself and approach your life and work with renewed energy.
Follow your heart in your creativity and discover what fulfills you.