I have found the most important step in the creative process is making time for creative inspiration. A lot of the time, I wait for inspiration to strike; an idea formulates in my brain and I sit with the idea for a while waiting for it to fully develop only to have the whole concept dissipate because I didn’t take action.
I DIDN'T TAKE ACTION.
My whole perception of creativity has been based on the actual creating-making the art, creating the card, decorating the planner, creating decorations for the current holiday: these are all ways and reasons why and how I create.
What I have had a hard time realizing is that I shouldn’t sit back and wait for the idea to fully develop. Instead, I should take action straight away and look for ways to make the idea come to life.
Making Time for Creative Inspiration
Spring is a wonderful time to delve back into finding creative inspiration. I find myself ready to shed the yoga-pant, coffee-drinking, warm blanket, cocoon of cottage life and head out into the world again. Warmer days and sunshine inspire me to explore creativity in new ways.
A simple trip to the home improvement store inspired me to appreciate the awakening of my creative desires. A walk through the garden section, seeing the bees busy doing their thing, flitting from flower to flower. I wonder if they, too, appreciate the changing of seasons?
Inside, helping my mom look for paint, I was inspired by these cute and playful paint chips in a shape I’d never noticed before. A flash of inspiration: a cute spring bunting made of paint chips. These look like houses but turn them upside down and they look like bunting, don’t they? I chose a few to bring that to life. Stay tuned.
A simple lunch with a like-minded artist friend is my favorite way of making time for creative inspiration. Spending time with people who understand the struggle of creating and making the time to be creative is usually the kick-in-the-pants I need to get moving; to take action and create.
Mastermind groups, even a group of two or three people, help get the ideas flowing.
Taking food pics isn’t just good for Instagram or Facebook. Scrolling through my camera roll often inspires me to look for a new recipe or create a new dish based on one I, or my friends, have tried.
Reading is another way I gather inspiration. I’m currently reading Art Matters, Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman. So many inspiring quotes and ways to re-imagine creativity here.
More titles for inspiring creativity:
Tips for Making Time for Creative Inspiration
- Get outside and let nature inspire you; even if it’s just to the local garden center.
- Look for inspiration in unusual places. Notice color combinations or designs that would make great elements in your art.
- Take as may pictures as you can. Scroll through your camera roll when you need some inspiration.
- Visit your local library for books about fostering creativity. I love to buy books like this because I find that I need to flip through often to rekindle creativity.
- Hang out with like-minded friends or join mastermind groups. I find that joining groups on Facebook often inspires me whether it be looking at other peoples’ projects or seeing what kinds of things people are looking for inspires me to make them.
- Set aside a few minutes after you wake up to think about or work on projects. This is a recent habit I’ve been fostering. I find that if I spend even just a few minutes working on a project or writing down ideas about it before I begin work, I spend less time daydreaming instead of being productive with work. Thus, I get done with work quicker and make more time for creating. It’s still something I’m not very good at but I keep trying.
How do you find and foster creativity?
I’d love to hear about it. Join in the conversation over at the Desperately Seeking: Inspiration for Creative Living Facebook page.
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