What if I don’t FEEL creative?
I hear this a lot! Many people don’t FEEL like they are creative people. Society has a way of limiting our understanding of what it means to be creative at a very young age. Generally by middle school we are all divided into the “creative” vs “non-creative” subcategory. The creatives are encouraged to follow their creative talents be it art, drama, music, writing, etc. The non-creatives are typically encouraged in academic fields or perhaps athletic fields, and thus often grow up feeling that they are not creative or that their talents lie elsewhere. This limiting belief is unfortunate and untrue!
Humans are all creative. We are creative beings, and creativity brings us joy, satisfaction, and connection. Creativity comes in many forms, not just those mentioned above. I encourage you to look at your own life and think outside of the box (creative thinking). In what ways has creativity played a part in your life?
My focus here is on visual and written creativity, which is only ONE way of indulging your creative energy. While it may be true that we are not all meant to be professional artists, it is my firm belief that everyone is capable of expressing themselves visually. Visual expression is a fantastic way to process our thoughts and feelings. It is an amazing tool to release stress and anxiety. Best of all it can be done anywhere, anytime, and with limited resources!
It can be a bit scary to begin a new creative practice. It requires you to leave your comfort zone, which can leave you feeling very vulnerable. You must start by granting yourself permission to explore and to make mistakes, to be a beginner. At this stage I recommend that you connect with your inner child and allow yourself to play! Let go of the expectations. Who cares if the art you create is ugly? Immerse yourself in the process of creating. As you do this, you will begin to connect with yourself in new ways. Continue to practice. Allow yourself to make more mistakes, to push yourself to explore even more. This is where growth begins to happen! Eventually you will begin to feel more confident in your abilities. You will begin to embrace your own personal creativity. Your newfound creativity will become comfortable. You will likely get new creative ideas you want to explore, and you will once again need to leave your comfort zone to explore them. Follow your curiosity!
Where to Start?
Inspiration can be found in so many places! Read on for a few of my favorite tips for finding creative inspiration.
Process art is a great place to start. It is very low stakes. You cannot mess up, but you should be prepared to make a mess! What is process art? Think like a kindergartner, finger paint, mix colors, play with supplies to see how they work. There is absolutely no wrong way to do this. The worst case scenario is that you do not like your creation. If that happens, try cutting it up into fun shapes and using it as collage paper to continue exploring!
Whenever I feel stuck creatively, I turn to process art. There are so many ways to explore. Typically I find that once I get started playing, new ideas pop into my mind. The best part is that creating in this way allows you to be fully immersed in the moment. I find it to be a very joyful and relaxing wat to create. Having a bad day? Why not create some process art!
Magic Breath Painting
Try this fun little process art prompt. It is not only playful and fun, but it combines deep breathing which is a great way to relax the body!
Recommended Reading
“Steal Like An Artist” by Austin Kleon. “Every new idea is just a mashup or remix of one or more previous ideas.” This playful and fun little book is chalked full of useful tips for collecting and using creative inspiration.
Other ideas for gathering inspiration.
- Go outside. Nature is filled with interesting colors, textures, and objects that inspire creativity.
- Take a class. Learning a new skill is sure to inspire further creative pursuits.
- Visit a gallery or museum, notice what attracts your attention. Is it a specific subject or technique?
- Research other artists you admire, try working in a similar style.
- Create your own inspiration collage, either digitally like the one pictured or create a paper collage. Fill it with ideas that inspire you to create!
Month 3: Art Journal Prompt
This month is all about embracing your own inner child through creative play. In your journal we are going to begin by creating a visual page based on the style of an artist who inspires you. We are not copying their work directly, but instead we are allowing their style to inspire our own work. In my example I found a collage by artist Christian Stork, @velosechsundsechzig. I was inspired by their playful combination of two things that didn’t seem to go together, but somehow worked! I was also drawn to his subject matter, children for this particular prompt. I used my inspired collage as the background for the written prompt.
Written Prompt: Exploring your inner child– What types of creative activities did you enjoy as a child? How did you feel when you participated in these activities? Do you still do these types of activities? Why or why not?
Related Blog Posts
Other written journal prompts to explore this month.
- Reflect on your creative space. What does it look like? How does it make you feel? Does your space inspire creativity? If not could you adapt it to be a more inspirational space? What would your dream space look like?
- Reflect on who or what inspires you in your life. This could be a real person you know, an object, a fictional place or person, etc. What is it about this person, place, or thing that inspires you?
For more fun prompts follow me on Instagram @creative_self_care where I post “Art-Breaks” prompts and journal prompts regularly. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter where you will receive tips, inspirations, updates, and special offers directly to your inbox!
“Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.”
Rita Mae Brown
Jennifer MacIsaac 