By Emily Barlow
So it’s all well and good for the artists out there to live their creative lives as we sit by and watch the juices ooze from their pores – but what about the rest of us plebs?
My younger sister is the creative one in the family; painting and drawing, constructing little models and collecting all things artsy, that’s her thing. Most of my creative escapades have been a more slowly formed, copy-cat version of the wonderfully unique pieces she assembles, and they always seem to be lacking that touch.
I have been living in an unreasonable shadow of my own doubt and limitation.
The truth is it has taken some time to realise that creativity doesn’t just belong to those that were born with abstract minds. Everybody has an imagination. I, for one, have some seriously messed up dreams – there’s got to be something running wild in there.
So how can we do it? Here’s a few simple tips to get your mind into a different groove:
- Get the fuck out of the house
Spending the majority of your time indoors or in surroundings that you are used to makes the brain complacent. Go for a walk, take a different route to work, explore somewhere new and let your mind tick in wonder at the sights it sees. Creativity can come from anywhere.
By oakoak @oakoak_street_art
- Clean and shower
Sounds stupid, but it is undeniable that some of our best ideas come to us when we are doing completely menial, mindless tasks like showering, washing up, cooking or exercising. Sleeping is a real gem for this.
“All of my best ideas come through my dreams” – Salvador Dali
- Be a beginner
Challenge yourself by learning something completely new. Go back to the basics. Allow yourself to be like a child and embrace that joy of discovery. (If you don’t know where to start, we’ve got this cheeky website to give you endless options)
By Sid Tapia @sidtapia
- Share your light-bulb moments
There is no better way to celebrate and nurture your creativity than sharing it with others. Collaborate and feed off these ideas.
By Mister Thoms
- Don’t expect perfection
Creativity, art and imagination are all subjective. Don’t let your mind be confined to the constructs of what is expected and don’t give up on what you’ve started. In my opinion, the best art is that which challenges you, forces you to think or to reconsider the abstract… as well as things that just look pretty.
By Franz Jeitz @fudgegraphics