Find Your Flow: 3 Tips to Reignite Your Creative Mojo
Welcome to my weekly blog. It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of January already. That went by so fast!
I’ve been working on a Valentine’s Day inspired collection of surface designs and it brought up some thoughts about creativity and how to reignite your flow when you get stuck. Ready for my top 3 tips? Read on…
Does this happen to you? You find yourself struggling to find inspiration for your sketches, doodles, or surface design work? Has your creative spark gone out, leaving you feeling uninspired and unmotivated? If so, you're not alone.
Many artists and creatives in the visual arts go through phases of creative burnout. But, the good news is that there are simple steps you can take to reignite your creative mojo and get inspired again. Here are my top three tips:
1. Have your supplies handy and ready to use
One of the most important things you can do to jumpstart your creativity is to have your supplies ready and at your fingertips. Make sure that your sketchbook, fine liner pens or pencils, and other tools are easily accessible and organized. This way, when the creative urge strikes, you won't waste time searching for what you need. Having your supplies ready to go also helps to remove any mental blocks or excuses that might prevent you from getting started.
2. Pick the time of day that's best for you
Everyone has a different rhythm for when they feel the most productive and creative. Some people do their best work in the morning, while others are more inspired in the evening. To find the time of day that works best for you, experiment by working at different times and take note of how you feel and what kind of results you get. Then, you can schedule your creative work for the times when you’re feeling your most productive.
3. Limit your options to avoid feeling overwhelmed
When faced with too many options or too much information, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and paralyzed. This is especially true in the visual arts, where you might feel like there are endless possibilities for color combinations, textures, and techniques. To avoid this, try setting some parameters or boundaries for yourself. This can be as simple as deciding to work with a limited color palette, or focusing on a specific subject or theme. Having some parameters in place can help you focus and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Here’s how I’m applying these techniques right now myself.
Having my supplies ready is pretty easy. All I need is my sketchbook, a few fine liner pens to sketch with and my computer with Adobe Illustrator. I usually work at the built-in desk upstairs and my supplies are always there, waiting for me.
I know that I’m most productive and focused in the morning. I’ll grab my cup of coffee and sit down to create. Here’s a pro tip for you : Create Before You Consume! I think I heard this first from my friend and surface pattern designer Bonnie Christine and it’s so true. Don’t pick up your phone and start scrolling through social media. Get into your creative groove first. Everything else can wait.
To limit my options while I’m creating this pattern design collection, I’m using the same color palette each day and I’m sticking with the loose “Valentine’s Day” theme.
Remember that finding your creative mojo is all about taking small steps and being intentional about your creative process. By having your supplies handy, picking the time of day that works best for you, and limiting your options to avoid feeling overwhelmed, you can reignite your creative spark and get inspired. So, go ahead and give these tips a try, and see what kind of results you get!
Pop over to my Instagram account where I post a daily reel. You’ll see my Valentine’s Day collection as it develops. Please click that “follow” button while you’re over there. I’m approaching 10,000 followers and your follow might just be the one that puts me over the top!
See you next week.
xo,
Anne
P.S. If you’re new to Surface Pattern Design and want to learn more, download my beautiful free ebook. Click HERE to grab it.
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
