Five Creative Tips
five favorite tips
for your creative process
Hello beautiful creative!
I'm so excited because this week, the first of my two lessons for Life Book 2021 has gone live! I'm about to start filming the second one (to be released in a few months) but for now I'd like to share a little bit of this week's project with you.
It's called "Art Flow Cards" because we create a whole card deck full of creative tips and personal strategies to get in the flow, stay in it... or get back into it whenever we get stuck. We all know how that feels, right? And it is so helpful to have a few ready-to-use strategies right there in your creative space.
In this lesson I share a ton of tips (we create 45 cards!) and I thought I’d share a few of them with you today! But before I do, if you're already thinking "Oh, I would have loved to join Life Book...", no worries, you still can! Click below to jump in, there are already three months' worth of inspiring mixed media projects waiting for you:
Tip #1: Color contrast
The first cards we create in this project are all about color. These can be really helpful when you're in the middle of a painting and you feel like something is not working. If it feels a bit dull, it's usually because it lacks contrast. There are several ways to fix this and make your painting pop! A good one is to add a touch of a warm color if your painting has mainly cool tones, and a cool color if your painting is mostly warm. It will instantly bring some balance, interest and new energy into your work.
Tip #2: Switch supplies
Whenever I feel stuck and uninspired, it really helps to check if I've been using the same supply, tool or technique for too long. Just becoming aware of it, and then deliberately changing what I'm holding in my hands, never fails to bring renewed inspiration and playfulness. You can simply grab a pen or pencil, decide to use some ink or pastel instead of paint, or even choose a tool or a material that you rarely ever use!
Tip #3: Work in a series
This is probably my very best tip to shake things up and stay in the flow. We do it in most of my painting classes! Working in a series is so great because whenever you start to feel a little stuck, or simply less inspired, you can just move on to the next piece instead of over-thinking.
I like to work on three, four or even nine pieces at a time, and the bonus is that you end up with a whole little body of work instead of just one painting. I also find that working in a series really helps you build up your skills, gain confidence and develop your personal style.
Tip #4: Nurture your inner Artist
Being in the flow or getting stuck, these are both feelings that happen deep within, and ripple out into our art. That's why it's important to take super good care of ourselves and make sure our creative space feels inviting, nurturing and inspiring.
I love to keep inspiration cards on my table as I paint. These gentle reminders help me feel inspired and connected to my truth. One type of card I especially love are affirmations. Sometimes I will even write them directly into my art! Here is one that always makes me feel better, especially when I my inner critic shows up:
tip #5: Take a break!
Taking care of ourselves also means taking care of our bodies. When we make art, we can get stuck, literally, in our bodies. There are tensions, stiffness and stress that can come from sitting too long in one position, doing the same gesture over and over again. Sometimes we can be so focused on what we're doing, that we push through until pain and fatigue force us to stop. And that's not good!
That's why it is so important to take a break from time to time. I will usually just go to the kitchen and put the kettle on while I clean my brushes, or take a short walk around the garden. It really helps me relax, feel renewed and look at my work with fresh eyes afterwards.
your turn!
That's it! Five simple little tips that can really make a big difference. I hope you find them useful and I'd love to know which one speaks to you the most! Also, do you have any favorite tips of your own that you would like to share with our community? Please leave a comment below and let's inspire each other!