A current personal goal has been building a daily routine where creativity is inspired naturally. How can I build habits, set up my surroundings, and create a lifestyle where by default I am experiencing creativity? The following are three exercises that have kerplunked creative and joy-filled moments into my daily life.
I invite you to notice which of these simple practices are you curious about and willing to try?
Let's take a look!
Magazines!!!! Since completing The Artist Way in 2023, I was inspired by an exercise to subscribe to a magazine just to see what would happen. One evening while scrolling on Instagram I saw an ad for Architectural Digest, a year for 10 bucks. Two minutes later I was subscribed. Two weeks later I got my first magazine. And 7 months later these monthly magazines have inspired all sorts of ideas and fun creative practices.
A few notices:
I chose a magazine outside of my medium. I am not an interior designer.
These magazines are not precious. After my initial look-through to see if a fav celeb or designer is featured, I am completely ready to rip these magazines apart and use them as a creative medium. (Other magazines, like Free Magazine, are precious. No one is ever allowed to rip those, not even me, I worship them. Check them out here : )
I had ZERO expectations that these magazines would change any fraction of my life. Thus, was open to whatever might unfold and I think that became part of the magic.
What happened with the magazines? I've noticed an ease and an experience of zero-stakes creativity. I love ripping up the pages to save an adorable pic, particular color, or unique design. I use all of the ripped pieces as materials to put in my creative journal. Sometimes collaging abstract funky pages or adding a cute flower in the corner of a page for a little flourish. This approachable medium has helped to capture quick ideas on paper so I have a visual reference to return to later.
I have noticed how accessible this creative practice is. The ripped pages from the magazines are stored in the back pocket of my journal. They go with me everywhere. Whether at home, at a coffee shop, at the studio, and sometimes at work before I clock in. I have found myself gravitating towards my creative journal to capture a fun idea or experimenting with shapes, colors, and layers as I play with these scraps, spiraling into a creative flow. I feel like a little creative kid, just getting to have fun, even if only for a few minutes a day, and with nothing to lose.
2) Trying On A New Medium:
Let's try a new medium! For an afternoon, a weekend, maybe a quick class, or an evening with a friend trying their medium. AND... What if... you tried this medium without a long-term commitment to it? It won't turn into a business, or thousands of dollars investment, or a lifelong obsession. Just an experiment to see what happens, for a small amount of time.
My mom and I took a basket weaving class the other week at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji with the amazing Shannon Westrom. I highly recommend and invite you to check out her work and classes! She is such a smooth teacher and her passion is infectious.
a. A few notices...
i. This is not my medium. I weave cloth, not reed. A new wheelhouse!
ii. I had everything to learn and nothing to lose. I was fully prepared for failure and was ok with that beforehand. Again, zero expectations.
Note: Let me re-phrase, I was super hopeful for a very cute basket to tote around town and become my new go-to carry companion AND I was holding my expectations very loosely. On a more personal note, I was worried about having a flare up and my physical pain would remove me from the class and limit my ability getting to participate and explore a new medium. All this to say, I was open to things potentially not working out while still being willing to try.
What happened while trying a new medium? I noticed I was able to step outside of my exact, honed, and master-skill level I expect from myself in my own medium. By trying on a new medium where someone else is carrying the mental load and sharing their mastery, I was able to let loose, just go for it, and try something new. I did notice some overlap of feeling confident in a new medium because of years of working with my hands. Beyond that, I was in entirely new depths and enjoying getting to experience the challenge of a new medium for the first time. I also got to enjoy a weekend with mild body pain and manageable/minimal mobility issues. This allowed me to stay in class, be mentally present, try something new, and enjoy it. Because of this, I was able to finish and leave with a complete piece. Done in only two days! For my medium, I am used to investing 40-60 hours before I get to enjoy a piece in its finality. I loved the swift timeline of trying another medium and having a physically completed piece by the end of a weekend. It felt like magic!
What have I noticed since? First off, I'm itching to find another creative class to try! Second, It's made me appreciate and realize the depth to which I have studied and learned my own craft. This shakeup in medium has allowed for new perspectives and toying thoughts breaking loose as I return to my home medium of wool cloth. Third, my basket is the cutest thing on earth. I use it at the coop and multiple people have complimented me on it (Including today! The day I'm editing!) and I will forever shamelessly show off this darling creation and glow with every compliment. Lord help us and my baskets growing ego.
3) Bring on the creative alter-ego!!!!
That's right, we are no longer our regular day-to-day selves... we have all instantly taken on a new persona, one with all the creative gumption, curiosity, and dream accomplishments of our ideal life... and this alter ego officially has all say and power in our lives and is making ALL the decisions. What will our alter-egos do?
Scroll down to read my three favorite personas to try on, but first a few notices.
a. A few notices...
i. This activity is kinda goofy. It's playful. You have to be willing to give it a try.
ii. Over the past few months when I have noticed myself wanting to nix ideas without trying them on, this has been my go-to treatment for when 'no's come too easily to the creativity process or I just feel perplexed with what I should do next.
iii. Zero expectations! A theme in this blog! You never know what's going to work and bring that next wave of inspiration. Why not give it a try, we have nothing to lose!
What happens when our alter ego gets creative say?
This quick mental exercise instantly pulls me away from distractions and things that clog my creative practice. The scrolling on all the apps stops. Procrastinating stops. I notice I feel more alert, ready to act, willing to dive into a difficult project or return to one waiting to be finished. I have also noticed that when I start pondering bigger life, career, or business issues that it can feel paralyzing. This trick helps me navigate big topics in a more light hearted way, allowing bigger problems to feel smaller and more approachable. Instead of paying attention to the monster problem, somehow smaller, more approachable steps appear through this silly approch.
Here are my top three personas. Which one do you want to try? What is not listed but worth a try on your own?
1) I am now the protagonist in a romcom. Hello lead character energy. What would the lead character wear, read, do, eat, drink, and how would they pass the time... I want to take on their entire world view and how they do everything! Whatever they would do, I'm doing. This usually leads to a pot of tea, lighting a candle, not doing my hair, going for a walk, reading a book, making a list of dream next steps, sketching, illustrating, sewing, randomly chatting with folks on a stroll, and generally romanticizing the basic tasks and chores on the to-do list. This ALSO includes things that the main protagonist wouldn't do. Note: I am usually channeling early 90s romcoms, so before a lot of modern technology, thus not a lot of technology in this activity (Also, yes, odds are the inspo movie has Meg Ryan in it for those wondering).
Romcom Playlist anyone? Enjoy some romcom-inspired tunes as you try on this persona.
Click on the Spotify icon to listen!
2) Hello big city alter ego! Whether NYC, Paris, Mulan, or any other fashion capital with lots of garbage bins, pigeons, delayed public transit, and fantastic museums... mentally, I'm there. What would the big city me do at that moment and how can I channel that aggressive, city stomping, anything can happen at any second drive into my small town approach? I often romanticize my time in the big city, a part of that is because of having moments of passing famous pieces of art accidentally, random inspiration from a scent, language, or voice on the subway, the swish of a garment as someone gets into a cab and for a brief second I imagine a completely different outfit... how can I be open to noticing the details around me and be open to that same inspiration where I am now?
For the folks already livin' in the big cities; Imagine yourself now living in a small cabin in the woods, lush green plants, sunrays illuminating the cozy space, songbirds just outside the open window, you can hear a gentle river rustling through mossy stones down the hill from your perch... What's this version of yourself going to do now?? Write a song, pick out a tune on a guitar, paint the setting, write a character where this is their backstory...? The inspo is endless...
Some NYC south of 14th Street vibes anyone? S jazz and city inspo waiting for you : )
Click on the Spotify icon to listen!
3) And my personal favorite: Channel a real-life or fictional character that feels like an extreme version of yourself. AND how would they navigate a creative block or look for inspiration? For me? I am now the fictional NYC famous blogger, Carrie Bradshaw, sitting at my writing desk bathed by the sun seeping in from my window, looking over the avenue. Tall socks, comfy shorts, a bulky sweater, hair amuck, and half of my jewelry collection adorning my fingers, wrists, and collar bones. the weighty jewelry clinking as my hands race across the keyboard with the latest witty banter and latest not-so-shy quandary. When the inspo doesn't hit I can easily jaunt out for a quick martini, bodega snack, latte, or trip to the Natural History Museum to scope out the gem room. ( I still don't understand how, to this day, S.A.T.C. never shot a scene in the GEM ROOM at the Natural History Museum?!?!?!!! A missed opportunity if I ever saw one. If you are going to NYC, not only do you need to spend a whole day at this museum but at least a casual hour relaxing, reading, or musing in this moody, crystalized space.) In this scenario, channel how this extreme version of you would navigate your current space. What do they notice, what are they curious about, and what inspiration catches their eye that maybe we have overlooked in our day-to-day grind?
Need a new playlist to push you a bit? Check this one out : )
Click on the Spotify icon to listen!
My Final Thoughts and Thesis:
These three exercises in creativity have allowed for daily engagement in creativity that fills my cup. I feel energized, re-captivated with my creative work, and a sense of approachable ease to keep going.
I hope you, dear reader, take what lands for you from this little reflection of joy and creativity. What inspires creativity for you? What simple practices and exercises can you build into your daily routine, physical space, or to-do list to let creativity seep in and guide you throughout the day to day grind?
As always, thanks for pondering with me : ) - Keila
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