Dear fellow creatives...tips and tricks on leading a creative life

[Peppermintbach]

Hi everyone,

As the title suggests, this thread is pretty much exactly as per the thread title. In some ways, I feel as though I'm a bit of a creative rut, which is awful when you're a creative person.

So I thought that I would try to ask for inspiration in terms of ideas and stories from fellow creatives. Hopefully other people also find this thread helpful in terms of reading and sharing.

So whether you're a professional or amateur graphic designer, industrial designer, architect, musician, writer, choreographer, dancer, landscaper, etc, etc...I would LOVE to hear your tips and anecdotes on how you inject creativity in your world and how your keep the creative spark alive.

Thank you!

Pepper

[james1]

Hey Pepper,

I only do things as a hobby rather than to pay the bills so the pressure's a lot less on me.

For me, it depends on what the block is. If I'm out of ideas, I literally go and try to just live life a little bit and talk to people.

If I have no ideas to write or draw about, I feel like I need to get real experiences and stories to inspire me.

If it's being unable to put idea to paper, then I literally write about the idea until I can't write about it anymore. Then I set it aside and try to work on something else. That way, I have something on paper about it and come back to it when it's had more time to stew.

If I was working professionally...geez, I dunno. I suppose that's the hardest part about working in a creative field.

James

[Peppermintbach]

Hi James,

Thank you so much for replying. I appreciate it immensely 🙂

It's always wonderful to talk to people with a creative spirit. I see a common theme for you is to interact with people and engage in some other sphere of life. Makes sense.

Lol. Oh dear, sorry, my bad...I don't work in the creative field but I can definitely see why you assumed as such, given my post. Without giving too much away, I work in the mental health field. Although there are definitely moments when I have doubts about my decisions and path.

My current struggle is that I just feel uninspired and bored with everything, which naturally does not aid creativity (professional or otherwise). It bothers me immensely because creative outlets are my personal therapy, so to speak. When I'm not creating, I feel suffocated.

Sometimes I do wonder what would have happened had I opted for a creative career instead. I'm currently looking into ways to perhaps have multiple careers (whoever said we can only have one, right?)

I visited an art shop today to see if any inspiration would jump at me but I left feeling disheartened.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing and supporting 🙂

Pepper

[james1]

Hey Pepper,

I am not sure if you take medication at the moment, but when I was taking antidepressants, that was one of the side effects. I just kind of lost that creative spark.

I'm happy to hear you're thinking about a way of having a creative career instead. I mean, it could even be a matter of having it as a money making hobby for spending money, you know?

e.g. a little art stall or something similar.

My plan at the moment is to drop to part time within the next year so I have a day to do my writing which I can do freelancing, but I also want to start focussing on either drawing or photography to be able to do little jobs here and there to sell.

But boredom is definitely hard if you want to do something creatively, and having goals I think are achievable and fun, and re-engaging with life generally is something I try to do when that strikes. So if you can schedule in a time on the weekend where you have to try and engage with that creative side, if you can't create anything, use the time instead to go out and do something new, or see something new.

All the best 🙂

James

[Peppermintbach]

Hi James,

I so appreciate the detailed and thoughtful response. Thanks, it's more a case of "as well" rather than "instead." Best of both worlds 🙂 As anyone who works in the mental health sector will most likely say: it can be deeply rewarding but there are also many unglamorous aspects to it- comes with the territory lol.

Yes, markets are pretty good "launch pads" plus the demographic who visit markets are often quite trendy and have a keen eye for good or interesting designs (or at the trendy markets anyway).

I like your plan to explore your creativity/explore creative careers/etc. Writing, drawing and/or photography all sound like worthy creative endeavours.

I think half the battle when it comes to creative careers is public exposure- technology and the internet can be very helpful in that department. Also networking with influential people like gallery owners and the like.

As for photography, I think some photographers charge for professional wedding photography. Although to be frank, most of them do it for the $$$ and not because they actually like shooting wedding photos. But it's a good way to meet people, get your "name" out there and earn some extra income.​

Just a random thought on drawings. I don't know too much about the industry but I have read about artists who do scientific drawings (e.g. botany) and make a decent (I think?) living from it. I'm not saying that you're necessarily into scientific drawings but I'm trying to think "outside the box" to give you ideas. Also entering art competitions is another way to practice and get your "name out there."

Mind you, they are only suggestions so they might not be helpful at all. Either way, I figured it wouldn't hurt to throw the idea out there 🙂

Thanks again James. Good talk. Must dash now.

Pepper

[quirkywords]

Pepper

Funnily enough I was thinking of starting a thread on bipolar and creativity as most people assume if you have bipolar you are creative.

I think it depends on what you mean by being creative- people define creative in different ways- some think you must produce something to be creative, some feel thinking in an original way is being creative.

This is very interesting thread.

As for your rut, maybe just doing something you normally do but in a different way or at a different time.

Quirky

[HamSolo01]

hey

ive only just begun to reignite the creative juices in my brain after a hiatus of mental health

i love music because it evokes deep emotional experiences within me. It can transport me back to moments of happiness and laughter, triggering happy memories. Music takes you beyond the general stream of consciousness too i find. Something about making music and playing it makes me feel like a creator god or something haha

I love to write stuff too but its something i need to be in the mood to do. Im working on setting aside time in my life that i can devote to certain things to bring about balance. My mental health has really been bad of late so it takes up my life. Its now a case of getting back into things. At the moment im writing a story thats inspired by my first year of uni. Its a love story mixed with tragedy and drama and mental health, because this is what i imagined uni was going to be like in first year. I guess its a way of revisiting the past. I plan to have it finished by year's end when i graduate. Just a way of processing my time at uni. Its been rather formative. Im single and have been my whole life so far (23) and i believe that writing this into a story will be a way of coming to terms with my own reality. Weird hey?

Anyways, i would be keen to hear what others do to maintain their creative juice. Any ideas on how i can get back into playing trombone again? need to do that as well

great post idea 🙂

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Quirky,

It's lovely of you to contribute. Thanks Quirky 🙂

I completely agree with you that creativity comes in many different forms, which includes original/unusual thought processes.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm still figuring it out but it certainly doesn't help that I have a low boredom threshold; I tend to get bored a lot easier than most people around me (so I irritate my friends lol).

I might visit some art galleries and museums this weekend as I find them fascinatingly inspiring. My dream- one of them- is to visit the Louvre in Paris and MoMA in New York one day (cue heart shaped eyes lol).

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Hamsolo,

I love this:

i love music because it evokes deep emotional experiences within me. It can transport me back to moments of happiness and laughter, triggering happy memories. Music takes you beyond the general stream of consciousness too i find. Something about making music and playing it makes me feel like a creator god or something haha

Well said! I couldn't agree with you more 🙂

Judging from your post, you're clearly very articulate and self aware. Sometimes creativity surges and other times it's the polar opposite when mental health issues strike. It's kind of bizarre how that happens and how it varies from person to person. Either way, I'm glad the creative juices are re-surfacing for you.

I'm older than you- in my early 30s- and in full support of your creative endeavours (and anyone else's too).I like how you're using writing as a coping mechanism, emotional outlet and processing tool for your uni days. Maybe words will help you make sense of it all.

Oh, that's fantastic that you play the trombone 🙂 Hmm...valid and interesting question...I'm completely oversimplifying the whole process but maybe setting aside a small amount of time each day (e.g. 10 minutes in the morning/evening/afternoon) to improv and/or use sheet music would help. I'll admit it's not hugely original advice and you may have heard it before though.

Now I'm not sure if that will work for you but I figure gradually easing back into it and almost making it a "habit" (so to speak) might help. Maybe you'll get so into it that you'll naturally spend longer than whatever time you have allocated to it.

I play instruments too- been a little slack due to my uninspired state lately- but sometimes I find it's a matter of pushing myself. I might not be in the mood but if I force myself to play something- sheet music is handy for it- then I often find the natural joy of music takes over.

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi everyone,

This post sort of loosely relates to the thread topic. Hey, in my defence, it's on the topic of creativity so technically I'm still "on topic." lol.

Basically, I've chucked a sickie as I'm not in the mood to show up to work today (currently still in bed)...

I don't know if anyone has heard of her but I think Sada Vidoo is a majorly underrated artist. I have been listening to Northern Lights and The Actress on high rotation.

I suspect that she's possibly a polarising artist as I don't think her style of music is everyone's cup of tea. But I think it's better to be polarising than to be "meh", bland and forgettable.

Anyway, on another note. I was reading about Lorde and she made some interesting comments about language. She thought that she she appeared unkempt and just out of place in photographs- her words, not mine- as she said that she didn't think that photography was her "language" so she didn't know how to work the camera. Unsurprisingly, she added that the way she communicated best was through music.

I thought that it was an interesting comment because I think we often associate language and communication with words. But I don't think that's the only medium. To me, language is about telling stories and it isn't restricted to just pen and paper (but it can be of course). I suppose what I'm saying is there's such a diverse number of ways to tell stories beyond the traditional methods.

Anyway, must dash...I hope you all continue "storytelling" in whatever medium/media suits you best. Plays, short stories, novels, songs, pieces, sculptures, fashion design...the list is endless 🙂

Pepper