BOOSTING CREATIVITY: HOW TO HONE YOUR ART AND STAY MOTIVATED
Have you ever fell in a creative rut? Sure, we all have
. It's that mental ditch in which you find yourself going nowhere very fast. Creative blocks are normal and, though most of us despise them, they often lead to amazing gifts that refuel our creativity and help us evaluate our strategies.
The first step in conquering such stagnation is to identify its source. These are some of the common culprits that can inhibit free-flowing creativity:
Fear of failing. Nothing can block a creative mind like fear. Fear of not delivering, fear of not being as talented as another artist and of course, fear of failing greatly. Fear can also disguise itself as anger and envy. Addressing negative feelings and unraveling them creates a path for creativity to flow.
Wasting Time. Have you ever gone on a test with a photographer and felt as if you were wasting precious money making time? Or have you been a volunteer artist and felt as if you were using up product and skills for nothing? Think again. Nothing opens more doors than doing free gigs every once in a while. Not only will you be helping that photographer or person you are volunteering for, but they will keep you in mind for any future paid jobs.
Insecurity. This means doubting your abilities, measuring your work against others or even your own previous work. Insecurity is something many people have deeply rooted within. For some, it was a teacher, parent or colleague who either scrutinized and criticized their work or simply said you weren't good enough. For anyone going through insecure patches here is my advice: Learn your craft, continue your education and most importantly believe in yourself.
Overstressing outcomes. Outcomes and results are very important, but so is the process by which we arrive at them. Sometimes we become so obsessed with the end result, that the pressure we put on ourselves hinders our creative juices from flowing. We also tend to get so wrapped up in the outcome that we forget how fun it is to create.
One of the great things of being an artist is that you know other artists that have experienced creative ruts at one time or another. The good news is that I am here to lend a helping hand to get you up and running. Below is a compilation of great strategies to get you back on track. Some of these are mine and some I borrowed from my colleagues, but they all have one thing in common: They work!
Release Negativity. I find that sometimes the best way to move forward is to do a daily "brain dump". Each day before going to bed or upon waking, grab a notebook and purge all of your thoughts into it. Whether they are angry, happy or fearful, it will help you start your day without the excess negativity in your head.
Get Active. Regular exercise helps to release stress, which is a major creativity blocker. I find that going for a 20 minute walk helps me clear my head.
Manage Your Career. Keep doing creative tests. I found this to be one of the best vehicles to sharpen your skills as an artist.Get encouraged and driven to think out of the box. It is such a great feeling to get together with a team of photographer, model, hairstylist, and stylist and create magic.
Designate A Creative Space. Whether it is a studio, office or a small corner in a room, claim a space for your creative endeavors. Keep a look book and take notes of the latest trends or of anything you might like from a magazine. This helps you have a go-to spot when you're feeling inspired.
Feed Your Imagination. Create an inspiration board that includes images, objects and words that inspire you, and then place it in your creative space. So you don't get bored, make sure to update your board with new images as you encounter them.
Continue Your Education. It is imperative to expand your sphere of influence. Taking seminars, attending shows and practicing will help you cultivate your signature style. Moreover, you will experience diversity of techniques that will keep your originality flowing.
Embrace Yourself. It is highly important to recognize that we each have a powerful ability to create. Believing in yourself is key to a successful career in this business. Respecting and honoring yourself as an artist will help you learn from others without fear of failure.
Aspire Higher. Don't settle for that two pagemagazine spread, go after the cover!
Practicing these ideas can help you to get out of a rut, but you should remember to hone your art, have a passion for your craft, focus, be persistent and have determination. These things make a great makeup artist. Now, get out there and create something fabulous!
BOOSTING CREATIVITY: HOW TO HONE YOUR ART AND STAY MOTIVATED
By: Chantal Savinon-Soto
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