Every creative has that folder full of projects from years past that we need to steel ourselves to look at. The road to where you are today with your artistic practice might have had a faltering (yes, even cringe-worthy) start, but now is the time to pause and learn from those moments. Whether you take a minute to read some old creative writings, look at projects from many years past, or thumb through old notebooks and sketch pads, this can be a great way to refresh your brain. This exercise works just as well for emerging creatives as it does for experienced professionals, so don\u2019t limit yourself based on the stage of career you\u2019re in. It can be easy for creatives to get stuck on the idea of creating productively\u2014 especially those who create for a living. Of course this is a completely natural mindset, but it isn\u2019t especially helpful. If you\u2019re already feeling low on creativity this kind of thinking can be even more limiting. Now is the time to focus on your artistic process, not on the outcome. If it helps, consider setting benchmarks for yourself like in the above exercise (i.e. fill up X amount of page, write X amount of words or for X length of time). To get the most of this exercise, create without stopping and reviewing your work. If you\u2019re anything like us, there\u2019s a list a mile long of people you\u2019ve been wanting to collaborate with but have never found the time to. Well, now is the moment to reach out! Everyone is looking to make connections and strengthen bonds at a time when most of us are feeling a little at sea, and one of the best ways to feel more creative is to surround yourself with creative people. Just like with the tip above, don\u2019t focus too much on an outcome\u2014 just reach out and spend some time talking with someone whose work you admire. Even if nothing ever comes from the collaboration, big things can come out of conversations and you\u2019ll never know what might have been if you never try. While we\u2019re all staying home for the time being, it can be hard to let novelty drive your creativity. People-watching, walks through the city, or visiting a museum might not be in the cards at the moment, but there are so many cultural centers taking their work online to help keep us sane and inspired during this time. Google\u2019s Arts and Culture has an astonishing amount of free and easy to access content from cultural sites, museums, and landmarks around the world. Here is just a short list of some of team\u2019s favorite virtual spaces to find inspiration:<\/strong><\/p>\n Free Monday Meditation with Alli Simon, Tropics LA and the Underground Museum<\/p>\n Cincinnati Zoo Home Safari<\/p>\n Take a Virtual Field Trip to the Kyoto Costume Institute<\/p>\n Explore Yosemite From Your Couch<\/p>\n Have a Night at the Opera \u2014 for Free!<\/p>\n Taking yourself too seriously can be the death of creativity. Not only that, but there is scholarly research from the field of psychology that play is a component to a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. In his book, Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, Dr. Scott Brown asserts that play is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. According to his research, Dr. Brown claims that there is enough evidence to indicate that humans are \u201cdesigned by nature to flourish through play\u201d. So what exactly does \u201cplay\u201d look like when you\u2019re an adult? The key is to expand your idea of play to include anything that is fun, done without purpose, and enjoyable. Whether you\u2019re reading aloud to a partner, singing in the shower, calling up a friend for a chat, or treating your dog to a game of fetch\u2014 it\u2019s all play. Give yourself permission to play, especially during stressful times. Taking a few minutes to play might just be the reset your brain needs to open yourself up to creative inspiration. Getting in the creative mindset can be a challenge at the best of times, but what do you do when you find yourself with a mental roadblock and your regular creativity boosting tricks aren\u2019t feasible? Rethink the way you see staying at home and seize the moment to try new ways to get yourself out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/creative_look_back.jpg\")
Try this exercise:<\/strong> Choose a word, phrase, or single focal point of a work of yours from the past and use it as a jumping off point for creating a new piece. Now set a timer. The time is dependent on the kind of creative work you do, and you may want to start with modest expectations and work your way up to a longer time period as you practice this exercise. Once you\u2019ve chosen the jumping off point (and don\u2019t overthink it) get those ideas down and don\u2019t stop until time is up.<\/p>\n2. Focus on Process, Not on Outcomes<\/em><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/creative_process.jpg\")
Try this exercise:<\/strong> Sometimes the best way to let go of expectations of outcomes is to try your hand at something so far out of your comfort zone that you can\u2019t begin to predict how it\u2019s going to turn out. If you\u2019re an illustrator, try doing a piece that emulates an artist whose style is completely different from yours. If you\u2019re a writer, try writing a short piece in another author\u2019s voice. Even if all it does is give you a laugh, you\u2019ll be stretching muscles you don\u2019t often get to exercise, and that can be a springboard into unexpected creative moments.<\/p>\n3. Collaborate<\/em><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/creative_collaborate.jpg\")
Try this exercise:<\/strong> Collaborations can certainly happen over email or the phone, but there\u2019s something powerful about that face-to-face interaction when you\u2019re brainstorming creative projects. Right now, you may not be able to be in the same room with the person, but having a virtual coffee date over Zoom, Skype or Facetime might be the special ingredient your collaboration needs in order to really take off. Also, who doesn\u2019t want to see a new face just for the sake of novelty these days?<\/p>\n4. Get Inspired (Virtually)<\/em><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/creative_inspired.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Let Your Mind Play<\/em><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/creative_play.jpg\")
Try this exercise:<\/strong> Head over to YouTube and type in the search bar \u201cminute to win it games\u201d. You\u2019re going to find a treasure trove of short, fun games that often involve limited to no props. These games are silly, totally pointless, and completely unproductive; in other words, play! We hope you found these tips helpful and we would love to hear from you once you\u2019ve tried some or all of them. Tag us in your stories or posts on Instagram (@kevinbarryfineart) to share your take on any of these tips. We can\u2019t wait to see what you create!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"