Even though things are starting to open up around the world, we’re still not back to normal. We most likely never will be, but instead will have to adapt to a new normal. Because of the outside circumstances you may have a feeling of being constricted in your creativity but there are ways to work around it.
In times like this, on top of being in the middle of summer break with the kids home, how do you stay creative? Here are some tips…
Use What You Have & Revisit Older Work
One of my favorite things to do is photograph flowers but with the whole Corona Quarantine still going on, the public gardens here in NYC are still closed.
After a shoot I look through my images and tag my favorites. I decided to go back and take a look at some photos from past shoots. I was surprised to find a bunch that I really liked but didn’t tag! Sometimes you need some distance from your work so you can come back to it with fresh eyes.
I really liked the composition of these images after taking a second look.
I brought them into Photoshop and played around with colors and textures to give them a painterly feel.
If you also normally like going to outdoor gardens to photograph flowers, buy some flowers from a local shop and get creative photographing them at home.
Try Something New
Now is a great time to try something new. Maybe get the whole family involved! There are so many creative classes online – the options are endless! My favorites are from Creativebug, Skillshare, Creativelive and Masterclass.
I’ve recently been watching watercolor classes on Skillshare which inspired mt to order a paint set from Amazon. I’ve been having a lot of fun practicing. My daughter also recently got bitten by the painting bug – she’s been using acrylics. It’s become a fun family activity!
Be Around Other Creatives
Another way to motivate yourself to stay creative is to be around other creatives! If you can’t physically be around them, join a virtual meetup or facebook group. Be inspired by others that are continuing to pursue their creativity and that will spark yours as well.
My friend and I started a meetup for local creatives in our area called Creative Collective back in February before the whole Corona thing happened. We continued to meet each month via zoom and then finally in June had our first in person meetup since Quarantine. Being connected to other creatives keeps the energy up and is a source of motivation!
Challenge yourself to not use Corona as an excuse for not being creative. What can you do today to spark your creativity??
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