Guest Artist Vanessa Valencia: 6 Handy Ways to Rediscover Your Creativity

Please join me in welcoming creative artist, doodler, doll maker, and painter, Vanessa Valencia, to Somerset Place. Vanessa has been published in Stampington’s Somerset Life, Somerset Studio, and Artful Blogging to just name a few. Today she unveils 6 easy steps to recover your creative power before it has a chance to slip away:

Creativity and inspiration are two elements that not only go hand in hand but are crucial to each other.  I am not sure if one can even exist without the other. There is a fine balance to keeping the fire of both stoked, and it’s much easier than we think.

When I think of the word creativity and how one works to keep it alive, I do not think of one specific creative activity, but more of an array of activities that keep the whole of inspiration flowing.  Almost like a recipe for rediscovering your creativity every day.

As we know, creativity can not be found in just one facet of life.  It’s important to incorporate varied bits and pieces of creative elements into one’s life in order to create a balance, but how?

As human beings we need a certain amount of food from different food groups a day, to have good nutrition, to feel well and to thrive.Yet as creatives, we do not often afford ourselves the same concept of taking bits and pieces of creative elements to nourish the soul, and in turn, keep the flow of overall creativity healthy.

In order to be inspired to paint or sculpt, I often do other creative things that balance my desire to create and also fuel my inspiration: digging in dirt and gardening, going for walks and playing with my dogs, cooking and baking, cleaning my house, decorating, reading books, hunting for treasures in antique shops, watching good movies, crocheting, doodling, sewing and more. The point is, doing all those things that I “enjoy” are in fact part of my creative vibe, and they infuse my soul in a way that then inspires me to create art.  They are the elements I enjoy and incorporate into living a creative life.

It’s a balance of all those things that are nutritious for my own creative well being, and that allow it to thrive.  They are all creative elements, arts and crafts, in their own right. But what if, by chance, you have misplaced your creativity?  And you find yourself confused and frustrated, not knowing how to re-find the creative magic you long for?

6 Handy Ways to Rediscover Your Creativity:

 

1) Don’t Force, Just Be

One of the most important things is to stop forcing the issue, and do something else.  If you are standing in front of a blank canvas and you don’t know how to begin, step away.  It is your soul’s way of saying, please take me out to play.  Take me on a walk, or to the bookstore.  Take me out for ice cream.  Let’s do something fun.  You see, it all begins with a good frame of mind.  And we all know that, creativity does not respond to demand.  It responds to feeling good, being well rested and content, so go do something that feels good.  Creativity will smell the good stuff baking, and turn up for the party.

 

2) Set the Mood

Create a mood board, tacking up all sorts of things you love and have collected onto it.  From photos to notes, to jewelry, to a pretty piece of textile you love.  First of all, creating a mood board is utterly inspiring and fun, and second of all setting the mood for your creative vibe with a space that houses all that you love is an instant way to get the creativity flowing.

 

3) Enjoy the Outdoors

Spend some time outside.  The most important way that I refuel is by digging in the dirt.  I also keep house plants, which really inspire me (and are wonderful if you don’t have a garden).  Being outside or digging in pots is one of the most invaluable parts of my creative spirit’s health.  Whenever I need a mental health day, or hour even, you will find me planting or seeding or rooting something.  You may find that your garden is just like a blank canvas, waiting to be painted.

 

4) Jam Out

Dance, throw a party, dress up, be silly!  Whenever I feel down or stuck in a rut, I crank up the music, get out my good tea cups, and throw a tea party, even if it is just for one.  Changing up the scenery is fun and necessary.  Adding a light happy spark always infuses creativity.

 

5) Stage Your Creativity

One of my go-to tricks is to create vignettes for inspiration.  I might set up an old sewing machine with pretty things, and take photos.  Or, decorate a corner of my coffee table with flowers and books, crystals and little statues.  I find inspiration in doing little décor projects as such.  I love it as much as painting and sculpting, and it inspires me greatly.

 

6) Let it All Go

Let yourself create “just because” items.  Doodle like mad or take a big canvas or board and go crazy painting it.  Just splattering paint for no good reason other than because it is fun.  Not worrying if it will be good or bad.  Literally painting emotions onto canvas.  Let it out, and go crazy.  If that doesn’t work – don’t worry, it will!

 

A special thank you to Vanessa Valencia for walking us through the ways to uncover creativity that existed all along.

If you’re interested in more of her work, check out her blog A Fanciful Twist.

With Somerset Place Love,