Being creative is a trait shared by people in many career fields, not just artists or designers, but writers, web designers, even bloggers. Regardless of how creative you are, there are times when it seems we all “hit a wall.” What do you do when you hit a mental block? Do you try to push through it, thinking that those creative thoughts will come if you just keep trying, or do you step back, take a deep breath and clear your mind for a moment?

It’s easy to become overwhelmed, stressed, and unable to spark those creative ideas when you hit a mental block. However, while clearing those cobwebs out of your brain you can also boost creativity!

Here’s how to overcome a creative block:

1. Fill up on inspiration.

Just like an athlete needs to be hydrated before a race an artists or designer needs a good source of ‘inspirational nourishment’ before and during projects. Find, gather and hoard the things that inspire you. Bookmark your favorite inspiration websites, have good sources for visuals

2. Indulge your senses in music.

Music can motivate, stimulate, and help you develop a positive attitude. Some people are more efficient and better at concentrating when soothing music is playing in the background, and music has been proven to increase Serotonin (feel-good hormone) levels in the brain.

3. You need a schedule, and an office.

Creative types are often busy, and don’t think about developing their creative talents further. Feel like you never have enough time to create? Mixing work with family and everyday tasks just doesn’t work for many of us. Choose a time and place to create, and commit to it whether that space is a home office, or a corner in the living room. Set a scheduled time for work each day – when you think you will get to it later, life gets in the way and later never comes!

4. Consider whether your space lends to creativity.

Your environment has a huge impact on your creativity, and if it’s dusty, cluttered, or dark and depressing, it will affect how well your mind works, how your ideas flow. Surround yourself in your favorite colors; clear the clutter and organize. Include artwork, family photos, those comfortable things you love. You’ll be surprised at how creating an environment you’re happy in sparks new ideas. Create an art studio in your home – here’s how

5. Put technology aside – at least for a little while.

Laptops, tablets, cell phones – most of us are immersed in digital technology, and it can be a drain on your brain. You need downtime, which means time spent reading a book, doing something you love outdoors, time away from all of the technological gadgets at our fingertips today. The learning process is slowed when your brain is constantly “plugged in,” so give it a break!

6. Stress free doodling.

The repetition and thoughtlessness that goes along with doodling can help you get past the creative block. When your thinking too much and hit the creative block, decompress with mindless doodles. In addition, paying continuous attention places a strain on the brain, and doodling may be just the break your brain needs to keep attending without losing total interest. In fact, doodling will likely activate your brain’s “unfocus” circuits, give your “focus” circuits a break, and allow you to more creatively and tirelessly solve a problem at hand..

7. Don’t stay isolated.


If you’re like most artists or designers, you thrive on alone time and working independently. It’s actually very difficult to create and work on projects with interruptions and chaos. You need your own quite space. However this quite space can get lonely and you can feel isolated especially when your stuck and need some help. Connect to Facebook groups of like-minded people. Meet up in person for an ‘art date’.

8. Capture ideas in a sketchbook.


How a source besides the phone to capture your thoughts and ideas. Carry sketchbooks where ever you go!

9. Change your thinking.


Are you putting too much pressure on yourself? Expecting instant and perfect results without going through the process can lead to a creative block. You know how it is… the harder your try the worse it becomes. Mentally you pressure yourself, get frustrated and use all the creative energy fighting it. Take a step back, change your thinking. Often acceptance helps to overcome the block.

10. Be good to yourself.

Do the things you enjoy, and that relax you. Sometimes being creative is exhausting, so take a nap, enjoy a long, hot bubble bath, meditate, get a good night’s sleep. An overworked mind isn’t good for anyone! Reinvigorating your body will reinvigorate your mind as well.

Try some of these things yourself, and see if it helps remove those mental blocks and get your creative juices flowing again! Above all, don’t force it. Creative blocks are an ebb and flow. Lean into it, trust your process, step away when you need to. Don’t fear that you’ll never get your vibe back. You will.

The post Inspire Creativity: 10 Tips to Get Past the Creative Block appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

Artist Alon Avissar has been a long time fan of many famous musicians and celebrities. And as an accomplished artist he enjoys creating portraits of his favorite entertainers.

Last year when he heard the Nature Boy Ric Flair was making an appearance in the Washington DC area, and being a lifelong fan, he really wanted to meet Flair. Shortly after purchasing a ticket to the event, it dawned on him that he could use this opportunity to not only try to introduce himself to Ric, but to present a custom piece of artwork honoring him.

On the day of the event he met Ric and presented him with the watercolor-style portrait he created in Photoshop. He was very grateful to receive the framed piece and was happy to pose for a photo too.

After that encounter, Alon had an epiphany of sorts: how many of his heroes could he meet through this art?

He began researching upcoming events in the DC area, honing in on acts, figures, and artists that he was inspired by. He conducted research to find their respective contact info. Once connected, he would arrange to meet at their local event where he would present a framed copy of the portrait as a gift to the artist. In return, he would simply request a photo and a signature on a separate print for his own safe keeping.

To his surprise he was able to get responses from many of the talents he reached out to. Before he knew it, he was regularly going to events and presenting these passion pieces to many of the same people he grew up admiring! See and find out more

About Alon Avissar

Alon Avissar is a Washington DC based art director and designer with an obsession for art, history, music trivia and mythology. In addition to collaborating with clients full-time, he continues to develop other personal projects in his spare time. These include various illustration, double exposure and portrait works of art.

The post Portraits as a Backstage Pass – Meet Featured Artist Alon Avissar appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

So often we go through our week with our tasks in the forefront of our mind. Work, responsibilities, obligations, moving us on day in and day out.

We neglect to tap into the deeper parts of our souls and connect with the things that make us feel alive.

I’m talking about the ‘alive’ that gets you out of bed in the morning or keeps you up late at night, totally engaged with a creative spark and expectation that drives you to create and express the deep things in your heart and soul, often those things that can’t be expressed verbally.

When you’re expressing the creative nature within yourself, the self-absorbed creative part that is stress free, obligation free and totally free to be in the moment; you become more alive.

For some this is expressed in creative writing and the words flow, for artists this is expressed with the visual where you bring to life the blank paper, space or canvas.

When your living in this moment of being totally engaged and free, with complete abandonment, enjoyment or purpose in your artwork; you have become more alive.

Creating has long term benefits, more than meets the eye. There is a connection between art and healing. A study conducted for the arts interventions conducted here shows that participation in activities in a spectrum from clinical arts is beneficial and an effective way of using engagement in the arts to promote holistic approaches with health benefits.

Beyond soothing anxiety, the arts can also benefit those affected by dementia. If you aren’t aware of it, a film titled “I Remember Better When I Paint” focuses on Alzheimer’s patients, and their progress as they are introduced to the world of creative arts. This film brings to light the profound impact creative arts can have on those who seem otherwise disconnected from the world.

Creative expression can be life changing. Through expressing your creative nature with art you can transcend the daily stresses, depression, loneliness and other life depleting feelings and you can experience more peace, confidence and pure enjoyment in being in the creative zone, fully alive and engaged.

As Sherwood Anderson an American novelist said in a letter to his son Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children.

“The thing of course is to make yourself alive. Most people remain all of their lives in a stupor.” And “The object of art is not to make salable pictures. It is to save yourself.”

The post What Makes You Feel Alive? appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

What are some of the most popular myths about the successful self-taught? We’ll debunk a few of them here:

Entrepreneurs are anti-social.

While it may often seem like many of us who are dedicated to reaching success mostly on our own devices are anti-social or introverted somehow, the fact is we simply get “wrapped up” in our work, and usually have an enormous capacity for focus. Not introverted, just dedicated to getting where we want to go!

The self-taught are risk-taking gamblers.

Nothing could be further from the truth! If anything, those of us who are designers, writers, or professional artists are control freaks who will only get involved in the game if they can use their own marked deck of cards. If anything, we usually avoid taking risks that could actually further our success because – well, it just seems too risky.

Men are geared more toward entrepreneurialism than women.

What? No way! This is a HUGE lie – in fact, women have the same abilities as men, but are actually at an even bigger advantage in one area – growing a business to successful levels after it has launched. Why is this? Most women “connect” with others naturally and build a stronger foundation because of their outreach to others. Some Men typically only reach out to determine if their competition is beating them, or for reasons related to money. Oh well, as the old saying goes, “boys will be boys.”

A college degree is necessary for success.

Ha! The truth of the matter is most self-taught successful people have no college degree, they’re simply driven and have no aversion to digging and scratching their way through whatever it takes to reach their goals. Need proof? A few of the self-starters who ended up reaching unimaginable success without a degree include the founders of IKEA, McDonald’s and the Ford Motor Company.

Other common myths about those who choose to teach themselves whatever it is they want to learn is that it’s easy, and that anyone can achieve their dreams as long as they have a great idea.

You don’t have to have a great idea, all that is required is that you’re passionate about what you do, and dedicated to making it work – and sometimes the learning process and work involved leave you drained and downright exhausted, but in the end it’s definitely worth it.

The post Disputing Popular Myths about Being a Self-Taught Artist appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

Other perceptive quotes he wrote include “The thing of course is to make yourself alive. Most people remain all of their lives in a stupor.” And “The object of art is not to make salable pictures. It is to save yourself.”

Very acute and deep and what does this mean and does it apply to today?

Being an artist, musician, writer, dancer, any of the expressive gifts are a visible reflection of deep thoughts, feelings, desires, beliefs and they are a gift.

Everyone, I believe, has something inside themselves that can be expressed through a healthy creative outlet. Your own personal treasure is to discover your creative gift and nurture it.

Making Art Helps Heal the Soul

So why take the time to tap into your inner creative person? The transformation effects are not entirely rational. However studies have shown that individuals take their obsession, grief, pain and hope and try to turn it into something. This ‘making’ may not result in a cure but it is ultimately healing.

The arts reduce stress. And the more in touch a person becomes through creative expression the more wholeness they experience. Strange as it may seem, it’s true.

This inspirational video, “Can Art Be Medicine” from the Foundation For Art & Healing, explores the topic of the arts and wholeness.

The arts have always had a place in cultures around the world and is an ‘unofficial’ form of medicine. Creative expression has an undeniable power and quite possibly can improve our health. Creative engagement brings us into the moment and puts us in touch with who we are, it helps us get unstuck and it helps us move forward. Art can bridge the gap between the conscious and the unconscious mind.

Incredibly, art therapy can help Dementia patients not only find an inner peace but can also stimulate locked away and forgotten memories. I remember better when I paint is a moving video that follows one story of an elderly man who when asked to draw Honolulu, drew a warship with “Destroyer” on its bow. He was drawing a very clear memory he had from his days serving our country. A memory that painting had unlocked. Other amazing stories and studies are also shown on this video below.

Live More Aware and Express Yourself!

So what is the point of being an artist or finding the artist within yourself? The point is to live – live more aware, express yourself, nurture your spirit through the things you make! Creativity and expression can be a powerful gift in your life.

The post “The Point of Being An Artist Is That You May Live…” appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

Not to be underestimated in the creative process is the space in which you create your work. Space is everything and aesthetics should not be underestimated. When you work in your creative space you should feel at peace, harmonious, motivated. Even if your space is a small corner in a room, you can make it yours!

Practical Considerations for a Perfect Art/Creative Studio

Organize

Consider whether your space lends to creativity.
Your environment has a huge impact on your creativity, and if it’s dusty, cluttered, or dark and depressing, it will affect how well your mind works, how your ideas flow. Surround yourself in your favorite colors; clear the clutter and organize. Include artwork, family photos, those comfortable things you love. For a practical guide to setting up an art studio at home, check out these helpful tips..

You’ll be surprised at how creating an environment you’re happy in sparks new ideas.

Unplug from Technology

Put technology aside – at least for a little while.
Laptops, tablets, cell phones – most of us are immersed in digital technology, and it can be a drain on your brain. You need downtime. The creative process is slowed when your brain is constantly “plugged in,” so give it a break! And yes, this means no Facebook or Twitter, either.

A Quiet Spot

Quiet please and NO interruptions. I don’t know many artists that can work and get in the zone around chaos and noise. Most artists thrive in their own quiet space. If you have a family at home try setting boundaries. When the door is closed… no interruptions. If you don’t have a door and have a dedicated space make a pact with your family that when you’re there, it’s off limits for a period of time.

Good Lighting

The power of light. Of course you know how important lighting is in your artwork. But take a good look at your environment. Do you have good natural light? If you don’t have windows or good lighting try using standard incandescent light bulbs with full spectrum lighting.  Full spectrum does just what it says and provides the full spectrum of sunlight to mimic natural light helping you to see the true nature of your colors. We recommend the amazing OttLite, the perfect lamp for your desk, craft table, or home office. With an adjustable shade, the SlimLine is designed to perfectly deliver OttLite Natural Daylight Illumination exactly where it’s needed. Delivering a low heat, low glare illumination, this lamp will help you do what you love, longer.

Of course there are the other elements such as great music, a comfortable chair and all your supplies at your fingertips!

Try some of these things yourself, and see if it helps remove those mental blocks and get your creative juices flowing again!

The post How to Create Your Ideal Artist Space appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

We’re inspired not only by Dinah’s work as an Watercolor Artist (be sure to scroll on, her work is awesome!), but also by her commitment to engage and include her baby in exploring and enjoying art.

After all, why should creating art end for an artist after having a baby!?

Dinah went to work creating Torin’s Alphabet, 26 animal characters for each letter in alphabet. She embraced the unpredictable life of a newborn baby, cultivated her vision and went to work to make something that will last generations.

What we especially enjoying about Dinah’s story is seeing how she includes her son in art making and even let’s him get colorful with paint! All babies and children should play in paint!

Dinah’s Story

Just over a year ago I found out that I was expecting in January 2017. Expecting not only a child but expecting to lose my sense of identity as an Artist. The sudden inability to just lose myself for hours in my art ate at my core. My sister was an artist, then two kids happened…

At that time, my art consisted of intricate Commissions and Abstracts in Acrylic, Oil, or Illustrations. Each creation may take upwards of a month or two to complete. And I loved it. I loved my H-Frame Easel, my paint-stained rug, my collection of paint brushes and excess canvases.

Last July, I was invited to be a guest teacher at the International Music Camp at the Peace Gardens. There were four other Artists in various media who were invited for the Visual Arts Week. I was honored. I was the Painting instructor. Acrylic was no trouble. I could teach that in my sleep… But Watercolor? Hey. I had never liked nor enjoyed (but most likely never understood) Watercolor. And I had to teach it to a group of Middle Schoolers followed by Adults?

I signed myself up for an ONE DAY Watercolor lesson founded by BreckCreate in Colorado. The three-hour lesson focused a full hour on color theory and the direction of the sun… And then we painted aspens.

Two weeks later, I was in the middle of nowhere teaching what I had learned. I painted two watercolors during the week. One was a beautiful passion flower. The other was a Heron.

And then that “Baby Curveball” kept coming my way… I grew to love the idea of being a Mom. To be able to pass on a love and appreciation for art. To cultivate Creativity.

Cultivation of creativity and Motherhood became my new obsession! It wasn’t until after my son was born that I picked up the Heron and thought… Hey, this is pretty good! I bet this would look darling in his Nursery!

And thus began my attempt to paint 25 more animals, in profile, for Torin’s Alphabet, a nursery decor painting in watercolor, an amazing media characterized by fast dry-times, patience, layering of colors, and luck…

Here, you may see these fun and regal portraits that have proved very meaningful and able to be completed within the unpredictable life of a newborn baby!

Creativity is one of the most important skills anyone can possess, whether innate or trained.

Shown Are a Few Illustrations From Torin’s Alphabet

B Is For Baboon

C Is For Chameleon

D Is For Duck

E Is For Elephant

F Is For Fox

G Is For Giraffe

H Is For Heron

If you enjoyed this article, be sure and share the inspiration. Follow Dinah on Instagram to see more of her work.

The post Cultivating Creativity Through Motherhood – Meet Dinah Langsjoen appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

Those who “teach” themselves art can understandably become frustrated, particularly as a beginner. You have a bit of skill, you realize that – but how do you nurture your talent and bring out the real “artist” in you? Whether you paint landscapes in watercolor, still life works in oil or acrylic, or love abstract works of art, sometimes it’s easy to feel as though you have reached your limit in terms of your skill or imagination.

However, as an artist did you know that there really is no limit when it comes to creative, imaginative, and beautiful art? You can learn to “hone” your skills and grow as an accomplished self-taught artist.

1. Your Mindset – Give Yourself Permission

To hone in on your skills, first hone in on believing you can. Self-doubt is the biggest quencher of creativity. Artists are sensitive and harder on themselves. It’s easy to give up when you don’t believe in your work. Don’t let the fear of other people’s judgement stop you from creating your work. Judgement ties in with self-doubt. Give yourself permission, sometimes you can’t wait for the people in your life to give you the approval.

2. Don’t compare your work with other artists.

Sure, it seems almost impossible to do. You see other people’s works of art and are amazed at their talent. You cruise Instagram looking at the talent of artists throughout the world and you feel… “name your feeling“.

You are an individual, so your work should reflect your own skill, talent, and creativity. Other artists’ work can inspire you and give you ideas, but never look at others’ work and let it make you feel inferior. As artists, we never ever stop growing in regards to our skills, talent, and learning – it’s an ongoing process. Don’t stop!

3. Focus.

In a busy world, it’s easy to get distracted. Sometimes you look at a blank canvas or paper, and you think that’s as far as you will get. Disconnect from distractions, sit and relax your mind; block out everything else, focus on the energy of what you are creating – This is the power of art.

Let your creative juices flow, and when they begin, don’t hold back! Put those beautiful colors on the canvas and let it lead where it may.

4. Keep it simple.

When you are in the beginning phase and just starting to develop your talent, stick with one or two media such as watercolor or charcoal. Start with a simple subject, and don’t even attempt a project that’s really intense or complex, such as painting a huge panorama depicting horses, meadows and spicy colored woolen blankets.

You should start simple, drawing or painting fruits, bowls, water pitchers, and other things that are really basic. As you master the most basic, you can build out and begin adding shadows, light, and other elements that give your work dimension. Eventually you will find yourself painting the most complex art works that seem to come alive on the canvas, filled with texture, shadows, light, color – life!

5. Gratitude: Feel blessed for the talent you have been given.

Not everyone has the ability to create art, and not everyone can even learn it with someone else teaching. If you have been blessed with artistic ability, be happy with doing your personal best, and know that studying your favorite artists’ works and practice will take you to new levels that will excite and inspire you!

Honing your skills when you’re an artist is a process that continues forever; be inspired, be motivated, and most of all let your art reflect yourself and your passion!

You Might Find these Articles Helpful:

Am I good enough: Beyond Fear
Is this you? Common Traits of Artists
Essential Tips for Keeping your skills and Life in Order
Getting Paid what your worth – How do you value your work?

The post Tips for the Self-Taught Artist: Honing Your Skills appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

Many may know of George Bush as one of the Presidents of the United States. You may have liked him, or maybe you didn’t.

However, did you know he is an Artist? A rather interesting one and admirable in what his art is now providing.

It is said that George W. Bush took up painting in 2013. But I bet he dabbled before this. I can imagine that he sketched and expressed the creative side and maybe even doodled when on important calls when he was the President.

I think art is something that lives in you. It doesn’t just appear one day.

For George Bush art has become a second career and maybe a second chance. What’s interesting though is that he tried to keep his paintings secret. He dabbled in painting dogs and still life’s and then his email was hacked! He wanted to be discreet about his amateur painting skills, however, shared them on email with his sister. His paintings were obtained by the website Gawker in 2013 when a Romanian hacker illegally obtained photographs of the paintings by hacking into the email account of Bush’s sister.

All this attention placed his art under intense scrutiny. Bush ended up giving television interviews to explain the origins of his artistic pursuit.  As if anyone needs to explain why they want to paint.

Articles on the original art find can be found here on Internet Archive.

So really what’s the big deal that a former President wants to paint and express his creative side? He has been called an Outside Artist and is known as “43”.

His technique is unschooled, not self-consciously trying to emulate any identifiable painter, and his references don’t seem to be any paintings at all. He paints what he sees.

A Rise in Artistic Confidence

Practice makes perfect which any artist can attest to. Pushing aside criticism and self-doubt, Bush fully embraced his art by producing a book of intriguing portraits.

On September 14, 2016 Bush announced his book, PORTRAITS OF COURAGE: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, the book features 66 full-color portraits and a four-panel mural personally painted by President Bush of service members and veterans who have served our nation with honor, and whom the President has come to know personally since leaving office.

Art Making a Difference

President Bush will donate his net author proceeds from PORTRAITS OF COURAGE to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a non-profit organization whose Military Service Initiative works to ensure that post-9/11 veterans and their families make successful transitions to civilian life with a focus on gaining meaningful employment and overcoming the invisible wounds of war.

You can purchase the book here:

I decided I was going to paint,” Bush explains. “My attitude was that if [Winston] Churchill can paint, I can paint. So I hired an instructor. She was a little apprehensive. She said, `What’s your objective,’ I said, `There is a Rembrandt trapped in this body. And your job is to find it.’

The post Politics Aside, This Artist Deserves a Second Glance appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

Sometimes it’s the expectation and pressure we put on ourselves to ‘make’ something great right then and there and other times it’s perhaps a season. Inspiration isn’t found, the creative energy is lost.

How do you get rid of the artist block? Here are a few tips that may help:

1. Work on one idea at a time. When artists are flooded with ideas it becomes difficult to focus and complete a project. As an artist you have lots of ideas and visuals floating around in your imagination. Write them all down… and then commit to ONE. Start it and see it through.

2. Get outside of your schedule. To be inspired you need fresh inspiration. Take the needed time to explore the things you enjoy. More importantly as you explore don’t put pressure on yourself to ‘come up with an idea”. Just be in the moment. However, do carry a sketch book if inspiration strikes!

3. Take care of yourself! Seems basic, however it’s easy to neglect your body, emotional and spiritual needs. Take time to exercise. Take a nap, yes, hard to let it all go when your deep in a project however a cat nap can really help energize your creative flow.

4. Let of of fear. Most artists are perfectionists and are their own worst critic. The “what if” scenario can play over and over in your mind when you feel insecure about your work. The root is fear. Let it go. Do your best to make the art that is relevant to you and stand behind it. Others will too.

What do you do when you have artist block?

The post Overcoming Artist Block – Tips to Stay Inspired and Keep the Inspiration Flowing appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.