Are you stuck in a creative rut and want to expand your imagination?
Creativity comes from many different sources. Expanding your imagination is important to be able to find solutions and come up with new ideas for anything that you’re working on.
This requires having an open mind and thinking outside of the box! Some people might like structure and rules – this is great too but it’s not always for everybody or every situation. The best solution depends on what you are trying to achieve at that time. When creativity is involved, there are no wrong answers!
I’m stuck in a creative rut, what do I do?
Expand your imagination! This means coming up with new and innovative ways of thinking about things. By exposing yourself to new ideas and experiences, you will open yourself up to new possibilities and inspirations. And who knows, maybe the next great idea will come from something completely unexpected!
Why is creativity so important?
- Creativity has the ability to make life better.
- It can help you come up with new ideas.
- It can help you be more inspired in your personal life.
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These 8 strategies will help expand your creativity
Creativity is essential for writing, drawing, crafting, and ny other activity that involves putting your thoughts into a tangible form. It allows you to express yourself in a unique and meaningful way, and it can be a source of inspiration and enjoyment.
Being an artist is often seen as something that only certain people are capable of doing. Creativity is actually a skill that can be learned and improved upon with practice. This creativity can happen regardless of your natural talent. In facts, there are many different activities that you can do to expand your imagination and become more creative.
Strategy 1: Take online courses
Taking online courses in subjects that intrigue you is a great way to stimulate your creativity and learn new skills. For example, if you’re interested in painting, you could take a course on watercolors. Or if you want to become a better writer, there are many online courses that can help you improve your skills.
There are also some great online resources that can help jump start your creativity if you’re having trouble getting started:
- CreativeLive has a variety of free classes on topics like photography, design, business, and even cooking
- The Idea Sandbox is a blog dedicated to helping people come up with new ideas and solutions to problems
- Skillshare is an online learning platform with thousands of ceative courses taught by experts in the creative field.
Creativity is not a talent that everyone is born with; it can be learned and developed over time with practice and patience.
Strategy 2: Visit virtual art galleries and museums
Visiting virtual art galleries and museums is another great way to get inspired. There are so many amazing resources available online, and it’s easy to spend hours exploring different websites. You can find everything from traditional paintings and sculptures to modern art and digital creations.
You can also find virtual tours of famous museums, such as the Louvre in Paris or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. There are also countless galleries on social media sites like Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr. These platforms allow you to explore the work of artists from all over the world, and they’re a great way to get inspired for your next project.
Strategy 3: Travel to new places
Traveling to new places is also a great way to expand your imagination. When you visit a new country or city, you’re exposed to new cultures and experiences that can inspire your writing. Every time I go on vacation, I come back with a notebook full of ideas. I’ve been lucky enough to visit some amazing places. Each destination offers its own unique set of experiences and insights that can help inspire your creativity.
Similarly, spending time in nature can be really beneficial for creativity. There’s something about being surrounded by plants and animals that helps us connect with our innermost thoughts and feelings. So if you’re looking for a way to jump start your imagination, get outside and explore!
Strategy 4: Experiment with different mediums
Experimenting with different mediums or genres is another great way to jumpstart your creativity. If you typically write articles, try writing a poem or short story. Or if you usually paint landscapes, try painting portraits instead. The more variety you have in your work, the more opportunities you’ll have for inspiration.
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I’ve found that attending virtual workshops that provide a variety of different mediums and taught by members of the creative community is a great way to experiement. I have learned everything from calligraphy, loose florals, to urban sketching.
Here are a two amazing workshops that I attended for free in 2021.
- Sketchbook Revival is a free workshop to help you feel inspired to fill up that sketchbook.
- Workshop Week 2021 where I learned a variety of techniques and mediums.
Strategy 5: Find YouTube channels that offer tutorials
Watching more YouTube tutorials is a great way to get new ideas and to expand your knowledge. There are so many different tutorials out there on a variety of topics, so you’re sure to find one that’s relevant to your interests. Plus, by watching videos from experts in their field, you’ll be able to learn new techniques and strategies that you can use in your own work. This will help you to become more creative and efficient with your time.
Here is a list of my favorite creative YouTube channels in no particular order.
- Louise De Masi
- Paul Clark
- Jess Karp
- Jenna Rainey
- Unmask Art
- Ace of Clay
- ADCArtAttack
- Jazza
- Jason Morgan
- Lena Danya
Strategy 6: Keeping a sketchbook
Sketching is a great way to explore your imagination because it allows you to be creative in a more visual way. There are no limits to what you can create, and you can experiment with different mediums, colors, and styles. Plus, sketching is a great way to relax and clear your mind, which can help you come up with new ideas.
If you’re looking for a way to start exploring your imagination, I recommend starting with a sketchbook. This is a great way to document your ideas and experiments, and it’ll also help you develop your skills as an artist. Don’t be afraid to experiment – the more you practice, the better you’ll become!
Here are a few of my favorite sketchbooks.
- Canson XL Series Mixed Media Spiral Bound Sketchbook
- Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media Sprial Bound Sketchbook
- ECHR Mixed Media Hot Press Sketchbook
- ECHR Mixed Media Cold Press Sketchbook
Strategy 7: Use a different perspective
This can be done by changing the way you look at something or trying new things that you haven’t tried before. When we’re in our comfort zone, it’s tough to get out of it and try something new but it’s definitely worth it!
For example, if I’m working on a project and I feel like I’m stuck, I might take a break and go for a walk. This will allow me to clear my head and come back with a fresh perspective. I might also try looking at things from a different perspective, or changing the way I look at them. This can be done by trying new things that I haven’t tried before, or by looking at things in a different way than I usually do.
Sometimes I might need to try something completely different than what I’m already trying. There isn’t always a right or wrong answer when it comes to creativity, this is why we should be open-minded!
Strategy 8: Try something creative every day
This could be anything from painting to writing to dancing. When we engage in an activity that requires creativity, our minds are open and we’re more likely to come up with new ideas.
I find that when I’m feeling stuck or uninspired, doing something creative always helps me get out of my funk. It’s a great way to relax and forget about everything else for awhile so that I can focus on what I’m trying to create.
Expanding your imagination is definitely a key component for creativity – if you want to think outside the box, you need a big enough box! By trying different things and looking at things from different perspectives, you can come up with new and unique ideas that you might not have thought of otherwise.
Final thoughts
Often times we limit our own potential by believing that we lack certain abilities or that there are inherent limitations on how imaginative we can be. However, this isn’t accurate – if anything limits us creatively speaking, it’s simply the lack of an open mind. So, if you’re someone who wants to expand your imagination and increase your creativity, then consider the following:
Limitations only exist in our minds – we can be as imaginative as we want to be so long as we believe that it’s possible for us.
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Creativity is everywhere around us – there are always new things coming into existence for us all the time such as art, music, literature etc., so take advantage of these resources! If necessary find ways to expose yourself creatively on a daily basis by reading, writing, listening to music etc.
What are your strategies?
These are just a few of the many ways I’ve learned to expand my imagination, but they really helped jumpstart my creativity, so I know they’ll work for you too. What about you? Have any other strategies that have worked well for you? Please share them here in the comments – I’d love to hear from y’all!