If you are a like-minded-fellow-creative, you’ve generally experienced what we call the… bum, bum, bum… “creative block”! *pause for emphasis*
Fear not fashion-fellows! There is light at the end of this seemingly gridlocked tunnel. Finding inspiration is actually an elemental part of the creative process. Sometimes you just have to know where to look…
As a fashion journalism student, I’ve encountered this filibustering artistic-felon on countless occasions. Students are actually more prone to blockage because we have less creative freedom on what we’ve been assigned to do. So, to get out of your artistic slump, you’ve got to get out of your head and into the right mindset. The simple truth of the matter is that inspiration is all around you, even in places you may not initially suspect.
I’ve found that much of my inspiration has actually come from chance encounters… discovering little hypothetical gems along my merry way. It’s all about taking the time to get in the right mood prior to your project/projects.
At times, those sources aren’t as blatantly obvious as we would like… so I’m going to share some of my personal hints on how to curb that creative block! The rest is cake…
1. Socialize
As creatives, we tend to spend a lot of time alone designing in our own little worlds. Socializing with friends and family, or just getting out and can help spark that desired inspiration. It’s always a good idea to get out of your head and your own way, so take an opportunity (or two) to get your mind off of your ails, and redirected… then, come back to a fresh slate with an open mind, it will do you a world of good!
Meanwhile, you may just find that inspiration you were looking for just by being around and having conversations with others! Hey, the creepy “photo-bomber” may just spark an idea!
2. Listen to music
This is my personal favorite. Music has served as a multitude of inspiration for me over time. It could be something in a lyric… a harmony. Try listening to something different, a genre you don’t hate but don’t know every chord to. At the very least, this method can work by just hitting the “reset button” in your brain!
3. Don’t focus on “good ideas”
Technically considered “good ideas” are often hard to come by, even for the most brilliant creatives. There’s no need to put that kind of pressure on yourself, it’s a one-way ticket to the artistic dump. Just keep creating.
Whatever your medium may be… as long as you are producing artwork, there’s a huge chance that one piece will inspire another.
4. Surf the web
This step can actually come in various forms. The point, my friends, is to gather information to feed your mind and inspire your project. It can be as easy as viewing the myriad of style sites online, or even browsing through the latest art + culture, and fashion magazines.
Did you save an article last month that you thought may come back to be a resource? Go back to that! Did something catch your attention in a headline? Delve deeper! Inspiration can come at any given moment, so don’t be too quick to throw out the obvious means available at your (literal) fingertips. And, SEO keyword search like crazy!
5. Social media it up
Okay, so who doesn’t check their social media countless times a day? (If you don’t, I applaud you!) While you’re already there anyway, check out the trending topics via Facebook or Twitter or search various hashtags on Instagram or Tumblr.
That irresistible cute-cat-meme-of-the-day may just be the ticket out of the dark tunnel!
And, there you have it… my 5-step guide to creative success!
Remember: socializing is good for reorganizing your creative core; music is key to retuning your productive side; don’t always rely on “good ideas” (correctly curated “bad ideas” often make history); surf the world-wide-webiverse and social media it up… inspiration is surely around the corner.
Thanks for reading, and always keep creating!
**Photos courtesy of Pexels.com
STYLE, SITED. 
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