Tips for Breaking Out of a Creative Rut - By Larry Mager (Guest Writer)

Photo By: Pixabay


Whether you are a painter, sculptor, writer, or graphic designer, it’s all about inspiration. Unfortunately, it won’t just appear out of thin air. Sometimes you hit a creative block, and it feels like you may never break through. There are ways to get the creative juices flowing, and some are right outside your door.

Change Your Environment

The environment in which you are creating varies from person to person. For some, it could be an art studio or an office. For others, it could the comfy chair by the window in their living room. If you find that you are struggling to come up with new content, try changing up your scenery. When your brain encounters the same stimuli every day, such as sights, sounds, and smells, it can lead to a rut in which you can’t summon up fresh, innovative ideas. Listen to your body and take a break. Visit a museum or art gallery to refocus your concentration, free your mind, and spark creative ideas. Looking at the work of other artists and seeing the risks they are taking could empower you and be the inspiration you need to move forward. Other options for shaking up your environment could be moving outdoors to your patio, paying a visit to the park, or stopping in at your favorite hotspot such as the coffee shop or library.

"I Don't Work for Exposure" - Creatives Using the SIAR Method

A lot of creatives get taken advantage of in today's economy. It is a truism that many think that poor struggling creatives should stay that way. As a result many creatives say "I don't work for exposure". and they can't be blamed for taking this kind of a stand. But I want to suggest to each of you that sometimes you are shooting yourselves in the foot if this is your answer to everyone who approaches you with an offer.

Charity Art Residencies (ART IDEAS)

The concept of an Artists Residency is a very popular thing these days. There are multiple opportunities for artists to go abroad, study and create art in new settings from the wind swept beaches of Nova Scotia to the streets of Paris. Last year the worlds first Artist Residency took artists by ship to Antarctica. 

What is a Living Blog?

What is a Living Blog?

It is a living, breathing website. On most blogs and websites the information provided is static and unchanging. Once something is added to the blog, it remains so. There are no changes to anything. 

Like a human being, the living blog breathes and changes with the conceptions, ideas and evolution of its creator. The key to a successful living blog is that it reflects "you" the creator. You are not a dead static object. Why should your blog be so?

Casting a Glamour - Creating Message Driven Art with Beauty

A recent conversation with an activist led to some interesting thoughts. The gist of the conversation was that in order for activist art to be effective it had to be in your face, brutal and angry.

But my opinion is that angry art looses the viewer. Before the viewer ever has a chance to see the art they are already biased against it, no matter how effective the message might be within the art.

Intuition & Instinct - The 2 II's of a Successful Artist

Intuition and Instinct (2II) are not things that can be taught in school. Intuition and Instinct are things that take time to develop. Some people may think that instinct and intuition are basically the same thing, but their not. Intuition is the idea, instinct is the direction the idea takes.

Let me give you an example. I was recently working on a project with a piece of wood where it was necessary for effect to burn parts of the wood. Once I'd worked out the best way to achieve this, I began burning the wood. Suddenly my intuition pinged. It clearly said "watch this closely. There is something else here". So as I worked away at the project, part of me was also watching how the wood burned, what it looked like at various points in the burning and what other things might be achieved through it.

The Blurred Vision of the Artist

I watched a documentary about the Hubble Space Telescope and the repairs done several years ago to its vast lenses. One of the things they mentioned was that the lenses were scarred up and Hubble could not see as clearly into space as scientists wished. Yet, even with this blurry vision Hubble could still see further into space than any telescope before had ever done.

That is sometimes how artistic vision feels. When our lenses are clear the artist can see from here to eternity. We can conceive of amazing ideas for our work and see them clearly from start to finish.

Using Science to Boost Creativity - By Larry Mager (Guest Writer)

Image by PeteLinforth (via Pixabay)

When you are in the middle of the creative process, it may seem like something that is mystical or beyond reason. Visions of things you have never thought of before dance in your head and it must just be something magical coming from the universe, or is it? There is actually some very interesting science and reason behind creativity. Understanding exactly what makes you creative and activities you can do to get back to a more creative way of thinking starts with the science behind creativity.

What is creativity?

Understanding Storytelling in Art

Every piece of art tells a story. Some stories are very simple, others are so complicated that they become abstract. It is one thing to have the techniques of an artist and another to have the technique of storytelling. It's even harder to meld the two together seamlessly. But if you can compose the story in your mind, your art has the potential to become much more vibrant and interesting.

Take the Mona Lisa, for example. I recently read an article debating whether the Mona Lisa had syphilis. There are a thousand more tales about this mysterious lady. Every one of them is a story and every one of them stems from Da Vinci's ability to tell a story with every composition. He was the consummate storyteller and something that I think gets overshadowed by his also amazing techniques.

Presentation is Everything - Artists Tips

We were in a New Orleans restaurant having lunch. The wall-space was being used to show the work of various local artists. This is something that I wish more restaurants would do. But aside from that, the presentation appalled me. The wall near us had about 6 pieces of art displayed. Only one was on a canvas with a 1" frame. It was the only piece on the wall that even came close to looking good. 

The Real Things an Artist MUST Develop for Success

If you've had any kind of formal education in the arts, you know that the emphasis is on teaching you technique. But there is a whole other level of skill that has nothing to do with technique and everything about teaching you to make art the foundation of your life path. If your in art for the money, prestige, or hobby then don't read any further. It won't make any sense to you. If you are in art to make it your life...read on. 

1) Your art is not a hobby. Its a life course

I think this is the single biggest mistake artists make. They think because they work two other jobs and have a home and family that their art must take second place to all else. The moment we relegate our art to that status then it truly is a hobby and nothing else. Time does not equal commitment. If you can only place two hours a week on your art, then that two hours should be your priority. If its not then one week its two hours, the next week its an hour and a half and before you know it your art is no longer a part of your life. Artists who are making a life commitment to art find the time, no matter what. 

The Revolution Begins with Beauty - Art Activism in the Age of Trump

Imagine for a moment that it is 1937. Hitler is preparing for war. Europe is edgy. This man in Germany is frightening. But people are following him in droves. In less than a year Germany will annex Austria. But in '37, people are still not sure what to make of this monster. 

In June, Pablo Picasso "should" be finishing his greatest and most famous work "Guernica". But this is not our world. The stage is set for this amazing work which he dedicated to the Nazi bombing of the Basque village of Guernica. 

Photographers Myths and Why I am an Artist not a Photographer

When I first made a commitment to become a professional photographer nearly 20 years ago, I knew nothing about photography as a skill. In fact the only thing I did know was that my eye was the best photographer I knew. If I could trust my eye, even with inferior equipment, I might just eventually learn enough to do well in the field.

When I say inferior equipment I really mean it. I had a small Nikon point and click camera and that was all. In fact I would get laughed at by more sophisticated photographers with lots of great equipment. But I found out very soon that again if I trusted my eye and was quick I could get some pretty good shots despite the handicaps of a small camera. And those who laughed started to grumble because I was getting the work and they weren't.

When I Was a Child

When I was a child everything took on a new shape for me. Old gnarled men became ogres. Houses became castles. And the simplest of household items could cast me into a fantasy world filled with wonders. 

Now that I am an adult, my child mind still wanders. I would like to think its what makes me a decent artist, because I still see the mundane with childish wonder... even in something as simple as a fire hydrant. I wish that we all saw the world in this way. It might be a much more wondrous place.

Re-examining The RAW concept - Artists Advice for Self Promotion

What is RAW? For those unfamiliar with it, RAW is a monthly event held in many cities internationally where a group of emerging artists are showcased along with creatives in art, performance art, fashion, photography etc. 

Sounds like fun huh? Great deal for emerging artists who need a platform to be seen. I was a RAW artist once and I thought the same thing. Great way to get some local notice and an offer of some great press. A place to sell some work and gain the experience of a international organization in becoming a professional artist.