Hi, I’m Kate. I’m an artist and graphic designer. I explore color, shapes, and textures, and how creativity influences our lives.
I think many people have experienced that feeling when you just can’t start. It’s like procrastination. The hardest part is to begin, but once you take the first step, you often get into the flow and forget about time.
Over the years of working creatively, I’ve faced this situation many times, wondering where to find ideas and how to make myself move forward. So I collected a few tips that help me boost creativity.
1. Copy boldly
You’ve probably heard of the book Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. It’s exactly about this idea. Don’t be afraid to copy. It’s actually very hard to make an exact copy of someone’s work.
We all have our own unique experience, emotions, and techniques that naturally show up in what we do.
So even if you try to repeat something, it will still look different and personal.
But if you’re still afraid of plagiarism, here’s a trick: mix several references.
For example, take the color palette from one image and the composition from another and combine them.
One more thought: back in university, my professor said there’s something like a “shared mind.” It’s not mystical. It simply means that we all create from what we’ve seen, heard, and felt.
So it’s normal that people sometimes make similar things without copying each other.
Don’t try to create something that has never existed before. Just mix existing ideas in your own way, and you’ll create something new.
2. Lower expectations
This connects to what artists call the fear of the blank page.
It’s that moment when you stare at a white sheet and are afraid to ruin it, so you never start.
We often fear doing something wrong so much that we do nothing at all.
You need to break this pattern.
If it’s a blank sheet, just make a line or a spot. Now it’s no longer perfect, and you can keep going.
It’s the same in life and creativity. Don’t expect to make a masterpiece right away.
Behind every great work are dozens of bad drafts no one ever sees.
I’d even say masterpieces are born from creative “trash.”
3. Use AI for idea generation
If your mind feels empty, try experimenting with AI.
Generate ideas, mix concepts, or ask for visual inspiration.
It can help you warm up creatively.
Just remember, AI is not your brain. It can’t make a masterpiece for you, and it shouldn’t.
Its job is to show you possible directions and inspire your imagination.
The rest is up to you.
4. Take short breaks
Sometimes we push ourselves so hard to finish something that we stop seeing clearly.
You may notice that some tasks go easily and ideas come naturally, while others feel heavy and forced.
That’s a sign of mental fatigue. When it happens, your creativity drops.
The best way to recover is to take a quick break or switch to a different activity.
And please, don’t blame yourself for doing nothing.
During this time, your brain is actually recharging.
The key is to truly disconnect and focus on something else.
It’s not easy, but it’s very effective.
5. Be observant and curious
This last tip isn’t about instant inspiration. It’s about building a creative lifestyle.
Train yourself to notice things.
Pay attention to colors, shapes, and textures, especially to details most people ignore.
Capture your thoughts and ideas when they appear. Often they come when you’re not working at all.
And remember, even the ideas that come from your head are made from what you’ve seen, heard, or felt before.
Your brain processes everything you experience and gives it back in a new form.
So fill your life with high-quality impressions: art, music, nature, travel, people.
Feed your senses with meaningful experiences.
That’s the true source of creativity.
In my next post, I’ll talk about how to practice observation and keep your creative energy alive every day.
If you’d like to stay updated on new posts and ideas, follow me on Instagram.
Thank You!
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