I hear this a lot! Many people don’t FEEL like they are creative people. Society has a way of limiting our understanding of what it means to be creative at a very young age. Generally by middle school we are all divided into the “creative” vs “non-creative” subcategory. The creatives are encouraged to follow their creative talents be it art, drama, music, writing, etc. The non-creatives are typically encouraged in academic fields or perhaps athletic fields, and thus often grow up feeling that they are not creative or that their talents lie elsewhere. This limiting belief is unfortunate and untrue! Humans are creative. We are creative beings, and creativity brings us joy, satisfaction, and connection.

Start by granting yourself permission to explore and to make mistakes, to be a beginner. Connect with your inner child and allow yourself to play! Creative inspiration can be found all around you. Open yourself up to curiosity. The more you create art the more creative inspiration you will have. Follow your ideas. Ask yourself, what if? Then, see what happens.

• Go outside. Nature is filled with interesting colors, textures, and objects that inspire creativity.

• Take a class. Learning a new skill is sure to inspire further creative pursuits.

• Visit a gallery or museum, notice what attracts your attention. Is it a specific subject or technique?

• Research other artists you admire, try working in a similar style.

• Create your own inspiration collage, either digitally like the one pictured or create a paper collage. Fill it with ideas that inspire you to create!