Inspiration must find you working

Do you struggle to find creative inspiration?  When you finally have time, do you have no idea what to do?  Do you only touch your art journal at my monthly meet-ups? (you know who you are)  I know I have had these problems in the past, so I wanted to share how I have overcome them.  

My first tip is to have a space ready to go when you have time.  The worst thing to me is to have a few minutes to work on something, but I end up spending that time finding my supplies and a clean space to work.  If you have a dedicated space for your art, make it a habit of cleaning up when you finish each time.  If you don't have a dedicated space, create a mobile art tray or basket.  Keep your basic supplies and journal in there so you can easily move it to the dining room table or wherever you can work.  Same thing here, keep your basket organized and stocked with your supplies.

I also firmly believe in "creative muscle memory".  Your physical muscles have a memory, so when you perform a task over and over it becomes easier.  Your muscles remember how to do it.  I believe your creativity is much the same way.  You can't expect to sit down once a month and produce art you love every time.  You need to "train" your creative muscle.  That means creating alot and probably not liking most of it.  Just consider it your creative push-ups.

Another tip to create more frequently is to make a small travel kit that you can keep in your purse or car.  As a mom I have lots of "dead" time, waiting for my son at tennis, waiting at the dentist, waiting in car lines.  I keep a small pouch with a small Dylusions journal, a few pencils and pens and an eraser.  Then I always have something that I can sketch in.  Creating art requires practice.  If you say "I can't draw", you'll always be right unless you practice.

Do you see a theme?  If you want to create more art, you need to create more art.  Bad art, good art, mediocre art.  Just create!