5 ways to get into the creative zone

Dear, deviantart fellow artists  

Sometimes we tend to feel unmotivated and uninspired to do anything... but there are also those blissful moments of creativity, when inspiration strikes and time goes by unnoticed. Not getting distracted, going with the flow, so merged in the process, that there is no need to do anything else until the work gets done. But how to get in that mood more often..? Here are some ways/tips that helped me over the time.

1. Prepare your work space

Make the place you work as comfortable and useful as possible. Clean the desk from all the clutter, gather your tools in a most accessible way, organize in order to avoid mess. Set the according light, have some inspiring quotes, goals written around. 

2. Avoid distractions

Turn off the internet. Or close all the tabs, you don’t need. Especially, social media sites. Don’t check the news/e-mail/mobile phone all the time. Get in the place where nothing and no-one can distract your attention. Focus fully on the task and procrastinate only on certain amount of time in the breaks. 

3. Set creative triggers

Whether it’s a cup of tea/water/coffee, the scent of your favorite candle, walk outside or couple of minutes of sketching. Be aware of what helps you to focus better, which activities get you in the creative mindset, what motivates you the most. Then use them when you need to get in the zone.

4. Music

Maybe It’s silence, or maybe it’s the music that helps you to get inspired. Choose the songs that are similar to what you want to create – movie soundtracks for epic landscapes, disney songs for cute characters – whatever mood you want to achieve. Or listen to new playlists in order to not sing along your already favorite songs.

Also listening to talks/podcasts/audiobooks can help to stay focused. There are in additions such lovely websites as rainymood and coffitivity with relaxing sounds that help to be more productive.

5. Just start

It may sound really obvious, but that’s the main way to get in the mood, to create and get things done. It’s not easy to start – there are so many possibilities to fail, to not exceed the expectations, to make a crucial mistake.. but how can you ruin something that you not have created yet? Just do it. Get the paintbrush/pencil, get the paper, open that painting software etc. Prepare, so there would be nothing that would stay in your way of creating.

Don’t wait for magical moment of inspiration.

Choose one thing. Only one - and focus on it.

Do something for 5 minutes. That’s really not that much... And then do that for another 5, then more and more. You’ll be less aware of how much time has passed by and how difficult that task have really been and it will seem more possible to do. And when you won’t even notice that you’ll be in the zone, being productive and making amazing artworks. So ... just start. 

So, how about you - what are your thoughts/tips about getting into the creative zone? 

(first of all – thank you so much for faving/commenting my previous journal ----- it means so much to me and it helps more struggling artists to find these articles and help  in their creative journeys) J

This week I found some lovely resources – wonderful article - The Ultimate Guide to the “Don’t Break the Chain” Productivity Method  , beyond amazing artworks by Craig Mullins - www.goodbrush.com/ , inspiring Facebook group -  Daily Spitpaint (been posting some speedpaintings there an they are also posted in my tumblr blog), various references by KatePfeilschiefter  on www.pinterest.com/katiepf/ , insightful interviews with beyond amazing fantasy artists by kirileonard   on  kirileonard.com/category/inter… and stunning and captivating movie about the world we live in – Samsara.

P.S. I quite frequently post some sketches and artworks in my art tumblr - snowmarite.tumblr.com/. and I have a weekly Music Sunday post on aerismade.blogspot.com/  and weekly 8 song playlist

Have a wonderful week!

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.” ― Ira Glass