Getting the creative juice flowing

Artists can lose connection to the creative juice.
If you have been there I have a suggestion: the 15 minute study.

​Ok hear me out. 

There are three situations in which this is particularly useful:
1. You know that you need at least 3 or 4 hour chunks of time in order to get into anything creatively and with that reasoning - you have gotten very distant from your creative process. There may even be an emerging fear that you don't really have anything to say in your art- or you won't know what to do if you ever do find the time.

2. You have too many ideas and you are not sure which direction to go in- and you are feeling like you have a lot of false starts going on.

3. You are in the thick of a big long project and it is feeling oppressive and like a heck of a lot of labor for not a lot of joy.

So what it is on a practical level
- Chose a 10-15 minute time ahead of time- don't wait for inspiration or to be ready. And link that time to something you already do- in the morning with your first cup of tea, after lunch, after the dishes are done in the evening for example.

-If you have a regular journaling routine- try this instead or first or after. 

-2-3 times a week is enough- don't try to do it every day- unless you are good at every day routines.

- Choose a material that is easy to manipulate, easy to contain, not a lot of fuss and not too big. It is 15 minutes- be reasonable! It can be either one you know well or one you don't know well- they are different, but equally useful

- just start moving it around, making marks, playing and let yourself be drawn to what is appealing. This is not about making something amazing, or not amazing.


It is about activating that juicy creative side of you, trusting your artist self and opening up possibilities.

What is it on a theoretical level

It is about engaging the process of impulse (what if I did this) and discernment (ooh that is cool, or not that). In this way it helps you create a more comfortable and useful relationship between your inner judge (the part that discerns) and your inner playfulness (the part that wants to try things)

Another way to think about it, it activates the parts of the Self: Awareness - paying attention to what you are seeing in front of you, and Will- trying something and  making a choice. In this way it helps you to become more at ease in yourself and clear in who you are.


If you do this for a number of weeks, I am betting you will find much more clarity and ease around your direction, much more juice and joy in your labor and much more drive to make the time you need to get into the studio.

You may find that you want to keep the practice going forever, and you may find that it comes and goes. Either way is fine. It is a tool of connection to your deep creative self.

So my challenge to you- try this 5 times over the course of two weeks.
I would love to know how it goes! Please comment here or send me a note.
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