So, you are a creative personality. You get inspired easily and sometimes get lost in your own ideas or stories. But you’re not quite sure yet how to best shape them because it feels great to be able to do something concrete with your creativity.
Artistic individuals are often the most inspiring and always brimming with ideas and uniqueness.
Becoming artistic is not always easy. Having a vision is crucial. It’s a journey whose destination is uncertain because your creativity will always evolve.
Experimenting with different art forms helps you better understand how to express your creativity.
In summary, remember that every artist was first an amateur. Embrace your creative journey and keep exploring the limitless possibilities of your imagination.
What matches your talent?
Everyone has their own ‘talent,’ often hidden under a layer of perfectionism and self-criticism. Because when things don’t come easily, we’re quick to think that we don’t have the innate aptitude for them. Then it’s not worth pursuing, right?
Having a talent for something doesn’t mean much. The most important thing is passion. Only with a passion for something will inspiration flow, and you’ll stay truly motivated to elevate your creativity to a higher level.
‘Talent without passion is nothing. Passion without talent is something.’
So, the question is more about: where do you derive your passion from? What can you envision yourself doing that would align perfectly with you?
Some ideas:
- Writing stories
- Design
- Songwriting/playing
- Drawing Painting
- dancing
- acting
- architecture
- and fashion
If you don’t know, it can help to simply try something. You know you’re creative, but you’re unsure which direction to explore. For example, taking a workshop or classes in an instrument or craft can provide you with that insight.
Living artistically means everything related to creative expression.
“Artistic thinking goes beyond using your environment as a source of inspiration.”
Using the environment as inspiration doesn’t only refer to incorporating natural aspects into your creative process. Everything you have ever observed and experienced will later return as sparks of inspiration.
The philosopher Ralph Waldo once made a well-known statement: “There is nothing wholly new; everything is inspired by the past.” All the things that have left an impression on you, positively or negatively, form the basis of what brings you to new ideas.
As an artistic individual, you have an extreme desire to express this collection within you, creating something new. This inspiration must come out on a canvas, in a story, or in a performed piece.
This way of life leads to:
- Portraying the good and bad sides of human stories
- Presenting new perspectives
- Challenging people’s thinking
- Entertaining others
- Dealing with criticism
You are the maker, determining what you show the world based on your own views and interests. It takes courage and perseverance to truly bring your work to the forefront and keep it there.
There is no limit
Think to yourself: Where does my limit lie when it comes to creativity?
For an artistic individual, pushing the boundaries of what you find beautiful and interesting is crucial. Always seeking intriguing insights where others dare not look.
“This means that you can only grow creatively when you explore certain limits.”
Discover the rules you’ve set for yourself, the constraints in your thinking, and what you’ve always done. By stepping out of these confines and trying something completely new, you’ll gain a fresh perspective and a higher level of inspiration.
For example:
- Art that you don’t find appealing
- Films that you don’t understand
- People with completely different worldviews and opinions
The very things that irritate or anger you can be excellent material for artistic projects.
The Secret to Inspiration
The phenomenon of artist’s block, where inspiration seems to have completely vanished, is familiar to almost all artists. The critical voice in your head becomes the loudest when you want to express what’s on your mind to the world.
The solution to overcoming this can be found when you know the cause of this blockage, which varies for everyone. Nonetheless, it boils down to partly losing faith in your own creativity and attributing your lack of inspiration to that.
How to permanently overcome artistic block >
Only by believing that you are original and not just becoming one will you see that you will indeed make it a reality. This may be a challenging exercise, but it’s the only way to achieve true free expression.
“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
There has never been a successful artist who just did something without believing that their work would truly hold value.
The Mediocre Phase
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
In the first few months when you begin a new skill, you are filled with enthusiasm and new ideas. This is the honeymoon phase.
This is where a significant number of creatives find themselves. However, they don’t progress further because finding their own voice and reaching a higher level is most challenging during this period.
But that’s not important. In this phase, you’ll realize it’s your passion, but it’s not yet substantial. It takes time—years—to become a master at what you do.
The way to excellence
The 10,000-hour rule is often used as a rule of thumb for anything you want to become good at. If there’s something you’re passionate about, whether it’s drawing, design, acting, or music, you must be willing to invest a significant portion of your time to truly excel in your artistic development.
You could take classes or, even better, find your own mentor. This could be someone you take lessons from, or it could be someone whose books you read or watch videos of on YouTube.
The key is to surround yourself with people who can teach you everything you need to know.
Trying it on your own without any experience will often lead to stagnation and a weak foundation. It takes some effort in the beginning, usually the first few months, before you truly feel the freedom to develop artistically.
Whether it’s design, songwriting, or dance, you need a solid foundation and knowledge of the possibilities.
Important: plan your work
When you want something, it’s easier to dream about it than to take real action. Creating a plan for what you will do with your creativity may sound strange, but it will ensure that you actually complete things in the long run.
A flexible plan will work much better when scheduling a writing session or dance practice than having to adhere to strict time slots.
Your creative motivation is not always present. You cannot force it at any given moment. If you do, you’ll more likely feel like you have to do it than do it because you feel inspired.
Don’t be too hard on yourself
If you find yourself starting without a relaxed mood, chances are you’ve set too high expectations for yourself. Especially in the beginning, it’s essential to take small steps in your work and take time to experiment.
To truly grow and develop artistically in a specific area, it’s advisable to dedicate at least twice a week to it.
The downsides of being artistic
The life of a contemporary artist is often portrayed as sparkling and adventurous. However, almost every creator finds themselves more often at a loss than in a position to have everything fall into place. Creating something of value remains a challenging matter, especially when the pressure to perform is high. Satisfying an audience also becomes an increasingly significant role.
Yet, this can become a pitfall where the opinions of the crowd start mattering more than creating something meaningful to you as the artist. You often see individuals clinging to a particular style because that’s what people recognize an artist for.
The 10 struggles of being an artist >
1. Being sensitive
This is also because, if you have an artistic personality, you’re more sensitive than others. You perceive emotions and atmospheres much more distinctly, which can lead to many ideas and inspirations. However, it can also be bothersome because you can sometimes get overwhelmed or emotionally affected.
2. Struggling with creative blockages
“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
You may feel intimidated by all the other artists who seem to have it all together effortlessly. It’s not uncommon to experience a lack of inspiration. Does this mean you have no talent after all?
The composer Tchaikovsky had a famous saying: “Even the greatest composers struggled with times without inspiration.” The key to inspiration is not waiting for it to come, but inviting it by starting to work.
Be easy, and let it come to you. This way, you break the strong dependence on random insights. The more you try to force something, the harder it becomes to obtain it.
Spending time alone
“An artist must be prepared to be lonely.”
To become artistic, it’s essential to know that you will spend a lot of time alone. This can be a struggle, especially if you enjoy collaborating with others in your work.
An artist’s work often happens in solitude. This is necessary because it’s a very personal process. It also means that your name will be associated with your own work.
It also depends on the sector you’re in. For example, a band might collaborate more often in the songwriting process compared to a writer.
What artistic type are you?
This personality test will tell you within a few minutes if you truly have an artistic personality. It will also reveal your strengths and the challenges you might face.
The 4 artistic personality types >
Final Thoughts
Knowing that you are creative is one thing. Transforming it into a lifestyle means interpreting the world around you differently. How you do this is entirely up to you and can become a source of inspiration for your music, stories, or art.
