Every creative knows that ruts are inevitable. Whether you're in a creative rut right now, or just looking to spice up your creativity with some extra inspiration, below are 7 of my go-to places to find creative inspiration.
1. Pinterest
Okay, this one is pretty obvious and I have no doubt it's already one of your favourite places to find creative inspiration. But, I still just HAD to mention it as Pinterest is always my first port of call. I find I can sometimes get lost down the rabbit hole of social media, comparing myself to others’ work and their follower counts. Pinterest is a bit less social and the content is the focus, which is why I LOVE it. Plus it just has everything!
2. TED Talks and YouTube
TED talks are something I try to watch regularly. I find they keep me creative no matter what I watch. TED talks are all about new and creative ideas, not just in typically ‘creative’ fields. There’s plenty of talks about creativity, plus so many unique ideas in any field, a few of my favourites include personal development, poetry, psychology, art & design.
When you’re not sure where to start or what to look for, they have this fun ‘surprise me’ option!
Here are a few of my favourite TED talks...
3. Get Outside
I'm sure there's about a billion studies on how nature positively affects the brain and creativity. I find it so true for myself, even when I can only get out the front door for a few minutes.
4. Art Galleries and Local Workshops
Many cities have more than one art gallery, which are great places to look for artistic and creative inspiration. Also look for smaller artist studios, which often have small galleries or display areas attached, or other workshops. Watching others work, no matter the artistic field is also great for creative inspiration. I recently visited a local glass-blowing factory in my city which included a gallery and viewing area. It was such a fascinating art form to watch and I left filled to the brim with ideas!
If you live in a smaller town or can't get to the gallery, these days many galleries have taken their displays online, like these virtual tours from the National Gallery of Australia.
5. Coffee Table Books and the Boutiques that Sell them
Full honesty, I’m kind of obsessed with coffee table books. I have far too many to actually fit on a single coffee table. A couple of them are from art galleries, some are about travel, and a few too many are about crime and forensics. Maybe I love them so much because I’m a visual person and they are essentially books full of photos. When I'm in a creative rut, I love to flip to a random page or two and learn something new.
Also, in my experience, the boutiques that sell the best coffee table books are often little creative hives themselves where you can find good tea and local artwork.
6. Op Shops and Thrift Stores
This is my favourite place to look for art and collage supplies and generally be inspired. You can buy books and magazines for peanuts, cheap clothes to up-cycle, old records (whether for listening or home decor), and random canvas paintings to improve or completely paint over.
7. Magazines and the Local Library
If you've read my post on reading books on a budget, you'll know the library is one of my favourite places. All the books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs you can imagine all for free! What's not to love?! So, there's no doubt plenty of books and magazines at your local library about creativity itself and any creative endeavour, from photography to knitting.
Personally, I love the New Yorker and National Geographic for general inspo.
Be sure to pin this for later when you get in that dreaded creative rut, and tell me about the places you love to look for creative inspiration in the comments below!
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