07 - Growing Your Creativity

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Inspired Life. I'm your host, Jason Nicholas, artist, architect and teacher. The Inspired Life podcast is about sketching and creative mindset. I'm so excited to be your host as we embark on a journey of creative discovery. During this podcast, you'll learn how to nurture your creative spirit and become an artist who is confident in their ability to create beautiful things. We'll also talk about overcoming creative blocks and turning failure into growth opportunities. I'll give you practical tools for managing stress and staying motivated so that you can stay focused on achieving your artistic goals. So join me on this journey of creative exploration. Every episode I'll bring you inspiring stories, practical tips and advice that will help unlock the artist within yourself and become the most confident version of yourself possible. Today's episode is called Flower Growing. Your creativity. As you may or may not know, my favorite sketching subject is architecture. I have been sketching buildings since, well, way back in my college days. You know, I love sketching architecture. But that being said, sometimes our creative brains can get into a rut and we need a bit of mixing up, a sort of inspiration infusion. An infusion to grow your creativity and blossom your inner artist, your confidence. One of the ways I find that helps me to add to this, to this creative growth is by sketching a subject that is out of my comfort zone. Something that doesn't have any windows or doors. Recently, I was inspired by my community of art friends to sketch a flower. Flowers are delicate, beautiful and simply delightful. Could I sketch something that's delightful and delicate? Yikes. I was pretty worried about it. After getting out of my own way and ended the comparison trap, I put pen to paper and started sketching my favorite flower, the iris. My creative intention for this piece was to simply have fun while keeping my loose, sketchy style. How does stepping out of my comfort zone and sketching an iris help my creativity to bloom? Here are my takeaways. Number one. Seeing the world a bit differently. My eyes and brain have been so conditioned to focus on the rectilinear and straight lines of buildings that now, after doing this exercise, when I'm out and about, I'm noticing the world of curves and free flowing shapes a lot more. Number two, how did this help me? By adding more curvy lines in my sketches, I am consciously trying to add more curves in my artwork. I'm finding that they not only help to loosen my style, but curves help to add a sense of movement to my sketches. Basically, curves are a new tool that I've added to my creativity bag. Three Believing stepping out and sketching a totally different subject has helped to up my self confidence a bit. The confidence to not be afraid to try something new. So now it's your turn. I have an action step for you. What is something you could sketch or paint today that you have not tried? Something you feel that might help you to see, add and believe a bit differently when it comes to your creative mindset? Whatever that subject is, just go for it. Put your pen to paper or your paint to canvas and just sketch, paint, draw something. We're not trying to create something beautiful, but something different. So that's my podcast. My tip for today. Get out there, be creative, pay it forward with creativity and peace, and live creatively. Thanks for tuning into this episode. Hopefully I'll see you on the next one. Be sure to visit my website www.the inkinspired life.com where you can find art prints for sale. I also have links to my podcasts. You can sign up for a free newsletter to keep you posted on my latest artwork, upcoming workshops that are online, as well as a sketching community that I'm currently working on. Love to have you guys there. Thanks again and have an awesome day. Take care. We'll see you soon.