Make Space For Your Creativity
How to Prepare for Your Creative Practice
Building a physical and mental space for your creative practice is the first step to becoming an active creative practitioner.
Think of the physical space that you create as the portal between your thought space and that which you imagine becoming a reality.
By dedicating a physical action space to exploration and discovery you create an active channel for imagination to play and for inspiration to arrive.
Each person will require a unique space, a creative sanctuary, where creative rituals can take place and where you take ownership of your creative process.
Imagine Your Space
There are infinite ways to build creative spaces, and you will find yours through exploration of different spaces and the objects that belong in them.
It isn’t necessary to have a professional creative space; spaces which are dedicated solely to one creative practice such as studios of art, dance, music, or design, or makers spaces, labs, and woodshops.
Your creative space can be as simple as a notebook, a designated chair, or a shoebox.
Dedicate Time
The most important part of creative space is choosing a place where you can commit to showing up over and over again. Time is directly connected with how you choose to develop your space. Think about when you will use the space. For example, you may assign a table where you will engage in creative actions, but only on the weekends. Or, you create a space where you can be alone to create for 5 or 10 minutes every day.
Bring Your Tools
A lot of how you choose to build your creative space also depends on the tools that you will fill it with. Your tools are an extension of your inquiry and your self-expression. Remember, the creative process doesn’t focus on outcomes and results. Instead, it emphasizes exploration and being open to the unexpected that comes with creative intention and your practice using new prompts and mediums.
THE TIME FOR CREATIVITY IS ALWAYS.
Creative Pop-Ups
Creative Pop-Ups are a great way for Creative Beginners to carve out space for creativity. With a Pop-Up you can create space that is available to you at anytime during the day. Knowing that the space for creativity exists signals that creativity is ready to happen.
Imagine you have committed 5-20 minutes each day to your creative practice.
Some examples of Creative Pop-Ups include:
- A cozy chair, a creative notebook, and your morning coffee.
- A space on your work desk before your colleagues arrive.
- A quiet meditation corner to practice accessing imagination.
- A shoebox, a container, or a ziploc baggie that holds your favorite creation tools or games (i.e. storytelling dice, creativity deck, etc.).
- Your mobile device and a social media app, where you create something to share.
- A daily walk to find inspiration and access your imagination.
- A computer or iPad or other designated tech tool and apps for creation.
- A small corner of the room or a special space dedicated to movement and short dance breaks
The key to making a Creative Pop-Up work for you is about letting go of the expectations that creative space has to be something big or “ideal”. The most important part to creating is showing up!
Your creative practice can be a series of different creative actions over time, but to build creative momentum there must always be one constant. For example, you can choose an action that will be repeated each day over an assigned period of time. Some examples include: plan to write 100 words every day consistently for a year, or share one of your creations or ideas everyday on a social media channel. Keep it simple. Start small.
Keep Calm and Create
Being creative does not suggest that every time you sit down to take creative action you must produce a result, a finished product, or a work of art. The creative process welcomes unfinished works in progress. Think of your “practice” as a warm-up, or an exercise routine that strengthens your creative muscles each day to prepare you for that day when you do choose to develop a more finalized idea or bring an idea to fruition.
If you are new to a creative practice it is highly recommended that you choose the same time everyday to engage in your creative process. Finding a regular time everyday helps develop the relationship you have with your creativity. That appointed time slot becomes your creative companion; a creative collaborator, who is waiting for you each day to motivate you saying, “No excuses. Let’s create!”
You will discover while continuing to practice over weeks and months that the concept of showing up for your creativity regularly eventually becomes an organic way of life. As your creative momentum begins to spill out into other areas of your life, both professionally and personally, you will no longer think about being creative, you will just be.
Reviewing the basics…
✔ Commit to a creative practice
✔ Prepare a space for your creative practice to take place
✔ Designate a creative time slot to your creativity
✔ Do it everyday.
Beyond that, the sky’s the limit!
Make It Your Own
You can decorate your space, and fill it with objects that inspire you and inspirational quotes and images that will motivate you.
Arranging your creative tools in ways that fit your personality make creating fun! Managing the details gives you ownership of the space. Does your space require light or music, a beautiful view, or a cozy pillow? These details make a difference. They are your creative support team.
Your creative space should feel like home; like a place where you belong. If you like messy, then be messy. If you prefer a super organized space, then be super organized. Be the Queen or King of your own creative castle.
Overcome Perceived Limitations of Space
Sometimes our idea of a perfect creative space isn’t always possible. Be open to find new ways to “pop-up”. Work willingly within your creative constraints. You may have a roommate, a partner, a colleague, children, or a family that don’t “fit” your perfect creative space. That’s okay. Work with it. Don’t let them stop you from finding new ways to practice.
You can down-size your Pop-Up until more space becomes available. Or, find space outside of your living area. Join a co-creation space, a class, or a club. Explore a coffee shop, a park bench, or your car! Wherever you make room for your Creative Pop-Up, you are making room for your creative contributions to happen.
All things are possible when you make the space for them to happen.
