Let’s face the fact, it’s sometimes hard to get inspired…As artists and creatives, it’s easy to fall into a slump of not knowing what to create. We all need some inspiration at times so I’ve broken down my 3 steps to get inspired when you feel stuck and you think you may be in an artistic rut. Sometimes it really is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Get perspective by taking a photo 

I often take photos of my work mid way through, and then transfer the photo to black and white. This lets me see the value and contrasts, and often gives me direction for where I  want the painting to go or really seeing what is missing. This is also a great way to spark new inspiration for paintings and new artwork down the line. I’ll often go back and look at my old black and white photos of my paintings and it will give me an idea for a new, fun take on an old original. 

Start a new art series for inspiration

Yep, you heard me right. I know that might sound like a daunting task, especially when you don’t feel like creating, but trust me, just do it! What I’ll do is take out three to four fresh canvases, tape the edges, and then begin by scribbling over all of them. Starting fresh and leading with PLAY on several pieces at once lets me get out of my head and into my heart;)

Turn your work upside down

This is one of my favorite tactics!  It is one of the best ways to turn our brains off and just follow the paints. Simply by just flipping the painting upside down it tricks our brain into thinking in a whole new way. I would even recommend doing this with your current art pieces and seeing if this small change sparks any new creativity within yourself. It is often miraculous how my paintings transform when I do this!

In conclusion…

I hope these 3 easy tricks will help you in your artistic journey the next time you feel an inspiration slump coming your way. Remember, there are always actionable steps that you can take to help get your creative juices flowing once again. Even if that step sounds as silly as turning a painting upside down!

I’d love to know your tips and tricks to getting out of a creative slump, comment them down below and don’t forget to join my Facebook Community Abstract Academy to hear more tips like these from myself and our other members!

PS…join one of my online courses here.