I’m currently working on this giant mixed media collage (you can see it in the photo above), and it’s bringing me so much joy! After feeling a little bit stuck in a rut, this new challenge has reignited my creative spark. Have you ever felt that way—trapped in the repetition of your daily art practice?
Trying something new has totally kicked me out of my funk and made me excited to get back to work. And this got me thinking…
Try Something New Every Single Day
Back in 2010 (15 years ago!!!) I made this piece of art:
While the artwork is no longer my style, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment! Trying new things is essential not just for artistic growth, but also for rediscovering the joy in your work.
Why New Experiences Matter for Artists
New experiences are like a shot of espresso for your creativity. They wake up your brain, jolt you out of autopilot, and get you seeing things with fresh eyes. I mean, it’s so easy to fall into that same-old-same-old loop—same tools, same subjects, same results. But when you do something new — even something that feels insignificant — your whole perspective shifts. Suddenly your creative muscles are stretching in new directions, and that’s where the magic happens. Even a small tweak can spark a huge “aha!” moment in your art.
The thing is, routine is comforting. But it can also lead to boredom or creative burnout. If your art practice is starting to feel a little too routine, shaking things up might be exactly what you need. It’s quite difficult to escape the monotony of routine. You have to make an effort to try something new. I’m trying to make it easier for you with some simple tips!
11 Simple Actionable Tips for Your Art Practice
Here are 11 simple, actionable ways to bring fresh energy into your creative life:
1. Choose a New Source of Inspiration
Do you always turn to nature for ideas? Try switching things up. Look at architecture, poetry, a personal memory, or even a dream. New inspiration can spark surprising creative breakthroughs. This is one of the many reasons that travel can be so stimulating. Thanks to the internet, we can always do a bit of digital traveling!
2. Try a New Tool
Grab a tool you’ve never used before. You could buy something new, borrow from a friend, or raid your kitchen or garage. (Yes, a whisk or a wrench might be your next favorite art tool!) In this video, I use the foam thing that goes between your toes when you get a pedicure to print on fabric:
3. Play With Unfamiliar Colors
What’s a color you normally avoid? Pull it out and challenge yourself to create something using it. Color discomfort often leads to unexpected beauty and discovery.
4. Change Your Creative Environment
Always work in your studio? Try your kitchen, your backyard, or a friend’s space. A change of scenery can shift your energy and your perspective.
5. Shift Your Listening Habits
If you always create with music in the background, try working in silence—or listening to a podcast, audiobook, or ambient sounds instead. It can help unlock different parts of your brain. You might enjoy creating art while listening to this podcast on developing a growth mindset:
6. Set a Creative Limitation
Limit your color palette to just black and white, restrict yourself to one tool, or challenge yourself to finish a piece in 10 minutes. Constraints often spark creativity by forcing you to problem-solve in new ways.
Here are four small collages I made, limiting myself to using only black and white:
7. Explore a Different Medium
Are you a painter? Try sculpture. A fiber artist? Try printmaking. Working in a completely different medium shifts your thinking and helps you bring fresh ideas back to your main art form. The photo above is from when I took a pottery class (and was terrible at it, but had so much fun!).
8. Take a Class or Workshop
Enroll in an in-person or online class—even in something you already know! A different teacher’s perspective or an unfamiliar topic can shift how you approach your work. I take classes all the time! Even though I’m a teacher, taking a class — even a super beginner class — is always a useful experience. If I learn one small thing, it’s all worth it!
You might enjoy this video recapping a class I taught:
9. Take Part in an Art Challenge
Commit to a 7-day, 30-day, or 100-day challenge with a theme (like “textures” or “portraits”) or a daily prompt. You can join an existing challenge (there are tons of them, just do a quick google search) or make up your own! These stamps are from the challenge I run every December called “Carve December.”
Accountability and structure paired with variety can create momentum.
10. Work at a Different Time of Day
If you always create in the morning, try a late-night session (or vice versa). Your energy, focus, and ideas shift with the time of day—see what’s different when you work at a different time of day. It could be good or bad. You never know until you try!
11. Let Someone Else Choose for You
Let a friend or family member pick your colors, tools, or subject matter. If you don’t want to ask someone, try putting a bunch of choices in a jar and drawing one. It’s a fun way to relinquish control and surprise yourself. Several years ago, I reviewed a book that you might find useful for this exercise, The Sketchbook Idea Generator:
Keep Your Art Practice Fresh
There are so many ways to breathe new life into your art practice. Whether you try one or all eleven, the key is to step out of your comfort zone. Growth lives just on the other side of routine.
Which new idea are you going to try this week? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Thanks for stopping by!
