So many of us fantasize about a way of life, a dream commission or collaboration, or just trying something new, but we don’t do anything to put the wheels in motion or adapt to make room for growth or change. It’s so easy to be comfortable and at times complacent, and while we might be ticking along nicely, before we know it, we can be become stagnant in our creativity.

One example of this is when I became so stuck in a rut with my creative work. Floral and nature-based art is my strength, and what I was most known for in the early stages of my career. But after I’d been doing the same thing over and over for many years, and even though I was having success with it, I became so withdrawn when making art and I felt I’d lost my inspiration.

I took a break, and even if it was subconsciously done at the time, I began to evolve my process. By switching it up and doing simple things, such as documenting florals through the seasons, from full bloom to dying seed heads, I was able to create much more unique motifs. I found this technique really useful, particularly when it comes to drawing popular flowers such as alliums and lilies. As creatives we’re often given a much-loved subject matter that’s been represented thousands of times before, and we can feel overwhelmed when we want to put our own stamp on things. Flipping our perspective can work wonders.

Another example would be when I took a hit financially in business, I remember feeling so shocked by it. Once I got through the initial upset and let my bruised ego heal, I realized that a big kick up the bum was what I really needed to analyze my projects. I don’t think business and life has been the same since, and I now embrace change with even more open arms.

THOUGHTS TO PONDER ON EVOLVING

It’s important to recognize that growth can be uncomfortable and painful but also necessary and beautiful. I always think of the cocoon period for a butterfly and the end result becoming something truly wonderful.

Change can be difficult at first, for us and sometimes for those around us. We all become comfortable with familiarity and question our need to rock the boat or try something different. Often there is a struggle or learning period before we can reap the rewards of change. While not everyone will understand your need to evolve and some may even mock you for it, I urge you to not make decisions solely based on the influence of others. It’s your creative life, so never live it for someone else. Trust your instincts and do your best to explain what’s necessary to those around you, but ultimately you owe it to yourself to make the change you want to make.

While talking about growth, I also want to highlight the importance of not putting so much pressure on yourself. At the time of writing this, a new year had just begun and with it the stress that can often come with not having completed the to-do list from last year or failing to achieve what I wanted. For some people, the whole “new year, new you” thing can be a great motivation, but for others it can just feel like unnecessary pressure. Growth is a process, and it needs to happen when it’s right for you. Never feel the “old you” is bad or inadequate when the rest of the world makes huge declarations about their past achievements or future aspirations.

I also think we don’t give ourselves enough credit when it comes to change. Sometimes we are so caught up in the doing that we can forget to reflect on what we’ve achieved, how we learned a new skill or tried something different that made us evolve for the better.

In life we experience both the good and the bad; without realizing it, the tough situations can make us change for the better and help us become stronger and more resilient to navigate life.

CREATIVE EXERCISES

The creative community can get so much from one another, from encouragement and support to a second opinion when moments of self-doubt creep in. New ideas can be born, skills learned or improved, jobs shared and found, and competitions entered. What I’ve found through Make It In Design is that the creative community is truly worldwide, and if we open our eyes to different experiences and cultural offerings, then there is no limit to our creative possibilities.

I feel so inspired by other creatives, and I love to go to events to network. I’ve heard many stories of my students forming collaborative groups and collectives and exhibiting their work together around the world. I think this is such an amazing idea. So my challenge for you is to reach out to others to see what opportunities there can be!

The term “digital nomad” has become widely popular, with many living their lives and creating work on their own terms across a multitude of locations, or sometimes thrown into the deep end adapting as their work situation suddenly changed. For a digital nomad, it can mean sitting with a simple notepad or laptop in a remote environment. A “creative nomad,” however, may need a wider array of tools in their kit, from paints to sketchbooks and even a lightweight easel. My own personal kit is simply a couple of sketchbooks, preferably in different sizes, and a pencil case with several drawing pens. I typically carry about twenty pens at any given time, as I favor drawing with different weights. I also carry a camera, though mostly these days I rely on my trusty iPhone and my small MacBook.

Occasionally you may find me taking an online meeting or pinging fast instant messages to my team. On a Cuban work trip, I experienced challenging Wi-Fi access, but still I found a way to muddle through, as I would download the bits I needed rather than staying connected. You can work from anywhere these days if you have the determination and drive to make it happen and actually do the work without getting too distracted.

The nomadic style of working and/or creating is far easier if you’re self-employed or if you’re typically in a work-from-home or freelance situation, as flexibility is one of the key factors to making it work. If your situation differs, however, please don’t worry, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible! Like with anything in life if we want something there’s always a way of making it work. You may be fitting in your creativity in your spare time or trying to work around a busy family life. Whatever your situation, I encourage you to also explore this nomadic approach. Change can be daunting at first, yet can also be an incredibly refreshing and rewarding experience, and I truly believe we can all reap the rewards by embracing the example of a nomadic lifestyle, even through small changes.

I can’t always work nomadically due to life and family commitments, and it also depends on what specific project I’m working on at the time. However, by naturally absorbing the nomadic mind-set, I mix up my routine at least once a week, and I can always see the positive impact that it has. If you’re someone who works alone a lot, getting out and about and having an everchanging workspace can really boost your mood and confidence levels and help you evolve your creative practice.