Follow Your He(ART): How to Unleash Your Inner Artist

Artistic creation is often viewed as a process of sophistication, discipline and skill. We envision an oil painter replicating a bowl of fruit on an oversized easel. But it’s more universal than that! It’s a method of self-expression in which everyone can partake. You don’t need formal training or expensive supplies to create art, only a willingness to overcome existing internal boundaries and tap into that innate creative energy. Everyone can be an artist! Here is a list to get you started!

1. Let go of expectations

Art is made by us, for us. There is no purpose other than “because we are”. So don’t focus on how the final product should look like! When we assign “creating art” to the task, we tap into the human need to produce an output that is worthy of our time and effort. This mental assignment adds pressure to an activity that is about being. Let go of that need and reorient that energy to exploring the process. It doesn’t matter what you create, it matters that you do create!

2. Find your mode of artistic creation

Creating art isn’t limited to making paintings, it can also be writing a brooding poem, baking a decadent chocolate cake or arranging a colourful bouquet of flowers. Something as simple as pairing sweaters with different accessories can jumpstart your imagination. What allows your inner creative energy to flow? Inspiration is all around us, experiment with different mediums and find your choice of “artistic arsenal”.

3. Lean into your emotions

Emotions drive our creativity, so hone in on what they compel you create and how they change your art. Is making art more fulfilling after a frustrating day at work, or after an hour-long conversation with close girlfriends about French cinema? Do certain events or environments make it easier to express yourself? Whatever that is, lean into it! Find what feeds your “artistic engine” to reap its full benefits.

4. Make it a habit

Once you have identified your “artistic arsenal” and “artistic engine”, try giving it a schedule. Maybe you feel the most inspired when you wake up, so you sketch something every morning. Or maybe you dread going to work on Mondays, so you make a dessert every Sunday night. By consistently creating art, no matter how infrequent that may be, you’ll discover the pattern to your artistic process and find it easier to connect your emotions to your art, and vice versa. This builds a positive feedback loop in which the more you create, the more you receive.

5. Take breaks: it’s ok if you are blocked

There will be times when you are uninspired. And that’s ok! It’s not realistic to expect a constant flow of ideas. Think of your creative energy as a well—when you draw from it consistently, it needs to be replenished. When that happens, step away and try again when the moment feels right. Remember, there is no pressure!

Creating art is more about the act itself rather than the final product. It allows us to be more connected to our emotions and surroundings. Have fun, enjoy the moment and congratulations on becoming an artist!

Illustrations by Carolina Diaz