two hand gesture

use both hands to gesture, this will cause the brain to use both sides as there is some science to say that each hand us influenced more by the opposite side of the brain. Get both brain halves working by using both hands to talk... try it.

Write Freely

Take a few minutes to put some ink down on some paper, don't restrict yourself in what you are drawing or writing, just open up your thoughts and let the pen or pencil be the guide. Do not rule out anything until after you are done and then you can sift through what you have and pick the best.

I have seen an artist doing warm-up exercises go through a ream of paper during just the hand, wrist and elbow warm up session before he even thought about really drawing something interesting. Now he always had some interesting things in those exercises but that was not the goal during the stretch.

Get the pencil on the paper and make it move around!

Daydream

Normally we don't hear the suggestion to daydream very often or at all, but another way to take just a few minutes and boost some creativity is to daydream. There are those that tend to have a more creative outlook on the issues and challenges in front of them when their mind is wandering. And the idea of being balled up in front of the computer screen just doesn't sound very creative thought provoking to me. So give it a shot, let the mind wander for a few minutes and see what kind of a journey you can have!

Put yourself else where?

Think about something far away, either time or place, and let your imagination run wild. Think of as many of the things happening around you, use all your senses to imagine what could be going on. Get crazy with all the details and activities and events and your will be surprised at all the fun you can have.

greedo?

Another creativity tip for getting a little boost: Ask someone else what they think! You are already on the path and are moving in a direction or you might have a few you are working on, take the next opportunity to ask a friend or just that random person you see next what they think of it all.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. That next person might mention something that sparks a new stream of thought or just moves you in the right direction for what is going to make sense. The more ideas and perspectives you can get the better!

Coffee shop anyone?

This tip for creativity comes from the thought that you may want to try to go out of your usual place where you think and add a little white noise into the back ground. If you normally control your situation, you can go to a book store and sit and think, or a cafe that has some noise going on and order a hot cocoa and force your brain to have to work a little harder to think of those thoughts that normally come when you are in the quiet of your studio. Or if your studio always has music going in the background, take a walk to a park in the quiet of the morning and see what the calm and quiet can do to stir the brain waves and see what difference the change brings.

Write by hand!

Here is a tip for some added creativity that may appear to be for the writers in the crowd but I do a little writing, not a story per say but just thoughts and notes, and you should put away the Word doc or the Open office and pick up a pen instead. It is a whole experience of using your hands, the feel of the pen, the ink on your fingers, teh smell of a fresh notebook. Take it all in as you get your creative juices flowing with the change of pace. Find ways that will challenge you to get out of your comfort zone to push the brain to think differently.

Pressure to perfect!

Today's tip for creativity is a long-term strategy. When we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to creative the perfect piece of art work we stifle our creativity. We need to be willing to be wrong and wanting to make some mistakes as we push the envelope of trying to not only get better but also find the technique that helps to make the art better.

Its okay if the painting doesn't ever go anyway farther than your own kitchen fridge. Putting pressure on yourself to produce something outstanding can actually make it more difficult to create anything at all.

There are too many people that will say they are not creative at all, but we are all creative in our own way doing our own thing. Just try your best and see what happens.

RUN! ZOMBIE!

I titled this blog RUN, cause one wonderful way to boost your creativity is to exercise. According to some studies, which at this time I don't know to document for you but they happened, when we are physically active and moving around and doing the groovy dancing moves, the body loosens up adn our mind is a little more free adn open to those wonderfully creative thoughts that are floating around just waiting for our brains to grab onto and develop.

Meditate

Are you feeling like your having all the same thoughts and can't seem to think of anything new? When in the heat of needing to think, take a few minutes, ten or so, and try meditating. It promotes divergent thinking, and a state of mind in which we can get the new idea generator on its way to fun and exciting thoughts.

Close your eyes and let your mind wander or focus it on the calm and tranquil.