It can be difficult at times to stay creatively motivated. As a muralist I've learned a few tricks over the years to staying motivated that I think are helpful for all types of creative people.
1. Setting goals: I set goals whether with a client or my own personal projects. Deadlines keep me organized and motivated.
2. Seeking inspiration: Going to art shows, concerts, and researching artists is a great way to stay inspired. Being exposed to new ideas has helped me to continue to evolve as an artist and gets me hyped to experiment with new ideas.
3. Taking breaks: I often practice mindfulness when I'm in a rut with a simple meditation, or nature walk. Working out helps me burn off anxious energy as does spending time with friends for games or a good dinner. Really anything that takes me away from work, and shuts off my phone and allows my subconscious a chance to breathe.
4. Collaborating with others: Collaborating with other creative people can help to provide motivation and accountability. Working with others can also provide new ideas and perspectives.
5. Embracing failure: Sometimes I would postpone finishing an art project or a design for a client because I was afraid to fail. I realized though I was just postponing an opportunity to learn and grow. Each failure made me a better artist and designer. Now I love failing, because an early failure means I can learn, pivot to something new and succeed all the sooner.
I don't prescribe to the idea ,"do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life", because I'm finally doing what I love painting murals full time and I've never worked harder in my life. I know a lot of these tips are basic, we've all heard them cause we want simple answers to complex problems. These simple answers look good on paper but don't always work, so heres one final tip for artists, designers, muralists, painters, musicians, poets, writers: push through, just keep working. Its hard, and it wont ever stop.
“I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.”
-Faulkner