7 Creative Exercises for When You're Feeling Stuck

Feeling stuck? Try some of these simple exercises to free your imagination!

1. Scribble freely on paper for 15-30 seconds. When complete, observe what forms you see take shape in the scribbles. Draw and color in those shapes to create a new composition.
2. Or try the opposite - Start with color first. Smudge paint, pastels, or other colorful medium on paper without thinking. When finished, observe what forms you see created on the page. Using a marker or pen, outline them to create a new composition.
3. Continuous line drawing. Challenge yourself to draw a still life or portrait without picking up your pen or pencil.
4. Stream-of-consciousness writing. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Write whatever comes to mind without stopping until the clock runs out.
5. Try your own alternative mark-making tools. Use leaves, tissue paper, sticks, pom poms, yarn, or other nontraditional materials as a paintbrush.
6. Blackout poetry. Start with any printed material - magazine or newspaper page, old texts, brochures. Using dark marker or other medium, black out all words except those you choose to preserve, forming a new text from what is left revealed.
7. Visualize sound: Sit outside and listen. As you narrow in on sounds around you, try to draw that sound. What color is it? How does it feel? Sharp? Soft? Add more soundscapes as you sit and listen.

Remember: it's about the process, not the product! Discover, observe, experiment, and make new connections.