Cultivating a Creative Space
My creative space is fine-tuned to my own needs. There is low light and rose quartz crystals for atmosphere. Scented candles tickle the olfactory sensors. My vision board is hung over my head when I need a reminder of the path I am following. Easels with positive affirmations remind me to keep my energy flowing. My desk is faced toward the window so that daylight can direct the beginning and ends of my day. There’s a lot of good feng-shui in my creative space.
It’s interesting to visit the spaces of other creatives. My client Jordan Richman Higgins has a studio with tons of gear to support his analytical, musical mind and an assortment of synths, ukuleles, and guitars that can spark creativity. Dia Morgan, my former assistant and a great songwriter in her own right, preferred a space filled with exuberance. A piano painted pink and pink cables connecting microphones to interfaces provide a doses of high octane energy that drive her creative process. Another writer I know peppered his studio with fidget spinners, legos, and coloring books. When he got stuck in his process, he was able to reach for some tiny toy and distract himself for a bit before getting back to work.
Our creative spaces should speak to the needs of our own creative processes. Some of us need calm, serene white walls, while others of us need walls plastered with Jackson Pollack-esque splatter paint. Some of us do better with windows of natural light and others need a windowless room where they can get lost in space and time. Some writers need every instrument and software sound at their disposal, while others might need a single, trusty guitar. What’s important is that you recognize your own needs and build your own creative space around it. That space can be a studio, your bathroom, your bedroom - wherever it is that you get your writing done.
I want to encourage you to nest in your creative space a bit. Build it out with objects or pieces of furniture that will keep you inspired. Your environment can greatly impact the quality and quantity of your work. Take some time to foster a space that will drive your creativity forward.