#creative growth

[garadinervi]

Susan Janow, SJ 286, (ink on paper), 2020 [Creative Growth, Oakland, CA. © Susan Janow]

[glowettee]

✧・゜: how i'm learning to trust my creative intuition :・゜✧:・゜✧

hey lovelies! ✨

i've been thinking a lot about creative intuition lately, that quiet inner voice that nudges you toward certain ideas or projects. for the longest time, i was absolutely terrible at listening to it. i'd get these little sparks of inspiration and immediately talk myself out of them. "that's been done before" or "you don't have the skills for that" or my personal favorite: "who do you think you are?"

sound familiar? thought so.

the thing is, i've slowly been learning that my intuition actually knows what it's talking about. those random ideas that pop into my head at 2am or while i'm in the shower? they're not random at all, they're my creative compass trying to guide me toward what truly lights me up.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ recognizing intuition vs. fear ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

the first big challenge was learning to tell the difference between my intuition and my fear. they can sound weirdly similar sometimes!

my intuition tends to feel like excitement mixed with certainty, like "yes! this!" even when it makes no logical sense. it feels light and expansive, like opening a window in a stuffy room.

fear, on the other hand, feels heavy and contracted. it comes with a lot of "shoulds" and worrying about what other people will think. it's the voice that compares my chapter 1 to someone else's chapter 20.

i started keeping track of when these different voices would speak up, and slowly got better at recognizing which was which.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ creating space to listen ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

intuition doesn't shout. it whispers. and in our noisy, constantly-connected world, those whispers can get completely drowned out.

i realized i needed to create actual space to hear myself think. for me, that looks like:

morning pages: three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing before looking at my phone

solo walks without podcasts or music (just me and my thoughts)

intentional boredom: staring out windows, lying on the floor, letting my mind wander

reducing input before trying to create output (no scrolling before creative sessions)

it's amazing what starts to bubble up when you're not constantly drowning it out with other people's voices and ideas.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ the "stupid idea" notebook ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

one of the most helpful tools has been my "stupid idea" notebook, a judgment-free zone where i write down every creative impulse, no matter how ridiculous it seems.

the name is intentionally silly to remind myself not to take it all so seriously. some ideas truly are stupid, and that's perfectly fine! but some turn out to be the beginnings of something meaningful.

the rule is simple: write it all down, evaluate later. this creates a safe space for intuition to speak without immediately being shut down by my inner critic.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ small intuition experiments ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

trusting your intuition is like building a muscle, you start small and work your way up.

i began with low-stakes creative decisions: which color to use in a drawing, which topic to write about in my journal, which route to take on my walk. when something felt intuitively "right," i'd go with it, even if i couldn't explain why.

gradually, i started trusting my intuition with bigger choices: which project to pursue, which opportunities to say yes to, which creative direction to explore.

with each small win, my confidence in my inner guidance grew stronger.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ embracing the "wrong" turns ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

here's the thing about intuition: sometimes it leads you down paths that seem to go nowhere. i've followed creative impulses that resulted in projects i never finished or ideas that didn't work out.

but i'm learning that these aren't failures, they're necessary detours. every "wrong" turn teaches me something i needed to learn or leads me to connections i wouldn't have made otherwise.

intuition isn't finding the most direct path; it's finding YOUR path, with all its twists and surprises.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ letting go of external validation ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

perhaps the hardest part of trusting my creative intuition has been detaching from external validation. when you follow your intuition, you might create things that don't immediately resonate with others or fit neatly into what's trending.

i'm still working on this one, honestly. but i've noticed that my most intuitive creations... the ones that felt most aligned with my inner voice, are ultimately the ones people connect with most deeply, even if the audience is smaller.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ a gentle practice ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

trusting your creative intuition isn't a destination, it's an ongoing practice. some days i'm better at it than others. sometimes fear still wins. but each time i choose to listen to that quiet inner knowing, it gets a little louder, a little clearer.

if you're struggling to trust your own creative voice, start small. create tiny spaces of silence. write down the whispers. follow the sparks of excitement. and be patient with yourself when you forget.

xoxo, mindy 🤍

[teresinarts]

This is my very first webtoon panel — and my very first background ever!

I’ve never done a webtoon before, so this feels like a huge, exciting step for me.

It’s not perfect, but every line and color taught me something new.

Art is all about trying, learning, and growing — even if the first attempts are a little messy.

I’m so proud to share this milestone and can’t wait to keep improving.

For anyone starting something new: don’t be afraid to make imperfect beginnings. They’re the foundation of everything great.

What was your first big creative leap? I’d love to hear your stories!

#FirstWebtoon #DigitalArtJourney #ArtistInProgress #CreativeGrowth

[brittanyearnestauthor]

Writing: A Journey, Not a Sprint

As writers, it's all too easy to lose ourselves in the whirlwind of creativity. Sometimes, we veer off course from our original ideas, leading to rewrites or unfinished stories collecting dust in our backlog. Interests fade. Deadlines come and go unmet—and that's okay. The essence of writing lies not in rigid schedules but in the pursuit of stories that ignite our passion and inspire us to practice our craft.

Contrary to what some may say, sticking to one project until it's finished, no matter what, isn't always the best approach. For many writers, this can lead to burnout or, even worse, the dreaded writer's block. Instead, some find that working on multiple stories keeps their creativity flowing and prevents stagnation. There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for being a writer. If you need to pause a story, that's perfectly fine. Who knows? When you return, you might make it even better.

Every day as a writer is an opportunity to learn and grow. Life is our greatest teacher, continuously offering new insights that enrich our storytelling. As we hone our craft and experience more of the world, we develop sharper skills. What you write tomorrow could very well be stronger than what you write today, simply because you’ve gained new knowledge and perspective. Growth is the quiet heartbeat of every writer’s journey.

If you’ve ever read an author’s early works and compared them to their latest masterpieces, you’ve likely noticed their evolution. This transformation didn’t happen overnight—it was built on consistent practice. Not every story will be a hit, but each one adds a layer to your experience as a writer.

Another key lesson for writers is learning to embrace rejection and criticism. Helpful feedback is a stepping stone to improvement, while baseless negativity is best left ignored. By focusing on constructive advice and striving to grow, you lay the foundation for long-term success in your craft.

Above all, remember: there’s no “right” way to be a writer. Writing is deeply personal, shaped by your unique voice, experiences, and journey. So take breaks when you need them, stay open to learning, and keep writing—not because you have to, but because you love to.

[csember]

🏰 A Discord Community Where Art Tells the Story 🎨

The world of Demorrah is shaped by its artists—and that means you.

The Painted Drake is a Discord-based art prompt system where your drawings and paintings fuel an ever-evolving RPG world. Whether you love character design, illustration, or storytelling, our quests help you level up your skills while immersing yourself in a living fantasy realm.

✨ How It Works: 🖌️ Complete artwork to progress through RPG-style quests 📜 Watch the world evolve based on community submissions 🐉 Collect familiars, earn EXP, and grow alongside fellow artists 🤝 Join a creative space designed to inspire and challenge you

🌟 Your art is your adventure. Step into the world of The Painted Drake. 🌟 👉 Join the Community 🌐 Visit the Website 💖 Support the Project

[lowercaset]

Finally in a place where I can hear myself think. ✨

I released a new digital split single over the weekend. After the glitch and experimental noise and bittersweet singer-songwriter efforts of my previous LPs, these two tracks are a pivot into something softer and more grounded: Bedroom Pop.

Utilities Included: A song about the literal and emotional relief of finally having a place of my own. It’s about feeling safe enough to actually start hoping again.

3 Days of Kindness: A dreamier B-side about a trip to the Midwest to see my best friend. Dreamy, hazy sound, and just pure cozy comfort and companionship.

If you’ve ever felt like you were just "surviving" and finally made it to a place where you can breathe, I think these will resonate with you. You can check both out here: https://lowercaset.bandcamp.com/album/utilities-included I'd also super appreciate areblog. Tag someone you know could use a break!

[mysterious-merchant-of-ink]

✍️ Week 1 – Mastering the Basics

I’ve just wrapped up the first week of my month-long challenge to rebuild my art skills from the ground up starting with lines and simple shapes.

It might not sound exciting, but honestly, it’s been more challenging and more rewarding than I expected.

Here’s what Week 1 looked like:

• Practicing straight lines, curves, Ovals, Circles, Squares, Etc

• Learning to draw with my shoulder, not just my wrist

• Focusing on accuracy, consistency, and control

• Following exercises from Brent Eviston on Skillshare

Progress has been slow at times, and yes, a little frustrating, but I’m already starting to notice a difference. My lines are a bit steadier. My shapes are a bit more confident. Most importantly, I’m starting to enjoy the process again.

No finished drawings, no big results yet, but that’s okay. This is the foundation I skipped the first time, and I’m finally giving it the time it deserves.

If you’ve gone through this phase before, how did you stay motivated?

If you’ve got any favourite drills or exercises for beginners, feel free to send them my way.

Week 2 begins. Let’s keep going one line at a time.