5 Tips for Strengthening Your Creative Work

One of the most fulfilling parts of creative work is that your practice is constantly growing and evolving. Even the smallest adjustment can feel like leaps and bounds of growth when it comes to creative work. But if you’re feeling stuck, or feel as though your work could use a push, here are a few surefire ways to strengthen your work in 2022.

1. Develop the meaning behind your work.

If your creative work is driven by aesthetics or focuses on the output, try spending some time thinking about your “why?” Your “why” is your mission statement and answers the question:  “why do you create what you create?” As a whole, what is your work communicating to the world?

If you’re used to focusing on your technique, it might feel contrived at first to subscribe meaning to your pieces after the fact, but don’t let that scare you. The reason behind your work is already there. Thinking about your mission statement, your “why” will help you narrow your focus. It’ll help you decide what to create in the first place if you remember your why.

2. Practice your technique.

If perhaps you’ve focused most of your attention lately on your “why,” check in on your technique. Are you using your medium effectively to communicate your “why?” 

In all likelihood, your technique has room to grow. Take a step back and evaluate if there are techniques that if strengthened, would benefit your work. Practice those techniques.

3. Take a class.

For new perspectives or techniques, take a class. Every creative’s practice is different, so learning from someone with a different practice will expand your view of what’s possible in your own practice. A class will allow you the opportunity to try new things in a supportive environment with low stakes. Then, you can choose bits and pieces to incorporate into your work.

4. Seek feedback.

One of the quickest ways to re-ignite a practice is to get feedback on your work. You might be shocked at what someone else picks up on that you’ve never noticed before. Someone with a more objective view of your creative work can notice things that have become second nature to you, and this will give you insight as to what is working, what maybe isn’t working, and fresh ideas for what to try.

5. Allow time to work its magic.

You must have known this one was coming. It’s the most frustrating thing to hear, but the tip that is consistently true. More than anything, your work will strengthen with time. Allow your work to go through the natural progression, while occasionally stepping back to reevaluate your creative practice.

The fact that you’re here, thinking about how to strengthen your work, is the most important part of strengthening your work. It shows that you are open-minded, that you are looking at ways to adjust. Many people unintentionally find themselves stuck in their ways, so kudos to you for stepping out of your routine to seek new ways to grow!