How I Keep Creativity Flowing on “Off” Days

On off days I lower the bar from brilliance to contact. I do one small thing that touches the work: a five‑minute sketch, a colour swatch, a quick canvas rotation to find a new orientation. I keep an “ideas box” of scraps—phrases, textures, printouts—that I sift until something sparks. I also curate my inputs: I’ll visit a gallery, read a poem aloud, or listen to music that resets my nervous system. Most importantly, I forgive the day. Creativity isn’t a faucet; it’s weather. If I keep the studio warm and the lights on, the storm will pass and something green will push through. The next morning, I’m already closer than I was.