Seven Tips On How to Cultivate Creativity

Discover ways to stretch your creative wings!

So much to share with you this month! To begin with, I'm delighted that the Crafts District was held at my grandparent's home The Kabariti Village.

The Crafts District - part of Amman Design Week - attracted hundreds of visitors enjoyed the exhibitions, design installations, shops as well as the musical performances that were held here between October 4-12, 2019. Located in the old part of Amman, the venue lended itself beautifully to this event. I'm sure my grandparents would be overjoyed to know that their home was used to promote the art scene in Jordan!

Amman Design Week in my Grandparents Courtyard

Artist Sara Kabariti amongst part of the display at Amman Design Week

Amman Design Week in my Grandmother's Home.

A geometric metal screen - part of a display at the Amman Design Week.

Evening view at the Kabariti Village - one of the venues for the Amman Design Week.

A hanging artistic display at the Amman Design Week

A geometric pattern tiled floor in the Kabariti Village - one of the venues for the Amman Design Week

Crafts vendor at the Kabariti Village - part of the Amman Design Week

I spent a good part of September traveling around the country with friends. There is so much to see in Jordan. The outdoors are exceptionally breathtaking. My new painting below was inspired by a camping trip to the desert sands of Wadi Rum. Many of you may have heard about this magical place from Ridley Scott's 2015 Oscar-nominated blockbuster, The Martian.

Immerse yourself in nature to stretch your creative wings - a view from Wadi Rum desert in Jordan.

Gathering creative inspiration during a camping trip to Wadi Rum in Jordan.

The Blessed Tree in Jordan is remarkable and always inspires my creativity.

Stretching my creative wings away from my art studio with this breathtaking sunset scene in Wadi Rum.

It has been incredibly busy recently. However, I've found that immersing yourself in a different landscape, surrounding yourself with inspiring individuals and operating at an alternative pace, stretches your creative wings in unexpected ways. I'm curious, what do you do to expand creatively? Share your thoughts by clicking the button below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Share Your Thoughts

To inspire your enthusiasm, I've come up with 7 ways to help you grow as an artist. Scroll down to find out more.

Sara xo

Quote of the month

'There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.'

(Hodding Carter)

PHOTOGRAPHY: Since September, I've been on 6 journeys exploring the southern, eastern and western parts of Jordan. I have another excursion up north planned for next week! My camera is always with me. Photography is a great way to inspire new creative projects. You just never know what might grab your attention. I'm particularly inspired by scenic landscapes, the local flora and fauna as well as colour combinations and textures. How about you?
CHANGE MEDIUM: Try something new to get out of a creative rut. I've immersed myself into the world of surface pattern design recently. I find it informs my painting process and offers a fresh perspective. I can see things from a totally new angle. I also come across new colour combinations and ideas that I can utilize in my painting practice.
SKETCHING: When I'm frustrated that I haven't managed to paint during the day, I tend to sketch in bed at night. Many of my drawings find their way into my surface pattern designs. See one below.
TAKE A CLASS: Observing how others approach their creative practice can really inspire your own process and significantly stretch your creative wings. Check out my mixed media art online courses to get you started! Alternatively, sign up below for my brand new FREE mixed media art class Gather Paint Create.
WORK SMALL: I've enjoyed working on small canvases of late. It gives me a sense of satisfaction to bring a painting to completion in a few days as opposed to weeks or months, as in the case of some of my larger paintings.
DOODLE: When your mind is in a whirl and you find it difficult to calm it down, try doodling. It's very therapeutic. My doodles also find their way into my digital art - an added bonus!
REST: Creativity requires energy! Sometimes I'm just too tired to sit down in my studio and work on a painting. I find the best thing I can do at these times is to trust the process and simply rest. Soon enough my creativity kicks in and I'm onto a new painting!