This week I stumbled upon this 2012 Brainzooming post, 61 Online and Social Media Resources for Motivating People to Create. Mike Brown’s content inspired me to take stock on my own relationship with social media, creative motivation, and to reflect more about leveraging online and social media resources for inspiration, connection, community, and more.
How does social media inspire/motivate my creativity and interests to create/make things/do creative stuff in my daily life, relationships, work, and play?
Here are my Top Takeaways from Brown’s amazing list that I really resonate with and how each one has encouraged my own creative practice:
- #1, #2, #19, #22, #38- Finding Connection, Community, & Support– This probably is my top reason I enjoy social media… Social media has the power to bring artists (and art therapy of course!) together, create connection, decrease isolation, etc…..on so many levels.
- #35- Learning Artistic Skills– Whether it’s a how-to video tutorial on YouTube, a new art technique to try out from Pinterest, or engaging in an online art workshop, there are soooo many social media tools & resources to build your creative skills as a beginner or seasoned artist!
- #41, #43– Exploring Creative Environments and Adapting your Environment to Better Foster Creativity– Online projects such as The Altered Page’s Living with Art, Spaces & Places: Where We Create, and even this blog post I recently contributed for the National Institute for Loss in Children, all explore and provide new ideas and a peek into the creative intersection of our life/studio/work surroundings for inspiration, daily practice, or self-care.
- #6, #7- Engaging in Online Exchanges & Creative Adventures– One of the many things I enjoy about the online world is being able to engage in art exchanges and creative experiences that originate through social media. It’s amazing fun whether it is a mail art endeavor or working virtually together on a common project.
- #9, #20 #21- Following Creative People– I find Twitter a dynamic place to easily follow people, trending topics, organizations, and news about all things creative that I enjoy, whether this be the visual arts, film, writing, crafting, technology, art therapy, and more. Twitter has connected and introduced me to some amazingly creative individuals and projects!
- #26, #60, #61- Learning New Tools to Express Creativity– Social media and technology online is constantly evolving with new apps and creative tools to use. Over the years (and now!) I’ve enjoyed experimenting with and using free programs such as Wordle, Tagxedo, Kooleido, Animoto, Polyvore, and so many more to create, share, and play with. Recently I enjoyed trying out the online program ArtPad, a virtual canvas painting program with a small group of art therapists I virtually meet up with to try out different computer based ideas. I enjoyed thinking about the creative possibilities inspired by the application’s features to not only make art, but invite others to participate too!
- #49- Discovering & Reading Blogs That Inspire My Imagination and Creative Self– If you need a good place to start, check out Seth Apter’s Art Blog Directory. Daisy Yellow, Dirty Footprints Studio, 14 Secrets, Right Brain Planner, A Big Creative Yes, among many, many others are my go to Artist Blogs for tons o’ inspiration.
- #17- Sharing Creative Work Online– While Facebook is definitely an active social media site to share art and artsy happenings online with friends, family, & colleagues, I really enjoy how Instagram has become a wonderful online source to follow artist work, activity, and captures. Whether it is a work in progress, final piece, snapshot of someone’s work space, studio, or tools of the trade- it is a visual delight to simply see (without all the Facebook distractions) when I tap into my newsfeed there.
- #7, #15- Enjoying Global Creative Experiences with Others– It’s awesome to bring people together from all over the world to work on or be a part of a common creative project or initiative through social media. I love this and the creative friends I’ve made around the globe through our love of art, making stuff, and encouraging our artsy selves!
- #5- Allowing Yourself to be Pointed to Creative Places Online Based on Others’ Social Media Links– Yes! Take in and enjoy Artful Link Love!
There are also some ideas from Brown’s list that I would like to try or do more of:
- #29-Create a Creative Manifesto– One of my favorite art-based manifestos is this one from Rebelle Society, which urges us to view ourselves as Creativists. I believe there’s definitely opportunity for further exploration of this kind of “manifesting” in my Creative Covenants online workshop as part of this year’s Spectrum… wouldn’t that be fun?
- #45- Organize a “Creativity Orientated” Music List to Listen To— I often listen to a variety of Pandora stations or Spotify when creating, but it would be neat to organize a playlist dedicated to “creating time”.
- #46, #52- Share Examples of Overlooked Creativity in Your World (and being more open to wonder, play)– There’s always room to play and wonder more– on and off line! I also think taking a mindful look at how creativity surfaces around you in different ways would be an interesting adventure and discovery to embark on!
What about you….How do you use or would like to use social media to motivate your creativity?
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Related Posts:
Social Media’s Role in Cultivating Art Therapy Connection, Community, & Creativity
creativity in motion 
Thanks Gretchen!
Laurel Thompson