April 2020: Navigating Creativity During a Pandemic

Navigating Creativity During a Pandemic: Finding Inspiration in Unusual Times

We are living through a global pandemic, and it’s having a serious effect on every part of our lives. It’s a difficult, surreal time — one that none of us could have fully prepared for — but it’s so important to stay safe, be kind to ourselves, and adjust in ways we can.

It’s been over a month now since I’ve been able to get to my studio. Normally, my studio is my sanctuary — a space where ideas come to life. But I live in a small apartment, and there simply isn’t the room to set up a temporary studio here. Instead of getting discouraged, I decided to pivot.

I’ve been spending time making reference drawings in my visual diary — gathering little ideas that have been bubbling under the surface and allowing creativity to flow without pressure. 

Some days are more productive than others, and I’ve learned to accept that this is perfectly okay. After all, we are living through extraordinary circumstances, and we need to be gentle with ourselves.

One unexpected outcome of this time is that I’ve been rethinking my color palette. With very limited supplies — I’m currently waiting on an order of paints because I’ve only got yellow and white left! I’ve been pushed to get more experimental. Limitation has turned into an opportunity to imagine new ways to express mood and tone.

I’ve also been working a lot with charcoal and paper, revisiting materials I haven’t seriously used since my undergrad days. Without fully realizing it, I’m revisiting old interests that once fueled my early work- what a surprise! It’s been an interesting, nostalgic experience, and strangely, it feels like coming full circle.

Through all of this, I’m learning that creativity doesn’t have to look a certain way. It doesn’t have to happen in a perfect studio, with perfect tools, or on a perfect schedule. Sometimes, just showing up for your creativity — even if it’s messy, inconsistent, or strange — is enough.

If you’re an artist, creator, or just someone looking for a spark right now, I encourage you to give yourself permission to explore without judgment. Try something new. Revisit something old. Make space for the unexpected.

Because even in difficult times, creativity finds a way.

Thanks,

Aisling