ADVICE AND INSPIRATION FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS
Put down the hallucinogenics; new advice on embracing your creativity just dropped.
We asked some artists whose work we love to help us get to the nitty-gritty of what it takes to not only be creative but to be consistently creative. These contributors are uniquely qualified to offer guidance to those of us seeking a push in a creative direction because they’re creatives professionally. They actually get paid to be artists. Yes, that still exists.
There’s an artist in us all. Though how easily it can be accessed also depends on us. Sometimes the artist is drifting within reach just below the surface, and other times its postal code is in the Mariana Trench. Let’s dive in.
LANI GOODRICH
CERAMICIST
PHOTO BY JORDAN BAUM
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
I wish I could put myself into a creative flow at any given time… and then sell that formula to all the artists out there. I could make hundreds!
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
I have always had to manage my time being an artist with my time being a mother, and sometimes those two worlds overlap, but often they don’t. Sometimes I can be intentionally trying to be artistic with my daughters and painting and sketching, and the creativity is there, hovering below the surface, but doesn’t boil over. Other times the creativity will hit me when I’m washing dishes or walking a dog, and then I have to rush home and make notes or go into my studio and start working. I find that a good deadline is a great motivator, too. I like the feeling of pressure and the pursuit of overcoming an obstacle or a challenge. My creativity thrives on a little drama.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
I am highly inspired by the day-to-day normal world. It could be wallpaper in a friend’s guest bath, plates I see in a TV commercial, or a pattern on the shirt of someone in front of me at Publix. I think if you keep your eyes open, you can be inspired by the variety and everyday chaos of life.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
I think people need to remember the feeling of going to art class as a kid and just getting their hands dirty and trying to make weird stuff. The hardest thing for adults to do is to start or pursue a hobby and feel the need to be good at it right away. I don’t think kids have that fear—they just try and fail and try and fail again, and finally, they make something, and it could be terrible, but they are still proud to bring it home to you and hang it on the fridge. Adults tend to tell me that they aren’t artistic, and I have to convince them that A) life is art; B) the pottery wheel is just a tool and a skill to be learned; and C) we don’t have to be good at everything we do.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
I am currently opening a brick-and-mortar store that will incorporate my love of community and teaching with my own retail space. The pottery club will offer studio time, classes, pottery parties, and events, and the retail space will showcase my tile and my pottery. It will be a space where I can entertain everyone from designers to art people to parents of kids who are having birthday parties. I am excited to open my doors and get more people involved than I have been able to by working from my backyard for the past decade.
RENEE PHILLIPS
PAINTER
PHOTO BY DAVID DESOUZA
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
I need to get into the right headspace before I begin working. Many times that means starting the day with a walk to clear my head, or I’ll do a few sun salutations at the studio before starting to get my mind and body aligned. Then I blast my music and turn the studio into a bit of a party!
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
If I’m experiencing a creative block—and they do happen—that means I need to get out and explore. Sometimes it’s a simple meditative walk through nature where colors and patterns have the power to ignite new ideas. Every year I take an inspiration trip—this year it was Sedona, Arizona, and Zion, Utah. From layered patterns of rock and Earth to the saturated color palette, the energetic frequency of the American Southwest is incredibly inspiring.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Inspiration can come from anywhere, but it generally starts with color. I’ve been inspired by color combinations found in nature, fashion magazines like Vogue, or walking the streets of NYC and taking pictures of the advertisements, mold, and graffiti covering the walls. Once a color combination forms in my head, I can begin my process-driven method and continue experimenting with materials.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
If you’re still reading this, then I would say you have an interest in exploring your creativity, and that’s all you need. Stay curious and open-minded. I like to say “follow the fun.” Creativity comes in all forms—from painting to cooking or organizing your home.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
I recently moved into a new art studio at Studio 1608 in West Palm Beach, just south of the Norton. We have four art parties per year, starting with the season opening exhibition event the weekend after Thanksgiving. It’s quite a bash!
DAMIAN FITZSIMMONS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
Depends what you mean by creative flow. Flow is a real thing — dropping in on a wave, a perfect golf swing, a hit song that you write in five minutes. Being able to be in the moment and be present — this is flow. I surf and most definitely experience flow when I catch a wave. Same with my ocean swims. I meditate and when you’re in, you’re in. As much as I love meditating, I struggle with keeping up a practice. A buddy of mine put it really well though. He said you don’t “have” to meditate, you “get” to meditate. The more time you can spend in “flow” the more creative you can be.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
Picasso said, “Inspiration exists, it just has to find you working.” The first time I heard that was in an interview with Johnny Marr, lead guitarist of The Smiths. I’ve since heard other famous artists say similar things. I subscribe to this point of view. I don’t believe there is such a thing as ‘creative block.’ If you’re a writer you sit down at your desk and write, if you’re an artist you go to your studio and start working. I’m lucky to be both. Creativity comes from consistency. Inspiration is awesome. Sometimes I’m super inspired and have to stop whatever else I’m doing and start creating on the spot. Most of the time I don’t start off inspired. I have a rough idea of what I want to express, I start working and at some stage the inspiration comes.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Sourcing inspiration is different from being inspired. Like I said you have to work to be inspired, but you also need inspiration — stuff that gets you excited, makes you think. This is essential. Travel is a huge one for me. I went to Tokyo recently — no agenda, no knowledge of the language, just booked an Airbnb, landed in Narita airport, and winged it. They have great pancakes. The more life experience you have as an artist the better your work will be. Listening is huge. People say the most amazing things and then I write them down and pass them off as my own, lol. I carry a small notebook to write down quotes. I usually wait for the person to finish speaking and then ask if I can steal their quote. Most recent was, “I met your mom in helicopter school.”
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
If you have never watched the Ted Talk by Sir Ken Robinson “Do schools kill creativity?” stop what you’re doing and go watch it. We are all naturally creative, you may think you’re not but your Thanksgiving handprint turkey painting that used to hang on your fridge begs to differ. I agree with Robinson that most of us start creative and grow out of it. You just have to find a way back in. When was the last time you bought flowers for no reason? When was the last time you wrote a poem, in fact when was the last time you read someone else’s poem? Beauty and creativity are everywhere. Remember when you were a kid and would just lay on the ground and look at clouds passing overhead? All you have to do is tap back in. You may not sell a painting to the Louvre but your life will be richer.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
My day job is that of a filmmaker, but I recently had my first solo show as a fine artist. It was so much fun to work in a different medium and yet apply all the skills I have acquired — storytelling, composition, color, juxtaposition. I subtly manipulated a bunch of toy water pistols and rayguns and created a whole world around them. I mounted them in vintage light boxes as if they were part of an old museum exhibition. The backstory was that time-traveling archeologists discovered ancient civilizations in the distant future where wars were CONstructive not DEstructive, where weapons were more like musical instruments, and armies more like orchestras. I’m looking forward to seeing where that takes me.
JAKOB TAKOS
JACK OF ALL TRADES
PHOTO BY DAN ALAVI
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
I dive into different approaches until something clicks and feels right. I know the first initial steps are the hardest to just get going, so I try to make sure to set boundaries to remove any distractions as best as I can. It takes discipline and self-awareness to know what works best for each individual, which is all a part of the creative journey.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
I change my surroundings or mix up my routine. Sometimes talking to different people for a fresh perspective or just taking a break and doing something entirely different helps reset my creativity. Usually, physical exercise or keeping busy with my hands and feet helps get my mind back on track.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
From everywhere: getting lost in nature, paying attention to details in everyday life, listening to music, learning about artists locally and globally. Recently, I am always reminded that getting out of my hometown and seeing the world fuels my inspiration big time, like my recent trip to New York with my wife and some friends, which often gives me a fresh burst of ideas. Sometimes the best inspiration finds you when you’re not even looking for it.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
You do. Don’t let anyone tell you what you are or what you are not. Keep experimenting and embrace the process. As much as people think it is, creativity isn’t just a natural talent; it grows with practice. Everyone can be creative if they give themselves a chance. That’s why I started my podcast Create to Connect to open that discussion a bit more by always starting it off by asking, “Do you think you are creative?”
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
• Currently working on the first full-length album for the band Jakob Takos & The Connection. It’ll be called “Sweet Brews & Heavy Grooves,” and it’s some of my favorite work musically I’ve done to date.
• I’ve been collaborating with as many musicians as I can. Joey Calderaio and I released a collaboration on Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” that was received so well we just might team up on another cover again!
• Everyone’s favorite tour guide book for Palm Beach County, 111 Places You Must Not Miss in Palm Beach, is getting a fourth version done. That should be out before the end of this year and features some new hidden gems across the county. Being a born-and-raised Floridian from Jupiter, I am very proud of the success that book has done over the years to the point where it’s getting a fourth version. You can find it at Barnes & Noble or anywhere online.
• Slowly but surely rolling out some new prints for sale by series. This series is called BLUE because, well, it’s all water-based photography, haha.
• Finally, there are two big key elements that I have been working on 30 Q&A for the past two years that I can’t yet talk about but will be ready by early 2025.
• And my door is always open for anything the good folks at Atlantic Current ever want to collaborate on 😉
RICHARD VERGEZ
MIXED-MEDIAARTIST
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
To get into the flow, I always need to have some music going—either online radio like NTS or some tapes of experimental music. Most of what I do is improvisational unless I have a specific theme in mind, so I’ll start with something like sifting through old books looking for source material to cut out.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
The block is a tough thing; you can’t force the creative process. I hit one recently, and my remedy was to just go for it and not overthink. I bound together with screws a few sheets of water-damaged paper from the floor of my studio to create a makeshift book, then just started gluing down whatever pieces were laying around the table. It’s not necessary to be so precious all the time.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Inspiration comes from outside sources mainly; the visual language of film and poetry. The director David Lynch is one of my all-time favorites. The absurdity and mundanity of daily life inspires me to carve out my own surrealist world. Although I do look at other contemporary collage art as well.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
I’ve always believed in the power of choice-making versus skill or virtuosity. Because you may not be able to draw or paint in the traditional sense, think outside that box. I’m drawn to collage art because it’s so immediate yet experimental. I can spend an hour painting a tree or cut one out of a book in a few seconds and move on to the next idea.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
On December 19, I will be conducting a workshop called Sound & Vision at Locust Projects in Miami offering an exploration of intermedia art and experimental sound. Participants will explore the possibilities of combining visual and auditory media, experimenting with physical materials and hardware to create new forms of artistic expression.
AMANDA VALDES
MURALIST
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
Getting into a creative headspace can be tricky. Music is my main go-to, and removing distractions (which is hard to do with a toddler these days!) I try to set up a few hours where I can zone out to the best of my abilities and explore books, favorite songs, old sketchbooks, research, get out in nature, etc.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
Travel! Sometimes you just need to break free from all routine. Also, daily drawing exercises or prompts are a great way out of a creative rut and back into flow. Meditating and reading, as well.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Everywhere. Books, movies, hanging out with my son… It’s incredible to see the world from his perspective. He’s almost 2 years old, and the world is practically brand new and so exciting to him. I love to check out botanical gardens in different cities and explore native floral and fauna whenever I have the opportunity. I’m also endlessly inspired by my artist friends and eternally grateful for all they’ve taught me over the years.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
Find a way to exercise that part of your brain daily, even if it’s just a few minutes.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
I’m very excited about my next show, “Suena,” opening in Denver, Colorado, Sept. 6 at Alto Gallery! I’ll be heading back to Australia again for a few murals in Melbourne. (Melbs is one of my favorite street art cities and communities!)
MARCO ARCELIN
PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
Usually with some good music and a quiet space. Rhythm and energy are definitely most important to me when finishing/editing a video.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
I take a break and do something different; it’s like a reset for me.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Different directors’ and cinematographers’ work sparks my creativity and gets me inspired.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
I believe everyone has a creative side; it can be developed, so just start small and don’t feel bad about making mistakes. Experiment and enjoy the process.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
I’m currently working with Riomar as a newly-hired product photographer, which has been pretty exciting for me. In the film field, I’m shooting on the go while traveling and honing my skills here.
