Sustaining Your Practice
KCAC Founder, Philomene Bennett, spending time observing artworks .
Sustaining a Creative Practice
Maintaining inspiration requires more than skill — it requires ongoing inspiration. Artists find it in countless places, and developing habits that nurture curiosity is essential to keeping your work fresh and vibrant.
Tip: Inspiration isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you cultivate. Create habits that expose you to new ideas, environments, and creative voices, and allow those experiences to feed your work.
Reflection Points
Which sources of inspiration most consistently energize your practice?
How can you build these experiences into your routine to ensure regular exposure to new ideas?
Ways to Find Inspiration
Museums and Exhibitions: Visit local and national galleries to see how other artists work with materials, concepts, and presentation.
Performances and Music: Theater, dance, concerts, and soundscapes can spark new ideas or emotional responses that inform your art.
Workshops and Creative Classes: Explore new techniques, mediums, or collaborative projects to push your boundaries.
Reading and Research: Books, essays, journals, and online articles provide context, historical perspective, and fresh concepts.
Online Connections: Follow artists, curators, and collectives whose work inspires you; join communities to share ideas and get feedback.
Everyday Life Experiences: Travel, food, nature walks, urban exploration, or quiet moments at home can all provide unexpected insights.