The city is full of energy and art.
Whenever I think of the city, I think of an abundance of stories and history that is ready to be unveiled.
I think, the first time I went to New York City.
There was so much energy.
From the taxi cabs that beeped constantly to the street performers doing their shows at every intersection, there was just inspiration in the air.
It looked as though the city was a huge painting, where every building and every single person had a role to play.
Learning how to get creative in cities can shift your artistic journey in a more positive direction.
The chaos of city appears to be too much for a majority of the population.
However, if you focus on the little things, you will be able to see that cities have plenty to offer.
Cities have so much creativity and stories to be told that no matter what you do – whether you paint, write, or own a business, there’s plenty of ideas that are just waiting to be discovered.
And surely, there is a way to explore more of that aspect and concept in the words and emotions that we write.
Let’s go deeper into how you can utilize that energy and become inspired by the city that you live in.
Be Inspired By Your Surroundings.
It surely does take a powerful and trained eye to notice every little symbol and meaning that surrounds them.
One of the most unique things about city living is that all the landscapes are different and are on display throughout the city.
Visiting a city like New York with its tall buildings, crazy designs and shapes can be an experience within itself.
Every building has a story to tell, and has a unique sense of character.
When I was at a Brooklyn Street Fair, I had the chance to meet a photographer called Mark.
He told how he just set out on a simple stroll on Smith Street and ended up getting photographs that resulted in him winning an award.
As he passed a lively cafe, the angled umbrellas that were outside caught the light in a remarkable way.
That was the turning point for him as he began using shadows and light to create a piece which embodied the essence of the city.
Surprisingly, urban settings have lots of different buildings to see and rich cultures to experience.
There is a clear dichotomy between the new structures and the older ones, depicting a clear change.
Try looking closely at the street art on the walls or the elaborate patterns on the old red brick house.
Such features tell a lot about the past and the culture of that location and may serve as a source of inspiration for your own projects.
Connect with the Art Instantly
Another great place to find inspiration in the cities is through local art.
When I first arrived in cities, I was struck with their murals, street performers, and pop-up exhibitions that stimulated the community.
The highlights of my memories include a day spent in the Mission District in San Francisco vein through walls adorned with Mural art of the locals, mainly Latinos.
The other day, I was admiring a mural; I met Lucia, an artist.
That particular mural encouraged her to create her own one, a canvas painting which illustrates her crusade of being a migrant.
And these scenarios made her want to create art which speaks of her experiences. Her work was inspired by the stories the community had to tell through the murals, even provoking her to sculpt new stories of her own.
Seek all the street art, galleries, and pop-up exhibits you can.
You would be amazed what can catch your eye or give you an idea which can be used for a new piece.
Every single piece of art serves its own purpose and by interacting with the art, it would attach you on another level with the city.
Network with Other Creatives
Working together with other creative artists and performers is one of the best ways to get inspiration and ideas in the cities.
You’ll never be lonely in cities because there are many other people like you – artists, writers, musicians, and dreamers who would like to express themselves creatively.
I remember a rather cold night a couple of winter seasons ago when I went to a local meet-up at timesys during winter.Cynthia
The air was charged with excitement as writers came together to present their work and exchange stories.
It was during this meeting that I saw Sarah, a fellow writer who had moved to the city recently.
She was a little lost, not knowing who she was and struggling with her identity.
But somewhere in the early hours, she began to share her thoughts and I was amazed at how she transformed.
The healthy environment made it possible for her to present some of her poems, which were spectacularly brutal.
Come that final hour of the evening session, I could see that she attained much more than self-assurance, but an array of friends that comprehended her challenges.
Any person seeking to make it in the creative industry and hop to local meetups or workshops can have that same spark.
Look at it from a different angle
Cities are great places to live in as they are able to provide audiences with a unique mix of content as well as experiences.
Everyone you come across has a story, they offer a unique and individual point of view which can enhance your work.
Let’s start with the example of Jake, a music artist whom I encountered during my trip to San Francisco.
He often performed at street corners, waiting for people to walk past to share his music.
One afternoon, a group of jugglers and clowns proposed an idea to him.
At first Jake was cynical since he was not sure their styles would blend well.
After a few jam sessions, he, however, noticed the three of them combining elements from jazz, hip-hop and folk to produce something wonderful.
This activity led to him releasing a smashing album which not only highlighted his vocals but the Embroidered Pattern which the city offered.
By considering different ideas, you learn how to view different perspectives, which will allow you to go further than most people creatively.
Nature in the Urban Jungle
Seek green spaces.
Amidst the disturbance of concrete and buildings, one can often spot vacant and mesmerizing greenery in urbanistic zones.
These gardens and parks form a great juxtaposition with the hectic city life and can also provide with ideas.
I still remember a particular day that I spent in the Central Park, thumbing through my sketch book.
While wandering on the spider web-like tracks, I found myself sitting next to a small pond, which was encircled by colorful flowers.
As I sketch that landscape, ideas came rushing through my head as I sat down on a bench.
My next painting was inspired by the hues of the flowers surrounding me and the way the light danced on the water.
In which it inspired me to remember how even in a bustling city, there are always spots which are soothing and ease the clutter in your head.
So these calm patches are for sure worth exploring, who knows the greatest idea lies hidden over there.
Urban nature walks are undoubtedly the best way to explore the fusion of green and grey.
Botanical gardens and rooftop gardens will be there waiting as unspoiled treasures.
A simple structural building was alleviated by a naivety in the vibrant culture of Chicago after the rooftop garden I visited.
Of all the things that interested me while working as a landscape architect, the ways in which they used trees and plants in creating a beautiful and sustainable space was the most prominent one.
The design made me question my beliefs on how parks, forests, and green spaces can structure and improve our cities.
Find Beauty in the Mundane
In mundane circumstances, we often forget to enjoy the beauty around us which can be a spark of inspiration.
How about staring at the world for a second? Oh, that may help in finding sources of inspiration in the most remote of places.
Speaking of stories let me tell you about this poet whose name was Alex whom I had the opportunity to meet.
His day-to-day life comprised of riding a subway every day to his workplace located in Manhattan.
When taken in isolation, people are often amused at how uncongested the subways are – but have consider these carriages containing up to […] people at once
But for Alex, it was a whole different story. He saw something different!
He started to notice how the light shone against the metal poles and the wonderful but funny faces people made and the words that they would utter.
I recall one day he described a moment which was ladened with nostalgia where he said he saw an old woman deeply engrossed in her memories with a picture of a little girl.
With that single instance, he was inspired enough to write one of his most emotional poems, filled with stunning visuals.
The prospect of turning the most single glass of water into diamonds is present in each activity of a person’s life, how else do you explain creativity.
Capture Your Thoughts
The other good idea for improving your creativity is to document your progress during the process or manual work.
Journals and sketchbooks are also great tools for capturing the back of the envelope ideas.
I remember a lazy Saturday afternoon when I thought about: Why not visit this little coffee shop in my area?
The café stood out because of its distinct interiors with its exposed bricks, its odd chairs, and an assortment of lights that made the place warm.
Looking over my cup of coffee, I was compelled to grab my sketchbook and begin painting.
One of my favorite sketches was of the friendly barista: a girl with purple hair standing behind the counter and serving drinks while doodling on the cream.
These sketches evolved into a plethora of designs which fueled a collection I was preparing for a local artisan fair.
In my opinion, a simple visit of a new place or just internal resistance towards putting down your ideas, feelings, inspiration and many more things can unleash an abundance of creativity.
Don’t shy away from putting some thoughts on paper, drawing distinct graphics or even recording certain phrases.
A seemingly insignificant moment can be turned into something solid.
FAQs
What are some tips for finding inspiration in crowded places?
Deep in the modern era, when every simple places are turning out to be crowded, finding the motivation to create, seems to be a difficult task.
A good tip is to concentrate on small structures such as shapes or patterns.
Instead, focus inwardly and make sure to stitch yourself in the setting whether it is the working space or a different one.
Feel the crispness of the pavement beneath your shoes, the distant cheer of children playing, or even the subtle shift in lighting as the sun’s rays pierce through the trees.
This in return phenomenon evokes a sense of closeness which in turn transforms the person and the relationship into interactive ones filled with insight and inspiration.
How to add the city in my creative work?
Adopting the city in your creative work devise is more about self trial.
One can bring their surroundings of the city in the pieces they create such as a painting or a piece of writing.
Let us say that the next time you plan to paint, consider using the bright hues of graffiti-influenced collages or listen to a piece of Classical music that reproduces the sounds of a city.
Let your surroundings into your head whenever you create something, let your experience guide your style.
What about the people living in these places? Do they help in the creativity aspect?
Without a doubt!
There are parts of the world that life clearly makes a living out of triumph alone.
We have Brooklyn which has got exactly that, more specifically Williamsburg, which has galleries, street art, performances and artists all over.
Mission District is another hot spot in San Francisco where the local culture resonates with colorful murals.
These places enhance one’s creativity and allow for engagement with other artists, therefore facilitating the creation of art.
Conclusion
Searching for ideas in the urban context is more than just looking for concepts; it is a potential quest that requires a prerequisite need to be inspired.
Cities are busy, full of stories that can help you to enhance your creative potential.
Creativity can arise from the ideas of fellow creatives, the sought sense of nature amongst the concrete walls, the beauty in the mundane that one witnesses, and even the inspirations embedded within the location that one occupies.
Always remember, there is always inspiration lurking around whether it is a sigh of taking the subway or staring at street art it is an experience one should take in.
So go out and take a look at the city, all the inspiration and art is lying out there waiting to be born.
The potential is there, all you have to do is bring it to light.