How an Artist Gets in the Zone

For artists, it isn't always easy to get to that creative state where expression flows freely. Sometimes it takes a little more effort to get there, but an artist can always get there so long as their environment is just right. Once they are there, the process itself is cathartic.

Whether you paint, write, or sculpt, you know the place. If you're struggling to get yourself creatively motivated, there are some things you can do to make your atmosphere a bit more conducive to creating.

Eat Well

Eating well doesn't mean eating a lot. In fact, if you want to get yourself to the zone, overeating will work against you. It's difficult to focus on your work when you're focused on your discomfort.

When you're going to be spending time with your work, eat light beforehand, and make sure your meal has plenty of nutrition. If you're prone to feeling sluggish, take a nutritional supplement, such as Le-vel's Thrive, which users say gives them a boost of energy, better mood, and more cognitive performance. Check out Thrive side effects to see if this might be right for you.

Turn the Phone Off 

When you're in the creative zone, distractions can throw you out of it. Your biggest distraction is probably going to be your phone. Put it on silent mode or turn it off completely so you're not tempted to pick it up and look at it.

How many times have you checked a notification on your phone only to find ten or twenty minutes later you still have it in your hand? It's easy to get lost browsing the internet, scrolling through social media, or following a news trail.

Listen to Calming Music

Turn on some easy music. Big bands can be fun and classical can be energizing. If you're a writer, music may be a distraction, but some writers claim a little background melody helps. If you paint, you may find the music you're listening to influences your brush strokes and style, which can be interesting and experimental. Music helps take you away so you get completely lost in what you're creating

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Have a Dedicated Work Space

If you don't have a studio, it's important to have a dedicated work space. It's easier to get in the zone if everything is already there and you don't have to unpack all your tools every time you go to paint.

An old armoire makes a great makeshift studio. When you're ready to paint, you just swing the doors open and everything is there waiting for you. If you have a breakfast nook, maybe you can use that space, at least until your painting is complete.

If you have to put everything away, it's easier to just forget it, and when you're an artist, you don't want to forget it. You want to release it.

Plan Ahead

If you've just sat down and you're just getting started to create the biggest masterpiece of your life, it's disappointing to get the colors on your palette and discover you're out of titanium white.

Make sure you have all the supplies you need before you start. You should know from the last time you painted if you've run out of something. When you're prepared, there's no reason to stop. If you have to stop, you can't get to that good place that allows your creative juices to explode.

Another part of the planning process includes imagining your piece before you start on it. It's nearly impossible to walk into your studio and just start painting if you don't know what you're going to paint; however, some people can pull this off.

The best thing is to think about your painting hours and even days in advance. If you've sorted it out in your mind first, you know what colors you need and what size canvas to choose, as well as how you're going to orient it.

Getting into the zone is a fantastic place to be. Once you're there, you can go for hours