Creator’s block. If you’ve ever felt the urge to write a book, compose a song or make a painting but not known where to start, you know how frustrating and disheartening it can be. It was close to three decades after graduating high school that I finally got unstuck and started painting regularly again. I’ve spent the last three years developing my own art practice, and I hope to encourage others who are on similar journeys. Maybe that’s you?

Something I’ve come to realise is there are infinite ways to be creative. There’s no wrong or right way to be an artist. And it’s better to make something, anything, than to feel stuck. Letting go of perfectionism and just enjoying the process is a great way to get started. Not everything you make needs to be a masterpiece (and if you haven’t made anything in a while, why should it be?). Here are some suggestions to help stretch your creative legs:

• Write, draw or paint on something you were going to dispose of anyway. Newspaper, scrap paper and used cardboard will all do the job.

• Work with your eyes closed, your non-dominant hand, or an unconventional tool to make new marks.

• Use a colour or material you love and just enjoy how it looks as you apply and manipulate it in different ways.

• Dig out an unfinished project and re-imagine it. Instead of pressuring yourself to finish it the way you originally intended, challenge yourself to take it in a whole new direction.

• Find everyday ways to be creative. Arrange some flowers or fruit. Rearrange some ornaments and add an unexpected item like a book, toy or framed ephemera. Cheap photo frames are great for displaying eye-catching items you can switch out, like beautiful greeting cards, postcards, kids’ art or stickers.

Play. Experiment! You don’t need a plan to start. This is practise and no-one else needs to see it. If you make something you really like or find interesting you can frame, keep or photograph it, and use it as reference for your next piece or series. Woah, look at you being all unstuck.

If you’ve found this helpful, I’d love to hear from you. My Insider List receives occasional newsletters that dig into my current studio practice, new work and early notification when my art is going on show or becoming available for sale.