Set Experimentation Challenges

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One day, you’re on top of the world, convinced you’re the next Banksy, and the next, you’re staring at a blank canvas wondering if maybe you peaked in high school art class. Well, fear not, fellow tortured creatives. I’ve got a solution that might actually help – or at least keep you distracted for a bit: artistic experimentation challenges.

Think of it like giving yourself a puzzle that’s designed to make your brain work harder and complain less. For instance, limit yourself to just two colors. Sounds simple, right? Sure, until you realise that those two colors you picked don’t look nearly as good together as they did in your head, and now you’re in too deep to turn back. But that’s the point! It forces you to stop overthinking and just create. You’ll surprise yourself with what you can come up with when your options are limited. Plus, it’s like a mini vacation from the endless “but what if I tried this?” spiral that usually happens.

Or, if you really want to keep things spicy, throw a time limit into the mix. Give yourself an hour to complete a piece – not perfect it, just finish it. This does wonders for getting out of your own way. When the clock is ticking, you don’t have time to sit there agonising over every little detail. You just have to get it done. And even if it turns out to be a hot mess, at least you made something, and that’s better than staring at a blank page, right?

The beauty of these challenges is that they stop you from overthinking everything and help you just do the thing. Sure, it might not always result in a masterpiece, but sometimes the best work comes from just showing up and messing around within some boundaries. You might even enjoy yourself—imagine that.

So, next time you’re stuck or spiraling, try giving yourself a challenge. Keep it playful, keep it limited, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll trick yourself into making something awesome. Or at least something you can laugh at later.