We all aspire to grow, don’t we?

Whether it’s taking on a new subject, gaining mastery in our medium or trying something new, we want to get better. Yet it seems that creative growth is often hard to predict and difficult to maintain. Why is it that some are able to keep growing while others get stuck, and how do we keep moving forward even when it feels like we’ve plateaued? For starters, we've got to move out of our comfort zones into an experience that activates growth.

Here's Four Ways You Can Get Uncomfortable And Grow:

1. Do It Differently – Whatever your standard operating procedure is as you work, change it. Mix up your routine. Work from the outside in instead of the inside out. Try a different surface and progress from dark to light instead of from light to dark. Change your brush size. Flip your work upside down and paint the reverse image, just do it differently to break the pattern that lulls you into sameness. Usually work small? Try going big!

2. Try a New Subject – Are you a landscape painter? Give still life a try. Do you usually paint portraits? Paint en plein air. A new subject or environment can bring with it entirely new ways of seeing the world with artists' eyes.

3. Set Limitations – We often think creativity results from greater freedom, but I have found that creative ideas thrive on limitations. Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs and Ham with only 50 words! Try a limited palette, set a time limit of just 30 minutes for your next painting session, or create a painting in 100 strokes or less. You get the idea. Limitations can foster powerful creative breakthrough in your work.

4. Gain a Fresh Perspective – Stimulating fresh creative ideas can also result from having your assumptions challenged. Take a workshop with an artist who has a different approach. Read an art book that will stretch your normal creative process. Invite feedback from a trusted source and find out where they think your growth opportunities lie. Invite a fresh perspective to stimulate growth.

These are just four ways to flex your creative muscles and activate forward movement. Just remember, learning is a joyful act of discovery, and you are capable of doing hard things! Consider the feeling of discomfort a sign of adventure.

I recently had to face my own comfort zone head on and take on a growth mindset. Requests were coming in to teach about waves and I was avoiding the subject entirely because, well… “I don’t do waves.” I continued in my rant, “I’ve got friends and colleagues who are masters of seascape painting, what could I possibly offer on this subject of painting waves?”

After breaking free from the fixed mindset spell that I was under, I decided to face the discomfort, push past my fear, and surrender to the creative process instead of standing still. While it was uncomfortable and at times stressful to try something new, the result was quite invigorating and resulted in fresh growth for me as an artist. I found the subject matter to be exciting and new.

We’re all in this together, friend. I broke through my comfort zone and discovered fresh growth. Now it’s your turn to push out of your safe harbor and get uncomfortable. You’ve got this, and exciting new adventures await on your creative journey!

Keep painting and be inspired!
Alain