Hello Friends,
I’ve decided to try something new for this article and provide you guys with a Buzzfeed-like list called “10 Ways To Stay Inspired as a Young Artist In The City.” My goal with this is to stand out from other lists that go viral on the Internet. Other similar articles will give you the same general ideas over and over again such as, “Walk the Brooklyn Bridge!” or “Go to the Metropolitan Museum!” I swear if someone tells me to drink more coffee I’m going to overdose on caffeine. Everyone already knows these things about New York, and yes they can be inspiring, but I want to provide you with specific places and habits that have helped me as an artist when I was creatively struggling. My hope is that you give them a try to see if they work for you. So without further ado, let’s begin!
1. Talk To Strangers
Yes I’m going against everything your parents told you when your young, and no I’m not advocating you to put yourself in a dangerous situation. However, the truth is that this can be an incredibly enlightening experience. If you see someone interesting, strike up a conversation. You’ll find that everyone has their own story that they are usually eager to share with another human. These are the stories you won’t find in headlines or in books. They are untold, unknown and unique. I think you will be quite surprised and moved by what people have to say. Also, by interacting with this person you have now made a new mark in their story and vice versa. That’s a pretty cool existential experience.
2. Carry a Notebook
These days everyone takes notes on their iPhones. For me, that doesn’t have the same effect as pen against paper. Write down everything. Conversations you overhear, interesting architecture you observe, emotions you’re feeling, or even descriptions of people you encounter and see how fast you start filling up pages. This will not only help you remember the ideas you come up with, but also you now have an encyclopedia of inspiration to reference whenever you’re feeling like you’ve hit a wall.
3. Stop and Listen
I’ve talked about this in a previous article I wrote called “Take Out Your Headphones.” Basically, take out your headphones and stop to listen or watch street performers. This is music you won’t hear on the radio and performances you won’t see on TV. If you like what you hear, give them a dollar (if you can) and talk to them. Ask if they have a website or business card and continue to expand your artistic horizons.
4. Visit the Chelsea galleries
I’m fortunate enough to have a job in the neighborhood of Chelsea so I interact with artists and see their art all the time. What a lot of people don’t know is that there are a bunch of art galleries that exist in this neighborhood that are free, and that there is always new exhibits being displayed. So instead of going to the Met and seeing the same sculptures of Greek guys with long beards, go to Chelsea and discover new artists and their work. Also, a lot of them are located right under the Highline, so take a break and enjoy one of the magnificent attractions of Manhattan.
5. Study Fellow New Yorkers
I know a lot of actors that follow around a random person in order to do a character study, but don’t think that this is a limited habit to them. Any artist can gather inspiration from studying someone they find interesting or have no background information about. Make up your own back story for them, turn them into a character, think about where they came from and where they’re going. Then when you’re feeling confident, go back to step one and talk to them to discover their true identity.
6. Eat outside
First of all, move away from the chain restaurants we all love (Chipotle, Starbucks and Panera Bread) and allow your taste buds to break boundaries. You live in New York and can try foods from all over the world, so do it. Now, take your meal and eat it on the sidewalk, or a park bench. With each bite, relate the tastes you’re experiencing to the environment around you. How does something spicy make you feel? If that guy sitting across from you was a specific kind of food, what would he be? This may sound weird, but I think food is one of the most underrated forms of inspiration.
7. Find a Rooftop
You’re constantly walking through a maze of city streets, so take a break from looking up and get a different perspective by looking down. If you don’t have a rooftop, ask some friends and I’m sure you can find access to one. A bird’s eye view of the city can allow you to see things from an angle you’ve never experienced before. Sometimes you have to distance yourself from your normal environment to be able to take it all in.
8. Go For a Walk
This one might seem obvious, but how about going for a walk without a specific destination? Walk in a neighborhood you’ve never been in before. I know I tend to get into routines easily and find myself rarely going down streets that don’t bring me to either work or school. This is unhealthy and limiting. There are thousands of things to be seen around you, so instead of going from A to B, go on a hike through the concrete jungle and you’ll find gems.
9. Go To Strand Bookstore and Pick Out a Used Book
Ah, Strand Bookstore. This place is truly my haven. If you’ve never been, it is two blocks down from Union Square and contains 18 miles of books. I could spend hours browsing their shelves. This can be inspiring in itself, but here’s a cool idea: go to the used book section and pick out a used book that has notes in it. This essentially gives you two stories for the price of one. You have the one that is written in the text, but you also have the story between the lines that the previous owner left. Who was he/she? What do you think they thought of this chapter? Why were they reading this book anyway? Maybe their notes can give you an alternate opinion on what your reading.
10. Practice Mindfulness In a City That Never Stops
Mindfulness is essentially staying present. Everyone in this city is always coming from somewhere and going somewhere else without taking the time to live in the moment. Take a moment and remember to breathe. Your breath is really the only thing in life you have complete control over anyway, right? So let your mind shut off, because just like everything else in this world, it needs to charge. Personally, I like to meditate and do yoga. Studies have shown that meditation and yoga help improve focus, decrease anxiety and promote creativity and compassion. Standing still in a city that never does will flood you with inspiration.
Live, Love, Learn,