5 Unconventional Ways to Find Your Inner Artist by Katya Rowny

Written by Katya Rowny

We’ve all heard of the dreaded “creative rut.” But what happens when it becomes more than that and the artistic drive struggles to get back online?

In this article, I’m going to give you some unconventional advice to help restart the artist living inside of you.

To be honest, I have never considered myself a creative person; I leave those labels to the “true” artists, like painters and innovators. Okay, reading that sentence makes me sound harsh and a little ridiculous, because I have come to realize that creativity knows no labels or boundaries.

Once we are able to acknowledge where we are (or not) on our creative journey, the magic finds us again. Let me show you how.

1. Set the Bar Low

I had so many plans for my film journey this year. In my head, of course, but I had goals! But as the months trudged on, I found myself forgetting what cameras held which film and where some of them even were.

So starting in February, I pledged to a simple manageable project: shoot whatever roll was in my half frame Kodak H35N. For this year, I am dedicating myself to capturing it all on my easy to use half frame camera.

Will the images be stellar or win awards? Probably not, but the simple act of pressing the button and moving on takes a matter of seconds. I am setting the bar very low for myself so that my success will feel easy and do-able.

On my kid’s birthday, I took two pictures of him and felt satisfied, because my goal was to capture a photo of him on his birthday on film, and I did that. I know that some people will go to elaborate lengths and set up a studio-like setting, and I think that’s awesome, but for me, low bar, easy success. Some of my favorite images have been captured on this silly plastic toy-like camera.

2. Support Creative Friends

Another way to find your inner artist is to support your creative friends.

If you live in an area with a local film photography group, get involved by showing up to local shows that they host. If you feel so inclined, volunteer to help host the event or design a flyer, etc. I have two local-ish film groups near me, and they both put on monthly events such as meetups, photowalks, and shows featuring local artists.

Surround yourself with like-minded people. Wear your camera and watch a conversation spark.

When we are not feeling like ourselves, we tend to isolate and keep ourselves small, but in reality, the best thing you can do for yourself is to be with others, mingle, drag a friend with you, but changing your surroundings and inputs can have drastic positive effects on your wellbeing.

3. Try a Program

A simple way I have been reconnecting with myself this year is doing The Artists Way, but the easy version. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a self-help book and creative recovery guide designed to help people reconnect with their creativity and overcome artistic blocks.

Structured as a 12-week program, it combines practical exercises, reflective prompts, and weekly themes that address common obstacles such as fear, self-doubt, perfectionism, and procrastination.

At its core are two foundational practices: Morning Pages, a daily stream-of-consciousness writing exercise meant to clear mental clutter, and the Artist Date, a weekly solo outing intended to nurture inspiration and curiosity.

Cameron frames creativity as a natural human trait rather than a rare talent, emphasizing that anyone can cultivate it through consistent practice and self-compassion.

Overall, the book blends spirituality, psychology, and creativity coaching, encouraging readers to rediscover play, trust their intuition, and build sustainable creative habits.

Honestly, I have heard a lot of great things about this book and it comes highly recommended. I ended up borrowing a book from my friend and quickly became overwhelmed with all of the to-dos. So instead of giving up and quitting, I have started doing the daily Morning pages, but the easy version.

Basically, that looks like writing for 10 minutes or 3 pages worth (whichever comes first) anytime throughout the day. I try to write before 12 so I can basically dump all of my random thoughts on paper, but if it ends up being in the evening, I still consider that a win.

This method of writing by hand will bring you hand cramps and a less cluttered mind. I bought a simple composition notebook and a fun pen so that the hurdles are low enough that it makes it easy to be successful.

If you are interested in doing this but worry you won’t follow through, I found some online groups that treat this like a group project and keep the participants accountable with a more structured approach. I would highly recommend this if you are worried about falling off the bandwagon, plus I think that if you invest money into something, you are more likely to see it through to completion.

4. Start a Project

One of my favorite ways to find yourself is by participating in a monthly/ yearly project. While there are a bunch out there, I want to toot my own horn for a second and make a shoutout for the global film project that I have run since 2024.

The rules are simple (again, low bar for success): shoot a different camera every month and share some of your images. If you don’t have 12 different cameras, then use a different type of film.

One year, a participant (shoutout to @jasonbiehner) went from the smallest format to the largest and had some hiccups along the way and shared the ups and downs. I’ve had participants from all over the world join, from Australia and France, Europe and different states across the US.

Now you may be thinking it’s already February, I can’t join, and this is the part where I tell you, so what! You can do March 2026-March 2027 for a year versus the typical January to January; do what works for you. While I joined this project the first year I hosted, I found that I enjoyed watching and supporting from the sidelines with my H35N more.

5. Get Off Social Media

Last but not least, get off of social media. Our consumption has grown to epic proportions while our self esteems plummet.

I recently deleted Facebook and am grateful I don’t have the temptation to scroll and compare. I do still have other social media apps but work hard to limit my time on them.

I find myself stuck in the comparison trap of others and feeling paralyzed, not wanting to even pick up my camera.

While it may sound like I am bashing social media, I have found some wonderful film communities that have helped spark my creativity. I joined an analog postcard exchange and received beautiful images from around the world. I ended up connecting with a few other people outside of the exchange and sending/ receiving additional postcards to different countries. I also did a polaroid exchange earlier last year and connected with an artist based in Belgium.

Balancing our social media input can have positive effects on our lives when we remember to be social and connect rather than just consume and compare.

Final Thoughts

Even when the world feels heavy, it’s important that we take care of ourselves and find glimmers throughout our day.

A glimmer is the opposite of a trigger, a small moment that fosters feelings of joy, safety, and calm. Some of my glimmers include my cup of coffee in the morning, walking my dog outside, and interacting with my film cameras. That could include cleaning gear, organizing cameras and taking inventory of my film stock.

My hope is that you are able to find your way back to yourself and create art that you love again. So what’s one thing you’ll do today to reconnect with the artist inside?

Thank you so much, Katya! Katya is a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film, and you can check out her other articles here, such as Canon Sure Shot WP-1 Review: A Weatherproof Film Camera Perfect for Rainy Days and The Best Film Cameras for Travel.

You can also find more of Katya’s work on her website and Instagram.

Let us know how you find your inner artist below in the comments, and let us know any questions you have!

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Katya Rowny

Katya Rowny is a travel photographer and a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film. Find her other articles here, such as Olympus XA2 Point & Shoot Film Camera Review and Elektra 100 Film Review.

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