Feeling in a slump and looking to get those creative juices going again? Try any or all of these simple things to inspire the artist within to awaken:

1. Take a Yoga or Pilates class to get the blood flowing and the mind to relax.

2. Browse the latest issue of Print Magazine or better yet, buy a book about vintage posters, patterns, or photography to give you something visually stimulating to look at while you search for a new idea (or borrow from an old one).

3. Crank up the i-tunes, close the blinds, and dance to your favorite music….go ahead, you know you want to…nobody’s lookin’.

4. Take your digital camera out to the main business street and give yourself the assignment of photographing the entire alphabet using individual letters from different signs. (For more of a challenge - limit yourself to san serif or only serif fonts). Save these in a folder to use on some appropriate - or even inappropriate - graphic project.

5. Use a xerox machine to scan/photocopy different objects you have around the office or house to create interesting forms or letterforms.

6. Get out your drawing pad and sketch your foot or shoe using your favorite black pen.

7. While you’re drawing, sketch the perfect tattoo you would like to have if you were to get one (or add another one).

8. In Illustrator choose your favorite font….select your favorite letters in that font. Make it about 30 pts big and outline the font. Select the Rotate tool and click on any part of the letter (the top or bottom tends to work nicely, but any part will do). For Mac, hold down the option key while you move the cursor. Release to make a 2nd copy of the letter. Now click command D (Mac) to repeat as many times as necessary to complete the circular pattern you are creating. Try it with different letters or different starting points to create unlimited unique and interesting patterns. This ought to keep you busy for hours. Hopefully it will inspire you for whatever project you were stalled on….

Please feel free to add any of your own suggestions to this posting…