5 minute sketches have helped me tremendously over the years as a creative. I do not consider myself an illustrator by any means, however I have found it helps to get the creative juices flowing. I look at life in a very linear fashion. What I mean by this is that most of the time what works in one area of life often works in another. If creativity is stifled then you are not able to think clearly, to process thoughts and create an output.
By nature I am mostly a photographer and a musician. By trade I do graphic design and web design. Both of the later takes my art background and combines it with a practical functionality of organization. I often spend many hours organizing companies information, text, and ideas in some way or another. When I find myself clogged or drained in either my art or my professional work I find that a few things work greatly…sleep, 5 minute sketches, vegetables, and exercise.
As of now we will just look at the 5 Minute Sketches. These can be done anywhere with any thought in your head. The idea is to let your subconscious mind take over and produce something. It doesn’t have to be good or even relevant to your current work. The idea is to get lost in your head…for 5 minutes and let the creative process take over again. Maybe go for a walk before and after. Rest yourself. Breaks are very important. Think of it as a kind of creative meditation. If you are really blocked start doing them through out the day. I find they are very helpful in my life.
Ideas happen to come from out of the blue. Have your ever woken up in the middle of the night with a solution to your problem…or driving home from work? This is why I always carry a journal or notepad with me. A phone or tablet also works fine, if that is what you prefer. In fact all of my sketches are done on tablets so I can quickly add color and then save them to a digitalized format. How you do it is up to you. Try it out and let me know your results, I am curious to see how it helps you in your life…even if you are not working in a creative field.
-be well