Creating a creative atmosphere

[Belldanime]

Hey guys.
I was just wondering what it is that you guys do when you want to feel creative, but just can't.
There are times when I just can feel any motivation to do anything. What can I do to make myself feel more creative and motivated?
What makes up your creative atmosphere?

[MiniGoth]

Go someplace different.

Either pretty, with new things, or somewhere I can eavesdrop - like the shopping center.

Some friends of mine just started a little farm - so it's great to watch the sheep and goats, and very restful.

A change of scene can help things immensely.

[armando]

Do it even if you aren't motivated. A lot of people think they have to get pumped up first before they attempt something, just go and do it and the momentum will take of itself. If you always depend on being stoked before starting you'll hardly ever draw. A lot of times I don't feel like going to life drawing, then I basically tell myself,"if I don't do this then I'm not an artist", I pack my things then I just show up and then I find the inspiration within the model, I find the inspiration I don't wait for it to come to me, and if I don't feel inspired I draw anyway because that practice will give me the strength and skill I will need for when I am inspired. Art's easy, it's not as difficult as lots of other things, there is no intense physical pain in art as it is say in bodybuilding and other sports. Try something that is painful and difficult and takes lots of dedication and demands that you work even when you're sick and tired, then try art afterwards and there's really no comparison, it's so easy.

[Mr_S_14]

Is it just me that thinks (this may sound blunt or rude) lack of motivation is another way of saying "Hey Everybody, I'm Lazy!". When you wait for something to come to you nothing will happen, you just have to start moving and who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised, or not, but that's how it goes. You'll never know if you don't just do it.
Oh yeah, and most people might think I'm joking when I say this, but if I'm feeling lazy, or want some extra energy I like to eat some celery, and drink some orange juice, Fiber and staying hydrated.
Yup, and always have a few extra pieces of paper with you and some sharpened pencils, if you want to get portable fold the piece of paper into sections. Ever since I started doing that I haven't gone a day without filling up atleast one page of paper. Another thing that might keep your creativity flowing is to always give yourself something new to learn, Are you going to learn how to build and draw robots this week ? or maybe study the history of architecture ?(or both) once you start doing it, you'll start dreaming it, and you'll get better at it, enjoy it more, and just keep going from there. It's like a running high.

Edit; Creativity is an action word, Verb, not a feeling. The way you feel might influence your art, but I don't think creativity is really a feeling on it's own.

Another Edit: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111685

Also, don't just set aside time, but energy for your creative endeavors. However also remember resting without/before working is procrastination.

~Sean

[greenbears]

I agree with Mr_S_14 and armando, you've just got to keep going even if you dont feel motivated or creative. Professionals have to work and make great art just about every day, they can't not show up to work one day because they don't feel 'motivated'.

I find that when I do paintings and drawings even if I dont feel all that good about it, starting something gets me motivated. And I carry a notebook around with me to doodle or write down ideas that I might come back to later if I need an extra push.