Breaking out of your comfort zone in the art studio

When you’ve been making for a while, it’s easy to get into a groove. You’ve got your usual tools, your favorite materials, the subjects you come back to again and again. There’s comfort in that. Familiarity can be a stabilizing force, especially when other parts of life are unpredictable. But sometimes that comfort can quietly turn into a creative rut. You start noticing your work looks a little too similar. The excitement dulls. You keep showing up in the studio, but something’s missing.

This doesn’t mean your work is bad or that you’ve lost your creative spark. It just means you might be due for a shake-up. Not a dramatic overhaul, not a crisis... just a shift. A nudge into something unfamiliar. Trying something new (whether it’s a tool, a process, a subject, or a material) can open doors that you didn’t even know were there.

One of the simplest ways to break out of your routine is to switch up your materials. If you usually paint, try drawing. If you draw, maybe reach for collage. If you always work on paper, pull out a canvas... or even cardboard or scrap wood. There’s no rule that says you need to spend money to experiment. Sometimes the best experiments come from using what you already have in a new way. Try mixing media you wouldn’t normally combine. Layer watercolor over pencil. Add pastel to acrylic. Paint over pages torn from an old sketchbook. You’re not trying to make something “good.” You’re just seeing what happens.

If you’re used to working alone, consider making space to create around other people once in a while. Go to an open studio night, or invite a fellow artist to work alongside you for a day. Even if you’re working on separate pieces, the exchange of energy and conversation can spark something. It doesn’t have to be deep. Just talking through your process or hearing what someone else is stuck on can shift your own mindset. And sometimes just being seen while you work can help you get out of your own head.

Changing scale is another trick that sounds simple but works. If you always work small, try going larger. It will push you to make different decisions. You’ll have to move your body differently. You’ll have to think about composition in a new way. And if you always work large, try shrinking things down. Get into the detail. Work on a postcard. Revisit thumbnail sketches. That kind of scale change can help you see your process from another angle.

You might also look at how you’re choosing your subjects. If you tend to work intuitively, maybe give yourself a theme or constraint just for one session. Something like “only use three colors today” or “everything must be circular in some way” or “this piece has to include text.” And if you usually work from prompts or planned ideas, maybe just start without a plan and see where the material takes you. Changing how you begin can totally change what comes out.

And let’s talk about messiness for a second. A lot of artists struggle with the part where things look bad before they look better. That middle phase can be disheartening, especially when you’re trying something new. But getting through the ugly middle is usually part of the process. The more you practice sitting with that discomfort (trusting that it’s okay to not know where it’s going) the easier it gets to keep going. This is where a sketchbook or experimental journal can be useful. A space where no one sees the results but you. A space that doesn’t need to be shared or sold or “finished.” Just for testing, questioning, letting things be weird for a while.

Another way to stretch yourself is by documenting your experiments. Not for social media, unless you want to. Just for you. Take quick photos of works in progress. Jot down what you tried and how it felt. What worked. What didn’t. What surprised you. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns. You might even find that an idea you gave up on too early actually had something worth returning to.

If you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, attending a workshop can also be a helpful reset. Being in a space where the whole purpose is learning and exploring can take the pressure off. You don’t need to be good at it. You just need to show up. Sometimes watching how someone else works (how they hold a brush, or mix colors, or talk about their choices) can give you an entirely new way of thinking. Even an online course or casual demo can provide that perspective shift.

And if you’re not ready for a class, you could give yourself a mini version of that. Choose one new material or theme for the week. Set a timer for 30 minutes and try making without overthinking. Turn off the pressure to make something worth posting. Just make. Then do it again tomorrow. You’re building a rhythm, not chasing perfection.

Eventually, the goal is to not feel like you’re “leaving” your comfort zone... but that your zone has just gotten bigger. You’re building range. You’re making room for growth. You’re collecting skills and experiences that feed into everything else you do.

So if you’re feeling creatively flat, you’re not broken. You’re probably just ready for a change. Start small. Try one thing differently today. Let yourself mess it up. Let yourself be surprised. Let yourself find something new.

You don’t have to burn it all down to make space for something fresh. You just have to be willing to try.