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Out of school and more often than not, out of money, the average artist can become easily jaded once served a big, heaping spoonful of the real world. Bombarded from all sides with bills, deadlines, social pressures and the stress of a 9 to 5, the source of writer's block is often right under an artist's nose. Even if the artist cannot single out a certain activity that produces it, those going round and round with a bout of The Block are influenced by an ever-condensing cloud that hangs between them and creativity. Sure, some rays of light may break through for a moment, but not enough to call it a sunny day.

The perfect cure must strike a harmonious balance between a child's creative wonder and an adult's expanded know-how and ambition. While this may seem obvious, and much easier said than done, maybe rekindling the inner artist and finding a productive creative zone isn't as complicated as many think. So throw out fasting and meditation for a while. No need to go on a backpacking journey through the wilderness armed with only a can opener. Put down the self help books for a minute.

Think about this. Children don't get The Block or have to search for their inner artist, because they don't take for granted the time they have to be creative. When faced with boredom as kids, it was enough to simply pull out a couple pieces of scratch paper and start doodling away. Puppies. Houses and sunshine. Cards for mom and dad. Three-page literary epics where good always triumphed. The only thing that held us back was the outer limits of imagination. And when we ran out of paper? Easy- just draw on a wall, kitchen counter or newly upholstered couch. I can still hear my mom screaming.

History has proven that some of the most revered artistic work ever produced has broken the rules and challenged some very staunch status quo- often by doing something deemed a tad silly, like cutting your parents' mortgage bill to make paper snowflakes when you were 8. No, you don't have to switch to cubism from realism or spray paint a water tower- but to see a drastic change in your creative output, put yourself in the same shoes that you were in as a child.

Eat a whole bunch of cookies, drink a few sodas, flip on some cartoons and ruin your bathroom wall with some crayons. Smatter paint on the kitchen table. Make a decorative hat from a cereal box. Getting in touch with your youth will bring out a wildly creative spurt of inspiration. Feeling like you are getting away with something will up your creative adrenaline. While you're at it, maybe even write a poem for mom and dad or draw them a picture of your childhood pet with psychedelic fur. They'll be happy to hear that you're up to the same old tricks.

Learn more about this author, Tea Jones.
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