As an artist now working in the corporate world, one question has always fascinated me:
“What lessons from creating art can be applied to the workplace?”
Over time, I’ve realised that the creative skills and imaginative approach involved in making art are highly transferable to a business environment.
From Sketchbook to Strategy
Art is big, but I’ll talk about sketching – the thing I love most. When I sketch, I’m not just drawing lines on paper. I’m catching ideas, trying out new things, and thinking with my eyes. Sketching helps me show what I see or what I imagine.
Sometimes a sketch takes a few seconds, sometimes a bit longer. The cool thing is, sketches don’t have to be perfect. This makes it fun and free! It’s the same with solving problems at work – you don’t need the perfect answer right away. You just need to start trying out your ideas.
Creative Building Blocks at Work
Studying art taught me the building blocks of creativity:
- To Observe – noticing details others might miss.
- To Try again– improving ideas through small, quick tests.
- To Express clearly – communicating ideas clearly, visually or verbally.
I now use these skills daily in my corporate role. Innovation in business is a process, and creativity is at its heart — the stage where ideas are generated before they’re refined and implemented.
Free Your Imagination
My biggest lesson: don’t feel stuck doing what others have done. In art, every blank page is a chance to try something new. At work, every project is the same – a chance to come up with fresh ideas. You can learn from others, change their ideas, or make something totally new.
When you free your imagination, creativity comes easily!
Takeaway: Just as sketching transforms blank paper into possibilities, creative thinking can turn challenges at work into opportunities. The artist’s mindset isn’t just for the studio — it’s a powerful tool for innovation in any field.