I signed up to receive daily emails from this art blog called Blankanvas. It's by a woman in Singapore who is hands down the most insightful, interesting and experienced woman that side of the earth. She's also über funny.

The email that I got tonight was about creativity, and why one person's thoughts and work are just as valuable as another's. It's hard to keep up the imagination, and really dig into the fun of art sometimes when it's your job. Below is Pat Law's email from Blankanvas, as well as some tips on ways to increase creativity.

Always have fun, get creative, and
Draw.

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Creativity is inherent to the success of any brand. Creativity is inherent to the growth of any culture. Creativity is the reason why you pay 200 million for an original Salvador Dali painting, and 20 bucks for a knockoff from a Balinese street artist.

Some might argue that creativity is innate and that it is a talent more than it is a skill. While I agree to a certain degree, I believe creativity can be cultivated as well. The recession’s great for creativity. It is only at your poorest that you learn how to be creative with your limited resources.

Here are 5 ways you can increase your creativity.

1. MAKE SPACE FOR CREATIVITY in the environment you work in. I appreciate toys and I have them to keep me company while I work. Tardiness distracts me, and hence I keep my workstation as neat as I can.

2. SLOW DOWN AND OBSERVE the world around you. In today’s time staved world, we tend to miss the beauty surrounding us. Take time. Inspiration is drawn from observation. What have you observed lately?

3. CRITICISE CREATIVITY, especially if it's your own. I have seen 100-slide presentations with a massive collection of ideas and none of which made cow sense. I have a personal QC technique that I practice religiously, particularly with my own ideas – if a 7-year-old could’ve told you the same thing, don’t present it. If there is no “OMFG, this is brilliant!” element, don’t present it. Have some respect for your own job, would you? Just remember one thing – the client does not pay you to lie. Be brave enough to criticize your own goods.

4. BE A SOCIAL WH*RE and mingle with different tribes of passion. Sticking by our own tribe is great for vertical expansion of knowledge, but it halts our linear knowledge. When we become too preoccupied with ourselves, we tend to become myopic and close-minded. Close-mindedness and creativity don’t gel. They never do.

5. LEARN TO VISUALIZE YOUR OWN IDEAS in an organized framework in your mind. I picked this skill up when I was six or so from my art teacher who taught me to construct my painting in my mind before I executed it against a canvas. This preparatory skill has enabled me today, to massage fuzzy ideas into a logical framework mentally. It enables me to make sense of my idea (and also eliminate all that don’t make sense).