Article by guest blogger Erika Szabo

Be in the moment.

Sara Blake, otherwise known as ZSO (@hellozso), is an illustrator and designer who works in both traditional and digital mediums to create surreal and inspiring images. These works are hand-drawn in pencil, ink, and watercolor, and then finished digitally with splashes of colour and texture. Blake focuses heavily on improvisation and uses this natural process to establish that sense of whimsy. “It’s about being okay with making mistakes and how those mistakes lead to success.”

So how can we create these environments and become more creatively free?  “Create a fail-friendly environment. Separate the kind of work you want to do for money.” Let your creative muscles stretch and strengthen and find what works best for you and only you. Find your inspirations, get a feel for what you’re good at and share those ideas with others.

Blake’s need to work organically and inspire others to do the same lead her to do several projects bent on letting go. Run Your Jewels was one project series that gave artists the opportunity to submit their “remixes” of one of Blake’s pieces and create something fresh and fluid. “It’s an existential experience -- you never know what's inside your own brain. That's why I like to make images, it's all about having fun.”

Becoming in-tune with your process is another important factor in finding creative freedom.  In November 2010, Blake was asked to create a live piece of art around the TEDx Brooklyn logo, “Ideas Worth Spreading.”  That time lapse gave Blake a chance to observe her process through a spectator’s view and become more comfortable and flexible with her methods. It offers something completely new, yet entirely familiar.

Sometimes, being aware means making mistakes. Blake expressed how no matter how frustrating or tedious a project may be, finding a solution to your problems is part of improving yourself and letting go of those worries.  Find your own way of doing things -- there’s no one way.

Letting go isn’t simply about escaping creative limitations, it’s also about finding the best solution without getting too sentimental. The creative process is a fleeting experience that needs to be approached at a distance. When you can comfortably distance yourself from your works, yet still create meaning, it can potentially lead to even greater gains.

And probably the most important step in all of this? Practice. “Getting better means practicing everyday.” Hone in on your skills and work for something more. Dabble in other skills and find your potential. You never know what it may be, mistakes and all.