Do You Need Solutions To Lift Creative Blocks?

Has your creative spark gone missing?

So, you’ve been avoiding your studio, you’ve been treading water with ideas, you’re just not feeling it. I get it. I’ve been there.

Let’s look at:

• Questions to ask yourself
• Root Cause
• Solutions

I believe that life flows in waves. Sometimes we are up on top of the wave, other times we are cruising the wave and there are definitely times where we feel like we are being dumped by the wave. When we are feeling dumped by the wave, we often lack the enthusiasm for creating. How do you get past that?

Questions to ask yourself:

Why am I feeling like this?
Is this a problem that can be solved?
What am I afraid of?
Is there too much going on?
How can I lessen the overwhelm?
Sit somewhere quiet as you think on the answers to these.

Root Cause

Often the root of avoidance is fear. I have found that if I just keep asking myself questions and answering, I will get to the bottom of the wave dump. So an example would be:

Why can’t I walk into my art studio?- I just don’t want to go in there.

Why don’t you want to go in there? – I don’t have anything I want to create.

Why don’t you have anything you want to create? – I feel like my brain has shut down to ideas.

Why has your brain shut down to ideas? ….. keep going from there. Eventually answers will appear, a lightbulb will go off and help you see the light.

 

Just remember, you are asking yourself these questions to find the root cause. Try to be gentle with yourself. I know that we can go on the defensive if pushed, but when you get to the point of recognising you can help yourself, you will need to face some hard truths. Once you can face them, you can clear them. As I said, most of our blocks are caused by a fear. Often as an artist, it’s the fear of not being good enough. It can also be the fear of not being able to beat your best work. There are many other fears, unfortunately.

Once you have done your questions, found the fear lurking in the depths, you can put some things in place to move through the fear.

Solutions to Creative Blocks

You’ve asked the questions and discovered the root of your blockage, now you can get to work to break it down. I have found that the best solution is to grab any piece of paper, a pen/pencil and just doodle. When you remove performance expectations, you open up the space to just play. Play brings you back to yourself, to all that you love about creating. This is also where an art journal comes in handy. Remember, everything can be covered with paint!! Lol

 

Often when you have become blocked, you may have placed expectations on yourself or allowed others to place expectations on you. By stepping into play, you remove all of those and just connect with yourself in a way that is pure. You are creating just for you.

Why did I suggest pen and paper? Why not paints, canvas etc? You’re not going into your art studio, remember? It still represents responsibility and expectations. If you just grab a pen and paper and sit at the kitchen bench, that’s different. So basically, just change your location, and have simple drawing tools.

What can you draw that doesn’t feel overwhelming to you?

Well, you can literally just move the line over the paper in no particular order. When you have some spaces, go in and fill them in with lines, dots, hearts, squiggles etc. You are just there to have fun. For some people doing that is stressful, so look out the window and sketch that, or tap into what you doodle when you are relaxed, what is your go to? I personally always end up sketching a face or flower, as well as repetitive patterns.

Here are some ideas to help your flow:

• Look out the window and sketch what you see (that often freaks me out so I wouldn’t do that, but it’s familiar for others.)
• Go outside, pick a flower, and sketch.
• Create patterned paper – maybe for collage later on.
• Draw something using only straight lines
• Draw something using scribble lines
• Go to the studio and fetch a favourite drawing implement and maybe one thing to use that brings in colour.
• Create some sketches of similar things.
• Look through magazines and tear out pages/pictures with great colour. Tear them up to create a collage page you can then cut out to create a design.
• Draw with your non dominant hand.
• Attend an art class (online or in person)
• Go for a nature walk collecting leaves, pods etc for inspiration
• Spend time at some of your favourite places

Once you have begun doing these, you will see that light and enthusiasm will begin to emerge. You will start to get inspired and take some small steps.

Always remember that we all need a break and just because you love art and love to create doesn’t mean you can’t take breaks from it. Learn to have holiday time. Step away and spend time in nature and with your family. It’s a healing time and not only that, very necessary to recharge your batteries.

So, next time you start to feel blocked, embrace it and know that your body probably needs a break. Honour that.

There are plenty of books around to help with creative block. I have a few but here’s one I did a book review/flip through recently. It’s called “The Little Spark” by Carrie Bloomston. Check out the video on my YouTube channel.

 

 

Until next time, happy Creating

Deb x

Do You Need Solutions To Lift Creative Blocks?

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