Overcoming a Creative Block

Currently, I’m reading repeatedly artists asking the question: “Are you struggling to work at the moment?” It seems the distractions of the world grappling with the Corona Virus is causing a global creative block. At the same time, people are confined to quarters and looking for something to do to inject some positivity into their lives. So, we have another global problem. Not perhaps quite on the scale of Covid-19, but a problem nonetheless; an urge to be creative and yet a struggle to find the well of creative juices.

So what do we do to overcome a creative block?

As an artist, this is bread and butter. Many times I have wanted to work but just not found the joy in it, or struggled to find a starting point to get hooked. Usually it’s a battle of the mind. It will come as a result of listening to those voices in your head telling you that your work isn’t as good as others, or that for some reason you will never make it to the hallowed ground of ‘successful artist’. Some studio time might not have gone so well the day prior and the workspace has been left in a mess. All of this can put hurdles in your way before you even reach for your brush.

Over time though I have learnt that there are practices to put in place so that these hurdles are easier to nimbly leap over.

Firstly, and most obviously, try and keep a tidy or reasonably ordered workspace. To have to confront a bombsite in order to find your good paper and favourite pencil is annoying when creativity is in full flow. When your juices are waning it can just be too overwhelming and give you the best of excuses not to persevere.

Now, the bigger battle: the voices. Well those voices come from your inner survivor. The caveman or woman who was alert to risk and ready to holler if impending doom was imminent. When you step into the unknown that primal voice is on high alert to warn you of danger. The only problem is that the dear old primal can’t differentiate between necessary risk and the grizzly bear. So, when you lift that brush and are about to go all Jackson Pollock on your canvas the voice screams “STOP RIGHT THERE!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING? YOU’RE GOING TO RUIN EVERYTHING” Poor primal puppy. It’s at this point, you have to reassure and gently speak kind words “Shhh, little voice. I know you’re afraid, and thanks for the warning, but I’ve got this. You go and sit QUIETLY in the corner and keep your eye out for the Grizzly, I’ll get on with the painting.” Honestly, it’s that simple. If you recognize where that voice comes from, be kind to it and put it in it’s place gently, you will be empowered to move on in YOUR direction.

“The Creative Adult is the Child who Survived”

— Ursula Leguin

Ok, so now our workspace and headspace are sorted, what do we do to find the spark?

Here, we look to our inner 4 year old. The kid that marched up to the painting table at kindy without a care in the world. She didn’t wonder what she was going to make, she just glooped up a big splodge of yummy colour on the nearest brush to hand, and dragged it across the paper and felt the fun. The mess on the table was testament to the experimentation as she dipped into collage and back into paint, not forgetting a little foray with the crayons. One little artist I know would be so involved in her creative world she would confuse the chalk crayons with morning tea, and her Monet inspired mouth was a creation in itself! Play, play and more play. To appease the adult in you, you could make a list of all the things that you love; the colours that you love and the materials you love to use and things you love to draw. Then find combinations you haven’t done before and go from there. That could give you a starting point, but if your focus is not on producing a masterpiece but rather on experimenting and discovering new ways of working with materials and media then that 4 year old might have more room to roam.

What else?

Play some uplifting music while you gloop around with the paint. Dance with brush in hand. Squeeze out a new colour you don’t usually use. Paint with your left hand (if you’re right handed). Just do DIFFERENT in as many ways as you can and know that you are putting yourself right in the place of discovery where creativity comes from.

Here are some more quotes:

“Creativity is Intelligence having Fun” Albert Einstein

“You can’t use up Creativity, the more you Use, the More you Have.” Maya Angelou

So there you are. To give yourself the best chance at being creative in this crazy world and beyond. Be tidy, Shush your Primal Puppy, and be 4 again. Happy Creating!!

If you would like to bring your new inspired self over to my group The Baggy Jeans Art Club where I share more of my process and encourage all creative endeavours, I would love to see you there.

Please comment below if you have found this breakdown of the ‘creative breakdown’ helpful, I would love to hear from you.