Help! My creativity is blocked!

I used to think that being an artist would consist of endless hours joyfully creating art without a care in the world. But then I found that creative blocks can occur, and when one is feeling unable to create anything resembling art, a whole lot of frustration and wasted time can follow.

So why does this occur? And can anything be done about it?

Well, the good news is that even though there can be several paths leading to this stuck place, there are also several things that can be done to remedy the situation.

I have identified in my own practice a few major creativity killers that I would like to share with you.

One of the biggest obstacles that I have found to a smooth creative flow is clutter of any kind. I know that this sounds very obvious but it really helps to have an organized work space that is free from clutter and distractions. One of the best pick-me-ups I have found when feeling blocked is to do a bit of housework around the studio; a tidy space is so much more welcoming than one that is cluttered and crowded. A word of warning, though, this ‘nesting’ is great when it is productive, but not so great when used as a procrastination tool.

Speaking of procrastination, apart from literal physical clutter of any kind, it is also a good idea to look for any mental clutter that can lead one to procrastinate. By mental clutter I mean any kind of fear, negativity, worry or pressure. It is difficult to make art when you are worrying about what to cook for dinner that night, or if you remembered to feed the cat, or that everything you do is bound to ‘suck’.

Keeping healthy mentally is not only a good way of life, but also good for your art practice. I have found that things like meditation, healthy eating, and regular exercise all contribute to a healthy mind and body, and a more productive art practice.

It also helps to establish your creative zone as just that, the place you go to be creative, not to worry. Little rituals can help with this, such as mentally dropping your worries at the studio door – you can always get them later if you need to – or calling upon a higher power before undertaking creative activity, or using affirmations or even burning incense, basically anything that works for you in reinforcing to your mind that this time and space is for creating in. Repetition seems to really help here, as it helps establish a habit in the mind.

Of course this is easier said than done, and can take a little effort at first but your mind will eventually get it and it will become easier with practice. Artists are people too, and subject to pressures, both internal and external. I have issues with time pressure and find that the little rituals mentioned above help create for me the sense of timelessness that I feel is so valuable for creativity.

Negativity is another obstacle that often trips me up, both my own and the negativity coming from the environment. That is why it is important to me to try to be as healthy and grounded as possible and to arrange my space in a way that really feels special and sacred to me.

And I like to nurture my art as I would a baby, especially in its early stages. This can often mean that I don’t show it to people who are negative, judgmental or just don’t ‘get it’. If I am off balance and not feeling that confident myself, then it doesn’t take much to throw me even further off kilter when some one is less than positive about my work in its early stages; it’s better to feel good about yourself and your work first before you show it to any would be critics.

In a more general way I try to reduce negative influence as much as possible by trying not to watch too much news – especially not in the studio- trying to limit or avoid contact with negative people, and again, trying to keep myself as strong as I can so I don’t fall prey to my own negativity.

Lastly it’s the little things that help. I have heard it said time and time again, but it always helps before you go into the studio to make sure you will have no distractions, turn off your mobile phone if necessary, grab yourself a cuppa, empty your mind AND your bladder and get ready to have some fun. And it should be fun; if your work didn’t turn out the way you expected it does not mean that you have to hang up your brushes for good, it could just be an off day. But the only way to get better is to keep on going even if you lack inspiration. Sometimes it’s just a slog, but sometimes it really is sheer joy but the slog helps get you to the joy.

I hope this has been of use to you, it’s certainly helped me to be reminded of what to do to unblock stuck creativity, and to try to avoid getting stuck in the first place.

Since I have been feeling a little stuck myself these past couple of days I haven’t made much in the way of new art – I know, I am like the mechanic with a broken down car- and have illustrated this with older works so I don’t feel like a total hypocrite. And it never hurts to remember your successes along the way!