Artist Block refers to the blank state of mind that creators experience when trying to--well, create. It can apply to anyone working in any medium like paintings, films, or novels (you might be more familiar with the term Writer's Block; it's the same thing). Sometimes Artist Block can be a sign of an overworked mind. In this case, you could consider it a blessing in disguise, as it gives artists time to sit back, reset, and mentally dig a little deeper. However, when your livelihood depends on your ability to churn out creations, there's little-to-no silver linings.
If you do a quick google search, you'll find a lot about Artist Block; what it is, and how to fix it. But we could compare this practice to having a common illness, researching at-home remedies online. What might work great for someone else might not work for you, or vice versa. So, take my remedies with a grain of salt. You could very well resonate with all or none of my solutions. If you have an Artist Block fix that works for you, comment below!
Also, keep in mind that allowing space for creative thinking will take action. Inspiration hardly ever comes to us out of thin air, but because a sound or a smell or a dream sparked it to reality. Don't be afraid to do the work!
Here are my remedies for Artist Block, in no particular order:
Take a class. If available/relevant to your field, I highly recommend this strategy. I, for example, am a figure-artist, and I go to a weekly club in Salt Lake City, UT where artists meet to draw models for a 3 hour time period at the end of the work day. I know this sounds tedious, especially if you're set in your ways in your practice. However, when I force myself into an environment with like-minded professionals who are hard at work, it puts my own mind in a productive space. This is the #1 thing that helps me get through Artist Block.
Visit a museum/artist talk. Most cities and Universities will usually have a public art museum, and some will host artist talks given by local/traveling artists. This strategy leans on taking a class, but it's a more introverted option where you can travel freely and go at your own pace.
Exercise. It's recommended by many health professionals that we exercise at least 30 minutes per day. I hate to be the one to say it, but there are reasons why we feel better after a workout. Our bodies reward us for doing things that better ourselves! Even if you don't have 30 minutes every day, doing something is better than nothing. Keeping our bodies healthy aids in keeping our minds healthy, too. What can it hurt?
Change your space. This one is small, but it works wonders. My part-time job outside of painting and drawing is Social Media Management for a local paint-your-own-pottery studio. It's usually around 2-4 hours of computer work per day, but following that I need to do my own management for my small business (which can be another 2-4 hours on the computer). By the time I get to the work that I need to get done for my own business, I can be burnt out. So, every day, I change my space. If I work from home, I do my personal business work at a coffee shop. If I work at a coffee shop, I do my personal work at a library. This strategy isn't available to everyone, but it's easy to find small ways to switch up your environment: sketch at a Barnes & Noble instead of at your desk, or video edit at a coffee shop out of town.
Listen to music an outsider would expect to hear while you work. This one is funny. When I was in school getting my Bachelors, one of my favorite classes was Figure Painting. It was overwhelming at first. Sometimes it was stifling hot. Sometimes the model was too chatty. Sometimes my fellow artist friend didn't show up to class. I was too focused on what was going on around me, versus what was not happening on my canvas. As a joke, I turned on Italian Dinner Party music in my headphones (you can find this playlist on Apple Music), and began to paint. I quickly noticed that my attitude changed, and that I was open to experimenting when it came to techniques. I pretended that I belonged with the pros like Michelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci. It worked! The distractions dissipated, and I felt in control. (Now I listen to Jazz instead of Dinner Party Music, but it has the same effect.)
These are the most effective strategies for me. But there are SO many more ways to help you with your creative journey. What's your favorite strategy?
Gillian Mark
Goosey Art
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