Summer Art Photo Dump and dealing with “artist’s block”
I’ve been wrapped up with a project for a client this summer. I was pretty paralyzed by this since it was my first art commission. I literally had artist block and was unable to start at first. To get started I pushed myself to work on a few things when I wasn’t able to move on the larger project. This is just a random photo dump. Let me know what you think! More to come!
In the meantime, here is a little bit of advice about how to get unstuck when you’re unable to work on your art or creative projects.
Take a Break: Sometimes, pushing yourself too hard can lead to burnout and creative block. Step away from your art for a little while. Engage in other activities, relax, and clear your mind. This break can often refresh your creativity. For this project, I didn’t have burnout, I was just frozen because of the pressure I put on myself.
Experiment with New Mediums: Trying out different artistic mediums or techniques can break the monotony and stimulate your creativity. If you're primarily a painter, try sculpting, photography, or digital art for a change. For me, I follow this advice a lot and alternate between painting, digital projects and even woodworking.
Inspiration Hunt: Look for inspiration in various places such as nature, books, movies, music, or even other artists' work. Pinterest, Instagram, and art-related websites can be great sources of inspiration. One additional thing that I’ve found useful and interesting is exploring and brainstorming art approaches, layout and colors using AI. Really you say? Yes!
Challenge Yourself: Set specific challenges or limitations for your work. For example, limit your color palette, use only a certain type of brush or tool, or create a piece inspired by a particular theme or word.
Art Journaling: Keep an art journal where you can freely doodle, sketch, or write down ideas. This can be a low-pressure way to explore your creativity without the expectation of creating a finished piece. I do this a lot with just pen and ink so I can sit on the couch with my family and keep things clean and simple.
Visit Museums and Galleries: Surrounding yourself with art can be inspiring. Visit museums, galleries, or art exhibitions to immerse yourself in different styles and ideas. Personally, I can’t help but come home inspired and motivated after I go to a museum or gallery.
Set a Routine: Establishing a regular art-making routine can help keep your creative juices flowing. Even on days when you don't feel particularly inspired, showing up and working on something small can lead to breakthroughs. I know. I know. This can be hard. I definitely need to take my own advice here.
Read and Learn: Sometimes, learning something new or reading about art theory and techniques can spark new ideas and perspectives. Consider taking workshops or courses related to your art form. YouTube.com is a great source of inspiration. But, don’t get sucked into just watching others create all the time. It’s easy to do and I end up doing this all the time!
Embrace Failure: Don't be afraid to make mistakes or create "bad" art. Every piece you make doesn't have to be a masterpiece. Failure is often a necessary part of the creative process. As you can see from the photo dump below, not all creations are masterpieces!
Stay Patient and Persistent: Artist's block can be frustrating, but remember that it's a temporary phase. Keep pushing through it, and eventually, your creativity will flow again. Take small steps. Just don’t quit.
