Speaking honestly about my creative block (& how I got out of it)

Tips for those of you who are going through the same situation

An Autumn Walk © Natasha Newton 2025

I wanted to share two new paintings with you today, and talk honestly about the creative process and what I've been going through recently. It's been a bit of a tough start to the year, artistically speaking. I've thrown away more work than I've kept (something I have in common with Francis Bacon apparently!), and I've started several pieces, only to lose interest halfway through and abandon them. Some have been thrown into the studio wood burner, others are in the bin. The rest sit there looking at me in a slightly sad or disappointed way, as if to say, "You're never going to finish me, are you?".

The First Winds of Autumn © Natasha Newton 2025

At one point, I thought I'd lost the ability to paint. It sounds a bit dramatic, doesn't it?! I'd managed to make two forest drawings that I was happy with, but apart from that, there was very little happening in the way of finished work - until the past couple of weeks. I'm suddenly making work I love again, and it seems that I was in some kind of artistic or creative block. When I googled 'artistic block' to find out how it was defined, here's what it said - I've put a tick and some notes beside all of the points that applied to me:

• Lack of motivation or inspiration ✔️ (at times I didn't even want to paint, which is very unlike me)

• Feeling bored, tired, or overwhelmed ✔️ (I had wanted to do so much at the start of the year, but my enthusiasm melted away and instead I just felt overwhelmed and exhausted by everything)

• Self-doubt or fear of failure ✔️ (this loomed large - I found myself doubting everything, and the lack of confidence was crippling)

• Procrastination or distraction ✔️ (I lost myself in stitching, because it was comforting to be creative in a different way when I felt I couldn't paint)

• Repetition or stagnation ✔️ (I just kept doing the same things over and over - they didn't work and my art felt stagnant)

• Finding it difficult to produce creative works regularly ✔️ (I would compare myself to others who seem so prolific - some people I follow post new art on Instagram every day! - and I'd wonder why I couldn't do the same)

• Struggling with how to bring ideas to life ✔️ (I had a ton of ideas, but lacked the clarity and confidence to bring them to fruition)

As you can see, all of them applied to me! I did think that there may be one or two that wouldn't as I worked my way through the list, but no. This is obviously a classic case of creative block.

So what did I do to get out of it?

• I kept working as much as I could, even when I hated almost everything I was making. You never know when you're going to hit upon an idea, style, or technique you love. The breakthrough will come eventually, but it definitely won't come if you stop working altogether.

• I tried to be kind to myself, and I talked to Dominic and a couple of friends about how I was feeling. They gave me some perspective, and helped to replenish my confidence a bit. I also stopped comparing myself to others. I'm never going to be the person who can create a painting each and every day of the year. I'm never going to be able to stick to lengthy art challenges and see them through (I'll talk more about that soon). And that's ok - quality is way more important than quantity, and we all work differently.

• When I really didn't feel like I could face making art, I chose another creative pursuit. For me, that was stitching. I took the time to work on several projects, which are ongoing, and the positive feedback I received from sharing those gave me a little boost. The act of working on them lifted my spirits, and took my mind off the problems I was having with my art, at least for a while.

• I tried to critique my work; what was it that I didn't like about it and why? I identified a few things, including that it needed to have more of a sense of movement, but without losing the calm atmosphere my work has become known for and that I enjoy painting. I also wasn't using watercolours in the way I'd like to use them. I was being too heavy-handed and trying to control them too much, which was making the work feel stiff and overdone.

• I started a new sketchbook with the express purpose of using it for watercolour and coloured pencil/watercolour pencil experiments and tests. I'm using it as a sketchbook should be used! This is my laboratory. It's not for 'finished' pieces - it's to help the finished pieces become more like the vision I have in my mind. When I pick up this sketchbook, it's a place to play and have no-pressure fun for an hour, and I'm loving it! It's helping me to rethink how I use watercolour, and the new works have a lightness and energy to them while still retaining my signature style.

I'm sure that there's more I could write, but I hope that this post will help those of you who are going through something similar. It's normal to go through 'down times' with your art, and it's normal to struggle when you're trying something new or attempting to evolve your work. I'd love to know any of your tips for getting out of a creative block, if you'd like to share them.

See you soon! Natasha xxx