Totally relate and I too turn to stitching! I have a small pile of unfinished quilt tops and sewing projects, so it’s always good to have something different, yet still creative, to fall back on. I may even finish the hand quilting one day!! 😁 Good that you’ve come out of the other side and making art you love x
This really resonated with me, as I’ve found myself in this awful place too on quite a few occasions. At first I was worried that I’d lost my ability to paint as well, and that it wouldn’t come back. Over the years I’ve learnt that it’s part of the ebb and flow of being an artist, and what it usually means for me is that I’m outgrowing where I am and need to evolve. I also find working in sketchbooks helps, and trusting that the lull will pass. It’s not the nicest experience but you usually come out the other side with a renewed passion and direction. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, and your beautiful paintings! Xxx
This is exactly what I've found! Now that I'm back in the flow of creating and out the other side of the block, my work has evolved to where I wanted it to be. Like you said, I had outgrown where I was. It just took a huge amount of effort to get there! x
I can relate so much to what you’ve expressed here. So many similar points. Last year was extremely challenging for me and I am only slowly seeing why that creative pause was needed.
I have written a piece on how I deal with blocks and resistance- and there’s so many similarities in what has helped me. 🥰
Thank you for sharing your experience with creative block, truly helps to know we're not alone when it touches us. I've been a huge fan of your art since recently finding it and I'm glad you managed to come out of the rut and be happy with your work again.
I go for walks in the woodlands outside my cottage door and it brings me back to myself, it helps me 'see' my life in a better perspective and helps me feel more gentleness around my work, my life and my self. Clearing my head and getting perspective. For me long walks, day after day, it's like a boost of good 'medicine' for mental, creative (and physical!) health. Thank you for sharing your creative blocks & suggestions and even 'normalizing' them..it happens! Maybe creative blocks are simply the portals we go through to grow as artists and human beings 💚✨🌿
Walking in nature helps almost everything. :) I think you're right in that we have to go through the creative blocks to grow - I certainly feel like my work has changed in the way I wanted it to now that I'm out the other side, and I've learned some valuable lessons in the process.
Oh goodness, when it hits, it is really difficult, isn't it? Thank you for such an honest post and I recognised all the symptoms...I really think persisting is the best solution, not easy especially when the results don't live up to expectations. Altering your choice of medium is the other thing that has helped me too, but it seems these dips are just part of the flourish and fallow phases of being creative, and over the years I have come to fear it less.
I agree - it all seems to be part of the process. It's sometimes hard to remember that when you're in the middle of it though! But I always come out the other side, and when I do, I usually find that my work has moved up a level (it just took a lot of effort to get there!).
You always describe so well the feelings that we artists go through. I've been struggling again recently so I signed up to the 100 day challenge thinking it would give me a boost but it hasn't. I haven't done it every day and I doubt if I'll get much further with it. I'm ok with that, I follow my heart and if I'm not enjoying something I know its the sign for change.
Thankyou for writing about this Natasha, it really helps being reminded that we all go through this and it's possible to come out the other side. Love your new artwork! x
I find art challenges so hard, Jess! I'm always enthusiastic at the beginning, but then they become a bit of a chore and something I 'have' to do, which kills the joy. I've never seen an art challenge through from beginning to end yet, apart from Folktale Week one year, and that's only because it was one week! x
There must be something in the air! I initially posted this on my Patreon five days ago, but felt it would perhaps be useful for my Substack readers too. Your poor sketchbook! ;)
Dear Natasha, indeed something is in the air! Here in the USA, our unspeakably horrible post-inaugural period leaves a constant mind-burn. Fortunately, my watercolor (and gouache) painting is still going ok. But it’s a bit harder for me to settle.
I do love the color palette in the art that you shared❤️
I experienced a really bad block/burnout around a year and a half ago and I had no interest even going to my studio for almost 2 months. At that point I felt the best thing I could do was to just follow my feelings, which at the time were to put aside everything related to my practice. I think over the course of those 2 months I started easing into it slowly, making sure I was creating work I was happy with and not necessarily to monetise. I also stayed off socials, the comparison monster can be quite brutal.
Wow, I recently had a strange downtime of confusion and being overwhelmed until I took out the money-hustling social media-engaging stuff that was irrelevant to my creative space. And remembered my childlike wonderment of it all ... it brought me back to my happy place and remembering this helps me stay there 'in that headspace' when i begin to drift again.🌿✨💚
Yes totally agree! It does feel like all that pressure sucks the joy out of everything unfortunately and we really need to learn to nip it in the bud hah!
I'm sorry to hear that you went through that, Francesca! And yes, I'm very familiar with the comparison monster too - he likes to rear his head just when I'm feeling at my most vulnerable!
Indeed he does! I think it's such a tricky period, but letting it take its course has proven to be the best solution. And I really like how you've mentioned that it gave you the opportunity to look at the work from a different angle, sometimes a change of scenery ks just what is needed!
I’m in a block at the moment. I bought some budget friendly gouache to play with and I’ve been enjoying putting it in a palette and swatching and having a play. But I’m not making any art I can sell. I have started doing English paper piecing again and I’m enjoying that and also some bead embroidery. I’m the type that needs to be making or doing and EPP fits the bill presently. I hope you’re well xx
I know exactly what you mean about being the type who needs to be making - I have to be creative in some way on a daily basis, or I don't feel quite right! I'm glad that you've found something you enjoy while you're in your creative block. You'll come through it, I promise! x
This resonated with me today
Totally relate and I too turn to stitching! I have a small pile of unfinished quilt tops and sewing projects, so it’s always good to have something different, yet still creative, to fall back on. I may even finish the hand quilting one day!! 😁 Good that you’ve come out of the other side and making art you love x
Stitching is so calming. :)
This really resonated with me, as I’ve found myself in this awful place too on quite a few occasions. At first I was worried that I’d lost my ability to paint as well, and that it wouldn’t come back. Over the years I’ve learnt that it’s part of the ebb and flow of being an artist, and what it usually means for me is that I’m outgrowing where I am and need to evolve. I also find working in sketchbooks helps, and trusting that the lull will pass. It’s not the nicest experience but you usually come out the other side with a renewed passion and direction. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, and your beautiful paintings! Xxx
This is exactly what I've found! Now that I'm back in the flow of creating and out the other side of the block, my work has evolved to where I wanted it to be. Like you said, I had outgrown where I was. It just took a huge amount of effort to get there! x
I can relate so much to what you’ve expressed here. So many similar points. Last year was extremely challenging for me and I am only slowly seeing why that creative pause was needed.
I have written a piece on how I deal with blocks and resistance- and there’s so many similarities in what has helped me. 🥰
Thank you for sharing your experience with creative block, truly helps to know we're not alone when it touches us. I've been a huge fan of your art since recently finding it and I'm glad you managed to come out of the rut and be happy with your work again.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that. :)
I go for walks in the woodlands outside my cottage door and it brings me back to myself, it helps me 'see' my life in a better perspective and helps me feel more gentleness around my work, my life and my self. Clearing my head and getting perspective. For me long walks, day after day, it's like a boost of good 'medicine' for mental, creative (and physical!) health. Thank you for sharing your creative blocks & suggestions and even 'normalizing' them..it happens! Maybe creative blocks are simply the portals we go through to grow as artists and human beings 💚✨🌿
Walking in nature helps almost everything. :) I think you're right in that we have to go through the creative blocks to grow - I certainly feel like my work has changed in the way I wanted it to now that I'm out the other side, and I've learned some valuable lessons in the process.
Oh goodness, when it hits, it is really difficult, isn't it? Thank you for such an honest post and I recognised all the symptoms...I really think persisting is the best solution, not easy especially when the results don't live up to expectations. Altering your choice of medium is the other thing that has helped me too, but it seems these dips are just part of the flourish and fallow phases of being creative, and over the years I have come to fear it less.
I agree - it all seems to be part of the process. It's sometimes hard to remember that when you're in the middle of it though! But I always come out the other side, and when I do, I usually find that my work has moved up a level (it just took a lot of effort to get there!).
You always describe so well the feelings that we artists go through. I've been struggling again recently so I signed up to the 100 day challenge thinking it would give me a boost but it hasn't. I haven't done it every day and I doubt if I'll get much further with it. I'm ok with that, I follow my heart and if I'm not enjoying something I know its the sign for change.
Thankyou for writing about this Natasha, it really helps being reminded that we all go through this and it's possible to come out the other side. Love your new artwork! x
I find art challenges so hard, Jess! I'm always enthusiastic at the beginning, but then they become a bit of a chore and something I 'have' to do, which kills the joy. I've never seen an art challenge through from beginning to end yet, apart from Folktale Week one year, and that's only because it was one week! x
Blimey I wrilote about this yesterday too... coincidence or is it something about the phases of the moon 🌙
I took it out on the sketchbook i didn't like. 🤔
There must be something in the air! I initially posted this on my Patreon five days ago, but felt it would perhaps be useful for my Substack readers too. Your poor sketchbook! ;)
Dear Natasha, indeed something is in the air! Here in the USA, our unspeakably horrible post-inaugural period leaves a constant mind-burn. Fortunately, my watercolor (and gouache) painting is still going ok. But it’s a bit harder for me to settle.
I do love the color palette in the art that you shared❤️
Wendy Champness
Yes it's full of horrible non caring, pieces of fugly stuff. 😄
I experienced a really bad block/burnout around a year and a half ago and I had no interest even going to my studio for almost 2 months. At that point I felt the best thing I could do was to just follow my feelings, which at the time were to put aside everything related to my practice. I think over the course of those 2 months I started easing into it slowly, making sure I was creating work I was happy with and not necessarily to monetise. I also stayed off socials, the comparison monster can be quite brutal.
Wow, I recently had a strange downtime of confusion and being overwhelmed until I took out the money-hustling social media-engaging stuff that was irrelevant to my creative space. And remembered my childlike wonderment of it all ... it brought me back to my happy place and remembering this helps me stay there 'in that headspace' when i begin to drift again.🌿✨💚
Yes totally agree! It does feel like all that pressure sucks the joy out of everything unfortunately and we really need to learn to nip it in the bud hah!
yes! nip it in the bud before the vines grow over you haha!
For some reason the voodoo head from Harry Potter has just popped into my head! Make sure to eat the pea soup before it eats you! 😬
oh no! hmmm🤔.. well...isn't the imagination a wonderful thing to have! ...and a good antidote for creative blocks! ☺️🤗
I'm sorry to hear that you went through that, Francesca! And yes, I'm very familiar with the comparison monster too - he likes to rear his head just when I'm feeling at my most vulnerable!
Indeed he does! I think it's such a tricky period, but letting it take its course has proven to be the best solution. And I really like how you've mentioned that it gave you the opportunity to look at the work from a different angle, sometimes a change of scenery ks just what is needed!
I’m in a block at the moment. I bought some budget friendly gouache to play with and I’ve been enjoying putting it in a palette and swatching and having a play. But I’m not making any art I can sell. I have started doing English paper piecing again and I’m enjoying that and also some bead embroidery. I’m the type that needs to be making or doing and EPP fits the bill presently. I hope you’re well xx
I know exactly what you mean about being the type who needs to be making - I have to be creative in some way on a daily basis, or I don't feel quite right! I'm glad that you've found something you enjoy while you're in your creative block. You'll come through it, I promise! x