Dealing with Artist Block

Have you ever woke up wanting, needing to create?  The desire is nipping at your brain, but you are running on empty with ideas.  Artist block is a natural process that all artists go through.  It usually comes right before a huge growth period.  Your brain is telling you, it’s time to “fill-up.”

Just like the fuel in your car, you occassionally need to “fill-up” again.  The block may be Gods way of pushing us to grow and replenish our mind and spirit.  You are sharing your soul with the world through your artwork.  Therefore it is most important to fill YOU back up so you can better express yourself without any fears.

Artist block can be one of the most frustrating times in an artists life.  It certainly has been in mine.  After finishing a wood sculpture, I usually take a day or two to relax and re-juvinate my physical body.  Within a day or two, I know it is time to get back at the artwork, but my mind is blank.  Yesterday, I seemed to have numerous ideas, but today…nothing!  I use a variety of tools to create my sculptures, but they are all useless when I am missing the most important one…”I N S P I R A T I O N.”

So, How do I get through it and not go crazy in the process?  First, it’s important to realize that it isn’t the end of the world.  Walk away, don’t force ideas when they just aren’t there.  If I’m on a deadline, I do other things that need to be done, ie. yard work, home repairs, pay bills or run an errand.   In short, when I get the blahs, I do something to get me back on track to get inspired.  Here are some things that have helped me:

• Don’t force creativity.  It just frustrates me more  Sometimes a good break is helpful.  Maybe even a a few weeks.  Then when I hit my studio, I find ideas come more freely.
• Get outside.  I love to take long drives in a rual countryside.  I observe nature and experience things.  I like to look at everything as if I’ve never seen it before.  I look at rusting metal and see what different colors are in it.  I observe how tree roots grow,  how moss forms on rocks and how wood ages in the elements.  I do something out of the ordinary; like using my sences- sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.  I observe, sketch and photograph.   I carry a camera with me and I stop to smell the roses.   Inspiration sometimes comes slow, but it does come back. 
• I listen to music I like.  This usually inspires me and changes my mood.  Country western is my favorite.
• Clean your studio.  My studio is usually a mess, and full of sawdust from previous sculptures.  By spending a day or two in deep cleaning and discarding, I often discover new ideas or ones that I’ve filed and forgotten about.
• Review how you market yourself.  Use this time to review your marketing tools – business cards, brochures, website, press packets etc.  Even though I may not be creating, I’m doing things to help my career progress.
• Visit libraries and book stores.  Since I  prefer to follow a western theme in my sculptures, I often go to libraries or book stores and look through their selection of books on the old west.  I keep a collection of art magazines, and often refer to them for inspiration also.
• Visit other artists studio’s.  I always get excited and re-energized when I visit with Keith and Craig in the Hone studio.  Not only do I get great ideas from other artists, but their excitement over a project becomes contageous and helps me.
• Visit art galleries and museums.  I often get inspiration from things I see that other artists have created. 
• Don’t be afraid of making mistakes- try something new.  I mess-up all the time.  When I’m struggling, I often try something new. I challenge myself to try a new technique, or challenge myself to try something that may be beyond my current ability
• Don’t panic-don’t stress.  Don’t doubt yourself  and don’t stop creating.  I’ve found that sculpting a “crappy” piece is better than doing nothing at all.  The worst thing you can do is to retreat; mope around and do nothing at all.  It’s time to get back to work!

Artist block is different for every artist, so if this doesn’t work, try something else.  Play music, go for a walk, meditate or take a nap.  There are numerous ways to do it.  You just have to find what’s right for you. 

Well,  it’s time for me to get back to work.  I’m sculpting another saddle, and trying some new techniques.  Can’t wait to share them with you in a future blog.

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