Overcoming Creative Block

Is creative block the arch nemesis of an artist? I know at times for me it sure feels that way. At times I’ve felt like inspiration is some kind of magic force, that I’m in capable of harnessing. It’s during these times that I can start to feel self doubt creeping in, and the usually negativity pops back up, “you can’t do this”, “you aren’t that creative”, and “this isn’t for you”. I spoke about a recent experience I had with creative block in my last blog, and in this post, I would like to offer some tips and tricks of dealing with creative block.

The first step to handling a creative block is to understand where it is coming from. A block can come from many different sources. Such as perfectionism, overwhelm, fear of failure, comparison, stagnation, loneliness and just general life stresses. Often it can be multiple facts compounding the creative block. So take time to sit and identify where your creative block is forming. For myself comparison is a common factor, as well a the fear of failing. Once I have it named, I can work on controlling the issue.

Stock photo of paint cans with varies bright colors of paint. Bright colors are the key to helping break creative block.

Tip & Tricks to Try

There are varies strategies and techniques you can use to start to move forward in your creativity.

Try a new medium or technique: Shifting gears and trying something new, or low pressure can often help break the creative block cycle.

Doodle: small silly doodles are the first step to creative ideas, this will also allow you to create daily which keeps you in the mindset of creating.

Accept imperfection: it ok to be bad, its ok to mess up, and its ok to not be perfect. Art is about being imperfect, and being yourself.

Bright blue, red, orange, yellow paint mixed together.

Exercises for Inspiration

Occasionally inspiration will fall into your lap and other times you will need to hunt for it a bit. A few suggestions to help find that inspiration are:

Get out of your environment: If you find yourself hitting your head against the desk, go for a walk, change your scenery and take time to notice little things along the way.

Make a Mood Board: whether physical or digital, sometime picking a subject or color and creating a mood board around it will help get you started.

Creative challenges and tutorials: there are artist and websites that help with prompts, sometimes taking the challenge of a prompt and seeing what you create will open to door to other ideas as well. This is an example of a art prompt website.

Preventing Creative Block

As artist we know that creative blocks are always a threat around the corner, but prevention is also an options and a few things can help facilitate this. Find a community or small group of artist that you can connect with. Encouraging others will build bonds that can help uplift you when in need.

Keep learning new things, whether it’s a new medium, new skill, or just diving into a subject. I’ve recently found flamingos interesting, so I have been watching videos and documentaries about them as a form of inspiration and just general knowledge growth. Maintain balance between work, rest and self care. Don’t put yourself under so much pressure that your creativity is suffocated.

The most important thing to remember about creative blocks, is that they are temporary, and the most important thing to keep in mind, is that even a single doodle each day is still creativity. Each time you take pen or brush to paper, its an opportunity to spark the creative flame deep inside. Keep going, keep creating and be gentle with yourself during these times. You got this.

โค Kelly


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