Coming Back To Creativity(c)artbytsh

Being an Artist means you are running a business and you always have something to complete and do. A little time for this and a little time for that. This blog was originally written in 2014. I thought it would be nice to re-visit this topic again with some new information.

The BLOCK

We as artists may or may not experience artist’s block from time to time. I don’t like to generalize because some people may not. But during certain periods in my own life I have taken time off from Art. One time was for 22 days (series 22 days of sorrow(c)artbytsh) when I was adjusting to another loss in my family. Seriously I leaked or cried for 22 days straight. It’s a miracle that I didn’t become dehydrated. I can honestly say I had little interest in anything. Each day was a struggle. Without the help of my loved ones I would have had a much more difficult time. It can be very easy to get lost in grief. Whether you anticipated the loss or not. It still takes time to adjust.

It is important to just take how ever much time you need to feel the sorrow. No time limit. We are far more resilient than we ever think we are. Tears in fact can be very healing. Even animals cry. I got back to living and painting. Life does and will go on whether you are sad or not. My friend said to me one-day ” your……… really wants you to be happy .” I realized that I had just got so swallowed up in grief that I had totally forgotten this very simple thought. Of course my loved one would want me to be happy they always did!

Maintaining artistic focus

Keep that dream book, jot ideas down, do it on a daily basis, or a quick sketch of something you want to explore more fully . Or perhaps you record color combinations or new techniques that you wish to try.
Try a new medium. Perhaps you want to know more about “cold wax” techniques . Or you are struggling with your oils then switch to acrylics or watercolors. Switching things up really helps with any block.
Take some time off if you need it and don’t feel bad about it.
Be around positive people, stay away from the negative energy.
Go ahead , investigate, research, explore and strive to seek to learn more.
Take a new Art Class. They are even on-line these days. Make sure they are worth your money. They range in prices, experience and quality.
I love to go to the library and just check out Art Books. Nothing is worse than buying a book and feeling like “well” that was a huge waste of money! Often I go to 2nd hand bookstores and look at their art books. Spending 2 or 3 dollars is much better than spending 36.00 to see if you like a book or not.
Re-donate your old books . Donate some Art to a needy cause.
Set aside specific time to paint and create – keep that appointment with yourself.

Self-care

Stop comparing yourself to others
Turn off the self criticism – speak more kindly to yourself – we are what we think and hear. Positive affirmations do work. I scribble affirmations on the brown table paper where I am going to sit and paint.
Try new products and/or techniques
Practice daily warm-ups , always when I travel.
I jot down new ideas or words or a sentence or a quote.
I look for quiet time and take as much as I need
I may increase my workouts or revisit my nutrition
Cook more on the weekend so you have leftovers during the week so you are not a slave to the kitchen when tired.
Drink water and eat on a regular basis – I can stand for 4-5 hours painting and completely forget to drink some water. I think I am probably not the only one.
Change of scenery is good – get outside, change your location(s).
I may go for a walk, yoga, read poetry, listen to music, watch a movie, step out of the studio, go swimming, meditate, read a novel , take a power nap, or read a magazine, type a blog, or call a friend. Put your feet up on a pillow.
Stretch a little in the afternoon, stretch a little before bed
Learn new techniques, new styles of painting – try abstract if you are a realist.

I charge my cell phone and IPAD daily , why don’t we re-charge ourselves more? If you take better care of yourself then you can take care of everything else in your own life. Every time I meet an Artist with rings under their eyes I can relate. My friends used to think I played with crayons and ate bon-bons. We do have that daily internal voice to be creative. We have the calling to paint. We have been tagged. Someone asked me why I paint? I said, well because I work at it very hard, it makes me happy and my life is not complete without painting. But I always wish that my art made someone else happy too!

Figure out what re-charges you and make a plan to regularly practice it. It is probably different for everybody. For me daily meditation is a must, more than once usually.

There are so many talented, competitive artists on social media it can make you wonder if you should even post. Especially if you did not get those immediate self -gratifying “likes” that you wished for. (@artbytsh ) Those likes are almost like being accepted into a club. I mean you can get eye and neck strain just by following the live stream of Art on social media and You Tube! Just think Picasso or Monet did not have social media at all.

Remember who your followers are. Are they other Artists? Childhood friends? Are they new followers that like your work? You never know who will buy your art or even when. Are they potential collectors? Social media is a kaleidoscope of people with ideas, various gifts and talents . That is just how our world is today. With that said, get to work on your own creativity. Remember to