We all have moments in our artistic journey when we suddenly feel stuck and the passion we usually have for creating things we love, vanishes. There's no knowing when it will strike or how long it will last, however there are some things we can do to try and bring it back.
Create What You Want Not What You Think People Will Want To See
It's easy to fall into a habit of creating things for other people rather than ourselves. People may love what you are producing, but you may not be enjoying creating it. Take a step back from thinking about what you think other people will want, and start creating what you really love again.
There's no point in painting cars when all you really want to do is paint plants ...
Try New Things
Your artist block might be a way of your brain telling you your bored of doing the same thing. Whether it be experimenting with your style, the medium you work with or changing the subjects you paint, a change and having a mess about could bring back your passion.
Who knows, even buying some new paint brushes may work!
Create A List
Sometimes we have so may things whirling about in our brains that we know we want to do, it can be a bit overwhelming and easier not to act on any of them. It may sound stupidly simple but it can be helpful to create a list of things to do in a specific order and stick to the list. That way, all the muddle in your brain gets organised on paper and bit by bit, you create all the things you want to.
Win win!
Take a Step Back From Social Media
Social media can be a great place to share our creations and grow our businesses but it can also become a negative space when we start to comparing ourselves to others. When this starts happening it can make us doubt our own work and sap the love we have for it. If you think this is happening, its best to put the phone down, stop looking at what everyone else is doing and just focus on yourself again.
Less screen time is good for us anyhow!
Take A Break
Forcing yourself to do something you really aren't in the mood to do can be counter productive. If you feel you have lost all enjoyment from creating art, maybe you need a bit of a break from it. Get away from the desk and throw yourself into other hobbies which may inspire you to pick up your pencils again. For example, if you are a landscape artist, take a walk and explore new places, your bound to see things that will make you want to start painting.
Having a relaxing evening doing nothing with some bubbles may also work...
Remember Why You Started
When we turn something we love into a business sometimes we can easily get caught up in the work that goes on behind the scenes. Before we know it, we are too busy filling in spreadsheets, ordering stock, packaging and packing orders, doing product photography, we barley have time to actually do our art. By the time we sit down to do it, we are too mentally exhausted and the motivation to start escapes us. When this happens its important to remember why you started - because you love creating art. Try to dedicate one day where you only focus on creating and don't do any of the less fun stuff that might kill your artistic flow.
Change your Space
It may sound silly, but just changing the environment you work in may be the key to getting past your artist block. Whether that be decluttering your studio, changing the layout, or doing your art in a different room of the house. You could even take your materials outdoors! Creating in the same space can unknowingly become monotonous, so just getting a change of scenery can dust away those mental cobwebs.