How to get over creative block

Creative block is something that I’ve been struggling with for a number of years. But I dare not think about how many years. Because those thoughts come with regrets that I’m not ready to address right now.

Or should I address them? 🤔 I don’t know. All I do know is that this vicious circle of thinking continues to stop me from becoming the creative I dream of becoming. While I deal with this struggle, time moves on. 

Watching people on YouTube creating amazing works of art, art journals, illustrations and drawings can be overwhelming for me. Although my brain tells me “I can do that” and feel inspired rummaging through my collections of papers and art mediums I sit at my desk……. and nothing. Then I sit and stare at everything for what feels like hours and nothing. Eventually, I pack everything away and try again when I feel like it which can be months later. Then pull out everything again and this time manage to put something on paper, only this time it’s not perfect! I stop what I’m doing and pack everything away including the unfinished art piece. Then feeling despondent, I scroll endlessly on social media envious of those amazing creatives out there.

But here’s another thing that makes me feel crappy. Many years ago I came across a YouTube channel, the creator had just started out, didn’t have many followers and she posted a video on how she came up with ideas for her paintings. During this time, she has grown her channel, gets commission opportunities, created an online shop (where I have bought some of her items) and a patreon account (which I subscribe to).

All this time I have been watching her grow as an artist. “That’s it, I just watch other people grow in their creating journey” I thought to myself 

Let me share a thought with you. What if? What if you had created something often, what if you had shared your process, what if you had posted a pic of my art on social media… what if, what if, what if!

It seems to be so easy for others? Doesn’t it? 

In this past year I have attempted to address this creative block. And it’s a scary process and as I’ve (and probably you) discovered, it’s not that easy. So if you are reading this, just to let you know I am not a trained mental health professional in any way, but I have read some journal articles and they suggest that there is some trauma, perhaps some guilt, perfectionism, feeling of not being good enough and self punishment involved. However, the feeling of letting go is uncomfortable and letting go means being vulnerable and showing your imperfections. Which, let’s face it, is terrifying at even just the thought of it. 

I can remember as a child, being shouted at for not sharing things with friends or family members. What they didn’t know was that it wasn’t because I was being unkind on purpose, it was the thought that something that is mine (which I cared for and looked after) had to be given to someone who would destroy it, dirty it with their grubby fingers and not care for it as best as I did. And my feelings about this were ignored, I was being a naughty child. I loved colouring books and my crayola wax crayons. I could sit for hours using every colour, carefully colouring in the lines. 

And then, I would get told to ‘share’ my colouring book with another child and I would cringe. I knew that that cousin, friend or whoever it was at the time didnt colour inside the lines and even though I was about 5 years old these events still sit with me (sad I know). Still analysing them. Was I wrong for not sharing or was there a disregard for my creative space? Needless to say, any new colouring books given to me pre teens were blank. The fear of not perfectly colouring in each picture was too overwhelming. 

Anyway, I have waffled on way too much. 

Back to what I was talking about, I am attempting a new process to overcome this block. The advice out there is always the same. JUST START.. Overwhelming questions incoming! How, when, where, what? Well I am here to help 🙂.

I have discovered 4 ‘go to’ ideas to overcome the dreaded creative block to get you started.

• Now here’s one for the die hard perfectionist out there. Re-create one of your old illustrations, paintings or drawings. I know I know, I can’t believe I said it myself but it fills a blank page and stops you from over thinking. Double bonus there!

• Deconstruct an image. Find an image you like, print in and tear it up, be realistic please not into shreds, into nice sizable pieces. Then pick one and draw or paint what you see.

I know right 🤯 amazing ideas. These creative block ideas are great because there’s no need to feel in the zone, you can’t predict the final outcome and best of all it fills a blank page.

Des