Nearly every artist experiences creative block. Whether you act, paint, write, or do something in between, I’m sure you’ve heard of it or even experienced it yourself. Unfortunately, I’ve fallen victim to creative block many times. So, today I will be discussing what a creative block is as well as sharing the lessons I’ve learnt on how to prevent and work through it.
What is a creative block?
In case you haven’t heard of or experienced a creative block, I’ll explain what it is. A creative block is a period of time when you’re stuck in the creative process, unable to move forward with your project. Creative blocks can make you feel unmotivated, uninspired, and/or exhausted. But they aren’t always a bad thing. Sometimes a creative block can serve as a sign that you need to take a break. When this happens, make sure to listen so you can recover as quickly as possible.
How to prevent a creative block
Don’t overwork yourself. Oftentimes, people fall into a creative block or become unmotivated because they’ve overworked themself. Remember to not give yourself too much work, and take breaks when needed.
Plan. Although it can be time-consuming, creating a schedule and planning your work properly is beneficial. Planning can help you avoid taking on too much work at once. It can also ensure you get work done on time. In fact, I’ve been trying to do this recently for these reasons. Thus far, this has been working pretty well for me! Having everything I need to get done written down and given a deadline helps me feel less overwhelmed and stay on task. I know I have to get a few things done every day, then I have free time. If I follow my schedule, I will have everything done when it needs to get done.
Write, sketch, and let your ideas flow. Sometimes a creative block can be caused because an artist has too many ideas, and isn’t sure which or how to pursue them. So, letting your ideas flow occasionally is a great way to see which you want to continue with. For example, you could sit down and sketch multiple ideas, letting your imagination take the lead to help you decide on how to continue. To do this, you would make an initial sketch and add anything that comes to mind or that you think will improve it. You can also do this with multiple sketches at once, and compare them. Sketching is one way to do this, although you can adjust this method depending on your art medium.
Don’t fear imperfection. Many artists aren’t satisfied with their work, and are frustrated with themselves when they’re imperfect. In some situations, this leads to the artist becoming unmotivated. You should keep in mind that imperfection is normal and that it leads to improvement!
How to work through a creative block
Get inspiration from the world around you. Going out to a park, coffee shop, beach, or other public space and simply observing what’s happening can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Writing, sketching, or expressing yourself artistically in another way while doing this can also be beneficial.
Clear your mind. Sometimes all you need to overcome a creative block is to clear your mind. You could do this by meditating, resting, doing something you enjoy, expressing what’s on your mind, etc.
Get inspiration from other artists. A great way to get inspiration is from other artists. You can put on some music, read, observe paintings/drawings, watch a show, etc. These can be used to gather ideas for your work, or just to lift your spirits.
Turn the task into small steps. Doing a whole project may feel overwhelming, especially when you’re stuck in a creative block. To help with this, you can turn a large task into many smaller and more manageable tasks.
Don’t force yourself to work. Sometimes forcing yourself to get work done can just make the tasks seem more difficult. Instead, you should give yourself time to rest. You could even try some of the strategies I’ve stated, such as planning and letting your ideas flow, or come up with your own.
Unfortunately, creative blocks are practically unavoidable. They will be frustrating but sometimes needed, and even beneficial. I hope with the help of this article you’ll find them easier to avoid, overcome, and learn from.
Works Cited
“5 Tips to Avoid ‘Creative Block.’” Odd Reform, 12 Mar. 2021, oddreform.com/blogs/odd-blog/5-tips-to-avoid-creative-block. Accessed Nov. 2023.
Harjo, Joy. “Creative Block: Joy Harjo’s Tips to Overcoming Creative Block.” Master Class, 18 Jan. 2022, www.masterclass.com/articles/creative-block-explained. Accessed Nov. 2023.
Heil, Jenna. “What Causes Creative Block?” RMCAD, 29 July 2020, www.rmcad.edu/blog/what-causes-creative-block/. Accessed Nov. 2023.
Andrea. “9 Tips to Overcoming Creative Block.” Endpaper, 18 Feb. 2022, blog.paperblanks.com/2021/02/nine-tips-to-overcoming-creative-block/. Accessed Nov. 2023.
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