This week, we’re talking about ways to get the joy back in your creative practice. I’m the kind of person who leans towards burnout as soon as I start a new project and I need to consciously slow myself down to avoid the inevitable art block.
If that sounds familiar, I have some ideas of quick things that can help break you out of that cycle and bust through art block like a champ! These are things that I need work on, or have worked for me in the past. I hope they’re helpful. Thanks for letting me chat at you!
Mentioned:
Journal
Journal podcast episode: https://open.substack.com/pub/beckyhelms/p/15-8-reasons-i-love-journaling-with
Some prompts:
When did I start to feel stuck?
What do I love about my creative job/practice?
What do I hate about it?
What’s a small change I can make today?
Try a new medium
Snart episodes: https://open.substack.com/pub/beckyhelms/p/24-snart-theme-for-may-with-becky
If you’re an illustrator, grab some clay. If you’re a ceramicist, carve a linoleum block. If you’re a print maker, crochet a granny square.
Get out of your comfort-zone and do something wildly different, but still creative.
Go for a walk
No music, podcast or audiobook.
Just be alone with your thoughts and clear out the cobwebs.
Bring a small sketchbook or notebook if you need them to remember epiphanies.
Go to a place
Visit a museum, arboretum, plant nursery/garden center, park with a sketch book or notebook.
Sit and sketch, or write. This is purely for inspiration
Take a class or watch a YouTube video
Do this with the express purpose of throwing it away.
You can keep it if you want, but it’s just for you.
- Junk Journal
5 minute free form drawing every single day
No thoughts, just scribbles
Use creative prompts
- ’s 100 Day Project
- ’s Ten Minute Artist
Art journaling specific: https://joyfulartjournaling.com/57-art-journal-prompts/
More abstract and detailed: https://gelpress.com/blogs/art-and-inspiration/30-creative-drawing-prompts-for-artists?srsltid=AfmBOoqJjKdZbGV0Hs2g4VPqBZIqbsG6Si9xKpwy2mJ2bVRE-OkAb4-9
Buddy drawing/crafting
Get together with someone else and work together
Even if you’re just working quietly, or over zoom, not interacting at all, having that other person there for you in the moment is the key.
You can collab, or not. No pressure.
Recreate a favorite classic artwork
Pick something super old and try to mimic the techinique
Or go another direction and do it your style
Go eat something and take a nap
Sometimes we’re tired and hungry and need a break
The juxtaposition of your wellbeing and productivity can get out of whack very quickly in capitalist society
Find me all over the place!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeckyhelms/
Substack: https://substack.com/@beckyhelms
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeckyHelms
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