art block

howdy pals!

i don't know about you, but when i get art block, it’s always a huge hurdle to jump trying to get back in flow. maybe all the supplies are in front of me, a reference could even be open on pinterest, and i just can’t get myself to make. i’ve always had experiences with art block ever since i started to focus on my art more, but now it really harms my self worth because of the constraints i put on myself for the success of my pieces. maybe you relate to these feelings, and if so, this is the post for you!

today we’re talking about art block. i’ll suggest some tips if you’re trying to get over art block and how to care for yourself when it gets really tough. you don’t have to be neurodivergent for this to apply to you, i will just be using my lens of the world to problem solve!

so, i was just hit with some serious art block. i started a bunch of things and got sick for a few days and was in rough enough shape that i couldn't work on them, even though i was so excited! but then, when i was feeling better, i just couldn’t finish them or even start anything new. i had been so excited to create, but i was cursed to overcome art block.

to figure out how to overcome art block you need to identify what causes your art block. for me, it usually comes down to one of the items in the triangle of inspiration, motivation, and action, and it often relates to my anxiety. so, to determine what is the root of your problem, look at the three categories and how it relates to your situation.

inspiration- is the issue because you don’t have anything in particular you want to create? is nothing coming to mind striking your fancy? are you worried you might create something boring? are you in an environment that limits your creativity (home alone, at your parents’ house, too much time at work, etc)

motivation- do you feel burnt out? do you feel like your art hasn’t met your expectations lately and you don’t want to bother? are you exhausted or losing sleep? do you have other time constraints? do you procrastinate? are you comparing yourself to others?

action- is the thought of starting something the hardest part? do you have trouble committing to a piece? does the process of getting your supplies ready stress you out or intimidate you? do you commute to your workspace or studio? are people around you influencing your creative time?

so, now that we have the roots of these blockages, it’s much easier to figure out what we can do to remedy our art block. for me, the inspiration category was the biggest culprit this time, but for you it could be multiple. i realized it felt like i wasn’t getting inspired like i usually do by my environment. i make art that i’d want to see in my own space, art that reminds me of the people around me, and stuff like that. i wasn’t spending time in my room where all my decorations are, and it was too messy to hang out in there without getting overwhelmed. my roommate was also out of town for a while so i was not having any of the same inspiring conversations and my mood was lower. Fixing my room up and seeing people really helped me; identifying the cause is tedious sometimes but it's the quickest way to a solution!

I hope this can be of use for at least someone, because this approach has been absolutely saving me the past few times my art block has gotten out of control. Thank you for reading, take care and drink some water when you get a chance!

best,

chase