You probably clicked on this post because you’re currently experiencing art block or you saw my title and thought, “Yeah right, let’s see what she has to say.” 😂
I’ve been an artist all my life, but one thing that always seemed to follow an overflow of creativity was art block. It was like a ritual for me: obsessively creating, then going on a three-month-long hiatus where I created nothing. I used to envy the artists who seemed to have it all figured out and could create freely without the dread of art block.
As I got older, my mindset shifted from wanting to create all the time to telling myself, “This is just how my body is set up. I can’t be like other artists, so let me just embrace my art block.”
That was until recently, when I purchased and read The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I bought this book to help me on my spiritual journey, and it opened my eyes to every aspect of my life, including creativity.
I realized that all “art block” was, was me constantly overthinking. Even when I had outpours of creativity, I would still overthink. My thoughts would be taken over by constant ideas to the point I would stay up at night writing down every idea so I wouldn’t forget it in the morning. This part of my overthinking felt amazing because I felt like an endless sponge of creativity—until I wasn’t…
After my creative cycle of thoughts, my mind stopped giving me ideas and replaced my thoughts with doubt and uncertainty. I would question every idea, and my thoughts would cause my emotions to shift from wanting to create to never being in the mood.
But The Power of Now opened my eyes to the fact that I am not my mind, and neither are you. You are so much more than your thoughts, and we should not let our thoughts have that much power over our lives. That feeling or thought you get of not being in the mood to create or not having the perfect idea should never stop you from creating.
Since starting my spiritual journey, I have been working on reworking my mindset and being more aware of my thoughts and emotions. This self-awareness made me realize how art block isn’t real. What we call art block is just us being controlled by our mind. When we get a thought, that thought can turn into an emotion, and instead of transmuting that emotion, we internalize it and let it dictate our lives.
Don’t get me wrong though, I am no expert at this and I’m still a work in progress myself. I have days where I’m still not in the mood to create, but I know the first step is being aware of my thoughts and emotions. Some days, I am aware enough to pick up a paintbrush despite my feelings, and I end up falling in love with the process. But there are other days when I simply can’t shake the feeling, and that’s okay too.
One thing is for certain: mindfulness is key no matter who you are. Your thoughts stop when you are aware of the present, and like most creatives, we get in that present state when we are locked in our process of creating. It’s almost like our minds try to throw so many distractions to prevent us from being in our present state. If you have read The Power of Now, you know that Eckhart equates the mind to the ego and being as self.
The ego is afraid to die, so it feeds you thoughts—whether positive or negative—to keep you dependent on those thoughts. The only time the ego is not present is when our mind is thoughtless, and we are experiencing life right now in the present. Not a thought of the future or the past, but the feeling of the sun hitting our face on a sunny day, or the sound of the paintbrush swiping a new canvas.
So for all of my creatives who experience art block, here are some things you can do to help get you out of that funk and back to creating…
Mindfulness
Try incorporating mindful practices like meditation or journaling before creating. Meditation will help quiet your mind and ground you, keeping you in the present. While, journaling about your creative process, your struggles, and your achievements can provide clarity and insight into your patterns and blocks.
Unplug
We are in a society where everything is instant gratification and this can be detrimental to the creative mind. I am not saying you have to go complete caveman but setting limits on your social use and finding other hobbies like walks in nature or reading will help ease your mind to get you back to creating.
Create Freely
One of the biggest hurdles artists face is the fear of imperfection. We often hold ourselves to unrealistic standards, believing that every piece we create must be a masterpiece. This mindset can be paralyzing. Instead, embrace the imperfections in your work. Understand that not every piece needs to be perfect. The process of creating, learning, and growing is far more important than achieving perfection.
I hope you found these tips helpful. May it inspire you to break free from the constraints of art block and fully embrace your creative potential. If you are a creative on a journey of art, self-discovery, and creativity then subscribe to my newsletter to never miss a post!
Love,
Elle