Artistic
block can be a harrowing. What causes artistic block? What can
you do to get back into a creative flow? Understanding more
about the experience of being creative can help.
The first thing the act of creativity does is to make us showoffs.
There is a portion of the creative person that says, "Look
at what I just did, and what I can do!" There is no shame,
guilt, or introversion to the act of creativity.
But, we
change in relationship to creativity. We become self conscious.
We become concerned how others view us. We become cruelly
judgmental of ourselves and the work we do.
For the
artist, the creative pathways are closely linked to self.
So, art becomes an intimate reflection of the person. And
with art's perceived failure the creative portion of that
person can be become shattered.
Preceding
that self doubt, anger, anxiety, depression sets in. These
artists have seen the destructive parts of creativity and
it is hell, They have walked in the fire of individuality
and are singed. Hurt, winded, barely able to catch their breath,
they don't know where to run. Tired, disheveled their current
work up in smoke, they stop, pause, and take stock of a world
that has no boundaries and ask:
- Is
my talent real?
- Do
I really have something to say?
- Do
I contribute anything original?
- Has
my creation become so unique that no one can relate to it?
- Have
I let past artists overly influence my work?
- Will
anybody ever be able to understand what I have to say?
- If
I say what's on my mind, what will people think of me?
- Do
I still have my creative abilities?
- What
if I fail?
- Should
I get a real job?
Well,
no wonder you can't produce. Who can, under such circumstances?
What you need is an attitude change: a repositioning of your
thoughts, a new way of viewing your work. A rediscovering
of why you became an artist in the first place. What do you
want to get out of it anyway? Money, fame?
There are many developmental features of the artist. There
is the artist who is just starting out, and when we say just
starting out we mean not only starting out to make art, but
also as starting out to make a living. Then there is the artist
who has tasted success, made a living, and now feels dried
up. Feeling
more of an anachronism than an artist, he or she may no longer
feel like a vital part of the artistic community.
For the artist just starting out not only is there a concern
for the depth of his or her creativity, but also the problem
of money. On the other hand, for the artist who has achieved
financial security, anxiety focuses less on money and more
on the continuance of recognition.
So, given
all this, what can be done? There are just two ways to deal
with artistic block. The first is to give up being an artist.
The second one is to work through your creative barriers,
in the hope of achieving success. Knowing that the other side
of the wall is full with the euphoria and happiness of self
again.
How to go through the wall of creative angst:
First, describe the fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. Write
about it, take pictures of it, paint it, give it forms. As
you are giving it a form, the object (poem, sculpture, painting)
you are creating is informing you of whom you are! It may
be telling you to go in a direction different than the one
you are currently taking. It may be telling you that you are
in the process of becoming something else or that life has
become overwhelming and the soul can't digest. Listen to yourself.
Second, look not at the mountain top, but of the ground below.
Shorten your life to the immediate time attached to the creative
moment.
Third, understand how much time you can presently give to
your art and then play softball, go to the beach, or fly a
kite. For little while, do anything except art. As you know,
creativity must cook-you just forgot different recipes require
different finishing times.
Fourth, create something imperfect. Write something badly,
paint something awful, take pictures of terrible images, perform
poorly. Do something horribly.
Fifth, when you encounter artistic block, grieve at the loss
of energy. Feel sad; it is sad, it's the end. The tricky part
is redefining loss as the start of something new, though you
don't know what it is yet. Ask yourself how this loss will
help you. View with anticipation what will come.
Artistic block occurs for many reasons, and there are just
as many solutions. However, artistic block always takes place
with the creative self. We can always count on that! Fortunately,
you now have five ways to overcome artistic block and to jump-start
your creative self.
Note:
Many have found these articles to be helpful, but they are
not a substitute for professional and personal psychotherapy.
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