Encountering art block or creative block is a relatively common experience among creatives—even so, it isn't any less of a difficult time to go through. But what is it exactly?
Art block is typically defined as a phenomenon where artists struggle to find inspiration, motivation, and/or creativity. Difficulty creating renders them “blocked” and unable to move forward in their work.
If you find yourself staring at a blank page or gripping at an unused pen, for lengthy periods—you may be in an art block.
Reasons Why Creative Blocks Happen
Creative blocks can start for any reason and at any stage of your career. The creation of art is a personal process, so the reasons for a decline can be as unique as it is personal. However, there still are common reasons for a creative block, so here are some of the reasons:
i. Stress
You could be stressed out by something completely unrelated to your craft—but its effects can seep into other parts of your life, including your art. Studies have shown that stress can hinder divergent thinking. The “Dual Pathway to Creativity Model”, refers to how creativity is a cognitive function that can be affected by dispositional and situational variables—stress falling into the former category.
ii. Perfectionism
Dedication to your art is important, but there’s a fine line between that and obsession. The latter can be debilitating—if you allow yourself no room for error, it is likely that you may not stray far from your comfort zone, or struggle to complete projects.
If you constantly fear imperfection, you’re blocking yourself from progression. Perfection is unattainable, but it’s important to remember that the closest thing to achieving it is through self-growth. Which more often than not, requires you to make mistakes and learn from them.
iii. Criticism & Rejection
You’ll often hear that the worst critic is yourself—but criticism and rejection from an external party isn’t much easier to handle for many. If you pick up your brush or pen, and your first thought is about what others may think, chances are you’ll end the day with an empty canvas.
It’s understandably difficult to not take critiques personally, especially if it is an overly negative one about art you have put a piece of yourself into. However, practice differentiating between constructive criticism and negative ones, to avoid putting yourself in a headspace that prevents you from creating.
7 Ways to Get Out of Creative Block
Again, creative block can happen to any creative and it’s not a deliberate decision, nor a pleasant one. Therefore, we should approach art blocks with empathy—be patient and understanding with artists undergoing creative blocks, including yourself. Don’t beat up yourself if you’re in a slump—gather your thoughts, and you can try the following:
i. Reconnect with Nature
Get some sun and immerse yourself in the local flora and fauna—it’ll help keep you grounded and remind you that life goes on outside your stressors. Nature can do two things for an artist caught in an art block—it can alleviate mental burdens and/or provide new perspectives. Inspiration may strike on a simple walk.
ii. Step Outside of your Comfort Zone
Expand your range of sight. If you limit yourself to what you are comfortable with, you are also denying yourself a world of new knowledge, techniques, styles, and mediums. It’s okay to make mistakes when you’re exploring—you’ll come out of it with a better understanding of both your art and yourself.
iii. Be Kinder to Yourself
Don’t be too harsh on yourself. It’s okay if a piece came out differently than how you had envisioned. Care for your wellbeing by doing a favour for your mental and physical health. After all, with a fresh and clear mind, you might find yourself outside your creative block, without even realising it.
iv. Breakdown Your Tasks
Sometimes, you might be so overwhelmed with a creative project, you don’t even know where or how to start. This art block can be overcome by splitting your work up into manageable chunks.
Take a step back, organise your thoughts, and take action to actual planning—start from your daily schedule, then gradually move to arrange your week with a to-do list. You can also start looking for suitable project management software like TESSR to assist the whole process of organisation. It’ll provide support through effective workflow, and help you stay within deadlines if any.
v. Just Start
You can’t force creativity or inspiration, but you can force yourself to work. It doesn’t have to be a profound piece, no one is expecting you to change the world of art in a day—but if you find yourself in an art block, sometimes the best thing to do is simply to start.
The time will pass anyway, so you may as well just follow where your pen takes you and push through a task. Actively creating increases, the likelihood for you to generate new ideas and solutions. And remember, this jumpstart does not have to be good or perfect. It can simply serve as stimulation to find your next true inspiration again.
vi. Take a Breather
If you’re constantly pushing your brain to the limit, it’s no wonder that you’re caught in an artist’s block. Sometimes, your body is just telling you to stop and take a breather. So, turn to a task that allows you to shut your brain off—take it as a reboot or a factory reset, that’ll help you get up and running once more.
vii. Talk to Your Community of Creatives
Remember that you aren’t alone. Speaking and bouncing ideas off of another artist might help you get your creative juices flowing. Alternatively, you could reach out to find out how your peers overcome creative blocks in their own ways. Overall, it’s good to stay socially stimulated—you might even gain insight into a brand-new perception.
Relevant article: Networking for Artists: How to Connect and Build Valuable Relationships
Conclusion
Ultimately, this list might not provide the single solution to end all art blocks—but don’t hesitate to give them a shot. And more importantly, remember that if you’re caught in a slump, there’s nothing “wrong” with you. It happens to every single one of us. What matters more is how you overcome it, and never stop believing in yourself.
If you’re an artist or creative looking for solutions to manage your projects better, feel free to explore our project management product by clicking the link here
Author Bio
From Malaysia, Leia Emeera is a writer at TESSR and a published author. She has been putting pen to paper ever since she learned how to, and has an anthology to her name, titled 'Ten'. Leia loves music, games and her beloved labrador retriever, George. She aims to further her studies in English Literature and Creative Writing the moment her gap year ends. 'Till then, you will find her sitting behind a desk, writing with TESSR.
Connect with her on LinkedIn: Leia Emeera
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