I’ve been quietly struggling with my art lately. For some reason, I’m adrift. I’m not clear about what direction I’m going, what I’m trying to learn, or what’s the next challenge. And one thing I know about myself, I need learning and challenge as part of my creative process.
So… I slowly continue to create. To look at the world around me and see what catches my eye. I’m waiting for inspiration to show me the way.
This one came along yesterday, and I love it.
But it feels as if I had to be dragged kicking and screaming along the entire way. It’s as if inspiration reluctantly showed up for a moment, then ran away. “That’s all you get,” Inspiration says, “I’m outta here.” No clues left as to how to get it to stay.
So, dear blog friends, I’m looking for a diagnosis, and a cure. What’s wrong with me? Is it the seasonal blahs? Is it a creative rut? What will get me out of this funk?
All I know how to do is keep creating. If I keep creating, maybe Inspiration will stick around long enough to show me the way.
Surefire way to break out of a creative rut is to change mediums. Perhaps it’s time for a short vacation from photography? Step out of the digital darkroom, grab your paints and go outside! Challenge yourself with bold colors you wouldn’t ordinarily choose and see what happens.
Go for a walk. Put the camera in your back pocket, and walk. Just wander. Let your mind go blank. Then that terrible twosome, creativity and inspiration, will think they are being left out and come running.
Really like this image!! Very Zen like and contemplative. Kurt
Creative block is often an issue for me, but I try to keep in mind the saying I ran across:
“Inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just get to work”
Beautiful image!
When I get blocked, I do something else. Bake bread, learn something new (like ukulele or sewing). The world will not stop spinning if I don’t make something new everyday. Doing something else removes my self-imposed pressure to be creative which is usually the root of my block. And then suddenly, in the midst of making dinner, I’ll have a flood of ideas… sometimes it takes weeks, but the ideas always come back.
Hi Kat,
I’ve had quite a few spells like this, and always there’s been the fear that it won’t come back, but it always does. I’ve noticed that this period of confusion, lack of direction, and blocked inspiration inevitably leads, in the end, to a big step forward. Much as we’d like to hurry things along, it insists on moving at its own pace – a bit like healing. It might help to regard it as a positive thing, something that will eventually take you somewhere amazing. I agree with Natasha, above, that it’s only when you take the pressure off yourself that whatever’s waiting to emerge will be able to bubble to the surface.
I’ve always loved this quote from Nietzsche:
‘You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star’. Hope your dancing star is on its way.
Bless you, I have been, am on this same journey creatively. Right now I am on the biggest PAUSE ever! Life has thrown huge obstacles in my way but I take heed because I know the pause is for a reason and just as the seasons change I will pick up again when the wind blows over my creative embers! Telling about this is beautiful as is your image and serves to serve others on the same trail. x
Perhaps it’s the season – renewal. I also am looking at my creative, artistic practice right now, looking for what I need to eliminate that no longer serves me. BTW, thank you so much for the final postcards of the swap. This was a LOT of fun.
I always find that the anxiety hits hardest JUST Before a new project finds its way into my view. It doesn’t help to know… except that you learn to wait… but the frustration with the eventuality is the same! Stay the course…. all will become clear!