Introduction to Part V
We’re back for another round of turnaround strategies that knock out artist block and burnout once and for all! So far, we’ve explored what they are, their symptoms, and what causes them, and for the last few parts of this 6-part series, we’ve been deep diving into many practical tactics for dealing with them. Because no creative should have to wrestle with either only because they are preventable, they can be squelched or at the very least, managed. And the more people who are creative in our artform, the better off our artform will be by having more awareness for all the challenges that go into it all this madness. It also gets all those walls of nekkid resins and body OFs painted up and gorgeous to compete in our many shows. So let's get to it because in this Part V, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover! So let's just jump right in...
The Turnaround Strategies, cont’d
Creative sanctuary: Your creative space should be your sanctuary, your citadel, your garden, your castle keep. It should be the one place in the entire world that’s peaceful, impervious, and wholly yours, if possible. So fill it with personal touches that bring you joy, whatever they may be. Like I have all sorts of curios and photos encrusting near every surface of my studio only because they make me smile. What’s more, attend to the lighting in your studio because it not only changes the mood, but also the usability of your creative space. For instance, a flooding of nice bright light is a great mood enhancer as well as amplifying your ability to better judge color and shape. But it’s amazing how so much more light can brighten your attitude almost instantly, so add lamps or install lots of windows. (Pro tip: Use LED lamps that have a natural light setting and set them all to that setting.)
Tunnel vision is verboten: Do you create with only the outcome in mind? Do you have a specific idea of how your piece should look when finished? Do you begin your creation with a very exacting endgame in mind? If you do, you’re probably destined to hit block or burnout eventually. You see, arting is fundamentally mercurial and unpredictable. How many times has your piece taken on a life of its own and spun off in different directions? And though it comes out quite unlike your original vision, it’s cool all the same, right? Yeah, like that. Making art is essentially a spontaneous act of creation that can take on a life of its own. In fact, if you’re doing it right, in the thick of it, you become a vessel for something indescribable and the piece will literally make itself right before your eyes — and you have no idea how that’s happening. That’s the sweet spot. Never fight the piece! It knows exactly what it needs, all the time. You just have to listen to it and follow. Allow yourself to be led. Go where the piece wants to go. You and your art are dancing, and it's best if it's the lead. Because believe me, where it will take you may be surprising, but it’s a whole lot more fun and often with results that are far more compelling. Because if you start fighting your piece, guess what? Yep — you’re toying with block and burnout now. Don’t do that! So to become a more process-oriented artist, try these five tactics:
- First, forge a new path, go off your customary, beaten train, unlearn your comfort zones and creative routines. Play around with new new new! As Edgar Degas observed, “Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things.”
- Second, focus on the steps for making your piece rather than on the finished vision of it so much. Sure, we need that vision to chase — our Big Picture — just don’t let it consume your focus. Primarily keep your attention on each step as you go then, chiseling away at your vision piece by piece, immersed in the creation of it.
- Third, quit overthinking things! Stop with the rational thinking to instead be in the flow of your creativity. Turn off your mind and allow your artistic instincts to take over. Also be present in the creative moment. Feel your toolstrikes and brushstrokes, be one with your paints or clay, letting yourself be transported into another spacetime made only of your arting moment. This is the creative groove — ride it out in joy!
- Fourth, recognize that arting has no predetermined path. The point of art is to create and that entails exploration and transformation, play and fun. In short, art is really about the process and the finished piece is merely the incidental by-product. So let go of your urge to control your tools so much to therefore dictate the outcome of your work too much. Now — yes — we have objectives to ping if we hope to create a realistic horse in clay or pigment, but beyond that, there’s open potential, isn’t there? Explore it all with an open creative mind and with a lesser grip on the outcome. Really, the very best works are created in the guts, your instincts where your soul resides.
- Fifth, embrace the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi wholeheartedly, the realization that nothing is permanent and everything is imperfect. Undeniably, wabi-sabi is perhaps the single most liberating concept you can adopt as a creative that not only makes your experience so much more wonderful, but will actually improve your work in unexpected roundabout ways. As Stephen Hawking said, “One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist...Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.” Yup.
Simplify then complicate: Even the most hyper-realistic pieces are based on abstract shapes first. So don’t get intimidated or daunted by the complicated aspects — start simple and abstract then add complications in layers as you go. A nifty way to refine this approach is to do a lot of abstracted, simplified sketches or doodles, deconstructing the equine into the most basic shapes and curves. Like in my sketchbook, my horses are extremely simplified to capture movement, gesture, or posture rather than being all fleshed out. I can see them already fleshed out in my mind’s eye, so alls I need for my sketchbook are the basics to capture the inspiration.
Focus on narrative: Rather than being so fixated on representational art, or “this is a Quarter Horse” or "this is a Clydesdale" kinda motive, spice things up by creating with narratives. This won’t only add a ton of more interest to your inspirations and process, but inject a far more compelling appeal into your portfolio, too. So consider your symbolisms, motifs, visual language, and narrative themes then actively play with them.
Maintain perspective: Skill can be learned, talent can be practiced, inspiration can be generated, motivation can be stirred, vision can be cultivated, discipline can be fostered, passion can be ignited, Voice can be ampflied. It’s all doable, it’s all fixable, it’s all reachable. It’s all within your grasp if only you actively reach for it. So what’s stopping you? As ol’ Bob Ross wisely advised, “Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you're willing to practice, you can do.” Yep.
Always go “home”: As Elizabeth Gilbert so smartly says, and I paraphrase, “Always find your way home no matter if your work catapults you to wild success or wild failure, because both are equally traumatizing.” What’s “home”? Well, it’s that essential drive that you love more than yourself, that joyful, resonating essence of who and what you’re truly all about. And it can be anything — your family, your pets, your gardening, writing, a favorite hobby, whatever trips your trigger in your most innermost core. For many artists then, it’s their passion for their art. So find it by always asking “why?” until you get to your proverbial magnetic core. Then cultivate it, plant your “home” directly on top of it, and always stay connected to it, able to find your way “home” no matter where your creative adventures take you. So, for instance, if you feel yourself uninspired, intimidated by success, or horrified by failure, think about what resonates with you so deeply that you would create again regardless of the outcome then reorient back there to create again from that point. Remember why you art in the first place and hold that drive always close, using it as a sunstone to always find your way “home.” Do this properly, and this becomes your single most amazing and invincible superpower in your arsenal to combat block or burnout. (Pro tip: Pair this with wabi-sabi and you have yourself an invincible one-two punch!)
Declutter your mind: A mind clogged up by “mental clutter” inhibits creativity with distractions, stress, and drained energy. So find a way to purge those distracting thoughts and feelings for the duration of your arting. Practice meditation, deep breathing, and perhaps even journal or vlog them out. Or even make your arting about them to process them through composition, color, narrative, and gesture. Vent them out! Art can be tremendously expressive, cathartic, and transformative — use it! Take your turmoil and troubles, and turn them into art! That’s what it’s there for! Or on the flipside, use arting as a sanctuary-laden therapy for your inner struggles, using creativity as a balm for your angst. Art can be monumentally soothing, affirmative, and reassuring — use it! That’s what it’s there for!
Revisit visuals: What are some of your favorite themes, motifs, narratives, and visuals? Identify them and revisit them creatively. Often times, familiarity can feel more comfortable and nonthreatening, teasing out your arting more easily and coaxing your sensibilities better. There’s a lot to be said for hiking the same path if it brings you serenity, comfort, and enjoyment. Besides, there’s always a potential fun new series to explore in that approach, isn’t there?
Adopt actual goals: Do you want to be a better artist? Do you want to be more creative and productive? Do you want to get rid of your creative fear? Do you want to develop better ideas or a stronger Voice? Well, stop. Just stop. Yes — stop! You see, more times than you think block and burnout are born from self-deceptive goals. And all of that is self-deceptive! Instead, replace it with actual goals that are kinder and attainable. For example, work on your courage and confidence in your creativity, develop a more proactive mindset, get more in-tune with your “home,” or become more intentional in your arting, with a stronger purpose. You see, once you achieve these actual goals, you’ll automatically become a better artist that’s more creative and productive, who has conquered their fears and who developed more compelling ideas with a stronger Voice. Do you see how that works? Self-deceptive goals work from a position of weakness while actual goals work from a position of strength — always pick the latter. This is because actual goals are growth-oriented based on steps you can actually attain, without comparisons or value judgments, building motivation and providing structure to boot. Those are your stepping stones to generate real creative agency. Along those lines, don’t overload yourself with too many projects at once. It’s okay to have multiple projects going, but just pace yourself and proceed in a way where they’re actually completed rather than just spinning your wheels and getting overwhelmed. On that note, consider breaking down your workload into manageable steps with attainable deadlines — create a production schedule. This can help you be more proactive and organized which can empower you and reduce stress.
Be led: Quit with micromanaging your art! Stop trying to cram a square peg into a round hole! Instead, let it lead the dance, let it go where it will, and follow without judgment. Like transform accidental creative events into purposeful ones, learning how to channel spontaneous creativity into intentional practice. This is exactly how I create my art — I follow the happy accidents and work in a way that generates more, following them to completion. As such, my pieces simply create themselves and I’m their means to self-actualize. It’s a beautiful, mysterious feeling!
Create together: You know what’s super fun with creativity? Being creative with other creatives! So consider setting up some arting playdates in your home or even on Zoom. Make it a regular thing! Indeedy, creativity is extremely contagious and there’s tremendous fun and joy to be found arting with a rambunctious group! So also consider joining a local art group or event, or collaborate with other artists.
Conclusion to Part V
As you can see over these last few Parts, the effectiveness of all these tactics rests on one thing: Your proactive gumption to initiate them. You don’t have to do all of them, but the fact is that the more you deploy, the more effective your results. This is because block and burnout can be very stubborn, especially if you’ve been suffering them for some time. They can indeed be like heavy weights on your shoulders. However, get just a handful of these strategies in gear, and you have a really good shot at lifting that burden once and for all! That’s worth the effort, isn’t it? So in Part VI, the last part, we’re going to complete our exploration of these tactics as well as take a look at how to prevent block and burnout, giving us a big ol' mecha-punch against them.
“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.”
— Stella Adler
