Creative Slumps.

Have you ever found yourself in a creative slump, a creative drought, artistic constipation, artistic depression, original crash, writers block, or the "just can't make shit" void of creativeness?

Whatever you call it, I believe that many of us creatives have found ourselves stuck there from time to time, but have you even been able to identify a creative slump and why it's happening?

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Some of you may already know that I'm a mixed media artist and in theory, these thoughts and ideas of mine should relate to any creative soul but it may only be relevant to a small percentage of creatives - whether it applies to your chosen medium or whether it just doesn't apply to you and your style, way of thinking, approaching your creative outlet or not, I'm hopeful that you may find something helpful in here.

Of course my ideas and theories are not going to fit everyone but they may be familiar to someone out there who can relate or even benefit from my ramblings.

I guess I should also explain that I'm a type of creative that would probably be referred to as intuitive - in that I don't really plan or map out my process, I hate using patterns (have never fully followed a pattern or design in my life), I just start and do whatever flows through my fingers. Sometimes with an end result in mind, sometimes with no end result in mind - depending on what I'm wishing to achieve.

Intuitive creativity should be free of judgement, gentle, nourishing and peaceful to the soul.

I've even tried following along with prompts - which many find very helpful in igniting or reigniting their creativity - but for me, I find they stifle me or I place too much pressure upon myself to get them "just right". Even though prompts are just that - a prompt - an idea launcher that is essentially for each individual to interpret in their own way.

What is Intuitive art?

Intuitive art is a spiritual, connected art process that allows the art to lead the way as images form through the layers of paint and a variety of other media. Intuitive art is a process of creating art using an inner awareness that is heart centered and does not rely on analysis or head based questions. It is a way of creating that is about connecting into your emotions and responding to what feels right. Intuition is that image of a child reaching for the red crayon rather than the blue without hesitation. There is no reason in the decision but a space inside that guides you to choose this one instead of that?

By Cheryle Bannon

With all that said, I've realised something about myself today that I had never actually realised before. The reason I'm sharing this is because I'm guessing this may have happened to you too at some point and maybe like me, you haven't been able to work out the reason either - until now.

I do NOT like taking orders or commissions for my work and there are several reasons for this, one reason and the main reason is that I do not like replicating the same or similar art items I've already created. I pride myself on creating unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Another reason is because often, with my illnesses, I am caught off guard and can not always complete the commission in the time frame that I agree to - even when I give myself months to complete which really distresses and upsets me.

I used to think it was simply poor planning on my part but today I've realised something else.

I've been working on a couple of commissions and a package that I want to gift to someone. Despite the fact I've been unwell AND managed to tear something in my shoulder (so have been in a heap of pain & unable to use my right arm at all), I've really been struggling to get these commissions completed. Again, thinking it was simply due to illness, pain and poor time management.

Today however, all I've been able to think of is working on my own journal or beginning something else (yes, I have countless ideas bumping around in my head right now). Then of course I'm spending or wasting hours beating myself up for not working on these commissions and then begins the vicious cycle of one of my creative slumps.

Why?!

Why have I fallen into this creative slump once again?

Well I started looking at patterns of when I seem to have these slumps. The majority of the time there has been a very prominent common denominator which is the stress that in place on myself. Whether that stress is over the work at hand/commissions or whether it is due to life stressors (like spring cleaning the house for Christmas), I seem to be good at allowing stress to build up and affect my creativity in a negative way. (Even though I practice daily mindfulness and gratitude - we can talk more about that in a later post) Occasionally I can use this stress as a great motivator to create and some of my best works have come out of stressors - usually sadness.

But I have also recognised that there is a great fear that I've placed upon myself too. Some of the time, I agree to a commission or project - usually only one in a 12 month period - I get started on the commission, pour myself into it, do research to "get it right" then I just stop (or I can't even start). I convince myself that I need to do better, that my art isn't good enough - that I'm not good enough, that it needs to be perfect.

But it doesn't, does it?!

This is when I remind myself of something a dear friend once said to me. It was something along the lines of...

"If you created a perfect [item], it will look mass-produced and will lose its handmade charm".

It was then that I realised she was right. I don't want it to be perfect, even though my entire life I've strived for perfection in all that I've tackled but that's exactly why I'm commissioned to create these items - because they are handmade and they carry that handmade charm and uniqueness.

Then it dawned on me.

I rarely, if ever, work on one or two things at a time. I usually have a basket full of projects on the go at any one time.

Why is this?

I think it may be due to several reasons, one of those being that I get bored which is silly when I think about it because in general, I'm never board, I always have something to do but I do get bored doing the same, repetitive things and commissions always fall into that category of repetitiveness for me.

A second reason is because I always have so many creative ideas in my mind, so many techniques, applications, layouts that I want to try, so often as they come to mind, I get about creating them and getting them out of my head.

Another reason I think I've identified is because I seem to need that constant creative simulation and inspiration - I need the ability to be able to play with my materials or I quickly find myself in a slump and unable to retain inspiration.

I also learned that this quote from Maya Angelou is so very true...

So please don't ever be afraid to create, play, experiment. The more I've played, experimented and practiced, the happier I've been with my artistic abilities and the easier it has been to get out of that creative slump.

That is definitely one tool I use to get out of my creative slump - play - experiment - just throw something down on the page. It doesn't even need to be a blank page - just do something.

There are many other reasons why one may find themselves in a creative slump which could lead to feelings of inadequacy, these could include, but are not limited to, some of the following;

• Fear of loss of creativity

• Doubting yourself as an artist or even feeling as though you have no right to identify as an artist

• Feeling as though you cannot come up with any new ideas (or any ideas at all)

• Feeling as though you are not skilled enough - to meet your own expectations

• Feeling inadequate - especially if we've spent time on social media admiring the creative genius of others

• Feeling daunted - by commissions, large projects or even your own self imposed goals/expectations

There are so many factors that could contribute to these feelings, some of which could include;

• Everyday life stressors - bills, health, school run, what to cook for dinner etc, etc

• Life changes

• Death/grief

• Living through an unprecedented pandemic

• World events

• Cycles of different kinds - hormonal, moon, seasons

There are many reasons why our creativity could be stifled. But what can we do about it? Sit with yourself and see if you can identify why you're unable to create. Think about some of the things I've mentioned above, even if they spark something more personal.

I find it rather interesting to learn more about myself and why I do things the way I do then find it even more interesting that we don't all do things the same. And gee, wasn't that a revelation for me! It wasn't until I began teaching art that I realised that we don't all think the same, process information the same or create the same. I mean that sounds rather silly when I've written it down like that.

I know where not all the same but I guess what I mean is this - when I was designing courses/classes it was bought to my attention that I would omit steps sometimes. I didn't realise I was omitting these steps because I would just do what I always did. After talking to a couple of my students, I realised that the steps I was omitting were things that I simply took for granted for example; how to thread a needle or how to use an embroidery hoop or how to prep your work surface or a myriad of hundreds of other things or steps that I've always just taken for granted.

I've strayed a bit from my original post about being in a creative slump but in a way, it all relates to process. My thoughts are that if we are able to identify why we could be experiencing a creative slump, we should be more likely to be in a position to do something about it and move forward with our creativity once again.

Kate Michelle says;

WE ALL FACE CHALLENGES AND DEMONS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF OUR CREATIVITY AND CREATE OUR RESISTANCE TO THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON, BUT THE GOAL SHOULD BE THE SAME: TO OVERCOME ONES SELF, MIND, AND EGO, AND GAIN CONTROL OF THEIR CAPABILITIES AND TALENTS AS A CREATIVE. CREATING IS A LABOR INTENSIVE PRACTICE, A MUSCLE THAT MUST BE BUILT LIKE ANY OTHER. PRACTICE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, IT REQUIRES DISCIPLINE AND WORKING THROUGH THE TIMES THAT MAY BE PAINFUL AND UNPLEASANT. THIS UNEASINESS AND SOMETIMES GROSS FEELINGS CAN QUITE UNDERSTANDIBLY GET IN THE WAY OF CREATIVITY IF ONE HASN'T LEARNED TO EMBRACE AND ACCEPT THAT PART OF THEIR PROCESS.

I would love to hear your opinions, thoughts, ideas and/or experiences in the comments below.

Have you experienced creative slumps?

What have you done to overcome these slumps? (I may do a post on this later - I have quite a few tips and tools that I could suggest)

Have you even been aware that you've experienced a creative slump?

I hope you will join me again when I post about tools and techniques that I've found useful to get out of a creative slump.