3 Tips on How to Beat Creative Block

Creative block is similar to writer’s block, but it affects artists. And just like writer’s block, it can be super frustrating to the point where it just shuts down our work altogether. In a nutshell, Merriam-Webster defines writer’s block this way, “the problem of not being able to think of something to write about or not being able to finish writing a story, poem, etc.” or “a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece.” It’s often inexplicable. It’s always stressful and frustrating.

Creative block can happen to all of us and when it does, it can be extremely frustrating. (Photo Credit: 123RF.com Image ID: 121093411 Copyright: vejaa)

My number one cause is usually the anxiety I feel at the start of a new project. It’s a strange experience, really. There’s nothing quite like the joy, excitement, and exhilaration of a brand-new blank canvas. White, pristine, so full of possibilities. You have plans for this canvas. You’re excited about embarking on a new artistic adventure. But then the moment comes, and you stand there with pencil, marker, or brush in hand and you hover, holding your breath, hesitant to lay down that first mark. The blank canvas both beckons and taunts. Simultaneously inviting you and daring you to do what you came to do.

Can you? Do you dare?

Do you have what it takes to beat creative block?

Why does that expanse of white make us hesitate? Is it a strange reluctance of disrupting the purity of that white space? Is it an uncertainty of the images we hold in our minds, as if they weren’t worthy of this perfectly clear surface?

The stress of a blank page can be a nerve-wracking trigger for creative block. (Photo Credit: 123RF.com Image ID: 23407193
Copyright: Pheniti Prasomphethiran)

1. Make the first mark as quickly as possible. I know many artists who immediately lay down color, usually covering the main background color. This eliminates that pristine surface and somehow that pressure and anxiety dissipates. Many famous writers do the same by writing even when they’re blocked. They write non-sensical words until they move past the block. They fill many pages with nonsense claiming that it sends a signal to their brains or subconscious that they can write no matter what. I know other artists who use a very light grey maker to scribble in a sketchbook. By gazing at the scribbles with a soft focus, the mind creates images that they then define with a darker line. Similar to writing nonsense words, the creative brain eventually gets with the program and you can move on.

Burnout is another killer of creativity.

What about when we have been at it for a long time, taking on commission after commission and have reached a point of burnout? The next project comes along, and you just don’t have what it takes to start another. You have a deadline, but you can’t even think of where to begin. What do you do?

2. Take a short break to recharge. You will always be at your best when you’re fresh and rested. This covers both physical and mental states. Keep your break brief. You do have a deadline after all. Your break can consist of a nature hike or even a walk around the block to clear your head. Go to a spa or go to the gym. Get a mani-pedi. Go for a massage. You could take a trip to a coffee shop and bring your sketchbook to doodle. Doodle fun things for yourself keeping your client out of your thoughts. This time is for you.

Is there a way to prevent it from happening at all?

I know some artists and writers that claim to never have creative block. I take that with a grain of salt. And I bite my tongue when some say that creative block is an excuse for the lazy. How industrious you are, has nothing to do with it. The truth is, it can be brought on by stress and anxiety or not getting enough sleep. What I think happens, is that the folks who say that they never have creative block may have figured out how to circumvent it altogether. They’ve figured out how to overcome creative block almost as quickly as it happens, so much so that when it does happen, they don’t realize it happened. One way is to be prepared.

3. Keep an idea file. This can be digital or hardcopy. Some writers I know keep pages of copy that inspired them. Artists can keep images of all sorts that moved or inspired them. Perhaps it’s the work of another artist. Maybe the composition or gesture of the work struck you as extra special somehow. When ideas are running low, you can flip through your file and recharge your creative gas tank. My file was separated by subject matter: animals (separated by species), sci-fi, surrealism, landscapes, inspiring artists, textures, etc. These days, it’s much more space efficient to keep a digital file, but it’s whatever works best for you.

I would venture to say that it happens to all of us, but it doesn’t have to be an artistic death sentence. With a little thought and preparation, we can overcome creative block. Have a contingency plan in place. I would also venture to say that allowing creative block to keep you out of commission is the lazy part if you do nothing about it. With a plan in place, you’ll minimize the block and be back in commission before you know it.

Further Reading:

Overcome Creative Block – 6 Tips to Beat It

7 Tips to Avoid Creative Block