Every creative person reaches a point in their career or personal life where they feel blocked and stuck. We can stare at a blank sheet of paper, canvas, or computer screen for hours, days, or even weeks before we figure out how to move forward. We’re at a loss for what to do next; we keep trying and making, but we can’t figure out what we want to create.

When we artists and creatives hit a snag in the process of making or creating something new, it can be incredibly frustrating and disheartening and even lead us to question our originality and our very identity as artists and creatives.

But during such a stage in life, we should never forget that this is only temporary and that you will return to your path of creating great art after this period has passed.

For this week’s feature article, We asked artists from Arts to Hearts Community for their guidance on how to break through a creative rut on our Instagram stories, and their suggestions appear to be sound and could be of use to you as well.

So keep on reading to learn about it all.

Don’t stop no matter what

We once asked artists what they do to get through a hurdle in their creativity. Anja Bamberg, an artist in our arts to hearts community, responded, “Leaving the last piece of work for a time and starting a new one has helped her overcome her creative block. Additionally, she suggests going out and sketching and never stopping creating under any circumstances helps her in overcoming creative block as well”.

Growing up behind the Iron Curtain, Anja (@anjabamberg) experienced family support in the creative arts from an early age. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, she seized the opportunity for free development and studied in both Germany and France.

She worked as an artist, art therapist, and educator. Later, she continued international collaboration through art projects and exhibitions. Today she lives and works as an artist in Dubai

Redirecting one’s attention

 Elyse’ Jokinen, another member of our arts to hearts artist community answered that “she shifts to a different part of her process and returns when she is refreshed”.

Elyse’ Jokinen (@elysejokinen) is a self-taught visual artist working primarily in mixed media analog collage. She is the founder and passionate facilitator of the online platform Wilder Collage. 

Her work has been collected in more than four countries and has been shown in group exhibitions with PxP Contemporary, Arts to Heart Project, BHA Gallery, and more. 

Elyse’ is the proud recipient of a gift grant from the Kanyer Art Collection for her work with Wilder College and is preparing to release her newest series, POUR.

Artwork Credits: Elyse’ Jokinen

Don’t put unnecessary stress on yourself

Another artist Michèle-Louise said, “Doing something completely different and without placing pressure on herself to do work in that situation” helped her break through her creative block.

Michèle-Louise (@miloufreiart) is a 25-year-old, self-taught artist, living in the East of Switzerland. she describes herself, ” I understand myself as a translator between my subject and the viewer, who gets to see the artwork later on. Every subject gets my whole attention and dedication. My intention is to tell the subject’s story in its very own language. I do so by reassembling accustomed images and emphasizing characteristics of the subject that normally would get overseen very easily, which creates a new view of the subject and opens the eye to details that didn’t seem as important before. The style and media I’m working in so then depend on the language the subject speaks to me. For each subject, I make a new decision, which gives every artwork its very own, unique character and me the opportunity to work in various media such as oil paint, gouache, pastels, ink, graphite, charcoal, and whatever I feel is required to express the chosen subject”.

An artist named Maru Kohan responded that when she hits a creative block, she keeps creating without worrying about how it will turn out or how the finished piece will look, and in this way, she overcomes her creative block.

Maru Kohan (@mellow.clay) creates unique ceramic sculptures inspired by nature and human figures, combined with a bit of fantasy. Almost all of these sculptures are meant to interact with them, using them as flower vases, planters, incense holders, etc. All handmade, using stoneware ceramics, these strong and graceful creations are meant to last forever.

Artwork Credits: Maru Kohan

Take a break

Heather Keller told us that when she gets stuck creatively, she takes a break. She goes out for a walk and enjoys the fresh air and the sights and sounds of the neighborhood. If you’re struggling to get through a creative rut, she suggests making some poor art and considering it as a part of the process. 

Heather (@heatherkellerstudios) is an American living in London. She uses a lot of quilt patterns and craft art in her work. Her interest in quilts began while putting on the musical Quilters with friends at university. She was so inspired by the women
characters and how they used patterns to tell their stories. Soon after, quilt imagery began showing up in her paintings. More recently, she started exploring other ‘craft’ arts like embroidery, weaving, and knitting.

She is intrigued by how art history has drawn a line between craft art and fine art and she tries to blur that line with her artworks.

Artwork Credits: Heather Keller

So these are some advices that we have received from our community. Along with this if you need to know about sources to get some creative inspiration you can read our article 5 sources of creative inspiration for artists. Click on the title and you will be able to read it on our website.

And now you tell us in the comments below that what you do to overcome your creative block. We will wait for your response and with this, I will take your leave. So take very good care of yourself and I will see you with the next article till then keep creating the magic that you do. Goodbye!

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