Busting Through Creative Block - My Top Tips

Ugh, creative block. It happens to us all, but oh my do I hate the feeling. It can strike at the most inopportune times, the worst is when you have a deadline looming, but there are ways to help stride out the other side and come busting through creative block. Here are my top tips...

Move Locations

Normally work indoors? Head out into the wilds (or the garden!) with your sketch book or even your easel and the project that you are stuck on, and find inspiration in working outdoors. Sunlight, fresh air, bird song - it all helps bring a new perspective.

'Feed' Your Brain

Your brain sometimes needs you to consume inspiration. Head to the book shop and gather some new books to read, head to an art gallery (read my blog about my favourite art galleries in the south west) or hit the cinema and watch a new movie. 

Spend Time In Nature

This is the most important one to me, and something I have to do every day (no matter the weather!). From just having a coffee in the garden and listening to the birds, to heading out for a long hike, any nature time is vital to inspiring my work and I find it resets and grounds me and helps keep creative block at bay.

Reorganise The Studio

A little disruption in the space, a change of layout or just a good spring clean often work wonders. Throw open the windows, let the fresh air flood in, put on some upbeat music and get cleaning and organising every nook and cranny of your studio! I often find moving furniture around and having a 'new' workspace can really help bust the creative block.

Acceptance

This is a hard lesson to learn, but sometimes you just have to accept the creative block. That tends to lessen the pressure and anxiety around it and helps it flow away faster. Given time it will pass and you can move forward.

Create In A Different Way

If I'm blocked on a painting I sometimes find creating in a new or different way can help move through the block. Cooking a new recipe, trying a different medium like photography, arranging some flowers or trying a new craft often help engage my creativity in a new way. Maybe my creative mind was just bored?! Who knows, but it works for me!

Meditation, Yoga & Breathwork

For me this is more of a preventative thing, as I do them daily to keep my mind and body harmonised and at peace (as much as it can be anyway!). I definitely recommend giving them a whirl, see which one works for you either daily or just as a tool for when you feel the creative block lurking.