The Anatomy of a Blank Page
Art Block. Artist block. Writer's block. Creative block.
We have all heard these words before, even if you're not in the creative industry, and while many creators are good at identifying the block quickly, so many are lost when it comes to figuring out how to get out of it.
Art Block is a common experience for artists, designers, and creative workers — a phenomenon in which they struggle with inspiration, motivation, and creativity. It can be frustrating for many individuals, leaving them demotivated and even doubting their abilities. Many people leave out the second part, which refers to having thoughts on how they won't be able to continue with their creative processes; however, it’s a very strong part while having art block: it's both your feelings and thoughts blocking you.
Many artists describe an art block as a period where creative ideas don’t flow, and they find themselves making excuses. For example, Ceramicist AJ Simpson states “The fear of failing stops you from doing something, and I think that is a really hard feeling to push through”, and Illustrator Cristina Gómez remarks “Self-doubt is something that an artist deals with every day. I have days when I don’t know how to draw and I don’t know why. I can draw anything that day and it’s going to look bad.” But how does it occur? Why does it happen? A variety of factors can cause art block, including:
Physical and Mental Fatigue- This is arguably one of the main causes of art block, as your mind and brain are not in optimal condition, resulting in your creative ability decreasing. This can include lack of sleep, overworking, or not having enough time to rest. These can cause fatigue, which negatively impacts motivation to work.
Stress- This is another common cause of art block and can be a result of things like pressure from work, personal problems, or burnout, which can disrupt your ability to think creatively. This can create emotions such as self-doubt, fear of failure and overthinking, which can worsen your mental state, making it harder to break the cycle.
Out of Inspiration- This condition is less common in the creative industry, yet it still plays a role in why some people may experience art block. This comes when a person feels they have explored all they could experience and cannot find anything new to learn.
An art block can be annoying when ignored, as it can hold you back from your work. However, there are a few tips you could follow to get you out of art block, for example:
Taking a short break- The best way to get yourself out of art block is by taking a short break. This can give your brain time to rest and regurgitate new ideas, and to restore the creative spirit that you long to re-establish.
Getting out of your comfort zone- By challenging yourself to try something new and different, you could help you investigate a new creative approach you may have never thought of before; by doing this, you could help restore your creative spirit.
Engaging in Fun activities- The best thing you can do to deal with art block is to take some time by doing activities you may enjoy, for example, listening to music, watching the new hit series, eating good food, or exercising to help your mind relax.
Art block is a tricky part of the creative process. But by understanding why it may occur and how to fix it, it will be easier to continue your creative work and to fulfil your creative needs. Don’t hesitate to take a break and do something you enjoy refreshing your mind.
Sources:
https://www.visuwisu.co/en/insights/what-is-art-block
https://thecreatorsdiary.com/how-to-get-out-of-art-block/#what-is-art-block
Leah James
