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  Block.

  Sometimes I find that I don't want to do the thing I would normally enjoy doing, like reading, writing, drawing, baking, etc. I have discovered this happens due to stress, criticism, or other things. If I'm busy at school, even when I do have free time, I just want to sit and watch TV, which isn't me. One way for me to get out of this situation is to force myself to sit down and read or draw or what ever I enjoy. Once I make myself do this, I just want to keep going and I get in my regular groove. Although, forcing yourself to do something you don't feel like doing at the moment is very difficult. Very confusing.
  -Does this ever happen to anyone else?
  -How do you get out of this situation?
  -How do you get out of an artist's block?
  I was curious.

  poco_loco started this discussion 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  StoryHeart 

  Yes, it sure does. It happens to me 2 or 3 times a year. Sometimes I force myself through it, other times I try doing a different kind of creative activity (like taking an improv acting class or drawing class when I'm having trouble writing) and still other times, I just take a break. Taking a break is scary....what if you never get started again? But sometimes I think our brains just need a little rest.

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    Aunt L 

    StoryHeart, I agree about resting brains. Have you ever read that creative people need more sleep? I think that I did but don't know where or when.

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  toinette 

  Yeah, happens to me all the time. If I have no deadlines I don't push it and usually end up finding a new interest that I can take back to my other creative interests. The Artist's Way deals with this alot and is recommended.

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  readingroomkatie (edited)

  Sure. Everyone gets a creative block. Even Madonna does. It may just mean you need to change some things up. What about watching a biography about an artist? There are lots out there. It could help. Or try a new poet to read or do the magnetic poetry that you can fiddle around with. Walk through a museum or the park to get inspired. We usually give out of us what we're processing or meditating on, whatever that may be. Maybe you just need refueled. That usually happens for me, when i'm trying new things. Hope that helps you.

  posted 12 months ago. ( reply )

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  incacat 

  I am fairly certain a period of creative block helps me be more creative. Its great that you are at the point where you can name the monster under your bed! Personally, being able to say I am not doing what I want is what it takes to remove the funk a little bit a time. Beware, the fierce intensity of creative action after so long going without can lead to intense burn out. I recommend watching How to Draw a Bunny an unusual biopic on Ray Johnson it always works to send me into a flurry of activity. I am also helped by taking small projects to work on during breaks at work. I used to have anxiety about other people seeing my stuff before it was done. Now, I realize that most of my co-workers are kind and thought it was great that wanted to ask questions and talk about the process (which in turn helped me get the juices flowing) . This small exercise of creative action helped me in both areas because I was able to tune out work and do something fun and that helped make work more fun!

  posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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  Art Stark 

  ooh boy… been happening to me all my life… and it can last a long time. Bravo for “forcing yourself to do something.” As counter-intuitive as it sounds, it's probably the best solution; that and keeping at it with some consistency, because it may not work the first six or twenty times. If you don't mind a long-winded solution, try reading Feeling Good by David D. Burns. If you'd like a more succinct solution, there's The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield. Uhm, at least in my case, my “block” is usually me trying to work out a problem that I'm not aware I have. Working creatively usually helps me bring the solution and the problem up to the surface (usually in that order). Oh, and keep a sense of humor about yourself; everyone gets blocked. Artists are the ones who work past the block.

  posted 6 months ago. ( reply )

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