Is there anything more terrifying than looking at a blank canvas, with no idea of what to do with it? It doesn’t matter what your chosen creative medium is, whether it’s writing, painting, or writing songs, we all go through creative dry spells from time to time.
You don’t have to live with your creative lull, however. There are things you can do that’ll fill up your well of creativity and increase your chances of getting back to work. In this post, we’ll look at some of the most effective methods for jumpstarting your creative engine when it breaks down.
Give Yourself Space
There’s value in trying to force your way through a creative lull by chaining yourself to a desk and getting to work. But at some point, it’ll be best to take a break. If it’s really not happening, then look at giving yourself some space by taking a walk. This can be an aimless walk around your neighborhood or in the great outdoors. You don’t necessarily need to think about your creative problems — just let your mind wander as aimlessly as you are walking, and there’s every chance that an idea comes to you.
Set a Challenge
Creating something out of thin air can be difficult. It’s rewarding when it happens, but it’s difficult — and also, just generally not necessary. A work of art isn’t more impressive because it came from nowhere. The value of a piece is judged by a million different factors, and whether it was an innate concept isn’t one of them.
If you’re looking to push your creativity forward, look at adding a self-imposed challenge to your creation. For example, you may decide to paint using only certain colors, or with your weaker hand, or make a piece using only materials you find in the trash. These challenges can help to narrow your thinking and help you get down to the busy work of just working, rather than just getting lost in your mind.
Work With Technology
Technology can help to solve all kinds of problems, so why not look at using it to overcome your creative struggles? We’re not suggesting that you should let a computer do all of the work, but you can certainly use it as a starting point for your creations. You’ll likely have heard of RNG in games, which helps to add an element of randomness into the gameplay, but you can also use RNG in art. When you’re out of ideas, look at using a random generator to push the artwork forward — in all likelihood, it’ll invoke new ideas that you otherwise would not have come up with.
Visit a Gallery
Creativity is a well that you need to fill up from time to time. Your inner inspiration will take you somewhere, but it won’t take you everywhere, not all of the time, anyway. When you’re struggling to come up with ideas, pay a visit to an art gallery or museum. There’ll be one close to you, no matter where you live. Or if you really want to feel inspired, book a flight to New York, London, or Paris, and look at some of the best artistic creations of all time. It’ll show you what’s possible if you dedicate time and effort.
Join a Workshop
Finally, consider joining a workshop. There’s a lot of value in interacting with other artists! For starters, they’ll have experienced what you’re going through. Second, it can be handy to bounce your ideas off people who understand your craft. If you need to give yourself a little push, why not accept the helping hands of others?
Last Updated on by Icy Tales Team