January 09, 2009

Creative block

A few ideas, gleaned from other artists, to help with the dreaded creative block:

Make a sock puppet.

Give away something you love.

Start a journal.
(I can do this thanks to my blogging buddy...look what I received!)


Describe your favorite place in detail.

Find poetry you respond to...write it out longhand, read it aloud.

Go to an art gallery or museum.

Trace your hand with chalk.

Illustrate your grocery or to-do list.

Write a haiku.

Draw a tree-one picture for each season.

Any other suggestions? (Keep in mind ~ I live in the boonies)

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry about the creative block - I've been there a few times. I like the poetry idea, and I'd take it a step further and illustrate the poem.

I've also found that taking a short class in something I've never done before is a GREAT jumpstart for creativity.

Good luck breaking through...

Kate

Cecile/DreamCreateRepeat said...

I'm in the middle of a dousy of one myself, so I have no suggestions. However, I think I'll one or two of yours!!

A Wild Thing said...

Know what you mean, some days I can just post 10 times, then others...like...what day is this...

But, when all else fails, I just take a drive with 'THE DOG' and it all comes flooding back...but it would help if it was a little warmer outside...brrrrr...

Rosebud Collection said...

I have to admit..I do enjoy making lists..and try to do what I put on them..Sometimes, I get carried away and have to tell myself to get real.

The Grandpa said...

I like to just write the "truest" sentence I know, and then write another one right after it.

S. Collier said...

i think giving away something you love sounds liberating

edi gardner said...

:-)) I will think of you and come back
xoxo

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

I think that list could keep one busy for a while!

I get stuck a lot...anyone who reads my blog can probably tell that....anyway I stop thinking about it...maybe go for a walk...clean the house...that starts my thoughts popping.

Elizabeth said...

I think read a book from an utterly different part of the world - or a completely different culture?
Or photograph some thing
a)very big
b)very small

Unknown said...

I was just going to suggest what Lisa B. did above... whenever I'm feeling uncreative I do something totally uncreative but still productive: a long walk outside (maybe with camera), clean the house, purge my closet... Takes my mind off the frustration of being uncreative which I find helps!

Anonymous said...

I like the "illustrate your grocery list" idea. I remember being a little kid and using my mom's pen to draw fruits and vegetables all over the bulletin during church! It was always fruits and vegetables...I wonder why I made that connection?

Golden West said...

Well, you could start working on valentines and see where that takes you... Maybe try a pop-up version or make an easel card that stands alone, using some stiffened vintage fabric doilies or paper doilies and fabric or paper scrap collage... One year I dyed Easter eggs with home made vegetable dyes - boiling carrot tops, potato skins, other scraps to get earthy looking dyes... You could blow out your breakfast eggs to save the shells and do a fancy or whimsical wax-resist design, sort of like batik... Or get an early start making this year's Christmas cards! Or start gathering mini pine cones on your walks with Trux to make candle rings, wreaths, garlands...

365 Letters said...

Take a long hot shower. I always come up with lots of creative ideas in the shower. The problem is remembering them long enough to get dried off and find pen and paper to write them down!

Willow's World & Willow's Wool said...

Love the blog post.
I always look through my photos of my trips and travels and it seems to unblock my whole mind and get the inspiration and creative juices flowing again.

T.Allen said...

My latest has been still life photography-(read: photographing tchatchkes in the workspace when I'm supppose to be cleaning it)I'll post about it when I come back from the torture chamber (gym) :)

Thanks for the blogging prompt-

High Desert Diva said...

All good ideas.

Trux and I are going to the beach this weekend. (if we can get past the mudslides and flooding) We have a 3 hour drive today, and a two hour drive tomorrow. Long beach walks are in the plans...I'll be looking for sea treasures and I'll have my camera.

Toodleooo....

Linda Sue said...

cut up a bunch of paper, photos, pictures from magazines toss in a heap and put them together in an art journal...the subconscience seems to assist..

Unknown said...

Including myself you're the fifth this week to mention a creative blockage. We all need spring, that's what it is...Snow and grey skies are not condusive to being inspired unless you're emo and let's face it, none of us are.

This list is fabulous, especially Illustrate your grocery or to-do list. Now that is sure to get creativity flowing!

Peggy said...

I have two books on my desk that have never failed to get my juices flowing again. Both have short 10- to 30-minute writing exercises to choose from that are engaging and rejuvenating. The first is "The Right to Write" by Julia Cameron, and the second is "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg.

Beth said...

It sucks. I'm no help since I'm just coming out of one. I don't know what is helping--family finally leaving, looking at craft/home decor magazines. Cruising hobby stores. Finally getting some sleep. Not sure what my trigger was.

Hope you find yours.

Jacque said...

Funny, I was going to say go walk on the beach, didn't know where you live so until I saw your own comment figured it might not be an option. I will be on the beach saturday, I live 2 hours away but an extreme low tide tomorrow and I make a point to be on the beach at least 3 times every month, it keeps my creativity and energy in balance. The other is to get my hands in the dirt, weeding and or planting works wonders for creativity. Jacque

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Start a dream journal. Before you do anything in the morning reach over to your pen and journal, open and write whatever you remember. That should do the trick.

Unknown said...

great ideas! i'll be going out to our local "artwalk" tomorrow to get some inspiration.

also, i love tracing my hands. i do it all the time already, ha!

and haikus are fun.

Jeanne Estridge said...

Great ideas! I should bookmark this blog for the next time I run dry.

Hey Harriet said...

I like all those ideas that you've shared. Like a couple of others have mentioned, I also find taking long walks helps. So does alcohol. No alcohol in the boonies? Try home-brewing. Now there's a fun creative pursuit for you!

Have a super time at the beach :)

Victoria said...

I like all of these, especially the "illustrate your grocery/to do list". For fun yesterday, I illustrated all of my daily items that I use, from soap and toothpaste to food, appliances, thread, needle, water, electricity and so on. I was amazed at everything that I actually use in an average day. I could barely fit it all on one page.

SweetPeaSurry said...

I do illustrate my grocery list ... while I'm writing it, it usually ends up looking very very childish. Fun

Sarah McBride said...

I find that remembering a funny event from my childhood and then writing about it often helps.

I hate writers block.

miznyc said...

I have the same advice I gave T.

Take a picture of something. Anything. Good luck! I hate creative blocks.

Breeding Fancy Art Prints said...

What usually gets my juices flowing is just taking a look at someone else's creativity. I'm easily inspired by the words, paintings, or other creative productions of other people. I find most inspiration in magazines, junk mail, and especially random websites.

Breeding Fancy Art Prints said...

What usually gets my juices flowing is just taking a look at someone else's creativity. I'm easily inspired by the words, paintings, or other creative productions of other people. I find most inspiration in magazines, junk mail, and especially random websites.