What do beginners and experienced artists have in common? They all have faced creative block at some point, probably a few times during their artistic journey. There isn’t a single artist in the world who hasn’t been through it.
Creative block can paralyze you. I’ve experienced it to the extent that I couldn’t create new art for months. It has happened multiple times over the years. Whatever you’re feeling, just know that you’re not alone.
The good news is that you can learn how to overcome creative block. Expanding from my experience, I’ll walk you through some of the things that I have personally done to help me get out of this creative rut.
Table of Contents
What is Creative Block?
Creative block is when you feel like you’ve run out of ideas. Whether you’re in the middle of a project or want to create something new, you feel like there’s no creativity left inside you. You’re trying so hard but you just can’t do it. You can’t create something new.
What Causes Creative Block?
There isn’t a single issue that causes a creative block. It’s incredibly particular to who you are as a person (and as an artist) and what you’re trying to accomplish. During my journey as an artist and graphic designer, I have been through it a few times and it has never looked the same.
The feeling that something is in the way of your creative process is scary. But once you figure out what is causing it, you’ll be able to take steps in the right direction.
Here are some of the most common issues that might be blocking you from your creativity:
Inner critic and self-doubt
As artists, we’re often our own worst critics. This inner critic that we have within ourselves can lead to self-doubt, which in turn leads to a creative block.
Stress
Our day-to-day lives are extremely stressful nowadays. There are plenty of things we stress about on a daily basis like money, relationships, family, career, and so on.
When we’re constantly preoccupied with a bazillion things in our lives, our minds can drift away and our creative thinking suffers.
Perfectionism
We want our work to be 100% perfect. When we’re pursuing a creative path in our lives, perfectionism can get in the way. It can lead to paralysis because if we want our work to be perfect all the time, we’ll never finish it.
Boredom
Sometimes we can simply get…bored. Yes, bored. I have gone through phases where I was actually so bored of all the work I was producing. I just wasn’t feeling it. So it led me to hate what I was creating, which also led me to creative block.
Mental health
Mental health can have a significant impact on our creative process. Anxiety can make us feel guilty. Depression can make us feel empty.
I’m speaking from experience here. Depression and anxiety have actually stopped me from doing so many things, not just creatively. I’m glad we’ve been able to discuss mental health issues more openly because when we’re not well mentally, it can impact so much of our lives, especially our creative lives.
If you feel like your mental health is affecting your life in so many ways, please don’t hesitate to see a doctor or a therapist.
Life change/problem
Significant life changes or personal problems can cause creative blocks. These major issues can inhibit your ability to think creatively and make it difficult to focus.
…And so many other causes
The causes of a creative block can change from person to person and from time to time. No creative block phase is the same.
How to Overcome Creative Block?
While being in a creative block is very personal to each individual, there are a few things I’ve tried to do when I’m in a rut. Every artist goes through it and I’m no exception. Here are some actions I’ve taken that have been particularly helpful to me.
Figure out why you’re in a rut
One of the first things you need to do when you’re in a creative block is to figure out what is causing it. Why are you feeling the way you do right now? I think that the more I understand what I’m feeling the more I can address why I’m feeling this way and take the right steps to improve.
Ask yourself what is causing it. Did something happen? Did you read or see something that deeply affected you? You need to observe what is going on around you. Now this doesn’t mean that something needs to happen for you to be in a creative block – sometimes we’re just feeling down for no reason whatsoever. But be aware of things, of what your body is telling you. Be mindful of what you’re going through and this is going to help you figure out why and what you can do to make things better.
Step Away From Your Work
I know that when we’re going through a creative block, we just want to push through and keep going. But the best thing you can do for your creativity is to step away from whatever you’re trying to achieve. Go outside. Take a shower. Hell, even try napping. Just relax. Literally do not think. Go do something that has nothing to do with your art.
Our mind works better when it’s relaxed. If you’re constantly pushing through it, you’ll just end up frustrated. I’ve had some great ideas when I was simply taking a shower and not thinking about the problem I was trying to solve. I know, I know…it may sound stupid. But I promise you it’s not bullshit.
Learn to listen to your body. It knows when you’re trying too hard and when you need to rest. I’ve realized so many things by just paying attention to what I’m feeling. When I’m constantly pushing myself to do something when I’m not at my best, it means I’m not gonna do work that’s any good. I know that stepping away from my work for a while is the best solution.
Try New Art Supplies
New materials to play with? Count me in, please! One of the things that does wonders for my creativity is trying out new art supplies. You don’t have to spend too much money on it, ok? Think small here. It’s not about spending too much to try expensive things. It’s about having something new to experiment with. Even just a simple new pencil can work!
Why is that? You may be wondering why even a new pencil can do wonders for our creativity. Well, our brain likes new things. Something new to experiment with can excite us. Try it yourself: get a new pencil, a new pen, a new paint, a new paper, a new brush. Whatever it is, just try it without overthinking.
Find Inspiration Outside of Your Field
If you’re a lettering artist, you probably follow tons of other lettering artists. If you’re a calligrapher, you may be following a bunch of other artists in the same field. I know this because I’ve been there. We create some sort of a bubble and we’re in it all the time. We want to see what our peers are doing, that’s normal and totally ok. I’m not saying you should start unfollowing people in your field. I’m saying you should diversify! Try following people who are in different fields.
You should also diversify where you get your inspiration. Are you on Pinterest too much? Try looking at other websites for inspiration. Try looking at books. Try looking in your city. If you’re traveling, photograph everything that wows you. Save it in a folder for when you’re going through a creative rut. And most importantly, try looking at different art fields. Do not stick to your niche only! Looking at different types of art can open your mind.
Write Things Down
Who even writes things anyway? Well, I do and you should too! You can keep a notebook so you can write down any ideas that come to your mind. You can write stuff on your notes app. It doesn’t really matter where. As long as you write things down as soon as they come to you.
Have you ever had an idea and then forgot about it? Have you ever thought of a phrase and then was like “What the hell was that thing that I had in mind earlier?” I know I have! So I try to practice writing things down whenever I can because otherwise, I know I’ll probably forget it.
I keep a small notebook in hand so I can jot down some ideas. I also keep a Notion board where I can keep notes and ideas. And also, my gold ol’ fashion notes app on my phone is my go-to when I’m on the run! You don’t need to keep up with all of these. You can choose one that you like the most – and preferably one that you can access with ease – so you can annotate things wherever and whenever you can.
So when you’re trying to overcome creative block, what do you do? You can go back to all of your notes and ideas to see if anything can spark something new in you.
Stop Mindless Scrolling
I know I have said to look for inspiration elsewhere. But at some point, you need to stop mindlessly scrolling on your phone. Finding inspiration is great, but you have to come to a point where you need to act instead of just looking at things.
So get out of social media and stop looking for inspiration there. You’ll likely not find it there anyway, you’re only procrastinating. Turn off your notifications. Turn on the do not disturb feature on your phone. Getting away from it can actually help more than you think.
Listen to Music
Another way of relaxing is to listen to music! Put on headphones and listen to your favorite artist. Or go to Spotify (or your preferred music streaming platform) and listen to some new music you haven’t heard before! When I’m feeling down or in a rut, I know music always gets me. Taylor Swift, I’m talking to you (my comfort album is Speak Now). And Taylor said it best:: “People haven’t always been there for me, but music always has.”
Listening to music can calm me down and I feel better almost instantly. It won’t solve all my problems (obviously) but it immediately improves my mood. So take a moment and enjoy some music.
Watch Comfort TV Shows or Movies
Speaking of comfort things, I’m a big advocate of watching comfort TV shows or movies. Personally, I love sitcoms. These are my comfort watches basically all the time. Yes, I’m that person who has watched The Office a hundred times. Sometimes I even like to keep it as background noise when I’m working! Let me know in the comments if you need recommendations. I’m your gal for TV shows!
Take this with caution though, you don’t want to spend days just binge-watching to the point where you’re not doing anything. But watching a few episodes (especially if they’re comedy TV shows) before bed or during your breaks can help take your mind off of things.
Read a Book
Are you noticing a pattern here? Because I am. I absolutely love to go to some things that comfort me when I’m in need. Even when I’m not in need, too. Books are a huge part of my life, so I like to start my days by reading at least one chapter of a book. And when I need a break during the day, instead of mindlessly scrolling, I like to read as well!
Do I read self-help books? Honestly, no. If those are helpful to you, then by all means keep reading them. But I like to stick to fiction books! It is truly what calms me down and helps me the most. Obviously, sometimes I’ll branch out and read a memoir or some non-fiction. But I really do love reading fiction books the most.
Take a Look at Your Old Work
Leslie Knope once said “I’m big enough to admit I’m often inspired by myself” (see where my sitcom obsession goes? Take that reference!) I truly believe that looking at some of your old work can inspire you. Maybe not in the sense that you’ll immediately get an idea for another piece or something that you’re working on. But it can give you a sense of accomplishment. It can give you a moment of “OH! You know what? I’ve got this. I’ve done this before. I can do it again.”
Go ahead. Take a moment and go through some of your work. Let your old work be an inspiration to yourself. Maybe you’ll even find some unfinished sketches that you’d like to revisit.
Embrace Imperfection
As artists and creatives, we want our work to be perfect all the time. Trust me, I know. But the more I embrace imperfection, the more I can get things done. Perfectionism is a constant struggle. I’m not saying I’ve gotten rid of my perfectionism at all times (I wish). However, I have tried to just draw things without the fear of it being imperfect.
The more you want things to be perfect, the more you’ll procrastinate. It will lead you to paralysis. And the cycle can be an endless loop. Don’t let that happen. Embrace imperfection and just get that piece of work out there.
My queen Tina Fey said it best in her book Bossypants: “You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute. (…) You have to let people see what you wrote. It will never be perfect, but perfect is overrated. Perfect is boring on live TV.”
Yes, she was talking about SNL but I truly do believe that what she said can actually be applied to many creatives. Which is why this quote is all over the internet (especially without the live TV part!)
Keep a Sketchbook
One habit I’ve picked up is drawing on my sketchbook every day. This is one of the things I’ve done to keep embracing imperfection in my work. I’m not overthinking when I’m drawing on my sketchbook. I don’t plan things out. I just draw the first that comes to mind. This is the approach that has worked for me so I can keep ideas flowing in my mind and in my sketchbook.
When I’m in a creative rut, I can go through my sketchbook and see if anything interests me. Is there anything I can use in a piece I’m working on? Are there any themes or patterns that stand out? What are the things that I’m enjoying to draw right now? Is there anything that I can expand on?
Keep a Library of Inspiration Of Your Work/Experiments
As a lettering artist, I like to keep a library of my own experimentations for when my creativity is not at its best. For example, I have a library of letters that I drew just for fun. These letters were not created for any project or any specific reason. I only drew these letters as an exercise and as an experiment. So when I’m out of ideas, I can look inside my own library of work that I came up with.
You could also do this as an exercise when you feel like you’re going through a creative block. Creating things just for fun without the pressure of a project and without thinking about the end result, can actually spark some new ideas.
Work When You Feel Good
“Inspiration Exists, But It Has to Find You Working” – this is a very famous quote by Pablo Picasso. While I agree that you don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike you, I also feel like you have to work when you’re at your best. That doesn’t mean that you’ll only work when you’re at your best, because life happens and we all have deadlines we agreed on, right?!
What I mean by that is when you’re feeling the most creative, take advantage of that. If inspiration strikes you as soon as you wake up, take that time to create. Don’t go to your inbox and to-do list for the day. If you work better at night, let your creative juices flow at night. Make sure you make time to create whenever you’re at your best.
When I’m working on something and I’m just not liking what I see, it’s usually because I’m not at my best time for creation. I set my work aside and I’ll do something else. And I also take advantage of the times when I’m feeling well. I’ll stop everything I’m doing to let my creative side work.
Talk to Someone
Talking to someone can often lead to some amazing things. And I’m not even talking about paying to talk to someone, as I know not everyone can afford therapy. Although if you can afford it (and especially if you want to, I’d say go for it). But I’m talking about simply discussing it with someone you’re close to. A friend, a family member. Whoever that person is for you.
I know that the simple act of having a conversation with my mom or my best friend can help me immensely.
Take Action
Similar to embracing imperfection, I’ve realized that the more I get done, the more I want to just keep creating and making stuff. I also became aware that the more I procrastinate on the things I want to do, the more I feel guilty about not doing them. It’s a pretty deep endless cycle.
It might sound stupid (and even pretty simple) but just do one thing. Start small. You don’t have to complete a piece in like half an hour. You don’t even have to finish it in a day or a week. Set your own pace and build up from there. The more you accomplish things, the more you’ll want to create. And the more you create… Guess what? The more you’ll overcome your creative block.