Studio Friday: Artist's Block

This week's topic for Friday September 1st suggested by Gabi: ARTIST'S BLOCK.

"You've heard of 'writer's block'. Well as an artist, I sometimes suffer from "Artist's block". What is this you ask? It's when you sit and sit and can't come up with anything. This can go on for hours, days, weeks even months sometimes. I want to know how you break free of Artist's block! "

Well, I call it Beader's Block.  Beader's Block is when I sit down to make jewelry and for the life of me I cannot come up with one good piece of jewelry.  Now, normally, the ideas are flowing.  I sit down to make one thing and end up making 10 new pieces of jewelry.  So needless to say, when I get the dreaded Beader's Block I am quite distressed.

I used to think it happened when I was tired but I am always tired and I am not always blocked so that's not it.  I honestly think it is a combination of stress, tiredness and burnout.  If I have a lot of stressful things on my mind my creativity is zapped. 

What's my solution?  Well, I have learned not to work through it.  I end up making pieces that I hate and take apart later.  For me, the best thing to do is to walk away.  I take a few days off and spend time with my family, work on other aspects of the business (There are a million aren't there?) and I peruse other non jewelry sites for inspiration.  I like to look at fabric sites.  I always find some really great color combinations.  Once I made a necklace inspired by one of Carrie's fabulous handbags (that I later bought).  Pictures of nature, especially flowers, also prove to be great for my creativity.

Hope you all have a great creative weekend!

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Comments

[Debbie]

Great idea! I'm going to have to start a list for when I'm blocked next. Thank you!

[Lilie]

That is a great idea! What happens though when you start collecting fabric too? LOL! That's what I seem to do and I don't sew.

[tempestdelfuego]

Yup, walking away seems to be a great solution. Then walking back all refreshed and ready to go!

[Carrie Sommer]

Oh hey, which necklace was inspired by one of my bags? That's so sweet! But your solution is perfect - blocks are our minds' way of telling us it's time to unwind and take a break...great post Shar!

[Ouissi]

I always have to walk away from a piece that is blocking me or else I get more & more frustrated & that never helps!

Ouissi x

[Anke]

Good that you know how to solve them, even they are annoying. I get them usually too in stress times and I worry a lot.

[mary ann]

i've been reading others, solutions & there seems to be a running theme>>>doing other things to get your mind off the block...& you know what, that seems to work!