Every Painting Can’t Do All Things
You will not always feel motivated and inspired during your creative process. Sometimes the creative block produces “muck”. In today’s episode we talk about the difference between burnout and muck, the process of pushing through it, and why every painting can’t do all things.
No Mud, No Lotus
Sometimes we reach that moment where our inner critic may poke at us and ask - Is that all we got? Are we done for good? Why can’t we seem to make anything decent anymore? Where did the inspiration and motivation to create run off to? Welcome to the mucky part of the creative cycle.
Feeling “stuck” is normal! We’ve both experienced it! But what can you do about it? There are several ways to get unstuck and re-inspired in your creative process:
1. Put some fun back into your studio
Try new materials
Start with a handful of small new pieces or warmups, no expectations, just get your hands moving
Put on a fun playlist, dance and sing along
For more fun warm up ideas, listen to Episode 3: Creative Warm Ups
2. Put the finishing touches on some completed paintings (paint the edges, varnish, add wiring, hang up new work etc.)
3. Reconnect with your inner self
Journal - written or visual
Look through old sketchbooks and previous artwork
Spend time in introspection or meditation
4. Don't be afraid to step away & indulge in other energy giving activities
Get outside and reconnect with nature
Prioritize fulfilling family and friend time
Workout and move your body
When in doubt, there are a few things to remember.
As Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk, once said, “There is the mud, and there is the lotus that grows out of the mud. We need the mud in order to make the lotus.” Sometimes you just need to put in the reps, keep practicing, and remember that every painting can’t do all things. You can’t always overthink or over plan the creative process of discovery which is what makes it so beautiful! Unplanned observations and discoveries are part of the creative process! You can’t rush your evolution and you may need to get 100 “bad” paintings before you get a good one.
You haven’t made your best work yet, so keep going! You will make it through the mud and get to your lotus!
Podcast Music By Corey Claxton:
Website: https://www.coreyclaxton.com/
Instagram: @thecoreyclaxton
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3gMzkkK
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