Art and Flow: Stuck in the studio? (for when you don’t have ideas)
It’s true. Every artist's creative process stalls at some point. The key to overcoming this challenge, however, is to find a way to maintain a consistent flow of ideas and practices that you can fall back on when these moments occur. We’re going to have a look at some practical ways for reawakening our creativity and keeping the creative juices flowing without relying on waiting for inspiration to strike. Curiosity is a key part of forming ideas (that’s one reason why sketchbooks are always handy to keep nearby). Create a habit of paying attentive attention to your surroundings. Look around you—how does the interaction of light and shadow effect the landscape you’re observing. What about the complexity of nature, or the expressions on people's faces? Curiosity not only increases your observation skills, but it also feeds your imagination.
One way to do this is to get outside a bit and I like to do this via Julia Cameron’s (The Artist’s Way) Artist Dates. Julia Cameron introduced the concept of the "artist's date" in her book The Artist's Way, describing it as a planned excursion to nurture one's creative spirit. This idea encourages us to approach the world with childlike curiosity in order to find inspiration outside our typical daily routine (for time both in and out of the studio!). The artist's date is a dedicated time for yourself, focused solely on nurturing your creative energy. It can be going to an art gallery, going on a nature walk, or checking out a bustling market. Refreshing your creative inspiration is the goal. This deliberate time spent alone accomplishes a key goal: it replenishes your creative well with new experiences. In class, I often discuss how we can’t create in a void…we need “bits” in our visual database. It is essential for your creative growth to partake in activities that capture your imagination, even if they appear little to others. Immersing oneself in these artist dates can allow your imagination to roam freely, which, in turn, fosters creativity.
So what could an artist’s date look like?
Get outside! Take a leisurely walk around a nearby park or nature reserve to enjoy the peacefulness of the outdoors. Consider the dirt beneath your feet, the rustle of leaves, and the fresh air. Pay attention to the nuances of tree bark, wildflowers, and sunlight passing through the trees. Nature frequently inspires artists, and a simple trip through the woods can rejuvenate your creativity.
Look at art! Visit a local art gallery or museum to see a wide range of artworks. Really “get in there” and observe the brushstrokes, textures, and colors of various pieces. Allow yourself to connect with the emotions expressed in each piece of artwork and learn about the stories behind them. The gallery's vibe and variety of styles may inspire your own creativity.
Like food? Broaden your culinary horizons by visiting a farmers’ market, food festival or specialized grocery shop. Fresh fruits and spices are characterized by delightful aromas and vibrant colors. Try a different recipe or eat out at a local café or restaurant. The diversity of flavors and the inventiveness of food preparation can arouse your senses and birth new ideas.
Take your camera on a walk! Photograph people you meet, architectural elements, street art. I love to do “photo walks” with my classes with various themes (“find as many uses of Helvetica that you can” is a fun one for my Typography classes) Listen to the sounds of traffic, conversations, people walking around doing their business while you’re out taking pictures. As well as getting some time with the potential muse, you’ll be building a visual archive for you to refer to at later times In your studio (or you could print some out and use as collage elements…the options are endless).
Regular artist dates can provide various benefits to you as a creative. These include sparking inspiration and creativity by trying new things. By nurturing yourself and discovering new aspects of your identity, you can break away from routine to relieve stress, overcoming creative blocks and fear of failure through experimentation. It can help improve your observation skills and cultivate some discipline and habit in your creative practice (which is sometimes exactly what we need to jumpstart our creative practice). Overall, artist dates are an effective tool for growing our creativity, personal growth, and maintaining momentum in your art.
Experiment with New Mediums
One of my favorites! Personally, I find art supply stores to be an excellent source to inspire my work and to get new ideas for my series (we’ll discuss art supply hoarding in another post—ha!). Experimenting with different materials and mediums opens us up to creative exploration and self-discovery. In my student feedback, I usually mention something along the lines of “don’t be afraid to explore and experiment”..and that’s exactly what you’re doing in this phase of ideation New materials and media can introduce you to new methods, textures, and possibilities that you maybe wouldn’t have considered incorporating into your body of work. Exploring different mediums not only broadens your artistic skill set but also enriches your creative expression.
Dream scenario time! Picture walking into a studio stocked with art equipment such as paints, charcoal, ink, pastels, clay, and digital tools (this is one of my favorite aspects of a classroom, by the way). Each medium provides different ways to express emotions and thoughts. Experimenting with various materials takes you on a sensory journey. Watercolors, for example, produce a delicate, see-through look that is ideal for delicately controlling light and color. Acrylics, on the other hand, produce rich, brilliant colors that are great for creating expressive artwork. Using charcoal or graphite allows you to concentrate on details and shading, capturing light and shadow exactly. Sculpting with clay gives your thoughts a physical form, allowing you to transform them into sculptures.
Digital tools combine traditional methods with new technology, creating limitless possibilities. They include a variety of brushes, effects, and textures, allowing you to play on a digital canvas and test out styles that would be difficult to achieve with traditional means. Digital art also allows for undo and redo, which encourages daring experimentation and pushes artistic boundaries.
By experimenting with multiple materials, you can not only improve your skills but also discover unexpected pairings. Mixing watercolor and ink or incorporating digital components into a painting can result in visually appealing and intellectually engaging mixed media pieces. The combination of textures and hues creates depth and intrigue, engaging viewers' imaginations. Experimenting with different mediums develops a sense of adaptability and resilience in your creative process. It can teach you to accept your setbacks and help transform them into chances for innovation and new processes within your current practice. It promotes curiosity and encourages you to deviate from artistic rules.
Keep a visual journal
This can be another great way of idea generation for you and your process. Keeping a visual journal is akin to keeping a personal diary of your creative ideas and experiences. It gives you a living space to visually represent your ideas, allowing you to experiment with different art mediums and approaches. You can sketch, paint, collage, or photograph discovered objects in your visual journal to capture your artistic journey in a physical manner. Aside from artistic exploration, a visual journal can be used to build a visual timeline of your creative journey. It showcases how your skills, style, and topics have evolved over time. Documenting your inspirations, phrases, or interesting textures in your visual diary will serve as a source of ideas and references for future artwork.
A visual journal provides an emotional channel for self-expression. It provides a safe environment for you to express yourself visually, resulting in catharsis. Exploring your emotions via art can be therapeutic, helping you process and understand your inner ideas. During creative blocks, your visual journal is a valuable resource. Reviewing past entries may provide new thoughts and perspectives. The juxtaposition of elements and colors, together with your spontaneous sketching, could generate fresh new ideas. It functions as a source of inspiration, ready to be tapped whenever you run out of ideas. I love to go through old sketchbooks to see my paths and what I was “thinking” at the time. Chances are there is something there that I didn’t finish the thought on and I can pick it up again to see where that idea may lead.
Not sure what to do in your visual journal? Here are some of my favorites that I fall back on time and time again in my practice.
Daily Doodles: Dedicate a page to daily doodles. Set aside a few minutes each day to create small, spontaneous sketches. This exercise helps improve your drawing skills and encourages creative flow. If I am in a creative lull I sometimes turn this into a 30 day project, randomizing between gesture, contour, continuous line exercises (and my personal favorite blind continuous line!)
Color Studies: Experiment with different color combinations. Create swatches, gradients, or patterns using various colors and explore their visual impact on your journal pages.
Collage Creations: Collect magazine cutouts, old photographs, or any interesting paper scraps. Use these materials to create collages, exploring themes, moods, or narratives through the combination of images and textures.
Word and Image Pairing: On a page, combine words and images. Write a poem, quote, or short narrative and illustrate it with images. Investigate how words and images may complement and enhance one another.
Texture Experimentation: Experiment with varied textures using items such as fabric, sandpaper, or dried leaves. To add tactile components to your artwork, make rubbings or attach these items to your notebook pages.
Visual Mind Mapping: Use your visual diary to visually brainstorm ideas. To explore concepts, projects, or creative topics, create mind maps, flowcharts, or diagrams. Visual representations can aid in the organization of your thoughts and the generation of new ideas.
Emotional Expressions: Use colors, shapes, and lines to visually describe your feelings. Abstract or symbolic art can be used to express emotions such as happiness, sadness, rage, or calmness. This activity can be cathartic and aid in the processing of your emotions.
Pattern Play: Create a page dedicated to exploring with patterns. Use repeating forms, lines, or patterns to create complicated designs. Patterns can serve as a source of inspiration for future works of art.
Visual Gratitude Journal: Make a graphic depiction of what you're thankful for. Draw people, places, or experiences that make you happy and grateful. This activity encourages a good outlook and acts as a creative expression of gratitude.
Self-Portraits: Challenge yourself by creating self-portraits in different styles or using different mediums. Investigate several approaches for representing yourself, with a focus on capturing your own characteristics and expressions.
Storyboarding: Simple storyboarding can be done in your visual journal if you enjoy storytelling. Create sequential art panels to tell a short story, visually portraying the flow of events.
Dream Journaling: Make a section of your visual diary specifically for recording your dreams. Draw sceneries, characters, or feelings from your dreams. This exercise can lead to surreal and imaginative artwork.
Thumbnail Sketching: One of my all time personal favorites (so much so I made a sketchbook for this process!). The thumbnail sketch negates the need for perfection and gives us the ability to do quick sketches based on concepts (instead of getting bogged down on details). When I’m working on a project (or about to start one!), I grab my book and fill a few pages on small comps for the project. It’s a really freeing exercise!
The Flow
Exploration, experimentation, and self-discovery are all necessary for developing a consistent stream of ideas throughout your artistic path. It entails exploring new things while sticking to a creative habit. Keeping a visual diary allows you to follow your artistic development by recording inspirations, feelings, and experimentation. By experimenting with different mediums, examining your surroundings, and engaging in creative activities, you can open yourself up to limitless possibilities. It's normal to make mistakes, learn from them, and change your strategy. Remember that creativity is a continuous process, not a destination. Accept challenges, recognize victories, and, most importantly, enjoy the creative journey. With dedication, curiosity, and a willingness to push outside of your comfort zone, you'll find an endless repository of inspiration within yourself, feeding your art for years.
