What’s stopping you?
Changing the mindset of artmaking and confronting the creative demons.
We artists love to create and experiment. Nevertheless, sometimes we are so concerned with the result that we are left stuck at the starting line. We can be frozen by the expectation that everyone knows exactly what they are doing. These falsehood fosters conditions of anxiety that stop many of us in our tracks. Together, we need to overcome the formality of art creation and exhibition, vanquish these creative boogiemen, and engage with methods to normalize all aspects of the creative process.
It’s time to trust yourself
I know, easier said than done, but perfection truly is the killer of creativity. Let’s take a second to stop and understand some of these anxieties that keep us from the art making we enjoy. Striving for perfection, imposter syndrome, and creative block are fears that nearly every artist faces. These pressures, however, can become the catalyst of frustration. Remember, you are not alone with these thoughts. They remain challenges for artists of all levels. But it’s time to channel your inner artist, whether that be a Van Gogh or a Kim Jung Gi, and shift your mindset so that you can encounter these anxiety producing emotions less and less as you grow as an artist.
More than a doodle
So, what can we do to push past these internal obstacles? One of the most underrated methods is a sketchbook. Adding sketching to your practice is one of many great ways to overcome the creative blocks, regardless of artistic discipline. Here, an artist can practice their skills and concisely collect ideas. Your scribbles, notations, and subjects all become organically intertwined on the page.
Getting down and dirty
Make a mess. While counterintuitive to many artists, the sketchbook does not need to be a perfect representation of your work. A sketchbook offers an opportunity to test new ideas and mediums. Nonetheless, artists often steer away from the sketchbook as an artistic tool. They feel they need to make the sketchbook as much of a piece of art as the final product. Don’t. This is an opportunity to create in an uninhibited manner; if all aspects are dictated prior to the execution you restrict your own possibilities. It is time to give your ideas room to grow and evolve so that the unanticipated beauty may emerge. The sketchbook becomes a raw unbridled evolution of not only your work but your process. In the end, remember that while not everything within your sketchbook will be a priceless gem, that does not make the contents of its pages worthless.
Engage with your growth mindset
By taking the time to work through your creative blocks you can begin to acknowledge that art is a process. As your art develops within your sketchbook so does your growth mindset. Your growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset, refers to your mental desire to learn and a determination to understand ‘how it works’. As an artist, the growth mindset reflects your desire to put in the effort to experiment. This approach to thinking has been integral to key artistic figures, world leaders, and famous icons to help them achieve greatness. Just like these individuals, your love of creating helps drive your growth mindset and allows you to reach new achievements in your practice.
Let’s get started!
Now let’s put this into practice! Take the time to understand your artistic blocks and find new and innovative ways to overcome them. This will allow you to stay motivated to create your most authentic work without the mental fatigue and burnout. Allow yourself to focus on the art that you love. So enjoy the process, even the difficult parts. It doesn’t matter if you draw, paint, sculpt, or any type of art making, stop the self doubt, take the leap, and start to make a mess.
Produced by Alexander Steenhorst
Written by Shannon Permenter
