Book Recommendation - The Artist's Way

The Artist's Way is a book I highly recommend.  I have read it three times so far, and I'm considering starting it again very soon.

I first became aware of the book, The Artist's Way, many, many years ago and it is still as relevant now as it was when it was first published in 1992.  It was written by Julia Cameron with the help and inspiration of Mark Bryan.  Julia has been writing and teaching workshops and classes based on the principles of this book for decades.  Julia and Mark describe this book as "A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self." 

Julia sees everyone as a creative.  She lays out a 12 week program for discovering or recovering one's creative self, with exercises and tools to help get past creative blocks and move forward to living a more creative, fun and fulfilling life.

Your form of creativity may be drawing or painting or any of the arts, it may be singing, writing, acting, gardening, or how you decorate your home. There are so many ways to be creative and Julia's suggestions and tools are helpful for them all.  

Julia considers this book a spiritual path to creativity.  She believes that by connecting with a Greater Source, a Greater Creator, it will help free up your own creativity.  You do not need to believe in a God to have success with the tools in this book.  Just an open mindedness that there is a source of creative energy, outside of yourself, that can help you be more creative.  Here are Julia's basic principles behind the book.

One of the foundations of the book is called Morning Pages.  Julia asks that you journal write three pages, by hand, first thing in the morning when you wake up, before you do anything else.  This is free form, stream of consciousness writing.  Not creative writing.  It's a way of clearing your mind and releasing any critical thoughts, feelings or negativity that may be getting in your way and blocking you from being productive.

Another tool that I highly recommend from the book is the Artist Date.  This is a time you set aside for yourself, to do something you like to do, every week.  You take yourself on a "date." Julia describes it this way: "An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.  In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers."  I love artist dates.  I have done this numerous times and I have to say, so many times I come home feeling so inspired.  

Examples of artist dates are going to the movies, a theatre, a gallery, or a museum; going to the zoo, the botanical gardens, shopping, or a restaurant.  But it is time you spend alone, not shared with friends or family.  

There is so much wisdom shared in this book.  My review is just a taste of all she has to share. Julia shares inspiration, affirmations, personal stories, ideas, exercises and so much more.   I highly recommend taking a look at this book if you are looking to open up to your own creativity.  

Self Care for Artists

Yesterday, as I was cleaning up my room, I came across a journal I had written in years ago.  In it, was my extensive list of self-care ideas, and I thought I would share then with you, just in case they might be helpful for you too. These are ideas to take care of yourself physically and emotionally, and to help lift your spirit.  And many of them are also helpful for breaking through a creative block.

Here we go...

1. Start your day with plenty of time for yourself.  Lots of spaciousness. A slow morning.  This is very nurturing, not starting your day rushed or stressed.

2. Take a break while you are working.  15 minutes every two or three hours.  Especially if the art form you are doing is physically taxing.

3. Drink your favorite warm beverage, coffee, tea, a latte. I find this very nurturing.  

4. Take yourself out for coffee, lunch, a snack.  I like going out for coffee with a good book, my iPad, or a journal to write in.  

5. If you are feeling down, call a supportive friend or family member.  Or Zoom or Face Time them. 

6. Get out an take a walk, ride a bike, roller skate, jog, swim.  You get the idea.  Anything that will move your body and get those endorphins moving.

7. Get out in nature.  Walk in the woods, on the beach, in the park, etc.  I find this helps me tremendously.

8. Write in a journal.  Get out all your thoughts and feelings in a safe place.  You do not need to share this with anyone.  

9. Start a gratitude journal.

10. Eat healthy, nourishing foods.  

11. Try cooking something new.

12.  Read about new hobbies, interests, things you want to learn about to inspire you.

13. Read inspiring, motivational, spiritual books, or listen to audiobooks or podcasts.

14. Watch inspirational videos, movies, TV shows.

15. Take a bath, hot tub, or shower.  Warm water feels so soothing and healing.

16.  Meditate, either with a a guided meditation, or in silence.  

17. Try a new art form.  

18.  Make art just for you.  Don't worry about showing it to an audience.  

19. Play a musical instrument.

20. Dance to your favorite music.

21. Sing.  This is one of my personal favorites.  Always helps lift my spirits.

22. Listen to your favorite music.

23. Repeat positive affirmations.

24. Plant a garden, inside or out.

25. Read a book in your favorite genre.

26. Decorate your home, office or studio space.

27.  Get a facial or give yourself one.

28.  Get a massage.  Or use a massage tool on yourself. This is something I recently discovered.  15 minutes and I am feeling better.

29. Get a manicure and/or pedicure.  Or give yourself one. 

30.  Get a haircut.

31. Dress up.  Even if no one else will see you but yourself or your family,  Put on some jewelry, some makeup.  Feel good about yourself.

32. Get out in the sun.  You know, vitamin D.  Good for you physically and emotionally.

33. Play a game.

34. Surround yourself with positive people who are your cheer leaders. People who believe in you, and your dream.  Let go of toxic, unsupportive people.

35. Have a glass of wine, or your favorite drink at the end of the day. Share it with a friend. 

36. If you believe in a higher power, pray.  Ask for help.  Listen for the answer.

37. Spend time with a pet. They help keep us in the present moment.  And petting one helps reduce stress.  

38. See a counselor, priest, or spiritual advisor.  Sometimes talking to someone who is not a family member or friend, who is totally neutral, is the best person to talk to and get advice from.

39. Go to an art store.  One of my favorites.  I feel like a kid in a candy store when I visit one. And I get inspired.

40. Go to places that will inspire you: museum, galleries, the zoo, an aquarium, the library, a bookstore.

41. Go to a movie or the theatre.

42. Try a new restaurant.  Yum!  Eat something you have never eaten before.

On Creative Block - Too Many Ideas

What is the opposite of feeling stuck because of having a lack of ideas and direction?  For me, it's having TOO MANY ideas.  This is how I was feeling this morning.  

I probably spend about half an hour a day, maybe a little more, perusing social media.  I LOVE looking at other artist's artwork. Most times it inspires, but sometimes, I get way overwhelmed.  

From years of being a creative person, I know when I am feeling inspired.  It's like this bright spark or sense of glee that I feel inside, and it let's me know, I want to go play.  But sometimes too many creative practices inspire me and I get overwhelmed.  I want to try them all!  And then I just feel stuck, not sure what direction to move forward towards.  Have you ever felt this way?  

Currently, I am making linocut prints and mono prints of foilage with a gelli press, and collaging artwork incorporating both of these printing methods, as well as creating collage fodder with different methods of using acrylic paint.  I love all of these creative mediums, but I am also attracted to painting, mainly loose, flowing, colorful, abstract painting, AND other types of printing such as silk screening and cyanotype.  I also like beaded jewelry and macrame, and... the list goes on and on. 

For me the answer to dealing with this stuck feeling, first off, is to get off social media.  It is a great tool in many ways.  It helps me stay in touch with people like you, my followers and fans, and I love that.  I have met so many wonderful people from across the globe that I couldn't have otherwise.  But when I start feeling that uncomfortable feeling of overwhelm, it is time to put the ipad down, and do something else. 

Getting outside is quite often the remedy for me, being in nature, taking a walk.  Even better is taking a walk with a friend.  And if your friend is also an artist, talking about the overwhelm and getting another perspective is always helpful.  Or write about how you are feeling.  Writing is a good way to move stuck, blocked energy.  Why, that is what I am doing right now.  I love to write and share ideas.  One last idea is to just start creating something.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  Make it something small.  Make something loose and free.  Just start something.  Play with a new medium.  Draw, sculpt, play music.  Just get the energy moving.

 

So that's what I am off to do right now.  I'm going to take my own advice and take some time to play.  

See you on the other side :)

 

On Creative Block

Since launching my last body of artwork, my print collages, I have been feeling tired and creatively blocked.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to share about this, but I've been feeling a strong urge to write lately, so I thought I would come clean.  

When I released my collages I felt like I had given birth, and in a sense, I had.  All together there were 13 pieces, all new work in a new direction.  And they were very well received.  So far 11 out of the 13 have sold.  That is both rewarding and encouraging.  And humbling.  I really enjoyed making them, and I can feel more are on the way.  But I also felt empty afterward.  Not in a bad way.  But as if I had released a big part of myself into the Universe, and then I needed to step back, and refill my creative well.  And that is what I am up to now.  

 

Another block to my creativity lately is my mental/ emotional state.  I am someone who has dealt with depression on and off my WHOLE life, or what feels like my whole life.  As far as I can remember, since childhood, it has been my norm.  It runs in my family.  I'm not sure if it is biological or a learned way of looking at life, or a combination of both.  I just know it has impacted my life, and I am dealing with it now.  A second year of living through Covid with no end in sight, the state of the world, politics, it can all be overwhelming at times.  I am Covid weary.  As many of us are.  

I think a lot of time what gets in the way of creativity is fear.  Fear of making the first mark.  Fear of needing and wanting the artwork to be perfect, even before we start it.  I am a perfectionist.  I know this one well.  I feel like I am in a grey area right now.   And there is a bit of this fear getting in my way.  I'm not exactly sure where I want to go with the next piece I want to create.  I have a vague idea.  But my vision is foggy.  

What I have been doing and what I am going to continue to do for now is make fodder for collages.  I would describe "fodder" as mixed media patterned papers that are used as bits of a collage.  They help create visual texture and interest in a collage.  I get a great amount of pleasure from making fodder because I get to use different mediums like acrylic paints, markers, metallics, etc., and the process is free form.  I am not creating a recognizable image, just creating random color and patterns on paper.  The freedom of the process is very fun.  Just loose and creative. 

So as I move myself through my creative block, I thought I would share some of my ideas that may be helpful for you too. 

Tools to move through creative blocks:

1. Take a break from social media.  It's so easy to get into feeling not good enough when you scroll past other's images of their creative expressions and get caught up in comparisons. 

2. Do some journaling.  I love to creative write.  But sometimes I just need to spill out what is bothering me on paper, not to share with anyone.  A way of releasing what is emotionally blocking me.

3. Get out in nature.

4. Read or listen to inspirational books, videos, podcasts.

5. Meditate. Pray.  Give yourself some quiet time to explore your internal world.

6. The book, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, is all about moving past creative blocks.

 

7. Julia Cameron suggests taking yourself out on an "Artist's Date", a time when you take yourself out, on your own, to do something you consider to be fun.  Go to a movie, a museum or gallery, to an art supply store, etc.   This is a way of filling your creative well.

7. Just make a mark.  Just start drawing, painting, whatever you like. 

8. Try a new medium.

9. Listen to music and get your body moving.

10.  Talk to friends, family, other artists for support. 

These are just a few ideas that I can think of right now.  I will add more as I think about them.  If you have any you would like to share, I'd love it if you would leave your ideas in the comments.