Every once in a while, perhaps once or twice a year, I go through what I call a creative Pause. Used to call it a creative Block until I realised that it was always a temporary, and obviously necessary, break in order that my mind and soul recharge and empty themselves of the old and worn ways of perception, to allow inspiration to seep in along with new ways of seeing and interpreting the world around me creatively. Amazing ideas would then come pouring out of me (well, theoretically), unstoppable, to fill up all those waiting blank pages.
I'm going through a 'deep breath' pause at the moment, can you tell? My pencils, pens and brushes are drooping sadly in their cups and jars ... well, it has been quite hot recently. Unusually, I have no desire at all to pick anything up and doodle or scrawl across lovely clean white sheets of paper.
So. What do I do while my brain cells are simmering away on the back-burner cooking up delicious new and original art for me to savour? Well, first of all I relax. It seems to be a necessary part of the whole process. Stress and panic over being blocked only prolongs the blankness of mind. I just sit back and read, upload designs onto my stores, walk the dogs, clean the house and clear up all the clutter in my studio, chat to friends who are mostly surprised that I still exist, re-examine my life, ask the universe questions concerning the mysteries of the world, discuss spiritualism and peace, wonder if aliens exist somewhere out there ... well, you get the gist of it ...
I do also seek help of a creative kind. Which is why I looked for and bought Danny Gregory's 'Art Before Breakfast', just to flip through and remind myself of how I got started, as it was his 'The Creative License' that finally allowed me to set my extremely perfectionistic critical inner editor aside and begin my drawings and the journey upon which I still am on now, 10 years later.
I've bought and given away so many copies of The Creative License that I no longer have one of my own. I did all the exercises in that book 10 years ago and loved realising that I didn't have to get everything perfect every time, if ever. He reminded me that I'm only human and allowed to make mistakes ... and that sometimes those mistakes can turn out to be quite beautiful. Anyway, if you're in the same position as I am at the moment, then get any of his books and have fun. I'm off now to clean up the rest of my home and then sit out in the garden and just breathe for a bit. Redefining my future and appreciating my life. Cheers.
