Grabbing the pen and paper, you sit by the window. A line appears but the proceedings are erased. Does your mind want to spill some rhymes, poetry, maybe? Feelings pop up but nothing’s jot down. And this, my mate, is what happens when Creative Block makes you it’s prey.

The blank page is staring at you and questioning your abilities. So, you in turn challenge it and the harder you try to win, the block just peaks up. Ever tried to go to the root of why the block knocks on your door? Let’s unfold the box kept on the farthermost corner and try chillin’ it down for a bit. Creative block is sure an enemy and creative hustle drains you out, but here’s a to-do list that shows the ways to fight creative block!

Too much thinking going on

“Is the face drawn too straight? I want to draw that bag but meh? It’s so boring.” This happens when your mind blocks you. Whatever you draw, whatever you write, you tend to dislike it. That, or you’re so used to looking at everything with the same perspective that you start limiting your approach. Overthinking and creativity don’t go hand in hand. There is just too much thought and criticizing going on behind the curtains and that builds walls for your creativity.

Comfy in Comfort Zone

Sometimes, your very own art seems boring, no matter how beautifully it is done. The strokes seem so familiar and the word flow is so expected that a feeling of ‘newness’ just vanishes. Repetition is the correct word for this. You’re either too used to it or you’re simply scared to step out of it. You’re bound to a work path. This isn’t healing unless you decide to get dissimilar with the similar paradigms. Creativity and comfort don’t always co-exist.

Emotional Barriers

Creativity is intensive exercise. When you create something, you put a part of yourself in it. This can be daunting. At times, there is a thin scope of revealing what you are/feel through your art. The fear of artboards being weird, or lightly embarrassing can sue your motivation. The straight frights make the curves of work dull.

Work that doesn’t work

Ah. The silent killer. Overload during work hours, improper rest, unhealthy diet, and everything in between can disturb your creative schedule too. You may feel like you are trying too hard to not be hard enough. Long hours make you fall short of imagination. Sticking to the desk and ignoring the rest is definitely not the way to go.

Doing too much

Ask yourself when was the last time you took a break or spared a handful of time for yourself. If you have to ponder a lot, know that you’re off the track. There is so much to read that you stop feeling the need to read more. An overflow of a bundle of great ideas can be overwhelming. And by this point, you and your creativity may feel suppressed. Not a joy, is it?

The question marks are infinite but we also have a handful of solutions to handle creative blocks.

Creative Cross-Training

A writer? Go, paint. A designer? Go, cook. An instrument artist? Go, sing. This is called Creative Cross-Training. The purpose is to do an activity that is not related to your primary job. For a long time, we have lived with the tags endowed upon us like copywriters, graphic artists, singers, painters. During the hustle, we have simply ignored the opportunity for growth in other fields. Moreover, trying new things can help you refresh your mind too!

Don’t be scared

Make something bad and dull. Just scribble it out. Write something irrelevant describing whatever you see. Remember, the motto is progress and not perfection. The point isn’t to be the best right now, it’s to face your worst. Speaking of that, creativity stages your inner issues that strike your subconscious mind. At the same time, it also holds the key to deal with them and bring out the power of the subconscious mind. Writing down or drawing it out will help you address the issues. Read them and you can have a moment to yourself for understanding the setback.

5 Whys

Ask why to self 5 times in a row and finding answers to it won’t be a strenuous task. To quote L’Oréal, “ 5 problems, 1 solution.” How? Take this example. Problem statement- I don’t want to do anything.
Why? Because I am bored.
Why? Because I had a hectic week.
Why? Because I was overworked.
Why? Because I tried to do too much at the same time.
Why? Because I didn’t get the priorities right.
Solution- Get done with the things that need to go out first.

Do anything non-creative

Try planting some trees or just strolling around in the park. Cook something very basic. Tidy your cupboard. Anything apart from the creative exhaustion is fine. This isn’t a break. It’s more like a clear up quest. Investing time in such activities gets your hours utilized in a good way, without having the constant pressure of being judged, mending the mistakes and perfection floating on your head.

Artist Robbery

No, we don’t mean plagiarism. We discourage walking down to the gallery and stealing an artwork too. What exactly do we mean, then? Everyone has a favourite artist. Look for their artwork online and recreate the exact same piece. This will make you explore the process of creating a masterpiece. Artist inspiration is a good thing finally.

Time to run with the clock and kick the creative block. Want an artist-friendly environment? Walk-in at Creative Splash, Deccan where you will find a bunch of creative heads. We are an animation, media and VFX house and we specialize in creating advertisements, product videos, explainer videos, TVC’s and everything you need for a brand. To know more, contact us at info@creativesplash.co.in and we won’t mind if you call us at 8554982761 either!