Question 8: How can I prevent creativity burn out?
I will be the first to admit that I do suffer from creativity burn out from time to time. Sometimes it stems from doing the same thing over and over and just getting tired of it. Other times it could be caused by “writer's block” not sure what new things I can do with what I have. Let's face it, it is hard being an artist and on top of that, running your own business. When you are stressed it is only inevitable that it will affect your creativity to the point of contemplating throwing in the towel and retiring early.
The good news is don't do it yet until you have read these tips to help combat creativity burn out.
1.Walk away.
I said it – walk away. Far too often we coop ourselves up in our studios chained to our work area and forget to take the time to get out, this really hinders creativity. While not all of us can afford some tropical retreat for a week or two it only costs a bit of gas to take a road trip to no where. Take a stroll down your nearby “Main Street” boutique shops, visit a local museum, spend a night at a bed and breakfast, go to an art show as a patron – not as an exhibitor, or visit a popular landmark or even a park! The point is to get out and enjoy the little things as the little things can help inspire you.
2.Gardening.
Although not everyone has a yard, a day at a garden nursery shop or local botanical gardens can work well to help inspire and relieve stress though Mother Nature's art. Don't have a garden, start one either indoors or out. Simply planting herbs or making a container garden doesn't take much time nor money and will give you endless pleasure throughout the season. Try bird watching, letting out aggression through weeding, as well as picking flowers for a bouquet or harvesting vegetables (even at your local U-pick veggie farm) are some other ideas to open yourself up to the world around you by opening your eyes to possible new subject matter.
3.Take up a temporary new art form.
Artists have a great desire to want to learn and explore new things and can't always be satisfied being good at only one thing. I suggest taking a class at a local community college or art college in a different medium or even a cake decorating class (Duff with the Ace of Cakes t.v. show, started out as an art student first which led him to creating works of art with cake). Although I don't have time to take a class I have gotten books and watched t.v. segments learning basic components in doing paper marbling, flower arranging, and playing with polymer clay and had fun doing all of these. It's liberating and highly motivating.
4.Re-do/design your studio.
At a show I was selling at two years ago, a jewelry artist told me she was ready to call it quits – zapped of energy and desire to create until she looked at their studio and said it is time to do a make over. She went the home improvement store and bought a wild yet not too wild color of paint and re-painted the studio. Then created a different layout of how she wanted things in the studio, had fun exploring antique shops creating organizational shelving and organizational items, and before she new it she was in a whole new mindset and couldn't wait to get back to work. She claimed it helped save her business.
5.Create a “trash” project.
Now is the time to sift through the piles of treasured junk still hanging out around the studio and do something with them. Artists who have done this exercise and found out they were able to create a whole new line, a recycled art line, that not only has a new found use of unwanted materials, but creates a whole new selling product for next to nothing (after all weren't you going to throw them away eventually?).
6.Join a guild/group. There is nothing better than networking with your own peers to jostle new ideas, share in frustrations, and offer creative solutions. The photo included is from the 2008 CODA conference round table discussions - so much fun! Start by seeking out state and local directories for art associations that promote art guilds/leagues, craft groups, and clubs there are quite a few groups via online social networks such as www.artfairinsiders.com to check out too. Can't find a group – start one! It could be as easy as starting Facebook group page geared for your medium or even area – this could lead to meeting up from time to time at a coffee shop or social space in a local church.
The nice thing to know about feeling burned out, is it usually doesn't last long and you are not the only one who suffers from it. Have you been burned out? Share your story and how you overcame it via the comment button - I'd love to hear it! Our next question will focus on new and trendy art forms that may not only inspire you, but ponder if it
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