Overcoming Creative Blocks: Blast Through Them!

Published by teresa on

Home > Blog > Art and Design Inspiration > Overcoming Creative Blocks: Blast Through Them!

Breaking Free: Tips for Overcoming Creative Blocks as an Artist or Designer

A creative block Portrait demonstrating the frustration that comes along with the feeling.
This "Creatively Blocked" Portrait demonstrates the frustration that comes along with a creative block.

As an artist or designer, you’ve likely experienced creative blocks at some point in your career. Creative blocks can be frustrating, disheartening, and even cause anxiety. However, the good news is that they’re not permanent, and there are several ways to get past them. 

What is creative block? According to Joy Harjo’s Tips to Overcoming Creative Block: “A creative block is a phenomenon best described as an overwhelming feeling of being stuck in the creative process without the ability to move forward and make anything new. You may find yourself staring at your computer screen or the blank page, struggling to take the next step.”

 

Here are some tips on how to overcome creative blocks:

Take a break:

Sometimes, the best way to overcome a creative block is to take a break. Step away from your work for a little while, go for a walk, or engage in a different activity. This can help to clear your mind and provide you with fresh inspiration.

Explore new ideas:

To get past a creative block, it’s often helpful to explore new ideas. Look for inspiration in different places such as books, magazines, online, or in nature. You can also try new techniques or experiment with different mediums to spark new ideas.

Collaborate with others:

Collaboration can be an excellent way to overcome a creative block. Working with other artists or designers can provide a fresh perspective, new ideas, and a different approach to problem-solving.

Set deadlines:

Setting deadlines can be a useful tool to overcome a creative block. Deadlines can help to focus your mind and provide motivation to work towards a specific goal. They definitely do help although for me personally, deadlines can sometimes add to the stress of a creative block. It really depends on the project.

Keep a journal:

Keeping a journal or a sketchbook can help to overcome a creative block. Writing down ideas, sketches, or even just jotting down random thoughts can help to stimulate your creativity and inspire new ideas.

Another helpful way to gather ideas is to use a visual planning tool like Trello which I have a review for. It’s been a huge help in keep my post drafts, ideas, notes and links for the blog in one place.

Change your environment:

Changing your environment can be a powerful way to overcome a creative block. If you’re used to working in the same space every day, try working in a new location. It could be a coffee shop, a library, or even just a different room in your house.

Seek feedback:

Seeking feedback from others can be a valuable tool to overcome a creative block. Ask friends, family, or other artists or designers for their opinions and suggestions. Feedback can help you to see your work from a different perspective and provide new insights.

Creative Blocks aren't Permanent

Hypothetical TNT blasting through creative blocks.
The good news is that creative blocks are temporary. You can definitely blast your way through them. Side note: I was stuck on the captions for the images in this post. But I got through it!

To Conclude, creative blocks can be frustrating, but they’re not permanent. With some effort, patience, and experimentation, you can overcome a creative block and continue creating amazing work. Remember to take breaks, explore new ideas, collaborate, set deadlines, keep a journal, change your environment, and seek feedback. These tips can help to stimulate your creativity, provide new inspiration, and ultimately help you get past a creative block.

What are some of the most effective ways you’ve found to overcome creative blocks as an artist or designer? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!

More From Art and Design by Teresa Cowley
Wearable art and wall art by Teresa Cowley
Fashioning My Fresh, New Website Experience
Embark on a captivating exploration of my artistic evolution on a newly revamped website, where the worlds...
The image features two hands shaking, outlined in white with simple, sketch-like lines. The texture within the hands consists of a mosaic-like pattern, with small, pebble-like shapes in varying shades of black and gray. The background is a swirling blend of earthy and muted colors, including greens, purples, and browns, creating a fluid, abstract effect. The name "T. Cowley" is signed in white script in the bottom right corner. The overall composition gives a sense of unity and connection against a dynamic, colorful backdrop.
Open for Creative Collaborations!
Looking to team up on something creative? As a digital artist and designer, I’m open to collaborations!...
This image features two women in front of a marbled gray background. The woman on the left has long, wavy blonde hair and is smiling gently at the camera. She wears a light, flowy top with a marbled pattern in shades of blue, pink, and white. The sleeves are short and draped. The woman on the right has dark, curly hair styled up, and a more serious expression. She is wearing a similar patterned top, but with a structured collar and a belt cinching at the waist. The colors of her top are in a softer palette compared to the other woman's. Both garments have a silky texture and the overall impression is one of a fashion photoshoot.
Spring/Summer 2024: Trending Prints and Patterns
Dive into Spring/Summer 2024's print trends! From whimsical collages to sporty crafts, and elegant marbled...
Categories: Art and Design InspirationUncategorized
Digital artist and graphic designer, Teresa Cowley

My name is Teresa Cowley, and I'm a digital artist and graphic designer from Vancouver Island, Canada. I focus on abstract and fantasy art as well as digital collage, and like to utilize AI art tools as part of my design process to create new, innovative pieces of art. I strive to create new, unique designs that tell imaginative stories, and I am eager to push the boundaries of what can be expressed with art and technology.

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Avatar placeholder

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

A person is sitting at a desk in an office, facing a large computer monitor. The monitor displays a cartoonish, stern-looking man with an intense expression, fists clenched against his cheeks. The cartoon character appears to be speaking, with a speech bubble that reads, “It is I, Comic Sans!” The person at the desk, seen from behind, has their hands raised to their head in frustration, and a speech bubble above them exclaims, “No! Get out of here!!!” The office is tidy, with shelves of organized binders, boxes, and a corkboard on the wall. Office supplies, such as a pen holder and papers, are on the desk.
Art and Design Inspiration

The Comic Sans Controversy

Comic Sans: the font that sparks more design rants than any other. But why the hate? From its overuse in inappropriate settings to its childlike, amateurish appearance, designers can’t stand it. However, with friendlier yet refined alternatives like Raleway, Poppins, and Montserrat, you can keep things playful and polished. Comic Sans? Maybe leave it to the kids.

A close-up view of an abstract painting featuring vivid, swirling colors and a bubble-like texture. The artwork has a rich blend of turquoise, purple, orange, and black, with numerous circular and oval shapes scattered throughout, resembling soap bubbles or cells. The shapes vary in size and are layered, creating a sense of depth. The colors transition fluidly from dark to light, with highlights of glowing orange and contrasting teal and purple tones, emphasizing a dynamic and organic pattern.
Art and Design Inspiration

Fluid Art Magic: Procreate’s Liquify Tool

Want to capture the vibrant beauty of acrylic paint pours, all digitally? In this guide, I’ll walk you through using Procreate's Liquify tool to create mesmerizing fluid art effects that mimic real-life pours. From mastering essential settings to layering techniques for depth, learn everything you need to make striking, paint-like creations. Let’s dive into digital pouring!

The image showcases a stylized, minimalist line drawing of a vampire's face in white against a dark, textured background. The vampire has slicked-back hair, angular features, and a stern expression, with a high-collared cloak framing his face. The background is a mix of muted blues and purples, with faint text, shadowy figures, and red streaks that resemble dripping blood. On the right side, a faint, ghostly portrait of another vampire-like figure emerges from the backdrop, adding to the eerie, gothic atmosphere. The word "vampire" is subtly written in orange script on the left side.
Art and Design Inspiration

Crafting Fear: Emotional Impact in Art

Looking to create spine-tingling Halloween art? Dive into the world of fear and discover how colour, composition, texture, and symbolism can help craft emotionally charged visuals. From eerie colour palettes to unsettling perspectives and shadows, this guide explores the psychology of fear, showing you how to evoke suspense and discomfort in your artwork. Perfect for horror fans!