How to overcome creative block? As an artist creative block is something I’ve had to learn to deal with and in this post I share my secret!
How to overcome creative block? Big question! Creative block can completely inhibit your creative work and leave you feeling lost- I hear you, I’ve been there and it’s really difficult.
How to overcome creative block?
I don’t think there’s a direct way to overcome creative block or a manual with steps to follow. However, I do think time and patience and some experimentation can help. Over the years I have found a way to overcome creative block as it hits a couple of times a year and in this weeks studio update, I share my secret.
Bear in mind I think getting rid of creative block requires an individual approach where you can figure out what works for you, I hope you can find something useful from my approach to it. If you would like to read up more on this I wrote a journal post about Blank Canvas Analysis earlier this year (when I last had a creative block) where I discovered even Van Gogh experienced creative block. Check it out here
I’m also planning a studio sale and here I share some details on this. I don’t often do studio sales, my last one was in 2017 after I moved into my current studio. For this sale, I’ll be offering up to 50% off on my original abstract paintings- if this sounds good please sign up for my newsletter and I’ll be In touch in a couple of weeks with some original paintings for sale!
Finally, we are gratefully able to have open studios again this year! I’m in studio 32 at Delta House Studios and confirmed dates will be posted here asap.
Thanks for watching, Aisling
Background to my Live Studio Updates:
When Covid-19 arrived in the UK all of my upcoming exhibitions, art fairs and arts facilitation roles were either cancelled or postponed. If Covid has taught me anything it’s the importance of proactivity and self-resilience. If I had no way to physically show my paintings then I had to work out an alternative. I had a small online presence through my website and Instagram account but wasn’t very sure how to use either.
However, I saw these platforms as a way to keep my work moving during the pandemic & to get my paintings seen. I did an overhaul of my website (ongoing!), began to be more active on my Instagram and started a YouTube channel. One of the hardest things I did was I began speaking live every Wednesday from my studio about what was happening, what work I was making, the ethos of my painting practice and all the realities of life as an artist. However, amazingly this practice each Wednesday has proved to be one of the best decisions I’ve made over the last year or so!
Building Virtual Art Relationships
Through chatting and sharing directly from my art studio I’ve connected with first-time art buyers & seasoned art collectors around the world. I’ve had lots of positive feedback but the main thing I keep hearing is it’s great to see what goes into making a painting rather than just buying the finished artwork. I share the materials I use, why I use them, painting techniques and how I build a painting.
Also because abstraction can sometimes be viewed as an inaccessible area of art people tell me they’ve enjoyed learning about this genre as I also share artists who have influenced my work and any exhibitions I go to (when I can!) For me, I love that people can now buy my original abstract paintings online from me, connecting with me directly and build a virtual art relationship.
As these videos have become an integral part of what I do, I’ve decided to start sharing them on my website in my creative journal posts as it opens up my work to you. If you can’t come and visit me at an exhibition or in my painting studio at least now you can see & hear all about what I’m making and how I’m making it!
If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch as it’s always a pleasure to hear from people interested in my paintings Sign up to my newsletter (via website) for sporadic updates, preview access to new paintings, free shipping & a few nice surprises in between – let’s start a conversation!