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Advice from Artists on How toOvercome Creative Block, Handle
Criticism, and Nurture Your Senseof Self-Worthby Maria Popova
Mastering the balance of restriction and imaginative
play, or why unbridling your self-worth from your
professional success is essential for happiness.
Inspiration is for amateurs the rest of
us just show up and get to work,Chuck
Close scoffed.A self-respecting artist
must not fold his hands on the pretext that
he is not in the mood,Tchaikovsky
admonished. Show up, show up, show
up, and after a while the muse shows up,
too,Isabel Allende urged. But true as
this general sentiment may be, it isnt
always an easy or a livable truth most
creative people do get stuck every once
in a while, or at the very least hit the OKplateau. What then?
Not too long ago, Alex Cornell rallied some of our times most celebrated
artists, writers, and designers, and asked them to share their strategies for
overcoming creative block. Now comes Creative Block: Advice and Projects
from 50 SuccessfulArtists(public library) a lavishly illustrated compendium at
once very similar in spirit and sufficiently different in exec ution, in which
Danielle Krysa, better-known as The Jealous Curator, asks artists from around
the world working in various media to crack open the vault of their unconscious
and explore the darkest elements of the creative process, from overcoming
idea-stagnation to dealing with both self-criticism and external naysayers. Inaddition to sharing their broader thoughts on the demons and rewards of
creativity, each artist also offers one specific block-busing exercise a
Creative Unblock Project to try the next time you feel stuck.
But what makes the project particularly noteworthy is that while it features
reflections from visual artists, most of their insights apply just as usefully to
other creative endeavors, from writing and to entrepreneurship to, even,
science.
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=13eb080d8a315477042e0d5b1&id=d580cfe501http://art.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/newsletter/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/donate/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/10/01/breakthrough-alex-cornell/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/17/ok-plateau/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/07/24/tchaikovsky-on-work-ethic-vs-inspiration/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/07/24/tchaikovsky-on-work-ethic-vs-inspiration/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/27/chuck-close-on-creativity/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/author/mpopova/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brain-Pickings/55555550744?ref=mfhttp://www.twitter.com/brainpickerhttp://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/newsletter/http://feedproxy.google.com/brainpickings/rsshttp://feedproxy.google.com/brainpickings/rsshttp://www.thejealouscurator.com/blog/about/http://www.worldcat.org/title/why-i-write-thoughts-on-the-craft-of-fiction/oclc/39007157&referer=brief_resultshttp://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/10/01/breakthrough-alex-cornell/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/17/ok-plateau/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/18/isabel-allende-on-writing/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/07/24/tchaikovsky-on-work-ethic-vs-inspiration/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/27/chuck-close-on-creativity/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/author/mpopova/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/donate/http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=13eb080d8a315477042e0d5b1&id=d580cfe501https://soundcloud.com/brainpicker/http://art.brainpickings.org/http://literaryjukebox.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/newsletter/http://bookpickings.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/contact/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/donate/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/about/http://feedproxy.google.com/brainpickings/rsshttp://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/newsletter/http://www.twitter.com/brainpickerhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Brain-Pickings/55555550744?ref=mf8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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labors of love
Trey Speegle
One of the recurring themes in dealing with creative block, which a number of
the artists articulate, has to do with mastering the right balance between
freedom and constraint. Mixed-media artist Trey Speegleputs it perfectly:
You have to set up the narrow parameters that you work in,
and then within those, give yourself just enough room to be
free and play.
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/03/advice-to-little-girls-mark-twain/http://treyspeegle.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/03/advice-to-little-girls-mark-twain/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/12/16/writers-wakeup-times-literary-productivity-visualization/8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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Aris Moore
Multidisciplinary artist Aris Mooreobserves:
When I am stuck I just search for excitement, but not
too hard. It is when I find myself playing more than trying
that I find my way out of a block.
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/03/susan-sontag-on-love/http://peekadoo.blogspot.ca/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/03/susan-sontag-on-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/21/anais-nin-on-love-by-debbie-millman-2/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/03/anais-nin-love-debbie-millman-1/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/03/advice-to-little-girls-mark-twain/8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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must-reads
Lisa Golightly
Painter Lisa Golightlyadds:
I give myself permission to just make for the sake of makingwithout any thought to the outcome, which can be
surprisingly hard. What I would tell my younger self is
this: There is no right way to make art. The only wrong is
in not trying, not doing. Dont put barriers up that arent
there just get to work and make something.
http://kikiandpolly.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://mbsy.co/7pDhttp://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/30/susan-sontag-on-art/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/03/susan-sontag-on-love/8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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HOWTOFINDYOURPURPOSEANDDO
WHATYOULOVE
THEBESTBOOKSOF2013
WHYTIMESLOWSDOWNWHENWERE
AFRAID, SPEEDSUPASWEAGE, AND
GETSWARPEDWHILEONVACATION
20-YEAR-OLDHUNTERS. THOMPSONS
SUPERBADVICEONHOWTOFINDYOUR
PURPOSEANDLIVEAMEANINGFULLIFE
FAILSAFE: DEBBIEMILLMANONCOURAGE
ANDTHECREATIVELIFE
Lisa Congdon
The wonderful Lisa Congdon with whom Ive collaboratedfor some time
offers a Creative Unblock Project to explore that interplay between structure
and imaginative play:
Choose one thing you love to draw or paint (and feel
comfortable drawing or painting) already: an animal, object, a
person, whatever. For thirty days, draw or paint that thing
thirty different ways, a different way every day. You can usedifferent mediums, expressions, positions, colors, whatever.
Each day, push yourself to do something much different
than the day before, but keep the subject the same. See how
keeping one element constant (in this case, the thing you
love to draw or paint) can allow you to break out creatively
in other ways.
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/tag/lisa-congdon/http://lisacongdon.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/15/debbie-millman-look-both-ways-fail-safe/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/15/debbie-millman-look-both-ways-fail-safe/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/11/04/hunter-s-thomspon-letters-of-note-advice/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/11/04/hunter-s-thomspon-letters-of-note-advice/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/15/time-warped-claudia-hammond/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/15/time-warped-claudia-hammond/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/12/23/best-books-of-2013/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/12/23/best-books-of-2013/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/02/27/purpose-work-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/02/27/purpose-work-love/8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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HOWTOWORRYLESSABOUTMONEY
LOSTCAT: ANILLUSTRATEDMEDITATION
ONLOVE, LOSS, ANDWHATITMEANSTO
BEHUMAN
FAMOUSWRITERSONWRITING
WHATISLOVE? FAMOUSDEFINITIONS
FROM400 YEARSOFLITERARYHISTORY
HOWTOSTAYSANE
Ben Skinner
Many artists also emphasize the importance of stepping away from the work
when feeling stuck a strategy that makes sense, given how crucial the
unconscious processingstage of the creative process is. Multidisciplinary artist
Ben Skinnercaptures this:
I know that forcing something is not going to create
anything beyond mediocre, so I step aside and work on a
different project until it hits me.
http://benskinner.com/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/08/28/the-art-of-thought-graham-wallas-stages/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/05/how-to-stay-sane-philippa-perry/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/05/how-to-stay-sane-philippa-perry/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/01/01/what-is-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/01/01/what-is-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/03/advice-on-writing/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/03/advice-on-writing/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/09/lost-cat-wendy-macnaughton-caroline-paul/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/09/lost-cat-wendy-macnaughton-caroline-paul/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/13/how-to-worry-less-about-money/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/13/how-to-worry-less-about-money/8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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THEDAILYROUTINESOFFAMOUSWRITERS
CULTURALICONSONTHEMEANINGOFLIFE
HOWTOBEANEDUCATEDCONSUMEROF
INFOGRAPHICS: DAVIDBYRNEONTHEART-
SCIENCEOFVISUALSTORYTELLING
ALBERTEINSTEINONTHESECRETTO
LEARNINGANYTHING
5 ESSENTIALBOOKSONFEARANDTHE
CREATIVEPROCESS
Ashley Goldberg
And then theres the Buddhist-like approach of just letting the block happen
rather than resisting it feverishly or grasping after an immediate resolution.
Illustrator Ashley Goldbergreflects:
If it is a bigger creative block, I try to ride it out and just let it
happen. I will still draw, but most pieces will end up in the
trash, and thats OK. I think some of the biggest bursts ofcreativity and artistic growth Ive had are usually preceded by
a big creative block.
When asked to contrast the state of creative block with its opposite, most artists
describe some version of what psychologists call flow. Collage and mixed
media artist Anthony Zinonosdescribes that optimal state:
I have total clarity and nothing but great ideas bubble up in
my head. Its like being on a creative high; youre on top the
http://anthonyzinonos.com/http://www.amazon.com/Flow-The-Psychology-Optimal-Experience/dp/0061339202/?tag=braipick-20http://ashleyg.etsy.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/09/12/fear-creativity/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/09/12/fear-creativity/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/14/einstein-letter-to-son/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/14/einstein-letter-to-son/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/08/best-american-infographics-david-byrne/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/08/best-american-infographics-david-byrne/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/17/the-meaning-of-life/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/17/the-meaning-of-life/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/20/daily-routines-writers/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/20/daily-routines-writers/8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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9 BOOKSTOHELPYOUREADMOREAND
WRITEBETTER
JOHNCLEESEONTHE5 FACTORSTOMAKE
YOURLIFEMORECREATIVE
HOWTOBEANONCONFORMIST: 22
IRREVERENTILLUSTRATEDSTEPSTO
COUNTERCULTURECREDFROM1968
7 MUST-READBOOKSONTHEART&
SCIENCEOFHAPPINESS
CARLSAGANONSCIENCEAND
SPIRITUALITY
world and work seems to be just pouring out of you.
Mary Kate McDevitt
Hand-lettering artist Mary Kate McDevittshares a similar experience:
I could be working without headphones, with someone right
next to me trying to get my attention, and I am completely
oblivious to anything but the task at hand One minute its
8 p.m., the next minute Ive finished my project and its 3
a.m. Thats pretty magical.
http://marykatedevitt.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/12/carl-sagan-on-science-and-spirituality/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/12/carl-sagan-on-science-and-spirituality/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/01/25/must-read-books-happiness/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/01/25/must-read-books-happiness/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/09/30/how-to-be-a-nonconformist-elissa-jane-karg/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/09/30/how-to-be-a-nonconformist-elissa-jane-karg/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/04/12/john-cleese-on-creativity-1991/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/04/12/john-cleese-on-creativity-1991/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/09/best-books-on-writing-reading/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/09/best-books-on-writing-reading/8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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JOHNSTEINBECKONFALLINGINLOVE: A
1958 LETTER
7 OBSCURECHILDRENSBOOKSBY
FAMOUSAUTHORSOFADULTLITERATURE
WHYWELOVE: 5 BOOKSONTHE
PSYCHOLOGYOFLOVE
7 MUST-READBOOKSONMUSIC,
EMOTION& THEBRAIN
BERTRANDRUSSELL'S10 COMMANDMENTS
OFTEACHING
Ashley Percival
Illustrator Ashley Percivalechoes:
I dont want the day to end, because I need to be creative
forever! Sometimes I forget to eat, then I realize that I must
move from my deskso I make breakfast at two in the
afternoon.
http://ashleypercival.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/05/02/a-liberal-decalogue-bertrand-russell/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/05/02/a-liberal-decalogue-bertrand-russell/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/03/21/must-read-books-music-emotion-brain/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/03/21/must-read-books-music-emotion-brain/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/04/18/5-must-read-books-on-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/04/18/5-must-read-books-on-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/07/25/childrens-books-by-adult-authors-2/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/07/25/childrens-books-by-adult-authors-2/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/12/john-steinbeck-on-love-1958/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/12/john-steinbeck-on-love-1958/8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _
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5 TIMELESSCOMMENCEMENTSPEECHES
TOTEACHYOUTODEFINEYOUROWN
SUCCESS
explore
activism advertising
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culture datavisualization designdiaries documentaryeducation film foodhappiness historyillustrationinnovation interview
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writing
Sydney Pink
And yet this state of flow isnt the same thing as the mythic divine inspiration.
Illustrator Sydney Pinkcaptures this perfectly:
The idea of divine inspiration and an aha moment is largely a
fantasy. Anything of value comes from hard work and
unwavering dedication. If you want to be a good artist you
need to look at other artists, make a lot of crappy art, and
just keep working.
But the most powerful part deals with the darkest underbelly of the creative life
criticism. Some artists, like painter Amanda Happ, turn a deaf ear to
naysayers and focus on satisfying their own soul instead:
Its one of the most beautiful things about doing this you
dont have to care. No one gets to have their say and have it
stick. No one can wrestle the pencil out of your hand. You
get to keep going in absolute defiance.
Ashley Percival puts it even more simply:
You cant please everyone people will have art that they
like and dislike the main thing is that you as an artist are
happy with your work.
Ceramics artist Mel Robsonoffers one of the wisest meditations on the subject:
I think its important to remember that making art is a
process. It is never finished. The occupation itself is one of
process, exploration, and experimentation. It is one of
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questioning and examining. Each thing you make is part of a
continuum, and you are always developing. You dont always
get it right, but I find that approaching everything as a work
in progress allows you to take the good with the bad. Youre
never going to please everyone. Take what you can from
criticism, and let go of the rest. When it comes to
constructive criticism, I welcome that and think it is
important to have people you can discuss your work with
who will give you honest and constructive feedback. Its notalways what you want to hear, but that is often exactly what
is needed. It can be very confronting, but very useful.
Hollie Chastain
This brings us to the most poignant question: How to unbridle ones work,
whether lauded or criticized, from ones sense of self-worth. Collage and mixed-
media artist Hollie Chastainreflects:
I think as an artist its very easy to [equate self-worth with
artistic success] because of the nature of the work. If you
think of art as a job, then your product is so much more
than hours invested. The product is a piece of yourself, so of
course if the reception is not the greatest, then it can feel like
a direct hit to who you are as a person. I think this
happened a lot more when I was younger and still finding my
way around. I would doubt my direction when a viewer
wasnt thrilled. The trick for me is not to put more distance
between my work and myself, but to close that gap
completely. I can see myself in the art that I create, and that
builds a wall of confidence.
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Julia Rothman
IllustratorJulia Rothman who gave us the immeasurably wonderful TheWhere, the Why, and the How: 75 Artists Illustrate Wondrous Mysteries of Science
and Drawn In: A Peek into the Inspiring Sketchbooks of 44 Fine Artists, Illustrators,
Graphic Designers, and Cartoonists strips this sentiment down to its bare, most
vulnerable essence:
When you put so much of yourself and your time into
something, its hard to separate it from who you are.
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Emily Barletta
Embroidery and fiber artist Emily Barlettareminds us that soul-satisfaction
requires defining our own success:
I make art because the process of making art makes me
happy. Being successful with it and doing it for personal
fulfillment are separate ideas.
Creative Block. Complement with Brian Enos prompts for overcoming creative
block, then revisit Bukowskis bold poetic debunking of the ideal conditions andmyths of creativity.
Images courtesy of Chronicle Books
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