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 Getting Out of a Creative Slump

This is a topic that I've been wanting to research for a while. When your creative juices are flowing, life is all sunshine and roses. But the day you hit a creative slump or can't get beyond the current step in your project or can't figure out how to quilt this one quilt, you are affected physically. One of my favorite blogs is the one written by Lisa Call. I love her art but I especially appreciate that she shares so much of her thought processes and her life of producing art. Lisa's life is her art so it was devastating when she was unable to produce art over 3 months ago. She now back in her studio but she shared about her journely back to the studio on her blog. I'd encourage everyone to start with this post and read forward to her most current posts. 

Then I searched around the web for information from other artists on getting past a creative slump or creative block. I am suggesting that there is something here that Lisa should have followed. Her blog speask for itself and I am grateful that an artist was so willing to share.

Zen Habits has an article with 16 tips for getting out of a slump. They don't apply to fiber art but the tips are very generic and easily applied to any creative venture.
Etsy has an article with 10 tips for inspiring creativity
Waterwaif wrote a nice article on ways to find inspiration
Bonnie McCaffery wrote a blog post last year about her process for finding new ideas

 

I often see bloggers talk about being in a creative slump or having a lack of motivation for going to the studio. I've read the advice and here are some of the things that have been most helpful for me:

• Assuming you don't have a deadline looming and you are just in a slump, give in and accept that today/this week/this month is going to be uncreative. Consider it a vacation. Do somethign else. Anything, as long as it's productive. Go to lunch with a friend, go on a trip, clean a room, clear a closet - do something that you know you can complete and that doesn't require a lot of mental energy. Sometimes we just need a break!
• Take a class and learn a new skill. It could be in a totally different arena. If you are a traditional quilter, take a beading class, a pottery class, a drawing class - anything to exercise a new part of your brain. This is one of my favorite things to do. I may not use the exact skills again but the class almost always sparks some new idea or solves a current design problem for me.
  
• Clear out your studio. About 6 years ago I was in a serious creative slump. I had a myriad of projects that I couldn't seem to complete. I had 2 knitting machines and was sewing garments and quilts. I wanted the pull to spend more time on quilting but felt an obligation to knit and sew garments. One day I awoke and knew what I needed to do. I spent the next 3 months emptying EVERYTHING out of my sewing room, I sold the knitting machines and yarn, sold a lot of garment fabrics and piled everything else all over the house. Then I planned my sewing space, got new carpet installed and built my new sewing space. I haven't had a slump like that since.
• Read a book. Specifically, read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I periodically read this one again. I also like The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. 

Now, come on over to the forum and share your tips for getting through a creative slump.

Vicki Welsh
Three Creative Studios

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