I’m exhausted by the steady stream of negativity in what feels like a topsy-turvy world. Maybe you are too. Every time something new and unbelievable pops up in the news, I find myself thinking the same thing—it’s time to challenge myself to make more art.
Right here, right now, there isn’t a better place to begin.
I hear it all the time from students: “I’m not an artist.” And my answer never changes—if you create art, you are an artist.
Anyone with curiosity, desire, and the willingness to try can make art. Sometimes we know exactly what we want to create. Sometimes we only have a spark of an idea. Sometimes we feel inspired but struggle to bring the vision to life. And sometimes we feel stuck—completely paralyzed about where to begin.
The last few months have been a quiet period in my own studio. I’ve been deep into developing new online programs, and when I did open the studio doors, I didn’t feel particularly confident or clear. I found myself waiting for some kind of sign—a moment of divine clarity that would reveal what comes next.
But this past week something shifted. I still don’t know exactly where my next body of work is headed, but I do know this: if I begin where I am, something will emerge. The only way forward is to start. To challenge myself to create.
If you’re feeling unsure of where to begin, give yourself an assignment. Something simple and generative:
- Make a piece of art that doesn’t tell the whole story—leave space for the viewer’s imagination.
- Choose an emotion and create a piece that embodies it.
- Experiment with making art to different music and notice how the rhythm changes your work.
- Learn a new technique or spend time with a new teacher who inspires you.
I’ve been guilty of waiting for the perfect moment, thinking I’ll feel more prepared tomorrow than I do today. But that’s never true. The time to create is now—whether what comes out is beautiful, messy, emotional, or uncertain.
Now is the moment to make art.
Now is the moment to share what you’re feeling.
Now is the moment to challenge yourself—and each other—to create.
It might just be one of the few ways we stay grounded and sane.
Now it’s your turn, in the comments below, tell me how you challenge yourself to create–I’d love to hear from you.
Be well….be creative,
Thanks again, Clare. Making art, spending time with family and wandering in our beautiful world keep me sane, or at least busy, in these times. I look forward to your next online series.
Thanks Carol.
I am hearing this from fellow artists and feeling it myself. Spending any amount of time online (especially social media) is debilitating. This weekend I finally unplugged – spent Saturday at an art festival peopling our local art association’s booth. Sunday was a “pajama day” where I treated myself as if I was ill – allowing myself to only read books about art…one being the encaustic process book you recommended for the upcoming photo encaustic workshop. I’m looking forward to the workshop so I have something concrete to pull me out this creative funk. Thanks for your pearls of wisdom, Clare!
Good for you for unplugging. It can be tough…..and I don’t do it nearly enough. You are a wise woman:)
I’ve been in a “gathering mode” for the last couple of months. That involves materials for your course starting next week but it also includes going through my archives of images and imagining how they could come to life with encaustic. I’ve also been shooting with more of an eye toward working with wax as well. It all sort of matches the winter season of stepping back and recharging. I’m really looking forward to giving direction to these ideas and images swirling around in my head.
Great. Can’t wait to see your work and the direction your ideas take you.
Hi, Clare. I rarely do much with Facebook, but I appreciated your thoughts as our world seemingly spins out of our control. I’ve made my escape in recent weeks by revisiting long neglected or overlooked files of images and have found inspiration in things that inspired me to capture them in the first place. As part of this, I’ve decided to make this all about me in the sense that I’m not trying to satisfy an audience or judge or specific images for some predefined exhibit. I’m just trying to get back to a time when all that mattered was the enjoyment of creating and discovery. With that in mind, I’m also considering a class in abstract art that might also take me out of my comfort zone and expand my ability to see in new and challenging ways … again, with no expectations or deadlines attached. I appreciate your musings on this subject and in a sick sort of way, find it encouraging when I see how even talented artists such as yourself get stuck in the muck every now and then. Keep on keeping on!
Hi Brad, I love that you are going back to your images and are looking at them with a fresh vision…..and not trying to satisfy anyone other than yourself. Yes, yes, yes, you should absolutely take the class in abstract art. Your images are amazing as they are…..but I can’t wait to see how they would transform after taking the class!