February blues have set in and I’m trying to get back on track. It’s always a really hard time of year for me. I get really sluggish and done, oh so done, with Minnesota winters right about now.
I’ll be honest I’m having a hard time finding the motivation to get into the studio. But I’m an artist—it should be in my nature to create, an unstoppable passion. But again, the honest reality is other things are winning out and studio time is suffering.
I think I’m actually bored with myself and feel like I’ve lost any inspiration. My art has taken a hit, and my confidence is low.
I feel like I’ve been there, done that, fallen flat, lost my mojo, been distracted, dropped the ball, came up blank…..and then some.
Throughout my journey as an artist I have discovered how important it is to unplug, try something new, act a fool, walk away from convention and fearlessly jump into the unknown.
Personally, I’m never inspired by one particular thing, but rather lots and lots of visual information. I frequently look beyond my medium and search out different sources of inspiration—textiles decorative ironwork, fashion, interior design, floral arranging. But I have to see it and experience it in person and remember to step away from my screen and experience the space and scale of it firsthand.
And sometimes, all it takes is the simplest act to bring us back to ourselves. Listening to a new song. Taking coffee with a long lost friend. Picking up an old journal. Saying you’re sorry. My goal for the rest of the year is make it a point to take in regular inspiration before I start feeling creatively drained. Here are 10 tips for you to shake off your creative stagnancy and find your mojo.
- Have a long conversation with a 5-year old
- Volunteer for a cause close to your heart
- Get lost in a travel article on a place you know nothing about
- De-clutter something
- Unplug from social media for 24 hours
- Try a new recipe from a culture you don’t know well
- Take a road trip on country roads
- Buy a beautiful coffee table book outside of your field and flip through it on a regular basis.
- Immerse yourself in a workshop
- Feel the fear and do it anyways
If you’ve found other ways to get inspired, feel free to share and leave a comment on the blog. I would love to hear from you.
Be well….be creative,
Thank you Clare. Great stuff. February is always a tough one for me also.
Great advice. My slump time is always August…when the worst of the desert heat sets in. That’s when I either hit the road or hunker in and take an online art course….but usually I’m just flatlined. This year, I pulled myself out of my comfort zone by taking something entirely new to me – your encaustic workshop! I, too, am employing the no social media diet by setting a timer and only allowing 30 minutes. Amazing what I get done not sucked into that drama… I am also penciling in dates with myself to explore at least one new gallery a month within an hour of where I live. It’s helpful to have kindred spirits to reconnect us to our muses. Thanks for that Clare 😊
I’m so glad that you decided to take the online class. The self imposed ban on social media is a tough one for me. There is so much happening these days I want to stay informed but it’s hard to sift through it all. Good for you for sticking to 30 minutes a day…..more time to do photo encaustics then.
Hi Clare. It’s Strange about February. The opposite to you here in Australia. I don’t like to say it but I secretly hate February. I blame the weather- it’s too hot so I feel housebound with the dull whir of fans and air con day after day. Maybe it’s not the weather but the very real challenges of getting back on track for another year as a self employed artist. In a day job I would just have to get to work no matter how I was feeling or get fired. Can’t fire myself tho so I might just do small things and try not hang around the fridge too much and wait for ‘The February’ to pass
Denise
It’s hard to imagine February being so hot but a cousin of mine who lives in Australia was posting 45 degrees centigrade last week on FB…..that’s hot! It just seems like a dull month all the way around. Hang in there…..stay cool….and away from the fridge:)
Hi Clare,
thanks so much for your inspiration. It’s been a tough 9 months with family bad health so sadly the physical act of creating has had to be pushed into the background but I do try to find sources of creativity in daily life and always have my camera on me. You never know, one day it will get that wax added! In the meantime I love your blogs, I love the idea of going to chat to a 5 year old, I love the thought of feeling the fear but going for it anyway….my aunt once said she felt sorry for me having a birthday in February. It had never crossed my mind! But the almond blossom starts coming out during this month and I feel it’s those little pink and white buds that brighten up my world. Nature is waking up and I’m hoping it will wake me up too this year. Thanks once again
You are very welcome Cinny. I’m sorry to hear that you have not been creating as much as you would like. Life sometimes gets in the way and it can be hard to create. Happy Birthday:) and just keep looking for inspiration.