(image)
The more time I spend trying to tap into my creativity, the more I can see a pattern developing. Inspiration often strikes out of nowhere and I spend weeks creating things. Everything seems to stand out to me: colors, patterns, and details. I take pictures of everything and ideas seem to fly at me out of nowhere.
Then I seem to go through a time of disenchantment with the whole thing. I still appreciate beauty deeply and continue to be inspired, but everything is on a lower level and I find it hard to muster up the will to actually create something myself. I would call it some sort of a "creative rut." It could be days or weeks when I feel like this. It doesn't happen often, but I hate it when it does.
Most of the time something great comes out of this rut. I find that I am ready to learn a new skill, or to change my style a little. When the next season of inspiration comes along I'm ready. I guess you could say that my dissatisfaction can lead to better work in the future.
I'm guessing this is normal for everyone in all creative fields, but I rarely hear it discussed. I'm really curious about how other people deal with their creative lulls.
(image)
I would really like to hear from you. Whatever your "craft" is, I'd love to know what your seasons of inspiration are like. I know I ask questions often that may seem rhetorical, but I would actually love to discuss this.
What do you do with your creative lulls? Do you wait them out or try really hard to force yourself to create something in spite of feeling uninspired? Does the down time bother you or have you accepted it as part of the job? Is there anything that works to get you "re-inspired?"
Thanks in advance for being so open!
I hear you! I don't have tons of time to create, but love the opportunity. When I get in a rut, which happens about once a year, I try to do something new, get out of my comfort zone. I usually find that I am longing for a new challenge and have either mastered what I have been doing or am just bored with it. Seems simple when I put it into words, but it doesn't seem so simple when I am in the middle of it. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteI think I have creativity ADD. :) I can't seem to stay focused on just one type of creativity. I find myself bouncing from one kind of creating to another -- from sewing to food to packaging to photography to organizing to home decor to paper craft to party planning to... etcetera. If I feel like I'm in a lull in one area, it's OK, because there are other areas just waiting for further exploration and creation. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteFor me, I find that if I immerse myself too much in blog reading or Pinning I find myself uninspired from all of the inspiration. Does that make sense at all? Everything just starts to look the same and it bothers me. Stepping away and focusing on inspiration in nature or within the walls of the cozy brick house, I'm cured and ready to create again.
ReplyDeletexo.