As we have quickly been moving through summer, I have noticed myself slowly spiraling into a creative rut.
I don’t know what it’s like for you, but for me the creative process starts to feel meaningless. I seem to be going nowhere. There is a general lack of interest or desire to create. My brain feels a bit foggy. I stare at blank pages, have no idea what to photograph, and when I do photograph, the images don’t turn out the way I want them to. I try to experiment, but everything I create I dislike intensely. I feel I lost all creative abilities. I feel like a complete beginner.
This isn’t the first time. We all experience creative ruts. It’s part of any creative’s life. After experiencing quite a few of them over the years, I try my hardest to see the benefits of these frustrating phases. I think there are different reasons for being in a rut, and there are different ways to cope with them. Here is some of the advice your hear people say:
‘Make something, anything.’
‘Sometimes you need to wait it out.’
‘It will pass.’
‘Continue to show up.’
‘Do something that you enjoy.’
‘Try something new.’
‘Do something out of your comfort zone.’
‘Keep showing up to work regardless.’
I believe all of the above is true, at various times, to varying degrees.
And there is no other way of finding out what works except to try it all.
But here is something I would like to add:
Adopt a beginner’s mindset and turn towards childlike wonder.
When you feel like a beginner, why not act like a beginner? The more comfortable we get with our work and the more progress we make, the more we perfect a technique and the more success we experience, the harder it is to embrace mistakes and look at our failed pieces as essential.
But as a beginner, we have nothing to lose. As a beginner, we can try and fail and start all over.
With a beginner’s mindset, the joy of learning a new skill overrides perfectionism.
Children set us great examples. We can learn much from them.
Children look at the world with fresh eyes: everything is new and exciting, and creativity is simply a part of life, a part of being human. Children try new things all the time. Children are not afraid to make mistakes. Children move with curiosity towards what interests them and give it a go without judgement. Sadly, we move slowly away from this way of working and learning as we get older, as we get better, and as we become adults in a world where perfectionism is nurtured and failure is seen as weakness.
No wonder. No wonder we become afraid.
I have been afraid to try new things. For a while now, I have noticed a shift inside of me, a shift of interests away from my camera towards mixed media, collage, charcoal drawings, and abstract paintings. I will always love photography and continue with it, but the urge to use my hands has been strong.
“But I can’t,” I tell myself.
I have never done it. How do I know?
Being a beginner at anything opens the door towards discovery and growth. Being a beginner is rather frustrating and humbling. There is no way around it. Frustration is part of it. But being a beginner is the only starting point, it’s the only way to be if you want to learn and the only way to embrace curiosity, play, and surprise.
Adopt a beginner’s mindset and turn towards childlike wonder. It’s not easy to do as an adult, but it’s possible and it’s trainable. And, I believe, it is one beautiful way of climbing your way out of the creative rut into a new and exciting world of possibilities. It won’t be perfect, but it will be beautiful.
So, as an encouragement to you, I am sharing my rather rudimentary attempts at some simple charcoal abstract drawings/scribbles inspired by nature paired with my simple photographs. I call them “Charcoal Diptychs”.
I sense a shift, and I am curious to see where it will take me.
Items of Note
August is a month of big transitions in my family this year, so, unfortunately, I will not be able to host a “Creative Hour” this month. We will meet again in September. The date will be announced soon.
This resonates so much with me. I will always love photography, too but the urge to make something with my hands is huge sometimes. That is when I turn to making zines, collages or play with alternative photographic processes. There is so much satisfaction to find in these things and inspration, too! Feel free to message me if you need another collaboration as a boost! 😉♥️
You’ll only find out if you do it.