• ETSY SHOP
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr

KELLY VARNER

Art + Design

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Home Decor + Renovations
  • My Art and Design
    • Graphic Design
    • Product Photography
    • Hand-Drawn Portraits
    • Interior Design
    • My Etsy Shop
  • Shop
    • Shop My Instagram
    • My Favorite Places To Shop
    • My Creative Services
    • My Etsy Store
  • Contact

Art & DIYs, Everything Else • July 28, 2017

OVERCOMING CREATIVE BLOCKS

overcoming creative blocks

For the past five or so months, I have been stuck in a bit of a creative rut. I haven’t had a huge desire to draw, sketch, or do anything creative. It just hasn’t been very appealing to me. So, I decided to take a step back from the craziness of everyday life and really reflect on why I have been feeling this way. This isn’t the first time I have encountered a creative block. In fact, while reflecting, I realized that I go through these phases about once a year. It hasn’t been an easy process, but I have figured out a few things about what kinds of blocks I experience and how to work toward overcoming each of them.

My three different creative blocks:

  1. The “Everyone else is way more talented than me” block
  2. The “I don’t feel successful doing art anymore” block
  3.  and the “I am so stressed by other things that I can’t focus” block

It’s times like these when my education in Psychology and training as a life coach really come in handy. I wanted to share the things I have learned with you In case you are encountering one of these blocks.

 

The “Everyone Else Is Way More Talented Than Me” Block

It is human nature to be competitive. Unfortunately, it goes further than just our need for survival. Competition shows up in several aspects of life, including the way that we compare ourselves to others. We are always wondering if other people are prettier than us or more talented than us. We can really psych ourselves out trying to feel like the best. I am incredibly guilty of this, especially when it comes to art and creativity. It’s actually very ironic since creativity is supposed to be unique and individualistic in nature. I will find myself scrolling through Instagram or waling through an art gallery thinking about how I wish I was as talented as the other artists and creatives that I see. I feel very intimidated and jealous.

I have had to learn how to step back and remember that creativity is different for each person. In fact, that is why it is so special in the first place. I try to pay attention to when I am having negative thoughts like, “I’m not talented enough” and “I won’t be able to keep up with other people”. Once I am able to catch myself thinking these things, I can replace the thoughts with positive self talk. I tell myself that I am talented and that I can do amazing things. The world needs everyone’s creativity to stay diverse and beautiful, including mine.

 

The “I Don’t Feel Successful Doing Art Anymore”

Like the first creative block, this one is also hugely based on social influence. The first thing that people like to ask when they meet someone is “So, what do you do?”. Uber drivers ask it, strangers in elevators ask it, old friends of my parents ask it, everyone loves to ask it. I HATE this question. It makes me feel like everyone is going to judge me based on my choice in career. I always tell people that I am a “freelance artist” which is my fancy way of saying “I create pieces of art for various people when they want them while attempting to turn yet another creative-based business ventures into a career”. It is not a steady stream of income for me yet and therefore makes me feel very unsuccessful. As you can imagine, this has a big impact on my self-confidence and totally derails any desires I could have to create more.

My way of dealing with this one is by taking a break from Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, or anywhere where I might encounter people showing off their success and fortune. I continue the positive self talk if I find myself having negative thoughts about my own success (or lack there of). Then, I sit down and just draw whatever I want to draw — not for profit or for any particular purpose other than to just create. This helps my creative juices flow again and allows me to fall in love with art all over again. Sometimes the pressure of needing to be successful or famous consumes me and blocks out the passion I had in the first place. I still hate answering the “What do you do?” question but I know that it takes time to become successful and it can take many different tries.

 

The “I Am So Stressed Out By Other Things That I Can’t Focus” Block

This particular creative block is the one that lasts the longest for me, usually months at a time. I will get distracted by how messy the house is, or in my most recent experience, taking care of our new puppy, that I just don’t have time to even think about art. When I do get a break from the demands of day to day life, I just find myself not even wanting to pick up a pencil or brush.

Recently, I had an epiphany. I realized why I get to this place of feeling burnt out and idealess. For anyone, if we don’t have a good balance of stressors and relaxation in our lives, we will get very exhausted and restless. I find that I want to create at times when I am most relaxed and have had time to become inspired. When I encounter these times of stress, I am not allowing myself time to relax and unwind before I try to be creative. By skipping the relaxation step and going straight to trying to make new art. I have since realized how crucial the middle step is! . It is something that needs to be done in order to allow your passions and creativity to take its full effect.

 

I hope that my self reflection has been able to help you overcome any mental blocks you may be facing whether it is art or any other creative field. Leave a comment with a link to your blog if you have been up to anything creative lately or feel free to share any tips you have for overcoming creative blocks.

Tweet
Pin
Share

5 Comments

Related Posts

2021 Vision Board
2021 Vision Board and Blog Update
Top Loungewear Picks Spring 2020
Cameras for small businesses and bloggers
My Camera Equipment + How I Edit My Photos
Previous
BABY CAKES: DIY BABY SHOWER GIFT
Next
INSPIRATION BOARD: AUGUST 2017

Comments

  1. Steph says

    July 28, 2017 at 9:16 PM

    Beautiful piece! It’s very encouraging to hear that you go through the same blocks too – we are never alone in our struggles. I’ve found that shutting down my media outlets and getting away from it for a bit can help discharge some negative energy and give me time to recharge the positive. Whenever bad thoughts jump into my head I shut them down by doing something I love or spending the day with someone that brings me joy. It’s all about training yourself to switch the negative for something postive. It’s never easy but the faster you getting out of the rut the quicker it is to bounce back.

    Reply
    • Kelly Varner says

      July 28, 2017 at 9:42 PM

      So true girl! So true.

      Reply
  2. Anna says

    July 28, 2017 at 10:08 PM

    I love this Kelly! You perfectly described the blocks and everything that goes with it. The emotions are so familiar and I am also guilty of all of this. I see amazing content and it just feels like mine is subpar. It takes a lot of work to turn that discouragement into motivation.

    Reply
  3. Cindy says

    July 28, 2017 at 10:30 PM

    Thank you for this! I’m so guilty of comparing myself to others that I tend to get overwhelmed and get into those creative blocks. It’s the worst. But I definitely think that stepping away from social media helps tremendously.

    Reply
  4. Kathleen Varner says

    July 31, 2017 at 5:01 PM

    Thanks for sharing. It’s so healthy to offload negativity.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

My name is Kelly and I am an artist and blogger from Orlando, Florida.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

CATEGORIES

  • All Things Reading
  • Art & DIYs
  • Creative Resources
  • Decor + Living
  • Everything Else
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Featured
  • Free Printables
  • Gift Guides
  • Living With Albinism
  • Our Home Makeover

Subscribe

Join the list to receive all the latest posts!

I have found myself being more drawn to vintage de I have found myself being more drawn to vintage decor or at least things with some weathering to them. I think it balances nicely against the newer things. Am I the only one or is this a thing? 
#homedecor #interiordesign #homedecorblogger #homeblogger #kitchendesign
CLOSED ❤️LIKE and SAVE❤️this photo and hea CLOSED
❤️LIKE and SAVE❤️this photo and head to 👉🏼@thegivingcollection to enter! 
.
.
⭐️Needing that refresh? Why not a Bedroom makeover!! I have teamed up with some friends to make this happen! One lucky winner will win the bedroom of their dreams! 
.
⭐️$1500 Cash Value Option
.
.
👉🏼Contest closes 2/13 at 8 pm est. This is not endorsed or affiliated with with Instagram or anyone else! By entering, entrants confirm they are 18 + years or older and release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagrams terms of use. Winner must not be private at end of giveaway and will be notified by 2/14 8 pm est at the latest and will have 24 hours to claim. Prize will be sent upon proof of a valid ID and filling tax documents. Host has the right to change product based on budget gift value!
.⭐️Beware of scammers asking for your credit card / banking information and log in information⭐️
.
.
📸@thompsoncountry
#homedecor #homemakeover #roommakeover #interiordesign #interiordesignblogger #potterybarn #home #orlandoblogger #interiordesigner #targethomedecor #homerenovation #roommakeoverproject #homedesign #roomdecor
This was me a year ago, taking being out in public This was me a year ago, taking being out in public and eating at a restaurant for granted. 
Anyway, happy February friends! I know I’m a couple days late 😂
#orlandoflorida #february2021 #orlandoblogger
New blog post is up on kitchen organization. I wen New blog post is up on kitchen organization. I went a little label crazy but it makes me so happy! Links to everything are in the post too. You can get to it through the link in my bio. 
I do want to know, do you like to organize your kitchen and pantry or are you more of a free-for-all kind of person? 
#kitchendesign #kitchenorganization #thebomeedit #organizedhome #liketoknowit #liketoknowithome
In case you missed it, I mentioned that we would b In case you missed it, I mentioned that we would be redoing/redecorating each room in our house over the next year or so. This month is the kitchen! Tomorrow’s blog post will be all about our kitchen organization and I will be showing the finished kitchen later this month. 
This little stool is so flippin cute and it looks #vintage
I will link it in my @liketoknow.it bio or you can go to http://liketk.it/37smh #liketkit #kitchendesign #organization #organizedhome #ltkunder50 #liketoknowithome
The paint swatches are out, you know what that mea The paint swatches are out, you know what that means! 
I decided at the end of last year that each month of 2021, I would redecorate or redo a room in our house. 
I’m curious, has being home all the time made anyone else rethink their entire house decor? 
#homedecor #homemakeover #homedecorblogger #interiordesign #interiordesigner

Copyright © 2021 KELLY VARNER • Design by LuxiBee

Copyright © 2021 · Muse on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in