Creativity (or what to do when you're running out)

I have been wondering about what to write for my next blog post for a while, but today a topic imposed itself to me: Creativity.

I have recently seen quite a few posts by people mentionning their struggle with creativity. As "creatives" working in the "creative industry" it seems inconceivable not to be "creative". But creativity is that insane thing that seems impossible to control and eludes us when we need it the most.

For me, these past few weeks have been quite challenging as I've been suffering from a wrist injury (still not completely recovered) while struggling with creativity. People keep telling me "You're an illustrator, you must have a lot of imagination!" Well... I don't... And it makes me feel like a bit of a fraud sometimes. Of course imagination is not the same as creativity (ask google if you want more details, there are lots of different articles on the subject) but they do need each other. I don't know about you but for me, in order to be creative, I need to be inspired. That's why I became an illustrator in the first place, because there is always text to support me, to feed me ideas. And having limitations can also be a great help! Being too free allows our minds to run wild and have hundreds of different ideas at the same time, which can make it very difficult to pick one!

So it's all a question of balance. Creativity comes and goes, and it doesn't make us bad artists. There are different ways to keep ourselves inspired. But mostly, we need to remember not to be so hard on ourselves. Us creatives (I'm speaking for myself here but I doubt I'm the only one) have a tendency to want our work to be perfect, exactly like we imagined it. We're rarely satisfied even after working long hours on a project. We forget that making something more simple once in a while is also fine! It doesn't make us lazy! Not everything needs to be perfect in every detail!

I've recently been working on a (secret) big project and I have put so much pressure on wanting it to be good that I've made it boring... Lesson learned: Overworking = Creativity killer

So, just for a day, let's leave our ultra-perfectionnist mind in the cupboard! Let's ditch the fancy fineliners, the expensive watercolour papers and the limited pixels of our computer screens! Let's grab a big piece of charcoal and the biggest sheet of cheap paper you have and GO WILD!! Stop thinking! Stop worrying about what other people think. Just go for it! I promise it helps!

There are of course lots of other ways to help with creativity: go for a walk, read a book, listen to some music, meet up with other creatives, go to the museum, have a cup of tea and look out the window on a rainy day, fold the laundry, eat biscuits, jump on the spot three times while screaming "Creativity come back!", ... as I said lots of options... Take your pick, invent your own! I'd love to hear what you come up with!

Once again thank you for reading me!

Have a wonderful creative day ! Make it simple!

Xxx

Johanna

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