Lack Of Artistic Inspiration: 5 Ways To Get It Back Again

Lack Of Artistic Inspiration: 5 Ways To Get It Back Again

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It’s a big deal when a lack of artistic inspiration hits you, especially when creativity is your biggest resource; making it difficult to be consistent with your practice or livelihood. Those who are self-employed and in creative fields may feel the need to always be working, as it’s ingrained by many institutions that hard and constant work are the best way to see results. And whilst there may be some truth to that statement, constant grind may very quickly lead to burnout.

Signs you’re feeling uninspired

When you are starving for motivation or feeling uninspired as an artist, there may be a deeper rooted issue. Many people suffer with misdiagnosed burnout as they tend to ignore the large and sometimes jarring symptoms:

– Feeling predominantly tired or drained

– Feelings of helplessness, trapped and/or defeated

– Feeling detached/alone in the world

– Having a cynical/negative outlook

– Self-doubt

– Procrastinating and taking longer to get things done

– Feeling overwhelmed

Artists can easily mistake being burnt out for something this is simply a creative block, as both carry the signs and symptoms of being stressed or overworked.

Learning to recognise a creative block

A creative block is a period of time where an artist cannot harness their creativity; something that can feel quite menacing, but is actually very common and can be worked through. And just as feeling overworked is a symptom of creative block; it can also be a simple and reoccurring cause.

For some, the first step to finding new inspiration is taking the time to practise self-care. By learning to form new habits, you find sustainable ways to care for yourself and give your body the time it needs to properly reset. How long will this ‘recovery’ process take? Well this may vary, and some might find that they need much longer than initially anticipated. But after this period you should find yourself refreshed and already re-inspired. If you’re still struggling to get your motivation back on track, these 5 tips may help you out.

5 ways to re-inspire yourself artistically:

1. Re-evaluate your goals

Inspiration, like motivation, is something that is constantly coming and going. It can appear in the middle of the night or when you’re about to stop practising, and occasionally just not at all. This is a battle many art students face. The start of an art degree or course can be very exciting; there are butterflies when making and sending your first portfolio or when the doors open to your first exhibition – but by the end of the year, or a few weeks or months into term, a change in reality is noticed. Suddenly, you’re required to maintain a high level of motivation for the whole academic year, and your grade depends on it. This in itself can be very stress inducing, leaving your mind with little capacity to focus on creativity like it used to.

This is where it’s time to pause and look at your art practice as a whole. Making art for yourself is very different from making art for your degree, or as your main source of income. Many students feel pushed to get an art degree, as it can be seen as the least scary option, but if you’re not ready or feel that it is not for you, it can take a toll. If you find yourself losing inspiration as you go along, reassess what you’re doing and see if it’s what you want. If you’re determined to carry on, you may need to simply re-evaluate the particular project you’re working on, or the theme of your dissertation for example. The problem may feel massive, but often the solution doesn’t need to be.

This also applies to graduates and people who didn’t go to art school at all. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s always a good idea to step back and look at the bigger picture. A good way to do this is by asking yourself some questions, an important one more of us should consider in our day to day is: Do I want to continue doing this? What happens next is dependent on that answer.

2. Start with something small

During and after a creative block, it can be very difficult to start a new idea and get back into the swing of things. This could be down to a lack of inspiration. The ways in which people find inspiration can be very different, some of us need to be in nature – exploring and breathing the fresh air, whilst others need to settle down with an art documentary and something to craft. In art specifically, there are no limits to where we as creative individuals can find inspiration. You should harness any creative drive you feel, rather than doubt its origins.

Staying motivated as an artist can be hard without a muse. It was Pablo Picasso who once said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working ”. Motivation and inspiration are two sides of the same coin; for some, the physical process of making is the best way to recapture inspiration, and for others finding inspiration spurs on a new motivation.

“Who you are tomorrow, begins with what you do today” – Tim Fargo.

Any form of art is helpful, giving opportunity for even the smallest of things to improve your mindset. That little DIY project you’ve been holding back on starting? Why not do it and see if any new ideas spring from there. Even if you just doodle, you’re making the first step to finding your next wave of creativity for tomorrow, next week and the years ahead.

3. Find a healthy balance when using social media

Social media is a blessing and curse for some artists. It may be inspiring to see what others do, but envy and jealousy can become your reality when witnessing someone else’s success. So whilst it’s important to note that social media can create creative blocks, lets focus on how it can also change your creative outlook and work for the better.

By learning to sell your art on social media you are creating another platform for people to access your art, and in turn, increasing your chance of finding success. It’s also a great place to develop your style and aesthetic, leading you to ideas that you might have not considered before. Many artists find new ways of furthering their careers through the commercial aspect of social media, but there are also benefits that don’t involve money that

we shouldn’t overlook. First, the networking opportunities are endless. Reaching out to like-minded creatives online could result in your next collaboration, studio visit or more simply, a new friend. Once you’ve made these artist connections and start building up a following, you may feel more inclined to create new work. After all, it’s not just you and your practice anymore; instead you have a bunch of people who enjoy your work holding you accountable for your productivity.

Be aware of the pressures to post something ‘perfect’ though. A lot of the time, people will be more interested in your ‘works in progress’, which also acts as a great point to get feedback from your art community. Social media can be addictive so to stop yourself from endlessly scrolling, try setting a time based block on your mobile device; so at a specific time of day you’ll be stopped from accessing such apps. You don’t want to spend all your time on your phone anyway, there’s art to be made.

4. Find inspiration in learning something new

Working on a new skill or technique can be one of the best ways to find new inspiration. You can find inspiration from doing many different activities, and for this we may need to think beyond art. For some it’s a physical activity – swimming, running, sweating, anything that will get your blood moving should help to lower your stress levels – and for others, it can be reading, knitting, gardening, writing or learning an instrument. Take a course to learn from professionals, join a community group, listen to a podcast or teach yourself. Even just approaching an idea with a new medium can be enough to motivate you.

Think about the things you want to be doing, compile a list, and start ticking off the easiest ones. Each time you accomplish one of the skills, you should get a little rush of serotonin. Take that feeling and run with it. Through determination, motivation will follow.

5. Add structure to your time

Often, feeling uninspired can coincide with feelings of being unorganised and confused. It’s good to have quiet rest days, however, on those working days, try to implement some kind of structure. This is especially important if you’re an artist looking to boost your productivity from home, as your environment can start to negatively impact your motivation if not kept in check. See what you need to achieve, and plan out your day in time blocks, leaving space for breaks. It’s also a good idea to find sustainable routines that you can stick to as knowing what you’re doing and when can help to reduce some of life’s daily stresses.

By setting clear goals for your everyday life you are able to make the most of your time, allowing your creativity to flow more easily. Set simple daily goals that don’t put you under pressure and are realistic. The feeling of underachieving will do nothing in terms of helping your motivation, so don’t set yourself up for failure. Dreaming is all good and fun, but make sure your dreams are your overall goals – and that you’re making the most of your days in between getting there as long as you are making the proper time for yourself, a structured day should help get inspired and get you closer to reaching those artistic visions.

Also, don’t forget you can always share your art with us. Become the next Artist of The Month, tag us on Instagram @darkyellowdot and submit your work to be in our next exhibition!

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