50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR BLOCK

 Creativity takes courage~Henri Matisse

I’m not necessarily having a block, but I have had some issues with my health and my family’s health that have gotten me off track. When you are forced to take a break, it is a good time to evaluate where you have been and where you are going. It might be a good time to be open to change as well. Things seem to be better now all the way around and reading books have been a great way for me to unblock my blocks, and get inspired. One of the books I recently read that has been very helpful is “Get Unstuck Creative Block Discover New Ideas”, produced by Danielle Krysa.

Inspired by her book and adding most of my own ideas, I created a list of ways to help you unblock your blocks.

1. Find inspiration from old books and magazines.
2. Use reference photos, combine and mix them
3. Go to art museums
4. Listen to music
5. Take something you would throw away and recreate it
6. Pick a day to fail completely.
7. Clean your art studio.
8. Use a medium you never used.
9. Use a tool you would never use.
10. Use a feather, a sponge, and a stick, to draw or create with.
11. Take a break
12. Take a walk
13. Google it, Google it deeper. Go on a “Google Journey”.
14. Pick out your favorite paintings and art on Pinterest.
15. Take photos with your phone. I enjoy using Hipstamatic and love trying their different lenses and film.
16. Create with restrictions; limited pallet, limited subject matter, size or scale.
17. Visit galleries
18. Break your own rules.
19. Give your critic permission to take a vacation
20. Daydream
21. Teach
22. Take a common everyday item and make it into something else.
23. Make your art into a “verb” not a “noun”. In other words enjoy the process, don’t focus on the end solution.
24. Read creative art blogs.
25. Do something random
26. Work fast
27. Do something wrong
28. Doodle
29. Use the IPad for drawing.
30. Use reference photos from Flickr (be sure to ask for permission if not for personal use.)
31. Dance
32. Go somewhere you have never been before.
33. Stop thinking, just play
34. Watch a TED talk
35. Watch a Youtube video on a new medium, how to etc.
36. Watch a movie
37. Give yourself a deadline to go back to work
38. Go on an artist date
39. Have goals and commitments
40. Pick a theme you are interested and create a show around it.
41. Ask yourself better questions? “How can I?” Is usually a good start?
42. Don’t worry about what people think.
43. Be ready when inspiration calls.
44. Go to the library
45. Keep a binder of ideas for times when you are lacking inspiration
46. Push through it
47. Do what you fear the most
48. Use a timer, commit to being in the studio for 10 minutes.
49. Read “War Of Art” by Steven Pressfield
50. Don’t wait for inspiration just “WORK” 

I hoped you enjoyed these ideas.  Please feel free to add what your favorite ways are to get back into the studio to create.