Creative block diaries #3: climbing back up the hill, taking the leap, and doing things before you’re ready
Well, nothing is linear. It’s a lesson I continue to learn again and again but always find disappointing nonetheless. I was feeling really good at the beginning of April after getting in the groove of writing a weekly blog post and starting to sketch again. I had even shaken the dust off of my paints. But then things got busy as they do. I was spending a lot of my creative energy on work and other projects and I found myself once again with little left to put towards my own art. I had so many soul-filling experiences throughout April, but creatively, I sort of tumbled back down the creative block hill after I had just managed to crawl myself halfway up. And that’s okay. Life is full of unpredictable factors that are simultaneously frustrating and wonderful, and there is no guarantee of a steady climb.
After a brief wallow in the mud, however, I’ve started climbing again. This time, I’ve got the proper hiking boots and my energy chews because now I have an external deadline and nothing lights a fire under my ass like an external deadline. I cannot often be trusted to do things just for myself but if I have expectations to meet or if there is any possibility of letting someone down or humiliating myself, it’s done! What is this deadline that is going to pull me out of my creative block, you ask?
I’m participating in my first art fair!
I have a tendency to wait until I feel fully prepared before taking a leap, which is why it’s super important for me to have friends who will push me off the cliff when needed. Thankfully one of my closest friends happens to be that person for me. This is the very same friend who asked me to move to New York with them and who gifted me this website. This time, they invited me to apply to an art fair with them! I never would have thought that I would be ready to apply for an art fair, especially in the midst of my struggle with creative block, but I decided to just go for it. We filled out the application one afternoon over sandwiches at a coffee shop and a week later, we got accepted!
I am equal parts excited and stressed, but already this has made a big shift in my mindset. Since we found out we were accepted, I have had so much inspiration for things to make. I think this might be just what I need to get me over the creative block hill, and I’m super excited to share the process with you as I’m sure there will be many lessons to learn along the way. If you find yourself in Greenpoint the weekend of Aug 12/13, come say hi! I’m planning on selling a small collection of prints, postcards, and original paintings (and maybe stickers?)! If you have any tips on getting prints made or art fairs in general, please let me know!
This was the biggest update by far, but I have a few more things I’m looking forward to over the next couple of months that I’m hopeful will kickstart my creative practice, including a few local art exhibits that I’m very excited about and my upcoming trip to Italy! I’m going to do my very best to share more about everything either here or on Instagram, so you can follow along. I’ll be optimistic and say that this will be the last creative block diaries post for a while. The inspiration is flowing and the pressure is on (in a good way!) to make lots of art over the next few months! If you’ve been feeling a little bit stuck, take this as your sign to take the leap. Set the goal, say it out loud. Sign up for the class. Apply for the art residency (that’s next on my list, too!). Publish your first blog post. Let’s take the leap together!
“Great people do things before they're ready. They do things before they know they can do it. Doing what you're afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that- that's what life is. You might be really good. You might find out something about yourself that's really special and if you're not good, who cares? You tried something. Now you know something about yourself.” - Amy Poehler
Posted on May 25, 2023.
