I recently went out west in a van with my son who recently graduated college. We started and ended in Denver and traveled the national park loop in between. I had been working pretty hard prior to the trip to expand my art techniques. But I was starting to feel I was doing the same thing over and over and a bit lost. A recent art workshop had knocked me beside my head and confused my direction of my art.
I was really looking forward to spending quality time with my son and seeing new areas of the country. I wasn't sure if I was looking forward to the southern part of our trip as most of it was desert and I love trees. But I found myself titilated by the rock and the new environs I was witnessing! I started noticing the stark lighting of the colorful desert. I noticed abstractions in objects around me. I was enthralled with reflections I couldn't make sense of before my eyes. My creative juices were flowing again.
I think every artist has cycles. Times of very creative times, uninspired periods, and just plan lack of interest. Differnces are important in the creation of a good piece of art. But it is also important in your daily environment. It gives the brian a new way to process things.
So, even if you can't travel, create differences in your daily schedule. Drive home a new way. Take a walk and use your phone to photograph plants from underneath. Rearrange your studio and then look for new shapes in your room. Cook something you never have cooked and arrange it on your plate as it was art.
Looking, exporing and socializing is all important to fuel your work. So, next time you can't seem to create art, take comfort in knowing you are just where you are supposed to be. Take that opportunity to exlore your world. Soon you will be in the zone again.
Happy creating!
