Here is another work in progress. I am slowly wading through my artists block, and am hoping to create a body of work that shows the spiritual world interacting with the temporal…or at least creating landscapes that fuel the imagination for things that we don’t see with physical eyes.
So…on the topic of artist block, something that I have been mulling over a lot, to the extent that I sought advice on Google (sigh). The most worthwhile thought has been, ‘just show up, sooner or later your muse will too”. Good advice…but still not without frustration and self doubt; these re-occurring feelings as the artist waits for and searches for his or her illusive muse.
On the flip side working through this block has helped clear up old cobwebs. I am starting to have much more clarity and focus- this is a very big nod towards creativity being a healing agent. I’ve been thinking about a book I used to read quite often; “Art Heals: how creativity cures the soul” by Shaun McNiff. In this book the author likens creativity to a kind of priestly and intensely spiritual engagement, capable of bringing profound inner healing. This is relevant to creative block in the sense that it puts it in its place: we are all creative. Our creativity moves us beyond the temporal and into the spiritual- a place where the subconscious reigns. Therefore to be blocked artistically is akin to being caught up in the cares of the world. Our creativity, our muse beckons us beyond this. To find our muse is essentially finding connection with God, since (I believe)it is a force beyond ourselves that heals, nurtures and awakens.
I am not implying that overcoming creative blocks simplistic in a “just get in touch with God” way. It’s a precious process, we wrestle with our own psyche and who we believe god and creativity to be. When I look at art history it’s like a living pictorial story of how we have tried to understand the divine, the universe, ourselves. Creative blocks are perhaps the chopping board of ideas and deeper thoughts. It’s a very precious place.
On a lighter note. Below is a little painting I created tonight on a scrap if board, totally unconcerned about the final product; just enjoying applying paint, leftovers from my pallet. It’s a great example of how #1 working on more than one artwork at a time is good practise #2 when you are relaxed and don’t care if things work or not, things seem to work well!
