When I am stuck, I play in color and texture.
I see where materials take me without expectation.
To have the feeling of blah, no vision, heavy, stupid, dim, is hard on any creative.
Especially as being creative — at least for me —
creates a feeling of well-being or even ebullience.
When the critical voices tell me I haven’t got any creative juice AT ALL,
I push through them, write anyway, draw anyway, paint anyway.
I say, “Thank you for sharing Critical Editor (or Arse, if I am in that mood)
but now is no YOUR time…
later when I have to sort through masterpieces for my one-woman show
you will be in charge. First though, to paint!”
I put on great music or an audible mystery and keep moving the materials!
I PLAY! Remember when you were a kid and
you laid down every new crayon color in the box?
I made “grids” and colored the squares,
sorting and smelling the waxy crayons and loving the color.
I was asked by [silly] adults, “Why?” Then I questioned why —
but my CREATIVE KID knew why — it’s all part of the process!
Today I’d call it getting-to-know-your-materials, but then it was just part of the play.
Now, knowing stuck-ness and whatever I am doing is likely to be crapity-crap-crap
gives me a certain freedom and the effort pays off:
a feeling of interest brewing, at least, or an A-HAH! of a new direction, at best!
What do you do when you’re stuck?
From my Creativity Journal ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
D.Katie Powell Art 
Great way to get unstuck! Thanks for sharing. hugs, Donna
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Works for me! I LOVE your art — cherry bright colorful wow — fun! Subscribed to follow!
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Fascinating way to get the creative juices moving again!
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And I get to play with the materials!
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Beautiful! great awesome message! just what I needed…Hugs for sharing this! 🙂
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I just visited and recognize those images! I read your about and am sending you to my favorite sketcher-people!
http://www.traceyfletcherkingblog.com/
https://shariblaukopf.com/
https://citizensketcher.com/
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Thanks, Katie!
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Nice way to relax your mind. When I am stuck I usually prefer a walk in the nature. The cool breeze, tall green mountains, birds chirping, cattle grazing gives me peace.
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If I had the beach at my footsteps that would be a path for me. I can get lost and find my center on the beach…. vast blue, waves lapping….
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That’s a good approach. I try to do something and see where it goes. Sometimes you’re stuck up against a little speed bump.
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Writing-wise, “Writing Down the Bones” is my staple. I tend to set a timer and no editing stream-of-consciousness… I tried this when teaching kids 7-9 in a writing workshop and what a kick!
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That’s a good approach.
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How marvelous that you “play” with colors and materials to get your creativity flowing — and obviously it works. It works so well, in fact, that you’ve inspired me to follow your example.
PS: I adore your work!
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I love to inspire Heather!
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super way to get past a block! When I’m stuck i just paint and stencil backgrounds in my journal, or play with my gelli plate:)
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This is good — making pages for something to erupt on? I have done this with acrylics on paper….
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I scribble around with bubble brainstorming. Can’t think of what it’s really called right now. Bad brain day.
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Bubble brainstorming? I have not heard of that one…. I think when you catch the name you have to send it to me.
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I think they actually call it something like a brainstorm web or mindmapping.
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HaH! Looked it up. This is exactly what we did as architects when trying to understand a complex set of ideas… Yes, I do this. Grew out of doing it for clients….
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