“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse
Even with all the courage in the world, every creative will eventually run into a creative block, so we asked some of our favorite creatives to share how they overcome creative blocks.
Maya Harwood
It’s crucial to avoid overworking yourself. It’s easy to let work take over your life, but prioritizing your well-being is even more important. Taking time for yourself, as well as spending quality moments with friends and family, should hold equal significance to your professional responsibilities. Remember, balance is key to a fulfilling life. Read more>>
Elduque
Sometimes I like to walk to clear my mind, many of my songs talk about things I experienced so I just go with the flow of the beat and the mood that I have at that moment. Read more>>
Peter Kelly
When I find myself suffering from a block in creativity, I have often noticed that having too many options can be a problem for me. As a musician, ideas sometimes come fully realized in a moment of inspiration. This is the magical part of the creative process. However, once you have an idea there is the question of what to do next. Having infinite options can prove to be a blessing or a burden. I often find myself wanting to try every possibility and then being unable to settle on what I like the best. I have found it very helpful to establish rules or a fixed structure in which to work. Read more>>
Julia Kate
I experience writer’s block a little more than I would like to admit. It’s hard. Something that helps me overcome it is listening to artists who inspire me and examining their approaches to songwriting. I would then sit down at a piano or grab my guitar and start writing. If that doesn’t work, I look at instrumental tracks on YouTube and see if something catches my eye, and I try to write something to it. Read more>>
Alexey Kotov
As a composer and artist, I experience and listen to music in a way that goes beyond the typical dimensions people usually consider. Alongside melody, harmony, and rhythm, I have an additional “technical” dimension that I use to understand music. For a long time, this became a blocker for me, as I found myself focusing on the technical aspects—treating music almost like a sport, rating it by difficulty. This mindset hindered my ability to focus on the primary goal of music: to bring joy. Read more>>
Anna Goetz
Being an artist unfortunately means creative blocks are inevitable. While there are some blocks that are worse than others, I find it helps to step back and take a break. There are times when I cannot stand a design I’m working on, or no matter what I try it just doesn’t look right and feels impossible. Those are the times I close my ipad for a few hours, sometimes a few days and just try to take a mental break from it until I can come back to the design with fresh eyes. Majority of the time the design wasn’t as bad as it felt and those fresh eyes give the new perspective I needed. Other creative blocks might be when I just can’t think of a new design to work on. When I can’t see my next step I try to go back to the basics, think of the things I enjoy most. Maybe it’s a movie I want to make art based on, sometimes just sitting and rewatching a show or movie can spark a new idea. Read more>>
Sandro Popkhadze
In writing lyrics for music or in doing sound design for film, there’s always a chance to get stuck creatively.
At least in music, usually, I can take as much time as I need, whereas in film, I have to meet deadlines. But in both of the cases I’ve learned a couple of methods that help me overcome creativity blocks. Read more>>
Kunal Parwani
I’ve been a developer and now am a data analyst, also running the social media for Karachi Kabab Boiz – I face blocks in every aspect, creative when it comes to the social media and logical/problem solving blocks during my day job. What was worked repeatedly for me is to walk away, mentally and physically from the problem you’re trying to solve. I often get breakthrough ideas after a nap, shower, or just a drive. Read more>>
Katherine Strobel
I graduated this past year and following graduation after months and months of assignments and deadlines there’s this moment of nothing it was like when you shake a snow globe and there’s a brief second before the pieces start to move. I felt very overworked and lazy simultaneously and I continued getting caught in the idea of thinking good. I was working at a coffee shop looking at my painting degree and thinking about painting and yet painting wasn’t happening. I think that far too many creative folks get stuck thinking about thinking. It’s not a matter of beating the block but being able to find access back into creative practices. For me that was when I started making pen and ink drawings with a speedball pen that lives in my purse just trying to draw things that don’t matter or things that I find funny and getting back into sharing these observations more regularly. Read more>>
Kathy Yu
Creativity blocks are a common experience, especially for those who constantly seek challenges and growth. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and facing these blocks can even be a sign of pushing boundaries. For me, confidence is key to overcoming these periods. I usually set high goals that are a stretch to reach quickly. For instance, if I feel my color choices lack impact, I’ll dive into studying oil paintings or film color grading. Seeing the mastery in these works reminds me that any creative problem can be solved with dedication. Another valuable approach is to seek advice from those who excel in specific areas; their insights can often spark new ideas and solutions. Ultimately, everything falls into place. Read more>>
