A Lapse in Mediation
As might be apparent, it has been a little while since my last post and, subsequently, the documentation of my experiences with Chapter Four of The Artist's Way.
Following the completion of 'Week Three,' I was on holiday in Kraków and then found myself to be lacking in motivation or creative inspiration since my return back to England. In being an artist, I am all too familiar with such bouts of creative stagnation. The dreaded "art block," as it is often not-so-lovingly called impacts us all in varying degrees.
Sure, you may have the beginnings of some creative venture rumbling around in your mind, but find that you have absolutely zero motivation to put that idea onto the pages of a sketchbook. Oh, calamity!
And, of course, the simple fact has crossed my mind that - silly me - The Artist's Way IS designed to combat creative blockages. It's a literal system meant to alleviate this age-old artist problem. Yet, I didn't even have a desire to open the damn thing.
After some meditation and quiet time to myself, I am once again feeling inspired and creative.
Sometimes that's all it takes, time.
Time and the promise to yourself and your goals that you aren't willing to give up. Breaks in productivity don't mean you're "throwing in the towel," but rather, they provide the opportunity for one to recenter themselves and their aspirations.
As American author Austin Kleon once said:
Creative people need time to sit around and do nothing.
In a world where trends move quickly, and social media presence often equates to worthiness in the public eye, it is difficult for emerging artists and those earlier on in their careers to find peace in "doing nothing." There seems to be the unspoken expectation of tracking algorithms and social trends, to see what type of "content" performs the best and reaches the widest audience.
How horrific.
Art, and the creation of it, has been commodified in a way that seemingly values clicks, shares, and views more-so than the artist's creative intent and the impact of the work. Everyone clamoring over one another to seek the most virality.
This phenomena is by no means the fault of today's artists, either. It is just the unfortunate byproduct of the way in which success is handled. "Streamer" or "Influencer" is sneaking its way into children's vernacular and "What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up?" assignments.
Don't lose all hope, though, dear reader. There are plenty of us (and of you) who are in it for the most humble and genuine of reasons.
Creating simply for the love of creation, art pour l'art.
Get out there, throw some paint onto a surface, just because you want to. Just because you love the sensations that come with being a creative body.
That being said, Meditations of An Artist IV, coming next week.