How to Keep Bursting with Creativity

An artist usually creates for self-expression.  Sometimes, the work pours out of us without requiring much thought.  The greater the need to express oneself, the more prolific the artist becomes.  I recently read a very moving account by Deb Haugen, who worked every day in the hospital after recovering from brain-aneurysm surgery.  As an artist, we create most when we have the most to say.

So what happens when an artist has said all they had on the subject and is suffering from a creative block?  This is a time when good habits can serve you well.  One of the most common threads in the lives of successful people is regular repetition.  From Benjamin Franklin to Pablo Picasso, setting a goal to work daily leads to continued success.  Think of it as cultivating a regular outlet for your voice.  If one always says or does something at a certain time or in a certain place, the process is so automatic that auto-pilot kicks in.

Don’t wait for a creative block to hit, instead lay in good framework now and try setting a personal goal to work daily.  If it takes 21 days to make a habit, that might be all it takes to establish a helpful routine.  I recently heard an interview on NPR where a musician gave himself a challenge to write every day for 100 days.  The effects were so positive that he became able to write a song on queue without stressing.  What a useful skill!

Some of us may be Emily Dickinson’s, working away with out the need for recognition, but some of us may need more exhibitionism.  Because an artist’s work is so personal and the need to keep one’s voice in key is strong, remember to incorporate into your personal goal something that gives you the rewards of self expression — whether a small gathering of friends over for a night of cocktails and critique, or a full exhibition — a completed goal deserves celebration!