Your Stuck! Now What?

 What do you do when your art feels stuck or incomplete?

When your art feels stuck or incomplete, it can be a frustrating and discouraging experience.

However, it's important to remember that mistakes and creative blocks are a natural part of the artistic process. Instead of viewing them as failures, try to see them as opportunities for growth and exploration. 

One way to approach this situation is to take a step back and reflect on what might be causing the block. Is there a specific technique you're struggling with, or perhaps a lack of inspiration? By identifying the root of the issue, you can begin to find solutions that will help you move forward. 

I spend time writing in my journal (my morning pages) this sometimes helps me to get to the root of the problem.  I gain insight and renewed direction, and I lean into God, as the foundation of my life I always find understanding and a new look at what ever it is that I am trying to do.

I will also do something totally different like going out for a walk in nature, or spending time in my art journal, giving myself a break from the focused concentration.

Another helpful strategy is to seek feedback from others - be selective (you don't want a pity party), but someone who may be on a similar journey and understands some of the valleys and peaks that you will come across. Sometimes a fresh perspective can provide new insights and ideas that can reignite your creativity. Don't be afraid to ask for help or collaborate with fellow artists - you never know what new possibilities might emerge from sharing your work with others. 

Above all, remember that art is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the imperfections and embrace the process of creating. By approaching your art with curiosity and a willingness to learn from your mistakes, you'll find that even the most challenging blocks can lead to breakthroughs that will enrich your artistic practice and not only be a blessing for you but helps someone else on the journey as well.

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Where did February Go?

Who can believe that we are nearly at the end of February!  I keep reminding myself that I need to make the most of what I am doing now, and try not to get side-lined - there are so many techniques I want to try, books to read, courses to do and ideas to develop.  I've been recovering from a bad cold over the past couple of weeks and I think I tried to get back to the swing of things too soon.  I'm still feeling the effects on my throat, its started to get sore again, but the 'family remedy' of garlic, honey, lemon and ginger have always been a fail safe and what my body needs is rest.  It is so easy for us to go into automatic mode and forget to really see all that is around us and what we need to hear.  Hearing the 'hard way' meant I had to cancel quite a few meetings last week as I was just too tired - even to be creative!

The constant things I've been working on is sketching at least once a day in order to develop and refine my style.  I have more examples of my work on my mixed media blog  http://amandatroughtart.blogspot.com and will be showing the daily sketches there.  I'm also trying my hand at assemblage art and a host of other things........

I am currently coming to the end of the 'Soul Restoration' - Brave Girls Club course, it's definitely been an eye opener and I will share in a separate post, but major reconstruction is going on and being ill reminded me that like on a construction site foundations need time to set and plaster and cement needs to harden so that the next team can come in and do their work. 

I realise that I need to give myself time to get back into the swing of things and get back to a healthier way of living as well as working on the creative sides.....so..... more exercise, more healthy food, fresh air and most importantly 'me time' to come!...what about you?