Fighting ‘Painter’s block’

Excellent answer Robert, thoughtful and helpful.

I think I have one other reason for painter’s block. I can not find a place in my home that feels safe to be creative and free. It seems that I am best when I am alone and have a place that I can leave my work, coming and going as I please. I have tried various places but they each have a purpose other than for painting (living room, guest room, kitchen). What is this problem really about?

Life happens to both sides of the brain at once. My notion of “artist’s block” has to do with the process of shifting mental control from the left (language) to the right (visual and feeling) brain. That shift over to the right may be perceived by the ego-protective left as crossing a dangerous chasm into the timeless, uncensored, seemingly uncharted, territory of vivid emotional associations to memories, feelings held ineffibly in the right. This adventure requires a real or imaginary safe place, materials and time. A plan may get you going, but it often has to be discarded when it goes awry in the service of art. If all goes well, the left and right establish a modus vivendi.

From your site several years ago, a reader recommended a lecture by Wolf Kahn on WGBH. Kahn said do whatever it takes to “keep up morale and productivity”. From his advice, I have created several series of paintings. These series are: Pollock Boggies, Textural Boggies, Boglets, and Boggy Scribblings on paper. Thank you Wolf Kahn and Robert Genn for being a wealth of information, and inspiration.

Painters Block? Me? I’m too damn busy painting…just finished Two with Two more on the easel…new brands of Acrylics yet to use….

I do know that with five kids and nine grandchildren and a loving and ever patient wife – I really have little time left for such pastimes as finding excitement and passion! In fact my problem, as a very amateur writer who simply likes to write for fun, is not an inability to find subject or matter, it is to find time and space. I sat out in our little Norfolk (UK) garden this morning. I sipped my tea and munched on my toast and marmalade. I put my head back and rested, my presence washed by the sound of blackbirds singing and the splashing of water from our little pond waterfall. There was a gentle fresh breeze ruffling my hair and carrying the wonderful full fragrance of the orange blossom over me. Then, hey presto Robert I found myself writing again – to you this time!

Try a different process or subject. I was invited to join with 20 other artists on a plein air adventure last Saturday with the goal of producing one piece each to be auctioned on behalf of an area Public Art Gallery. My default process is to paint one or two 12X16 boards but this day I decided to push myself to complete a 24X24 gallery wrapped canvas in the allotted time. I really was questioning my sanity about halfway in and although the success is subjective in the end I was happy and satisfied that I had stepped away from a comfortable process. Paint bigger, smaller, faster, slower, more transparently or opaquely.

I have been experiencing a block of sorts. Being a watercolorist for 20 plus years, I took up acrylics last year. I really enjoy them. I have the feel for the watery consistency that can be had while working stiffer to lay down more color. Sort of the exact recipe for my watercolors, but on a board mounted canvas instead of paper. However, I stopped using the acrylics after the summer. I’m not sure the reason. I just recently decided to put the paint into the stay-wet palette, get out the brushes, gesso up a some panels and dive in. In about 30 minutes, I remembered what I loved about this medium as well as what I didn’t know, and that was the block. I understand watercolor fully. I have little knowledge of acrylics. I wonder if I took a sabbatical from watercolor for a period, would I fair better? Some people say “Oh, no, don’t do that, why spoil a good thing?” I have varying reasons, (material cost for one vs mats, glass, labor etc.) But, after 20 years, I like the change. Honestly, I have developed a block for watercolor when working with acrylics. Weird. I find that there should be no fear of art the emotions we deal with as a result of the “block anxiety”. I believe it makes us stronger for it. If I do make the switch for a time, I think my watercolors may be all that fresher, and there are still paintings to do that are best expressed in watercolor regardless.

After an exhibition I had in March of 2009, I thought that a nice break from painting would be in order. Say a couple of weeks? Those two weeks turned into more than a year of doing nothing. At least nothing in the way of painting. What I did to keep my mind busy was to revert back to my old cartooning days.Instead of painting art I decided to think of the lighter side of art with all it’s complexities and such. Yesterday I made a big step forward and went to the art supply store and picked up the latest Winsor & Newton ( no color shift) acrylics etc. and now I am ready to make up for some lost painting time.

I am always amazed to see this topic come up. I have never had painter’s block in my 40 years as a painter. I can’t even imagine it. I have the opposite problem of not having enough hours in the day to paint everything I want to. I think it is because I consider painting to be a process not a finish. I love the process of painting, the discovery and the growth, a result of hard work. I don’t concern myself with whether my work is good enough or how it stacks up to anyone else’s. I paint for myself.

In 2008 40 painters were selected among 1200 applicants to participate in a show at the Metropolitan Museum of Buenos Aires and I was one of them. Most of the painters that were selected were well known, I am not, so for me it was big. And then came the painters block, I felt that I had arrived as far as I could go and though I kept on working I took it slow. This year I sent another application to the same contest and the funny thing is that in 2008 I was calm as I had no expectations and today I am a nervous wreck, waiting for the ax to fall.

Painter’s Block?/ I could paint,or draw, all the time in many different mediums, however I find I have so much work, and even though people relate to it, and think it is something they would love to have, no one is buying Art!! It has a tendency to pile up! I have considered auction, but would be giving it away, so have been working smaller recently. The money they have [or mine]needs to go for more important things like food. I am taking time off to learn Tai Chi and hope to find more room to store more art soon.!! I am a senior [hate that word]and not up on uploading, downloading, or photographing my work, nor do I use photo shops, just original work, so I have no idea about a website or joining yours. Just another thought [mine]on why some of us are not inspired right now. Missed your letters when I moved and a new computer, etc.

I find that painting with a group of artists keeps up my interest in art. A bunch of us paint together every Friday.

I’m a plodder although I too have had my depressions this past year. Post surgery syndrome. Instead of returning to oils and worrying about not feeling like painting on a given day and wasting expensive paints, I’ve switched temporarily to pastels. Not much clean up. Drawing has always gone much faster and once I get into the studio my fears of a new subject matter and media tend to disappear. I’m happiest when singing along with Neil Young or Ottis as I create. My new subject matter: the petite harlequin.

Montagne Sainte-Victoire is celebrated for its many appearances in the paintings of Paul Cezanne. He is known to have painted this subject over 60 times. Now that is tenacious dedication. Do you think that he had what we call “painters block”. I doubt it. Perhaps there is something that we can learn from his work. Maybe we just need to find our own Montagne Sainte-Victoire and to be passionate about it.

We can overcome that painter’s block by knowing ourselves and recognize that there are other part of us that belong to ourselves and people we love. I think that by finding time devoted to ourselves ;we have time to think and discover some ideas that my inspire us to create ,separate ourselves from our world in art to the living persona that is a member of a family and friends at large. We may find inspiration from our association with people. Take time to walk in a park or by the woods observing the play of lights on living things and shadows that they cast. See the children at play and other people enjoying each other. The common saying “All work and no play” makes Jack a dull boy. Where us it is true that all the probable causes of the block maybe psychological and may also just be devoting our time in doing or thinking art. A time out once in a while is called for to renew our ability to think and get inspired.

I noticed a long time ago there was a cycle to my painting and my not painting. After keeping notes I found I work in 90 day periods of creativity and 30 days where I don’t mind reading about art, seeing art, going to museums and so forth but I do not want to create it. After 30 days something would catch my attention and the question would begin with-what if. I was off again. Now I still recognise this cycle but most of the time I am too busy painting to get caught up in it. If the paint just won’t flow then I stretch and prime canvas. A day or two of this and I am definitely willing to go back to painting.

For me, the cure for painters block has to be dependable and fast. Many times the desire to have dinner has depended on breaking through before the person wanting a portrait changes their mind. I’ve found that sitting at my easle and just starting with any line or brush stroke is the key- take the action, the motivation WILL follow!

When I was a teenager, I remember my beloved piano teacher ( Mr. Phemister) talking about persistence and how important it was. It was not just talent that propelled a person to greatness; it was that hard work and that word “persistence” would get a person to his or her goals.

The best bit of paper in my studio is on the wall and it simply says “Shut up and paint”. Works every time! Another way to quick-start yourself is to tell yourself not to go into the studio!

I loved it that you included a quote from Leonard Cohen. Right now I’m involved in a future exhibit of work based on poetry – realistic and abstract paintings expressive of certain poems – and my main inspiration is Leonard Cohen. I’ve seen him live in concert twice, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

Having participated in many creativity blocks, I know how paralyzing and demoralizing they can be. As you stated there are many reasons that cause these blocks. A lot goes on in our lives that make us vulnerable to creative blocks so we need to give ourselves a little slack when they arrive. Gees, I get a block just thinking about learning Photo Shop! There are several things I do to remove a block when it arrives but the one that works 100% of the time is……..I go for a long walk. Yes, simple as it is, it works without fail. The key here is “long walk”. It doesn’t matter if you are depressed about not being able to paint, not having a degree in art, starting too old, others being better than you, wondering if there is another good painting in you or feeling insecure with yourself and your art. A long walk does wonders. Why? Well, it is rather simple. Nature allows you to share your feelings with her without judgment. One of the keys is to do something different while on this walk….skip, jump, sing out loud, etc. Being silly removes the weight of the world we are carrying so proudly. While on your walk, breathe deeply, smile, smell the air, feel the breeze. Allow the wind to remove the cobwebs in your brain. Stretch your arms out wide and give away your negative thoughts. Embrace gratitude. After all…..you are blessed with a gift that is screaming to be let loose.

Gene Martin…I have the same M.O….paint a few days, sketch a few days, paint a few days, go hiking and collect still life specimens, paint some more…it’s good that you realize that this is your pattern and it works for you…many artists struggle with the idea that they must work in a method that works for some, but not for all, and this in itself creates a “block” of sorts. The key to creating YOUR art is finding YOUR process…sounds like you have! :) Keep doing!

Susie, the way I live in the rooms of my house is symbolic of the way I feel about being myself. “You are your house, and the rooms are various aspects of you.” Do you have room in yourself for painting?

I recently had a shocking discovery about what affects my desire to paint, depression, PMS and a few other unhappy symptoms. It’s alcohol. The reason why this was shocking was because I drink very little (really). I have now tested this several times and there is no doubt – weeks without drinking are happy and industrious, with booze are depressing and the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I know for a fact that may people drink without this effect, but for some of you who might be in my category, give it a try. Quit the booze for couple weeks and the block may be gone. As a bonus, some other symptoms that you may have thought were an illness may disappear as well. I am embarrassed to say that I have been going from one to another doctor for couple years unable to get a diagnosis for some strange things – which are now entirely gone…what a waste of time and medical system that was! I am still hopeful that I may find some specific drink which will work for me and my art! Any suggestions?

Drinker: I had the same type of problem, but it was a mild gluten allergy! When I went gluten-free my creativity came back with a vengeance, not to mention my aches and pains of 47 years vanished! I had trouble sitting or standing at my easel, even 15 minutes was too much. Now I can paint all day and not think twice about it. No more cloudy thoughts. No more monkey-mindedness. No more depression. I feel like I got a new body and mind and I am SO thankful!

Your letter re artist’s block really hit home. The advice about persistence paying off in overcoming shortfalls is so true; it is also true that it is too easy to give up in the face of what we see as recurring errors. Here is where self confidence is so important; that’s not easy to come by. And you are so right, Robert, re “passion comes from doing”. One stumbles and gropes and eventually something clicks, and, miracle of miracles, there is a breakthrough. The excitement and exhilaration are wonderful. And the passion is reborn…Thanks for your thoughts. It’s so great to share this feeling with others who have been there.

It was an unfortunate remark. Stay away from politics. You have some Greek readers who have been offended.

I’m not offended and I could use some help with my debt LOL,

Stay away from politics? Is that even possible in this world that becomes more politicized every second? Socialism creates certain problems. Everybody wants government support- even when the government isn’t making any money. Greece is the current example. Capitalism creates other problems. Watch Michael Moore’s movie “Capitalism: A Love Story” as it is stunning. Communism has an entirely different political problem- it destroys folks self-motivation. Would that we could actually find some form of government that works all the time for all the people. Got any good ideas? Or will government always break down in the end as unsustainable? Tony Konteos- you’re a bit too easily unnerved.

The style in which I work has recently been changing rapidly, which scares the heck out of me. A sort of block set in that grew out of uncertainty. To my surprise, a small child’s voice — that is the only way to describe it — asked if she could help. “I want to paint, too. It’s fun.” I realized that I’d shut off an important part of my creativity and that part of me wanted to emerge and play. I was ambidextrous as a child (still largely am, though over the years, each hand has taken on specific tasks, sometimes sharing them). My “child” preferred to use my left hand, so I started using that hand to lay out my paintings, and then using both hands to work out the rest. Still exploring, not pushing myself, but enjoying what is happening and seeing what emerges. Something inside is definitely freeing up. I carry on odd conversations with my child (I suppose I am simply letting myself access that part of me that holds the wonder and lack of judgement that I had as a child about the creative things I did). But I am learning from it all, and enjoying the “conversations”. Gosh, this is fun. Still muddling along, but whatever it is, it is leading me somewhere I want to be.

When I have painters block, I gesso canvases and put down prep colour on canvases. I find the act of sitting in front of the easel and just doing the movements involved in both those activities gets me in touch with my muse again and gets the paint flowing.

Every artist has gone thru painter’s block at one time or another. There is no such thing as being creative all the time same as I believe there is no such thing as a specific remedy for painter’s block. I have had painter’s block many times and broken the block with different techniques. Same as there are many things painters tell you not to do to avoid the block…do not go to bed late so you can get up fresh in the morning (I’ve done that and gotten up ready to roll), do not paint with a full stomach (guilty), do not listen to the radio or news or have the tv on (guilty) , do not have the computer in your studio (I have mine), and the main one, do not read a good book because you will not put it down and will not paint (very guilty here). What works for one person to break the painter’s block does not work for another. Once I had a bad painter’s block. I took my car went for a ride and ended up at a shopping mall! Came home with a new dress and all excited about starting a new painting! One of the techniques that work for me is doodle or throw paint randomly on paper or canvas, a la Jackson Pollock. It gets your juices flowing. Some of my random, crazy, colorful exercizes have turned out to be great pieces. Another advice is do not let it worry you too much, because the more you worry, the more blocked you are.

Thank You so much for sharing your insight to artists and others. You transitions flow making each visual image come alive, Your dialogue of your own experience takes on a force of its’ own and we are passengers on your visual train. What a wonderful way to travel. Thank You

I can recall crying while going through a book of collections of famous impressionists. It simply filled me with joy;something similar to the pleasure of doing a work of my own regardless of the outcome. I like your view of this ‘beautiful world’ Art does help to define some of it. Truly enjoy your letters. Haven’t written is some time. At 77 I still plan to continue my search for ‘joy’ whether it be through art, or the many truly wonderful people I meet.