What to do When You're Stuck
Well, I’m just stumped.
That’s how I’ve been feeling this week, trying to get the wheels churning for a new series I’ve been thinking about.
Everybody’s creative cycles are different, and we all get stumped at different stages. I never seem to get stumped at the initial idea stage—I have all kinds of ideas I’d like to implement. I do sometimes get stuck when I’ve got the idea, but what I’m trying so far to make it work just isn’t going anywhere.
Detail of a recently completed quilt. I want to do more with this idea.
I put up the recent work I created featuring trees and stared at it for a long time. I just let it live there as I went on to other projects. I like this work, and I love the tree patterns, but to build it into a series I feel like it needs to have some place to go. I’m looking for more creative ways to use the trees with other patterns.
Nothing was coming.
So I went back to my sketchbook and tried working out different arrangements of the elements I have in mind.
For me, sketchbook work is like a shorthand. I draw enough detail so I know what each section means. These are records of ideas. I don’t intend at all for them to be finished. (I might do some of that later.) This allows me to draw a lot of different variations without being invested in any one. I just keep mixing things up to try out new compositions.
This convinced that I want a few new patterns in addition to the regulars in my toolbox.
I cut three new patterns from Tyvek envelopes that I can use for various kinds of printmaking. For me, it’s helpful to limit my printmaking methods enough that I know each one well. I use stencils a lot. So, even as I cut these, I can envision them either painted directly light image on dark background, or painted directly dark image on light background, or monotype printed on sheer for a more translucent look, or used with wheat paste resist or glue resist to get an altogether different effect.
Sometimes, at this stage, it helps to photograph the shapes and play with them in Photoshop.
I haven’t determined a palette I want to work with yet, so I tried out just a few different color ideas.
As I look at these, the “what’s next” wheels are beginning to turn.
When you reach an impasse, don’t despair or expend any energy kicking yourself. It is, I believe, a normal part of artmaking and creating generally. For me, relying on a few things I already know and working with those will help me to get into the stage that I don’t know yet.
Happy creating.
The finished work “Listening to the Language of Trees” is on my website if you’d like to see more. Click here; TREES
DeLand-area Art Event coming in April… I’ll be there
For those who are near Central Florida I hope you will mark your calendar for Saturday, April 24 for a small outdoor art event sponsored by the Guild of the Museum of Art – DeLand. (A GREAT organization.) It will feature about 20 artists and be held at the nursery of Select Growers, on US 11 just North of DeLand. Enjoy outdoor art strolling in a beautiful setting. You can look at art and look at beautiful plants—and shop for both! This will be my first face-to-face art event in over a year. Can’t wait! See you there.
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
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