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  • 8/12/2019 Advice From Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, And Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth _

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    3/3/2014 Advice from Artists on How to Overcome Creative Block, Handle Criticism, and Nurture Your Sense of Self-Worth | Brain Pickings

    http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/ 1

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    Advice from Artists on How toOvercome Creative Block, Handle

    Criticism, and Nurture Your Senseof Self-Worthby Maria Popova

    Mastering the balance of restriction and imaginative

    play, or why unbridling your self-worth from your

    professional success is essential for happiness.

    Inspiration is for amateurs the rest of

    us just show up and get to work,Chuck

    Close scoffed.A self-respecting artist

    must not fold his hands on the pretext that

    he is not in the mood,Tchaikovsky

    admonished. Show up, show up, show

    up, and after a while the muse shows up,

    too,Isabel Allende urged. But true as

    this general sentiment may be, it isnt

    always an easy or a livable truth most

    creative people do get stuck every once

    in a while, or at the very least hit the OKplateau. What then?

    Not too long ago, Alex Cornell rallied some of our times most celebrated

    artists, writers, and designers, and asked them to share their strategies for

    overcoming creative block. Now comes Creative Block: Advice and Projects

    from 50 SuccessfulArtists(public library) a lavishly illustrated compendium at

    once very similar in spirit and sufficiently different in exec ution, in which

    Danielle Krysa, better-known as The Jealous Curator, asks artists from around

    the world working in various media to crack open the vault of their unconscious

    and explore the darkest elements of the creative process, from overcoming

    idea-stagnation to dealing with both self-criticism and external naysayers. Inaddition to sharing their broader thoughts on the demons and rewards of

    creativity, each artist also offers one specific block-busing exercise a

    Creative Unblock Project to try the next time you feel stuck.

    But what makes the project particularly noteworthy is that while it features

    reflections from visual artists, most of their insights apply just as usefully to

    other creative endeavors, from writing and to entrepreneurship to, even,

    science.

    http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=13eb080d8a315477042e0d5b1&id=d580cfe501http://art.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/newsletter/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/donate/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/10/01/breakthrough-alex-cornell/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/17/ok-plateau/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/07/24/tchaikovsky-on-work-ethic-vs-inspiration/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/07/24/tchaikovsky-on-work-ethic-vs-inspiration/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/27/chuck-close-on-creativity/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/author/mpopova/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brain-Pickings/55555550744?ref=mfhttp://www.twitter.com/brainpickerhttp://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/newsletter/http://feedproxy.google.com/brainpickings/rsshttp://feedproxy.google.com/brainpickings/rsshttp://www.thejealouscurator.com/blog/about/http://www.worldcat.org/title/why-i-write-thoughts-on-the-craft-of-fiction/oclc/39007157&referer=brief_resultshttp://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/10/01/breakthrough-alex-cornell/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/17/ok-plateau/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/18/isabel-allende-on-writing/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/07/24/tchaikovsky-on-work-ethic-vs-inspiration/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/27/chuck-close-on-creativity/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/author/mpopova/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/28/creative-block-krysa/http://www.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/donate/http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=13eb080d8a315477042e0d5b1&id=d580cfe501https://soundcloud.com/brainpicker/http://art.brainpickings.org/http://literaryjukebox.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/newsletter/http://bookpickings.brainpickings.org/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/contact/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/donate/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/about/http://feedproxy.google.com/brainpickings/rsshttp://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/newsletter/http://www.twitter.com/brainpickerhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Brain-Pickings/55555550744?ref=mf
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    labors of love

    Trey Speegle

    One of the recurring themes in dealing with creative block, which a number of

    the artists articulate, has to do with mastering the right balance between

    freedom and constraint. Mixed-media artist Trey Speegleputs it perfectly:

    You have to set up the narrow parameters that you work in,

    and then within those, give yourself just enough room to be

    free and play.

    http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/03/advice-to-little-girls-mark-twain/http://treyspeegle.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/03/advice-to-little-girls-mark-twain/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/12/16/writers-wakeup-times-literary-productivity-visualization/
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    Aris Moore

    Multidisciplinary artist Aris Mooreobserves:

    When I am stuck I just search for excitement, but not

    too hard. It is when I find myself playing more than trying

    that I find my way out of a block.

    http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/03/susan-sontag-on-love/http://peekadoo.blogspot.ca/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/03/susan-sontag-on-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/21/anais-nin-on-love-by-debbie-millman-2/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/03/anais-nin-love-debbie-millman-1/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/03/advice-to-little-girls-mark-twain/
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    must-reads

    Lisa Golightly

    Painter Lisa Golightlyadds:

    I give myself permission to just make for the sake of makingwithout any thought to the outcome, which can be

    surprisingly hard. What I would tell my younger self is

    this: There is no right way to make art. The only wrong is

    in not trying, not doing. Dont put barriers up that arent

    there just get to work and make something.

    http://kikiandpolly.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://mbsy.co/7pDhttp://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/30/susan-sontag-on-art/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/03/susan-sontag-on-love/
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    HOWTOFINDYOURPURPOSEANDDO

    WHATYOULOVE

    THEBESTBOOKSOF2013

    WHYTIMESLOWSDOWNWHENWERE

    AFRAID, SPEEDSUPASWEAGE, AND

    GETSWARPEDWHILEONVACATION

    20-YEAR-OLDHUNTERS. THOMPSONS

    SUPERBADVICEONHOWTOFINDYOUR

    PURPOSEANDLIVEAMEANINGFULLIFE

    FAILSAFE: DEBBIEMILLMANONCOURAGE

    ANDTHECREATIVELIFE

    Lisa Congdon

    The wonderful Lisa Congdon with whom Ive collaboratedfor some time

    offers a Creative Unblock Project to explore that interplay between structure

    and imaginative play:

    Choose one thing you love to draw or paint (and feel

    comfortable drawing or painting) already: an animal, object, a

    person, whatever. For thirty days, draw or paint that thing

    thirty different ways, a different way every day. You can usedifferent mediums, expressions, positions, colors, whatever.

    Each day, push yourself to do something much different

    than the day before, but keep the subject the same. See how

    keeping one element constant (in this case, the thing you

    love to draw or paint) can allow you to break out creatively

    in other ways.

    http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/tag/lisa-congdon/http://lisacongdon.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/15/debbie-millman-look-both-ways-fail-safe/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/15/debbie-millman-look-both-ways-fail-safe/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/11/04/hunter-s-thomspon-letters-of-note-advice/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/11/04/hunter-s-thomspon-letters-of-note-advice/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/15/time-warped-claudia-hammond/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/15/time-warped-claudia-hammond/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/12/23/best-books-of-2013/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/12/23/best-books-of-2013/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/02/27/purpose-work-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/02/27/purpose-work-love/
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    HOWTOWORRYLESSABOUTMONEY

    LOSTCAT: ANILLUSTRATEDMEDITATION

    ONLOVE, LOSS, ANDWHATITMEANSTO

    BEHUMAN

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    WHATISLOVE? FAMOUSDEFINITIONS

    FROM400 YEARSOFLITERARYHISTORY

    HOWTOSTAYSANE

    Ben Skinner

    Many artists also emphasize the importance of stepping away from the work

    when feeling stuck a strategy that makes sense, given how crucial the

    unconscious processingstage of the creative process is. Multidisciplinary artist

    Ben Skinnercaptures this:

    I know that forcing something is not going to create

    anything beyond mediocre, so I step aside and work on a

    different project until it hits me.

    http://benskinner.com/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/08/28/the-art-of-thought-graham-wallas-stages/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/05/how-to-stay-sane-philippa-perry/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/05/how-to-stay-sane-philippa-perry/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/01/01/what-is-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/01/01/what-is-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/03/advice-on-writing/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/03/advice-on-writing/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/09/lost-cat-wendy-macnaughton-caroline-paul/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/09/lost-cat-wendy-macnaughton-caroline-paul/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/13/how-to-worry-less-about-money/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/13/how-to-worry-less-about-money/
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    THEDAILYROUTINESOFFAMOUSWRITERS

    CULTURALICONSONTHEMEANINGOFLIFE

    HOWTOBEANEDUCATEDCONSUMEROF

    INFOGRAPHICS: DAVIDBYRNEONTHEART-

    SCIENCEOFVISUALSTORYTELLING

    ALBERTEINSTEINONTHESECRETTO

    LEARNINGANYTHING

    5 ESSENTIALBOOKSONFEARANDTHE

    CREATIVEPROCESS

    Ashley Goldberg

    And then theres the Buddhist-like approach of just letting the block happen

    rather than resisting it feverishly or grasping after an immediate resolution.

    Illustrator Ashley Goldbergreflects:

    If it is a bigger creative block, I try to ride it out and just let it

    happen. I will still draw, but most pieces will end up in the

    trash, and thats OK. I think some of the biggest bursts ofcreativity and artistic growth Ive had are usually preceded by

    a big creative block.

    When asked to contrast the state of creative block with its opposite, most artists

    describe some version of what psychologists call flow. Collage and mixed

    media artist Anthony Zinonosdescribes that optimal state:

    I have total clarity and nothing but great ideas bubble up in

    my head. Its like being on a creative high; youre on top the

    http://anthonyzinonos.com/http://www.amazon.com/Flow-The-Psychology-Optimal-Experience/dp/0061339202/?tag=braipick-20http://ashleyg.etsy.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/09/12/fear-creativity/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/09/12/fear-creativity/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/14/einstein-letter-to-son/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/14/einstein-letter-to-son/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/08/best-american-infographics-david-byrne/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/08/best-american-infographics-david-byrne/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/17/the-meaning-of-life/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/17/the-meaning-of-life/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/20/daily-routines-writers/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/20/daily-routines-writers/
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    9 BOOKSTOHELPYOUREADMOREAND

    WRITEBETTER

    JOHNCLEESEONTHE5 FACTORSTOMAKE

    YOURLIFEMORECREATIVE

    HOWTOBEANONCONFORMIST: 22

    IRREVERENTILLUSTRATEDSTEPSTO

    COUNTERCULTURECREDFROM1968

    7 MUST-READBOOKSONTHEART&

    SCIENCEOFHAPPINESS

    CARLSAGANONSCIENCEAND

    SPIRITUALITY

    world and work seems to be just pouring out of you.

    Mary Kate McDevitt

    Hand-lettering artist Mary Kate McDevittshares a similar experience:

    I could be working without headphones, with someone right

    next to me trying to get my attention, and I am completely

    oblivious to anything but the task at hand One minute its

    8 p.m., the next minute Ive finished my project and its 3

    a.m. Thats pretty magical.

    http://marykatedevitt.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/12/carl-sagan-on-science-and-spirituality/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/12/carl-sagan-on-science-and-spirituality/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/01/25/must-read-books-happiness/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/01/25/must-read-books-happiness/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/09/30/how-to-be-a-nonconformist-elissa-jane-karg/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/09/30/how-to-be-a-nonconformist-elissa-jane-karg/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/04/12/john-cleese-on-creativity-1991/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/04/12/john-cleese-on-creativity-1991/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/09/best-books-on-writing-reading/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/09/best-books-on-writing-reading/
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    JOHNSTEINBECKONFALLINGINLOVE: A

    1958 LETTER

    7 OBSCURECHILDRENSBOOKSBY

    FAMOUSAUTHORSOFADULTLITERATURE

    WHYWELOVE: 5 BOOKSONTHE

    PSYCHOLOGYOFLOVE

    7 MUST-READBOOKSONMUSIC,

    EMOTION& THEBRAIN

    BERTRANDRUSSELL'S10 COMMANDMENTS

    OFTEACHING

    Ashley Percival

    Illustrator Ashley Percivalechoes:

    I dont want the day to end, because I need to be creative

    forever! Sometimes I forget to eat, then I realize that I must

    move from my deskso I make breakfast at two in the

    afternoon.

    http://ashleypercival.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/05/02/a-liberal-decalogue-bertrand-russell/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/05/02/a-liberal-decalogue-bertrand-russell/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/03/21/must-read-books-music-emotion-brain/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/03/21/must-read-books-music-emotion-brain/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/04/18/5-must-read-books-on-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/04/18/5-must-read-books-on-love/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/07/25/childrens-books-by-adult-authors-2/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/07/25/childrens-books-by-adult-authors-2/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/12/john-steinbeck-on-love-1958/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/12/john-steinbeck-on-love-1958/
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    5 TIMELESSCOMMENCEMENTSPEECHES

    TOTEACHYOUTODEFINEYOUROWN

    SUCCESS

    explore

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    culture datavisualization designdiaries documentaryeducation film foodhappiness historyillustrationinnovation interview

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    writing

    Sydney Pink

    And yet this state of flow isnt the same thing as the mythic divine inspiration.

    Illustrator Sydney Pinkcaptures this perfectly:

    The idea of divine inspiration and an aha moment is largely a

    fantasy. Anything of value comes from hard work and

    unwavering dedication. If you want to be a good artist you

    need to look at other artists, make a lot of crappy art, and

    just keep working.

    But the most powerful part deals with the darkest underbelly of the creative life

    criticism. Some artists, like painter Amanda Happ, turn a deaf ear to

    naysayers and focus on satisfying their own soul instead:

    Its one of the most beautiful things about doing this you

    dont have to care. No one gets to have their say and have it

    stick. No one can wrestle the pencil out of your hand. You

    get to keep going in absolute defiance.

    Ashley Percival puts it even more simply:

    You cant please everyone people will have art that they

    like and dislike the main thing is that you as an artist are

    happy with your work.

    Ceramics artist Mel Robsonoffers one of the wisest meditations on the subject:

    I think its important to remember that making art is a

    process. It is never finished. The occupation itself is one of

    process, exploration, and experimentation. It is one of

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    questioning and examining. Each thing you make is part of a

    continuum, and you are always developing. You dont always

    get it right, but I find that approaching everything as a work

    in progress allows you to take the good with the bad. Youre

    never going to please everyone. Take what you can from

    criticism, and let go of the rest. When it comes to

    constructive criticism, I welcome that and think it is

    important to have people you can discuss your work with

    who will give you honest and constructive feedback. Its notalways what you want to hear, but that is often exactly what

    is needed. It can be very confronting, but very useful.

    Hollie Chastain

    This brings us to the most poignant question: How to unbridle ones work,

    whether lauded or criticized, from ones sense of self-worth. Collage and mixed-

    media artist Hollie Chastainreflects:

    I think as an artist its very easy to [equate self-worth with

    artistic success] because of the nature of the work. If you

    think of art as a job, then your product is so much more

    than hours invested. The product is a piece of yourself, so of

    course if the reception is not the greatest, then it can feel like

    a direct hit to who you are as a person. I think this

    happened a lot more when I was younger and still finding my

    way around. I would doubt my direction when a viewer

    wasnt thrilled. The trick for me is not to put more distance

    between my work and myself, but to close that gap

    completely. I can see myself in the art that I create, and that

    builds a wall of confidence.

    http://www.holliechastain.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20
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    Julia Rothman

    IllustratorJulia Rothman who gave us the immeasurably wonderful TheWhere, the Why, and the How: 75 Artists Illustrate Wondrous Mysteries of Science

    and Drawn In: A Peek into the Inspiring Sketchbooks of 44 Fine Artists, Illustrators,

    Graphic Designers, and Cartoonists strips this sentiment down to its bare, most

    vulnerable essence:

    When you put so much of yourself and your time into

    something, its hard to separate it from who you are.

    http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/06/07/julia-rothman-drawn-in/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/10/12/where-why-how-julia-rothman/http://juliarothman.com/http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Block-Discover-Projects-Successful/dp/1452118884/?tag=braipick-20
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    Emily Barletta

    Embroidery and fiber artist Emily Barlettareminds us that soul-satisfaction

    requires defining our own success:

    I make art because the process of making art makes me

    happy. Being successful with it and doing it for personal

    fulfillment are separate ideas.

    Creative Block. Complement with Brian Enos prompts for overcoming creative

    block, then revisit Bukowskis bold poetic debunking of the ideal conditions andmyths of creativity.

    Images courtesy of Chronicle Books

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