Such a busy and prosperous year ahead with new things to learn and old things to tweak   Sometimes my mind races ahead to all there is to do and at those times a quick doodle, leisurely drawing for the sake of drawing allows me the chance to breathe.

Whenever I allow myself to come back to my art I connect with the here and now and can let go of any worries about getting it all done. Art grounds me. Sometimes I forget or get so caught up in what I need to do that I don’t do art as often as I would like to (yes I get caught in those other priorities and make the mistake of not making art my priority). But when I remember to connect with myself through art making a beautiful dance happens. I breathe, I relax, I feel capable of handling what lies ahead. When I remember that that thing that I am worrying about is just one of many parts of life I begin to relax.

Sometimes it’s a process. A clearing out has to happen to make room for what is ahead. Like today I went through items on my desk rearranged organized made space. At home I went through supplies throwing out dried up paints, organizing art journaling materials and making room for new creations to bloom.

Sometimes we need these rituals to help us focus. Sometimes though these rituals stop us from acting on things we are avoiding. It’s a fine line that I often dance. I confess, when I find time or carve out time to make art I am not always diligent about using that time efficiently – I may find something else to do first – just for a few minutes before starting my art and then those minutes turn into an hour. And my time is gone, the window of opportunity lost, until next time at least.

We have all been there at some point or another. When this happens to me the first thing I try to do is acknowledge what is happening. How am I feeling. What thought or feeling is getting in my  way of making art?  What am I avoiding really?  Am I judging ahead of time how my art may or may not turn out?  Will I like it enough or will it be good enough for my standards or my inner critics judging eyes?  Am I so caught up in future thought that I can’t allow myself to enjoy the present?  Am I avoiding seeing a feeling or situation reflected back at me in the art?

Journaling about this can help either visually expressing what comes up through the art or writing about these feelings and then making art in response to what you discovered or simply making art with the intention to process what has come up.

These are just some ways that you can explore what is standing in the way of your creative expression.  There is no one right way.

We each need to find our way to our creativity.  Sometimes it helps to have a push or reminder.  Sometimes it’s an art or painting partner.  Sometimes we need to dig deeper to discover what is blocking the way before we can move forward.  Sometimes we need to make a commitment to ourselves and our inner artist.  Whatever it is, as long as it works and gets you back into your creative flow then it is fine.
We are all different.  Try making a list of things that has helped you connect with your creative side in the past.  Was there a routine? A particular medium that boded well for you when feeling stuck?  Try answering the questions above in a journal and see if some answers come that give you insight into where you are at right now with your creativity.