Week 1 Start here by watching the video below.
Week 1-Key Points
Hey, creative souls!
Ever found yourself staring at a scary blank canvas, paintbrush in hand, waiting for the ideas that just won't come? It's like hitting a brick wall, right? If this rings a bell, you're in the right spot! This post is your kickstart to the first week of our course, "The Art of Flow: Conquering Creative Blocks in Your Art Practice," built to smash that imaginary wall and free your creative spirit.
We all know the pain of conquering creative blocks. They don't care who you are, they'll hit artists, writers, musicians, and anyone in the creative field. The reasons for these blocks are as varied as we are.
Fear of failure or criticism can grab hold of us, freezing our creative path. It causes us to censor ourselves and stops us from taking risks – key parts of growing creatively. On the flip side, perfectionism, constantly pushing for a perfect that we can't reach, can freeze us in a different way, choking our creativity.
"Don't be afraid of perfection, you'll never reach it." - Salvador Dalí
Things like overworking and emotional stress, such as anxiety or depression, can also lead to creative blocks. These issues suck up so much of our energy that they leave little space for creativity to bloom.
Sometimes, the causes are simpler but just as crippling. Feeling uninspired, being stuck in a routine, high expectations, a lack of drive, or even physical health issues can all lead to a creative standstill.
Despite these possible hurdles, the key thing to remember is that creativity isn't a well that dries up. It's always there, sleeping, waiting for the chance to be found and cared for.
That's exactly what this course and our first week aim to do. We plan to dive into these blocks, figure out where they come from, admit they're there, and start the process of beating them. In short, our goal is conquering these creative blocks and unleashing our creativity.
Kickstart week 1 by watching the short video above and don’t forget to subscribe to my channel for notifications on new lessons. This mini course is free and is your first step to unlocking your full creative power.
Our initial hands-on project is crafting a ‘creativity journal.’ This private space is for jotting down your thoughts, emotions, inspirations, and any other ideas that come to mind. It’s a sandbox for free thought, where mistakes are not only okay but encouraged as part of the creative journey. Above all, it’s a playground to explore your creativity. Commit to your journaling practice daily, even if it’s just 5 minutes, and remember, your journal is for your eyes only.
Art Journal Activity: The Doodle Zone
Goal: Fire up creativity by letting go of perfection and embracing the beauty of randomness.
What you’ll need:
1. Art Journal
2. Pens/Pencils/Markers
3. Colors (watercolors, colored pencils, crayons)
Step 1: The Doodle Warm-Up
Kick off the first page of the journal with 5-10 minutes of freehand doodling. The aim here is to quiet your inner critic. Don’t stress about making a masterpiece; just get pen to paper and let your hand roam free. Don’t overthink the shapes, lines, or patterns you’re drawing. Welcome randomness.
Step 2: Creative Breath Doodle
Give the next two pages of your journal to your “Creative Breath” doodle. The “breath” refers to the cycle of breathing in and out. On the left page, start drawing or doodling while thinking about “inhaling” or taking in creativity. Think about the inspiration from your environment, memories, dreams, feelings, etc. On the right page, think about “exhaling” or letting your creativity out onto the paper. Let it take any form or shape that comes naturally to you. You can use any colors you want.
Step 3: Reflect and Write
On the last page for this week’s activity, take some time to reflect and write about the process. How did you feel during the doodling? Was it tough to quiet your inner critic? What feelings or thoughts came up during the creative breath exercise? How do you feel now, compared to before you started the activity?
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” -Pablo Picasso
Remember, the heart of this activity is about reconnecting with the free creativity we all had as kids. Allow yourself to explore, experiment, and enjoy the process of expressing creativity, without any judgment or critique.
Let’s set off on this thrilling journey to face and beat our creative blocks together. Always remember, creativity is not a limited resource; it’s an overflowing well that we just need to learn how to tap into.
Resources and Supplies
There are plenty of budget friendly blank journals and other art supplies available for purchase online. I've linked some that I like below. Disclaimer- I earn a small commission if purchased via the links below. The price for the customer is the same whether you purchase through my link or directly on Amazon.
Also be sure to check out the resource page for a more extensive list here.
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