Wouldn’t it be nice if it were just that easy.
I’ve been taking some online workshops to keep creatively connected during this “quaran-time” and I’ve noticed a theme in the chatrooms. Gettings started is a persistent frustration in the studio.
Hobbyists, amateur artists, and seasoned pros eventually come up against this hurdle of fear and stagnation, feeling completely overwhelmed with where to start.
We can look to books, classes, our peers, and online to get the ball rolling, but we need to look inward when we actually put pencil to paper. External inspiration helps to approach the blank page, but then we freeze up. What then? When an artist feels scared of a self judged terrible end result, assigned creativity can feel like too much pressure. When it comes to drawing, I find people to be unreasonably hyper-critical of themselves. Perceived creative failure stays with us. Not “doing it right” feels so terrible it can inhibit even trying.
“Resistance is not a peripheral opponent. Resistance arises from within. It is self-generated and self-perpetuated. Resistance is the enemy within.Steve Pressfield, The War of Art
Unfortunately I come across this reaction often in my classes. A kiddo will refuse to participate because they are so convinced their drawing will be horrible. I offer support but don’t deny these very real feelings of artistic dread. I try to normalize the pressure by giving them a say in the matter.
“I don’t wanna draw that!” OK, draw what you want.
Kiddos will pause, stunned to have the option of drawing something else. More often than not, they will join in with the class, but sometimes they find their own way. When kiddos are empowered to say “No” and make their own artistic choices they move past the risk of “doing it wrong” and can explore freely. I feel as long as they are engaged in some form of creative self-expression, it is time well spent.
Give your creative voice equal time & volume with that mic hog, your inner critic.
Of course specific assignments are usually very helpful to the creative process. Direction and limits reduce the decision-making process and provide a clear answer of where to start. Step by step instruction provides focus to an area of study and skill-building. Drawing prompts can even work in reverse bringing our aversions into clear focus with the realization that we would rather be drawing something else.
Less expectation and more play = equals starting.
Still there are times, when we are just cranky humans, half-heartedly trying to force the issue, desperately hoping someone else will figure it out for us. That’s when you just need to get out of your own head and be like Yoda.
