Everyone who creates, be it writing, photography, painting, graphic design, etc., has encountered the problem of creative block. This is when the flow of ideas and skill suddenly isn’t there anymore. Most artists have developed ways to break through this problem. I present one idea here that helped my wife Nel to be able to finish her latest painting.
There is a common belief that there are two “sides” of the brain. One side handles the rational day-to-day thinking necessary for our survival and the other our expressive and creative side. There is an interesting book that deals with this written by Betty Edwards called Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain where this effect is used to teach people how to draw. The idea is to try to prevent the “rational side” of the brain from interfering with the creative side. Everyone is different and we all have to find what works for us.
In Nel’s case, it was the discovery of audio books that she could download onto her iPod. Somehow, listening the the classics (Tale of Two Cities was one of her favorites) occupied her think side of her brain in such a way that allowed her creative side to flow freely. She now recommends that everyone who is having creative block problems give it a try. If it worked for her, it just might work for you.
What Norman didn’t say was that this painting is of my mother from a picture taken many years ago. As it goes with many of us, my mother and I have had our “moments” and while I was working on the painting we were going through one of those times. It was so hard for me to work on the painting because my mind would go into GRRRRRR mode and I locked up. In fact, I set the painting aside for about 8 months at one point. But I really wanted to finish it since it had such a compelling look. Listening to the books on my iPod ( it was a Shuffle back then, now I have a Nano 3rd gen) really engaged my mind and I was able to escape, as if watching a movie, long enough to get the painting done.
Most books are only about 6 hours long, Dickens’ can go 13 hours. “The Other Boleyn Girl” (fabulous book) was 17 hours of escapist bliss! Then there is “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!” free podcasts from npr.com through itunes that give me great laughs whilst working. Sort of like audial chocolate.
The important thing is it works. Your technical skill will come through and you will instinctually be able to do the work and problem solve, stay on task while quieting the little devil on your shoulder who tries to talk trash.
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