It’s time to grow: changing up your art practice.
It happens from time to time. Things feel slow, or stuck. Ideas feel uninspiring. When you go to paint, everything looks a little bit rubbish. The joy of painting isn’t as easily summoned. We’ve all been there at least once, and most of us probably find ourselves there again and again.
I believe these moments of dissatisfaction are just a part of our creative cycle, and they are telling us something important. It’s time to grow.
But how? Where? To what purpose? The answer will be different for everyone, but I can give you some things to think about as you start to uncover the root cause of your dissatisfaction.
1. You're not enjoying creating art because you’re bored.
When you’re not growing, the momentum that was taking you along your creative journey becomes stagnant. This is perhaps the most common cause I find when talking to art friends, and it is one of the easiest to do away with. If you're feeling bored with your art, it's time to switch things up. Try a new medium, and let yourself be free and expressive with it. (Try pastels, clay, charcoal, watercolour, or pencils). Or if you’re able, take a class or workshop to learn something new. Local in-person classes can be wonderful, but there is a whole host of wonderful workshops available online. Check out your favourite artists — they may have video courses available. Skillshare is also a great place with lots of different classes available.
2. You've hit a wall with your technique and style.
If this is you, chances are you know exactly why you are hitting a wall, but you just feel too overwhelmed or nervous to start breaking that wall down. Improving our technical skills can be intimidating, because we have to acknowledge that we lack skill, and let ourselves do poorly at that skill over and over again until we improve. This is where the hard work comes in: study art books and master artists, take a class, start a new sketchbook, make mood-boards. Push yourself beyond what you’ve done before. Take on a challenging project. Set goals for yourself and work towards them. Let yourself make rough or ‘bad’ art, and don’t give up. Sooner or later, you’ll have that breakthrough moment and feel unstoppable!
3. You're not happy with, or interested in, your work.
If you're not happy with your art, it's time to have a chat with yourself. There can be so many reasons why this is the case – some are to do with your artistic practice, and some are not. (For the latter, it could be external stresses, living situation, the weather . . . be honest about what change you can and cannot effect).
As for reasons stemming from your artistic practice, there are some major questions to ask yourself. Are you doing what you love? Are you making work that is meaningful to you? Do you make are that you are proud to claim and share?
If you answered no to any of these, it's time to make some changes.
They might be major changes, pivoting from portrait commissions to abstract landscape work. Or commercial illustration to fine art. Or vice versa. These changes are necessary when your heart and passion isn’t in the work you do, because forcing yourself into a creative practice that isn’t meaningful is a fast way to burn out. If you feel like a decision like this is too much to undertake alone, talk to a trusted art friend or peer, or find an art mentor to help you navigate the choices.
I have made changes in my artistic practice over the years. From personal commissions, to surface design, to a small dabble in commercial illustration and a hard veering to fine art and landscape. Each stage of this journey was an instrumental part of my voice and style, and without each step, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Making changes in your art practice can be scary, but it's necessary for growth and progress. Embrace the unknown and see where it takes you!