Did You Do Your Assignment?

A couple of weeks ago I asked you to write down some of the mental reasons that keep you from being as creative as you wish to be. I thought I would share with you my reasons.

For the longest time I've felt that I've been more of a mimic than a artist of any sort.  I don't feel like I'm bringing anything new to the table. Everything is so out there now - blogs, Etsy, Flickr, Craftster, Ravelry. You're sitting at home with just you and your little brain and you think you've come up with a great idea only to pop on to the internet to discover 32 people have come up with 32 different and, seemingly, better ways to do it than you.  It's a quick way to undermine one's confidence. 

Sometimes I forge ahead anyway - that's how I've trained myself - but I've not been totally happy with the end product.  More often I find myself putting the project away half finished and starting something else.  Granted, I've always had half-finished things lying about, but the now it has really gotten out of hand. 

I spoke to an artist friend of mine and I told him I thought I was in a state of flux; that I thought my methods, media or statement were about to change. I felt out of sorts when looking at a blank canvas - be it paper, canvas or fabric.  I feel as if there is no me to put there. 

So, in my search for what is keeping me from being my most creative self, I will have to examine where I want to go with my art and where I want my focus to lie.  A challenge and an exploration if ever I heard of one.

Comments

[Kathie]

hmmm, I think it's truly that I'm buried in stuff. My the time I find what I need to start (or finish -- yeah, don't laugh -- it happens) I end up either disgusted by all the "stuff" I have, or start getting so many ideas in my head my brain is buzzing and I have to just STOP or I'll explode.

Lately, the only thing that is working for me is to take classes in things I already know, but don't take the time for. Example, the PMC classes that the continuing adult ed program does. It's 3 hours a week for 6 weeks for $77. The creative energy of being around other people doing the same thing is great. Although, sometimes, I admit, I find myself getting so involved in everyone's else's fabu stuff that I don't get much done myself.

I guess I miss the days at Expression where I was surrounded by wonderful (okay, and some NOT so wonderful) creations all day long.

[Wendy]

Ooh yeah re: the mimic thing, me too!

;)

(And if I do do something I can't find anywhere else, I either find out why nobody else has bothered in the process, or by the time I'm done, find that someone else has done a prototype and then put it into mass production while I was dinking around, dang it. Suddenly, they'll be everywhere.)