Obstacles to Creativity--Overcoming Them!

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Comment by Janet Stinson Therrien on November 11, 2009 at 8:08pm

Sherry, I can empathize with the restlessness, just ask my hubby. Lisa, can you imagine telling your parents, I want to be a tattoo artist? There are so many different avenues now days for creative expressions and venues to share them. When I used to teach art to the little minds of 5 years, the girls dove right into the projects, the boys were the ones intimidated...or so it seemed in my observation.

Comment by wiffledust on November 10, 2009 at 6:25pm

sherry, don't you think that many or most girls until very recently have gotten very mixed messages about their artistic selves? boys too, but girls in weird ways. for example, girls are expected to be somewhat artistic. we're supposed to know how to find cute curtains and teach children how to weave potholders and such. however the minute we told our parents we wanted to be artists, how many girls get a scornful look or some kind of warning that it's ok but only if you have a man to support you? it's almost as if art were a luxury...something a girl was to do to fullfill herself AFTER she fullfilled the needs of everyone else and made sure she was "taken care of". how to make a living is the plight of many artists male and female, but i think you touched on something uniquely female. ....you brought up another good point. being intimidated by others' talents rather than inspired is a sure way to self torture.

Comment by Sherry Somach on November 10, 2009 at 6:01pm

I was not encouraged to be creative as a child...in fact, the opposite was true. I was a product of the 50s where the object of life was to get married( preferably to a doctor or lawyer), have children and be taken care of.
I was a late bloomer and created out of the need to create. If I am not feeling creative I get very restless.
I look for projects that will capture my imagination. Sometimes I am visited by the muse and think it will never end....but it always does. Mostly I will get sick with a cold, flu, get a broken heart...or something that will make me sad and wallowing. I have a pity party for myself( I am usually the only invitee), and then carry on.
There was a time I felt intimidated by people so much more talented than I. Now I remove myself from the mix and thoroughly enjoy others talents and gifts. I get inspired. I identify and get uplifted.

Comment by wiffledust on November 10, 2009 at 5:16pm

ok, ericka, where are ya? LOL! i'm sure you're hiding here somewhere...tell us your obstacles and how you overcome (or don't!) them!

Comment by wiffledust on November 8, 2009 at 2:22pm

oh you're so right donna. sometimes ...well alot of times, i have to act "as if". i think any time i've ever gotten on a stage it was with an "as if " or two! and another trick is if the fear is really terrible, think of someone you view as really strong and become them for a few minutes. just channel all THEIR strength. it really can work!

Comment by Donna Stumpo on November 8, 2009 at 1:42pm

agreed. sometimes it's best to live to fight another day. to conserve strength for the big things. i'm just saying that the little warm up exercises i described can help flex those "courage muscles" so they are in the habit of being strong. acting AS IF i'm not afraid can actually help me BE not afraid......

Comment by wiffledust on November 8, 2009 at 1:31pm

fear and i go way back. i'm not sure it's ALWAYS best to confront fear the way famous quotes often urge us to do. yes, most of the time it's crucial. but there are times when it's not a bad idea for us to pick our moments. pick the moments when you are more likely to succeed if you have that option, because confidence is often built on good experiences. this is not always the case. alot can be learned from falling on your face or making a dud of an art project. but some success is a good thing too!

Comment by Donna Stumpo on November 8, 2009 at 1:25pm

I wouldn't say that I LOVE my fear-it can be debilitating sometimes. But I always learn things from it, yes. I do like the challenge of being outside of my comfort zone though. Wakes me up, makes me pay attention, and always teaches me more about myself and what I am capable of. Being fearless is an art which takes practice. It can start with small things like just speaking up at a meeting where you know people might disagree with you. Walking up to someone who you are in awe of and just striking up a conversation......the possibilities go on and on....

Comment by wiffledust on November 6, 2009 at 11:17am

this is brilliant, susie. and so true! I don't subscribe to the theory that artists need to be in pain to create, but I DO agree that all pain, frustration, etc can be turned into works of creativity, release you as you said. and the process is healing too, don't you think? i heard juliette binoche the other day telling charlie rose that she LOVES her fear, because she uses it in her craft constantly. she has made friends with her enemies!

Comment by wiffledust on November 4, 2009 at 7:26pm

i think we need to get some thoughts from steen here too. she has recently started writing a novel--see her first 4 chapters on her blog!--and i was so impressed the way she just "dove right in" . she didn't stop to think. she saw a challenge in a blog and just went for it. love it!

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