8 hands-on ways to get out of creative anxiety

I’ve always painted, always, My mother was an artist and I grew up underneath her studio desk, trying to paint like she did. But as I grew up, it became crucial for me to find my own voice and I just didn’t feel ready to show anyone my work until I was absolutely satisfied with it. Which I never was. So for years I kept painting, absolutely hating everything I made. The voices of self doubt were so loud I made sure everything was thrown away in a bin far away from my house so that it couldn’t be found accidentally by anyone. 

Here’s the thing though - I kept painting. I had to keep going because the urge was so strong, anxiety and self hatred were my partners every single time - but something kept making me pull those brushes out.

I know many of you identify with these feelings all too well. Fear and resistance keep you from getting started most days but somehow you long for the process of creating. The work you do right now may disappoint you, but that’s ok! Pushing resistance aside for a moment and creating anyway is an amazing effort. If you keep showing up in brave ways you’ll evolve as an artist, your art will get better, and you’ll find yourself with a voice you can be proud of!

Let me give you some tools that have helped me along the way. Since I’m a painter this will refer a lot to the tools I use but I’m sure much of it will be applicable to any sort of artwork.

1. Lose respect of your tools. Seriously. Those expensive tubes and bright white sheets are intimidating. They make you feel inferior and unworthy when their true purpose is to let you shine as the bad-ass artist you are. Put the sheet on the floor and step right over it. Make it a little dirty, and then begin. Who’s the boss now?

2. Give yourself timed assignments. For instance: 5 landscapes - 5 minutes each. Use a large brush, it’ll keep you from making little details. These will surprise you, they tend to turn out quite nicely!

3. Paint small. Try miniature sizes, they will also keep you from getting lost in details. Or use a larger brush than you’re used to.

4. Pick a square out of a photograph, any photograph, and paint that. It’ll be abstract, and your brain won’t get lost in it.

5. Paint without the end in mind. If you’re planning on putting the finished piece in a frame behind the sofa you’re doomed. Paint with the process in mind, enjoy the journey and don’t worry about the finished product - it may end up in the bin but you’ve learned something from every single brush stroke. 

6. Never ever paint just one piece at the time. Do five. Or ten! That way your brain won’t get stuck in getting it just right. Nine of them might turn out a disappointment but you may just be left with one you like!

7. Change medium. If you’re stuck in technique somewhere, loosen up by trying something that will let you be a beginner. Try collage work for instance, playful and not bound by as many “rules”. 

8. Paint intuitively. Throw some paint on the canvas with a rag for instance, and start from there. What does it look like? What can I make of it? This has helped me enormously. It takes responsibility away from you and forces you to approach the task without a fixed end goal.

Do you have other ideas of how to loosen up when you’re stuck? I’d love to hear them!