If you’ve ever sat down to create but find yourself feeling creatively stuck or unsure how to get started, the reason often stems from the same type of problem. To find the right solution, however, choose which of the following statements you best relate to.
“I see all these great ideas on Pinterest/Youtube/Facebook and I just don’t know how to get started.”
We are lucky to have access to so many great ideas, inspiration, tutorials, and process videos. Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall so deep down that rabbit hole that we don’t stop and take time to put what we’ve learned into action.
This can lead to information overload. It can be overwhelming… and when you sit down to create, your mind is in overdrive and you can’t pick one thing to focus on.
SOLUTION: Take a break from looking at ideas/inspiration and choose **just one thing** you want to learn.
Try it.
Enjoy the process.
If you feel stuck, look for tutorials and guidance with that one specific thing. But ONLY that one specific thing, and then put what you learn into action.
Remember that this is a journey. You will not start out mastering everything all at once. Slow down. Pick something, do it, and enjoy the process.
Share your results. Even if they aren’t “perfect enough to share” (in your opinion/your standards). Who knows, you might inspire somebody else to come out of their shell and give it a try.
Share your story, with your results. Let others know what “that one thing is” that you learned.
Or, keep it to yourself. That’s okay too The important thing is to balance it out by DOING more than watching videos, or searching Pinterest, etc.
“I have so many supplies, but every time I sit down… I just stare at the page!”
OR
“I want to create, but I don’t _____ (insert whatever tool or supply you think you need)”
This can stem from watching too many videos and suddenly you need everything that you see other artists using.
I’m not going to lie… it’s fun to play with all the things! But again… slow down. Learn how to use one thing before you buy another thing.
Also, you don’t NEED all the things! For a good 5-7 years, before “art journaling” was even a thing (that I knew about)… I found therapy in sitting down with a magazine and pair of scissors.
Okay, maybe a glue stick & pen or markers too.
The point is, I didn’t have 20 different kinds of glue back then. Or 5 different styles/sizes of scissors. It didn’t matter if I had a ballpoint pen or a sharpie marker… that was just a tool to add writing or doodle.
Yet once you start collecting supplies, suddenly you have too many choices and again, it’s hard to focus on which supplies to use.
With that being said… you still CAN “get in the zone” even with all the supplies you’ve acquired. There was a reason you bought those watercolor brush pens, or that stamp, or the embossing powder.
SOLUTION: Use what you have.
Doesn’t matter if you don’t have any of the things you want (yet).
Also doesn’t matter if you have so many things it’s overwhelming.
In either case… just use what you have.
“I see all this wonderful and creative art shared by others, even people who are also supposed to be beginners… and I just know I can never create anything that lovely! It’s so intimidating!”
Finally, this is another situation caused by looking too much at what others do instead of allowing yourself to do what YOU can do.
I’ve always felt the best part of art groups like this one is seeing how *different* everyone is.
SOLUTION: Embrace what makes you unique instead of dwelling on how you’re not “like” someone else. It doesn’t matter if it’s a YouTuber you admire or a fellow member in your favorite art group… admire their work but give yourself the opportunity to find and define your own style.
TL;DR- You don’t really WANT to be “like” anyone else… but you CAN decide what skills you’d like to improve and work on them through practice and experience. Above all else, enjoy the process and celebrate what makes you unique because that’s what it’s all about! 🙂