Keep Learning

There are so many art forms to study, from visual arts to musical arts, it can be easy to get lost in. If you feel like you have hit a wall or are lacking in creative energy it could be helpful to step back and study. Taking the time to expand your knowledge is important for developing your art. Even if you feel like you know it all, it could be worth it to hear new perspectives.

My favorite go-to is YouTube. I end up spending hours in what I like to call a YouTube Wormhole, which just means I watch video after video about a certain topic, really digging deep. It feels like a well-balanced learning machine by watching videos because it covers audial and visual learning. I have to be careful with some videos because they can be a little too cathartic and I will get sleepy. But on the whole, your brain is taking up this information and later you may apply similar concepts.

Scrolling through Instagram is another useful activity, despite the stigma of social media. I find that looking at pictures and clips on Instagram can actually spark some creativity in me as I watch others use techniques I haven’t tried yet. Sometimes looking at art can make me want to start a project because of the emotions that can arise while looking at others’ art.

Another approach to fighting creative blocks is to learn a new area within the arts. For example, if you’ve never worked with watercolors before, now might be a good time to learn. Just practicing swatches or working on a color wheel can strengthen our artistry. Also, we learn new skills it is almost like playing. I would even venture to say it IS playing.

There is so much to learn, it seems impossible to be bored with the arts. Even if you feel like an expert, floating through different educational videos or different projects can stir some creative juices. Keep learning, there are always new styles and approaches to be absorbed in.

Honestly, it is true of all subjects that there is always more to learn. The universe is constantly expanding and so is our knowledge. That being said, there is always something to study. Maybe watching a history video gets you fired up over a certain topic. As that emotion rises, there is the potential for creative energy. Or maybe listening to Neil Degrasse Tyson talk about space brings up the urge to create a galaxy piece.

Art is such a huge part of our everyday lives and while it’s easy to feel creative blocks, it is just as easy to push against those blocks by flexing your brain muscles. If you are enriching your mind, you are creating energy to work with on canvas or whatever medium suits you.