Loss Of Creativity

Sharon,


Stop deleting any of your digital work.

You can always come back to dead end works and rework them months later.

I have done this a couple of times.

I hated the earlier versions of this. I have another spherized work as well. I went back in a couple of months
later and made this statement. It is meant as man's distortion of this world. I am trying to find a climate change
group that might be interested in using it.

either switch gears, or don't push it. do something else. your brain like anything else has to stop and rest. it may take a while, then poof new ideas. you can look at other work and see if anything sparks as well. you can mess around and learn new techniques as well.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Me - I'm there - I feel wrung out, worn out, and my 'creations' when I'm done look just like me - and so I've not posted anything new in over two months - some that you might think were new - they were created in January or the first week of February.

Listening to music always does it for me, Sharon. Sometimes it can be something I'm familiar with, other times it's something I've never heard before that jolts me back into creating again.

However, everyone recharges differently. What sort of things bring you happiness? Maybe reflecting on and then engaging in those areas will bring you back into creating again.

I have nothing to add to the creative process you are wanting to get it back but want to add that I am more than happy to keep your camera gear company as I am sure they are feeling lonely and could use some attention.

Hey I couldn't resist.

I see Sharon when you joined...just recently. Joining and getting a good bit of work up
is tiring. You will get a second wind. Hang in there.

Dave

Lol, Jeffery I've considered selling all of it and buying a mirrorless setup as they are much lighter. I have Nikon and Sigma if you're interested or know anyone that is. I haven't even touched my stuff since the first week of November.
My niece texted me today...she wants me to take some photos of her and her boyfriend for their bodybuilding portfolios. I said I'd do it, but I really don't want to. Sure wish I could say "no" easily!

Sometimes just talking about it as you have done here, can inspires a new energy.

David, you're probably right...I need to stop deleting and save instead. The flowers is the only one I saved because I did like it at some point.

Yes, posting tons of images is very tiring. I put that aside for a while to work on some fresh stuff but it's not going anywhere.

Well now force yourself to do it as you never know it might just re-spark that flame again.

Mike, I've been watching a lot of AI videos and even started a mandala today. Illustrator is so different than Photoshop that I pretty much have to start from the beginning. I've been browsing google images of subjects I like and have some ideas in my head. The problem is getting them on my tablet. Too much of a mind block right now, so I guess I'll keep watching the tutorials.

Roy, I've been grabbing stuff from a few years ago, also. My subjects back then were from Namibia, New Mexico...interesting places other than Ohio. I really think I could use a vacation but with the daughter's problem that's just not possible now. I always get invigorated when I'm on a trip.

Rahdne, music is a great suggestion. I usually have the tv on...Law & Order series, which probably doesn't help my mood.

Traveling brings me happiness. I love go to different countries...their culture, architecture, etc. Maybe next year, in the mean time I can daydream about it :) The last time we went to Europe and I just had a point and shoot and hadn't a clue about photography. Next time, I am prepared!

Turn. The. TV. Off.

Music will do so much more for your sanity, relaxation, well-being, and creativity than the TV ever will. =)

Lol, ok...going to pause the tv now :)

I read in your bio that you love the piano. Listen to some piano-centric music (lyrical or instrumental) that really resonates with you. Let it take over.

Good idea, Rahdne...I'm listening to Ray Charles :)

Hi Sharon...I think all artists suffer from loss of creativity at times...I know I do. It used to bother me years ago but I have learned the best thing to do, for me anyway, is to forget about it and do something else...go hiking, read a book, visit with friends, do anything but think about it. Do other things you enjoy...and don't worry about it. That is what really works for me...next thing I know I have a new project started and ideas for 10 new paintings and there I am again wishing there were more hours in the day.

About a month ago I decided I had to take some time away from the art to catchup on some much needed work...my house got to be a disaster area...paperwork piled everywhere that needed my attention...and a slew of chores, projects and errands that couldn't wait any longer. A friend asked me the other day if I wasn't afraid I would lose the creative process...I am not...I think it is like taking a vacation from any job...you don't forget how to do your job ...you come back to it refreshed.

Sorry for the long reply...I just think it makes it worse to worry about it...it will come back...more than likely with the spring flowers :)

Best way to unblock those stressors, Sharon, is to deal with them head on. They may not translate to 'pretty' imagery -- yet might prove to be your most dramatic, satisfactory, genuine pieces.

One such piece for me wound up being purchased as cover art for a publication. I would never have predicted it had that kind of appeal.

Whenever I've found myself in stasis in art process -- I take a course -- tons available online.

Years ago -- I was having difficulty with perspective -- signed up for a drafting course at the local college. Increased my confidence, and skill, significantly.

Let us know how it goes.....


carmenhathaway.com

Go outside. Get out of the house. Take a walk. Take your camera. Listen to the birds and feel the sun on your face.

That too ;) Sometimes I don't even bring the camera...What? And miss an opportunity?!

Exactly for that reason --- no 'demands/expectations' on my outing. Just being -- unencumbered.

Got to pet a wild cormorant that way once as he was busy sunning himself down by the lake.

Good chance I'll recall with perfect clarity whatever it was that could have been photographed.


carmenhathaway.com

Sharon,

My last work I hated. I did three operations in PS beyond where I should have stopped. I undid
them and altered the color. I then balanced the contrast as I knew was necessary.

I stepped away from doing any more work on the piece. I hated it. Often in my work there are
no easy focal points to find. In this last work there were tons of focal points.

I published it and worried a bit. Unlike me. Then the responses came in, family, friends, acquaintances etc...
all the way down the list. Every single person loved it.

It has taken me two weeks to go beyond liking this work and see what others see in it.

My point? We are our own worst critics. Be careful with how you see your own work when it is not
right in your mind. You have a lot of skill. You get it. The results do show.

Again this image actually disturbed me as I published it and began to show it more recently.
Frankly looking at it with something closer to 20/20 vision, I have no idea why I found this work
disturbing.

Invite some friends round for dinner, or pizza or something . Talk and laugh about everything except art. That can sometimes start different thoughts which re-stimulate your creativity.

I think creativity waxes and wanes. Perhaps going with the flow of the artist cycle is needed. I know if I have a lull after I allow myself to go with it, my creativity returns and rewards me. So how to distract oneself in the meantime. I cannot just let go so I task my brain with coming up with a new creation. Then I go clean the house, visit friends, read a book, or whatever I want. My brain during all this time is subconsciously working on some new pieces. For me this always works.

Family portraits are tough. You have something in mind, but they have something else in mind that is not your style. You feel bad if you don't do what they want because they are family. So then this will add to your feelings about photography as a whole, and further push you away from it.
If you don't want to do it, definitely don't torture yourself anymore.

I think I go through the same cycle, Celeste, and I like the way you've worded it.

Regular breaks. It takes a lot of brain power to concentrate. My dog provides me with 20 minute walk breaks a few times a day. Plus just because you are a creative person doesn't me you don't need a vacation - take a few weeks off. Organize the junk drawer. Nothing sparks my creative interest more than having to do some work around the house.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions :) I took a couple days away from the computer and just relaxed. I wish I could get outside and do some walking. I have an energetic pittie that's wanting to burn off some pent off winter energy. But with major back problems, all I can do outside is sit, which is still nice.

Last night and this morning I "painted" this using ArtRage 4. I'm really impressed with AR so far...looks quite realistic to me.

Go study some art you hate or dislike a lot. You might find there are redeemable qualities to it that will change your perceptions of art and consequentially renew you. You might find that it ticks you off so much that you return to your work with a renewed vigor. Experiment try something wild and see where it leads!

I'm with everyone else here, Sharon. DON'T DELETE. Just make a folder called "later". You may be surprised what you can come up with when you visit the images later.

I was moving old stuff into organized folders yesterday, and I found some really old designs I drew for another site, and I was surprised at some of the work I never posted, but struck me as quite good. It's not usable now - but I could recreate it. I originally started drawing in Microsoft Word, of all things, because I didn't have a drawing program, so I had to print them all on a photo printer and scan them back in to make jpgs. I can't believe I did that for a long time. Some of them are quite good (although I spent a ton on ink LOL).

Keep them and look at them in about a month. You might surprise yourself.

You will continue to be frustrated until you realize that the creativity shows itself in the process, not the final product.
No one in ANY field, has perfect days, every day....

I usually take a winter break from photography, since I shoot nature. Spring is on it's way and I know it will inspire me.

inspiration is an emotion. They come and go and come back. I panicked first time this happend to me. I tell you what helped me is watching you tube videos of my craft. That stoked my fire.

I like Kevin's Statement: "Family portraits are tough. You have something in mind, but they have something else in mind that is not your style. You feel bad if you don't do what they want because they are family. So then this will add to your feelings about photography as a whole, and further push you away from it."

I'm losing my drive and creativity with Family portraits. Like Kevin said, you'll have something in mind, but then they either want to do something else that you know won't work, or you have several kids that don't want to cooperate, stiff clients, clients that won't smile, etc. Then I look at the photos and ask myself just about everytime, "Why didn't I do this?", "How did I miss that?" etc. It gets so stressful and I think it's time I take a break from it for a little while. Sometimes we just have to break away for a while, and then come back to it. I agree with David, don't delete what you've started on. Save it then go back to it.

Hey Sharon! It's been such a brutal winter in Ohio that it's bound to make anyone a little crazy. I too have struggled with relatively the same types of feelings. I can't remember the last time we've seen the sun. I would be willing to bet that as the weather improves so will your disposition and outlook. Relax and it will come back to you. As Mike said, "don't force it".

Gary