Things you can do when you’re in creative rut
The past few weeks haven’t been kind to me when it comes to photography or creativity in general. I’m not sure if it’s just the usual summer blues, a bit of a burnout, or a temporary situation caused by some external and family-related factors.
But the truth is, lately I’ve found it really hard to motivate myself to do anything creative. And even when I did manage to do something - whether it was writing a short blog post, going for a quick photo walk, or making a short video - the brief spark of enthusiasm would quickly turn into discouragement, questioning my abilities and lack of motivation to keep going.
I’ve been looking for ways to get out of this trap because I’m someone who, when not doing what I feel I should be doing, quickly gets frustrated.
And the harder I tried, the worse I felt about it.
And that’s when - out of the blue - Helen reached out to me. She offered me a (trial) collage session together under the theme Collage Kitchen Summer. The key-word of the whole idea was “resting in creativity.”
Helen describes the idea of “resting in creativity” as a gentle rebellion against urgency.
Her email ended with the words: Let’s see what happens when we stop trying so hard to make it happen.
That’s exactly what I needed.
Helen and I share a love for the sea. Helen swims in the sea, I photograph it. I’ve even photographed Helen swimming in the sea once.
So I knew we’d find a common language and that the time spent together making something would be well spent - if not in terms of finished pieces, then definitely in meaningful conversations.
So I quickly confirmed the date and started getting excited.
We started the day by exploring the area around the Fotomuseum and taking a walk through Sorghvliet Park (I had no idea such an oasis of calm existed in the middle of The Hague), and we talked - a conversation that, I feel, could’ve gone on much longer.
Then we returned to the museum, grabbed a table at the museum café, and over a cup of coffee, started going through the collage materials Helen had brought. A few magazines, some newspapers scraps, an old book. Scissors, a craft knife, and glue.
What’s great about collage is that you don’t need to be a great painter, illustrator, poet, writer, or a photographer to use these mediums to create something unique and truly your own.
I quickly remembered that it’s a kind of play - but one that, if you want, can result in a pretty serious artefact.
The premise of this session, however, was that it didn’t need to result in anything.
Still, finishing a collage within the given timeframe was very satisfying.
I decided, in line with the idea of creating for the sake and joy of creating, not to focus on judging my own work (something I often have difficulties with).
My goal of this meeting and making the collage was to switch off my overactive brain and ease all the electrical impulses and reactions inside it.
Collage is the perfect way to truly focus on the here and now - cheesy as that may sound - if only because carefully cutting tiny pieces of paper is quite an engaging task.
It's also not easy to admit that we often fall into traps we’ve set for ourselves.
In an era where productivity, busyness and efficiency are among the most valued traits, the pressure to deliver high-quality creative work can be immense.
Even though we choose art consciously, driven by a need to create, to express our sensitivity and identity, the subconscious plays tricks on us, pushing us to produce, publish, and constantly raise the bar.
A perfect recipe for burnout.
To break this self-destructive cycle, all it takes is to hit pause and take a closer look at yourself. To try approaching the creative process like a child would - playfully, for the sheer joy of making, a pleasant way of spending free time.
Without big (or any) expectations, only with awareness, that the greatest value lies in the time devoted to yourself, and the other.
Collage turned out to be a great way to do so.
This session, altogether with the exchange of thoughts and experiences with other creative, really helped me to understand the essence of the problem and get my joy of making back.
And I must admit: just the act of making something completely different from what I usually do in terms of creative work, almost instantly reawakened my desire to explore media beyond photography and, more broadly, my hunger to create.
If you’re feeling stuck in your creative work for any reason, I can’t recommend this kind of exercise enough.
And if you’d like to dive into the world of collage, join workshops or one-to-one sessions in a super relaxed atmosphere, check out Helen’s profile.
I created a guide (well, a mini-course is a better word), which will help you make more compelling, clean pictures.
It includes a little bit of theory, example images and practical tips/exercises.
Do you want to start making minimalistic, clean images that stand out? That guide is for you. And yes, it’s FREE.