How to remove creative blocks

Since the new fall semester is starting soon at my studio and people are signing up for fall semester art classes, I would like to point out a few creative blocks that prevent us from unfolding our creative potential to full extent. We are all very different and we come with our good and bad habits. We have great and not that great qualities, but there are some things we need to leave at home when starting an art class.

Self-criticism

Students sometimes describe their first drawing and painting attempts as bad, unsuccessful or failure. This can mean a few things. There are people who apply strict critical attitude to themselves. They might not love themselves or they might be afraid that if they do not say that first, somebody else will. In other cases self-criticism can mean just asking for a compliment, to be certain that whatever you do is fine. When somebody is just starting out to explore what drawing or painting is, they have to relax and stop programming themselves for inability to do anything.

Programming oneself for failure

Saying that you cannot do one thing or another creates strong internal resistance to experiencing new abilities and skills. If you have come to an art class, stop criticizing yourself and what you do: most likely, you wanted to learn. That’s what learning process is: going from not that great result to achieving everything you wanted. We must devote time and do some work in order to see how much and how far we can go. Please, leave the strict inner critic at home; don’t allow it to follow you into the classroom!

Flower painting class for adults

Expecting immediate results

Learning anything is a process, a journey and a discovery. Learning is a gradual process. We go from simple to complex, from general to specific, from mediocre to outstanding. Sky is the limit or rather, the only limitations are these which we put ourselves within.

Have you ever heard that somebody learned playing an instrument within a few hours? It is unlikely, isn’t it? Have you ever seen an Olympic champion who just picked up their sport a few days ago? Do you know about any writer who won global attention with the first line they ever wrote?

Time, practice and effort

Any new skill takes time, work, practice and effort. When it comes to drawing and painting, for some unknown reason, many people are convinced that they just go to an art class and become skilled within 2 hours. It might be because watching YouTube videos has made an impression that it is extra easy and fast. That applies especially to time-lapse and speed videos. You see quite many hours of work squeezed in a few minutes.

Lack of confidence and insecurity

We can distinct 3 main types when it comes to confidence and insecurity: some people are way too confident that they know everything, some keep a healthy balance, but some others doubt every breath they take.

The value of an art class is that it teaches confidence and how to become confident and forget all insecurities what one had. That is a valuable quality for any person, not only for the creative type. Lack of confidence is easy to detect in art. Most often we get rid of this disturbing feature by courageously going with our feelings about the particular subject. We have to also stop worrying about mistakes. They happen; they are a normal part of any learning process and creativity.

Fear

I have been writing about this issue numerous times. It is your paper, it is your canvas. You can put on it anything you feel like. If you do not take small artistic risks, progress will be slow. There is no point in trying to avoid mistakes or errors. Don’t be quick to describe your learning process as a failure.

Paper, canvas, brushes and pencil do not bite. There are no known health threats when using good quality, safe paints.

Mastery doesn’t happen immediately

Nobody has ever become a master within a few hours, nobody. Fear usually arises from comparing oneself to either the best images on the internet or to other students. Students sometimes say they have no experience only to try looking better in the context of the group. It is not a competition. It is a class. Class is a learning process.

Fear paralyzes our creative resources. Drawing and painting is seeing at first and then allowing the signal from our brain to travel to the hand with brush or pencil.

Extreme sensitivity

Being emotionally very sensitive can frequently involve anxiety and unjustified stresses. You must understand that nobody comes to an art class to judge what you paint or draw because all students want to learn or develop their beginner skills more. Art class is not a show or competition. If you do not want others to see what you have painted, say so. I do sometimes wonder why somebody would want to compare unfinished project, color swaps or draft sketches? You have all rights to keep your work private. If you do not want the teacher or art instructor to correct any of your lines, colors or show brushstrokes, just say so. It is sometimes better to simply show some technique, but if it makes some person feel not right, that’s ok.

Watercolor painting class

Emotional barrier

All of the above can create an emotional barrier which prevents you from either improving your skills or getting started with the new activity. You might feel uncomfortable with new things; however, it is so much excitement once you get out of the box where you have put yourself in! There are so many options to pursue and so many ways to develop any of your abilities. Taking the first step and diving into the unknown shouldn’t stop you from trying. It is way worth it.

Quitting before you even started

Art class is no different from any other class: there are fast learners, slow learners, the ones who grasp everything immediately and these ones who always doubt whether they should be even doing this class.

If you are not giving yourself a chance to experience what the new pursuit is about, you most likely will not be satisfied with it.

The truth is that every art, drawing and painting project takes time to elaborate. It also requires practicing some certain techniques and approaches. Acrylic, for instance, is such a medium that it does not look great at early stages. It can even look like a mess and that is great because you have a good base to build the subject on. Some steps might take longer and some are quick. Details and highlights add a special flare to any art, but that comes at later stages. Quitting after the first class will prevent you from seeing what you could have achieved, and especially, after a longer time.

Rose painting workshop

Unrealistic expectations

If you know what your level at the current activity is, and most likely, you do, expect normal progress, not pure miracles. Miracles happen, but only to these who dare.

Going from zero skills to good skills will definitely take time and practice. You will enjoy faster progress if you repeat at home everything you learned at class, but this time on your own. That will indicate which are the weak aspects and you might want to find out more about them during the next class.

Any teacher or instructor may seem like a magician during a demo, but they cannot make you move your hand, make decisions and apply recommendations. You will have to focus, be attentive and observant and also courageous enough to apply what you just learned. Should you expect a masterwork from just the first lines and brushstrokes? You shouldn’t, but during the learning semester that might happen.

Teen students, watercolor painting class

Lack of commitment

Some students are surprised that drawing and painting take work, efforts, a lot of thinking, decision making and even physical strength. For instance, covering quite large canvas takes also physical effort because it needs to be done quite fast to prevent drying and blend some areas seamlessly. We have to act sometimes very fast with large watercolor washes, too.

Creating something requires our input. The drawing or painting will be exactly as you create it. There is no point in saying: “I don’t like it!” Instead, try saying: “What do I like about this and what needs to be changed or improved as I proceed?”

Learning as an ongoing process

Attending any classes takes commitment. Skipping one class might be fine, but you will need to still catch up with others because it is an ongoing process. People, who are convinced that good work pays off, always achieve more and better results. Learning is a serious process. It will require your focus and attention. It is a fantastic, pleasurable and rewarding process, but if you think that it is just play and fun, you might be disappointed. Artists, who want to achieve great results, spend many years learning and never stop doing so.

Fall painting workshop for beginners

Sign up for art classes: Group art classes

Sign up for private art classes: Private art classes

My art on Fine Art America:  

Art collections by Inese Poga

I hope seeing you in the fall semester art classes!