How to Overcome artistic blocks -The Journey Behind My Art: From Inspiration to Creation
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Estimated reading time 3-3.5 min
Hello there!!!! My name is Marlena a visual artist from a multicultural background, but now firmly established in the UK.
Art has been my passion since I was a child, and though I’m mainly self-taught, my journey has been filled with exploration and growth. I work primarily with oil, but I also enjoy using acrylics and drawing with pencils. My style tends to lean towards realism, but I love experimenting with abstraction and mixed media.
Through this blog, I aim to share insights into my creative process, the challenges and rewards of being an artist, and tips for aspiring artists. Let’s go and let's grow together!
Finding Inspiration
Inspiration for my artworks comes from the beauty I find in my surroundings. I love observing the world around me and drawing from everyday life, whether it's the joy on a child's face, the grace of an animal, or the serenity of still life.
One recent instance of finding inspiration was when I was walking with my 4 year old son, and he started jumping in muddy puddles. His contagious joy moved me deeply so I decided to capture that emotion in a painting. Seeing him so ecstatic reminded me of the simple pleasures in life, and I wanted to pass that feeling on through my art.
And you guys how do you find inspirations for your artworks ?
The Creative Process
Once I have a concept and am inspired, I then find various sources to develop it further. I create either a sketch or a digital project to use as a reference and visualise the piece. From there, I begin with a drawing. To speed up the lengthy oil painting process, I start with an acrylic base—a trick I recently learned and one that has proven beneficial.
I typically use artist-grade oils and spirits without incorporating other mediums, but I have recently been experimenting with Galcyd Lite. While I don’t employ any particularly unique techniques, my recent practice of using acrylics before oils has significantly streamlined my workflow.
Challenges
Like many artists, I face numerous challenges...(you're not alone !)
- Dealing with the loneliness of working as an artist, which often involves solitary effort.
- Balancing the creative process with maintaining an active online presence crucial for sustaining my livelihood.
- Managing the demands of a busy life as a mother, while pursuing my artistic career.
- Confronting insecurities and overcoming the fear of failure, especially at the beginning of new projects.
However, I've learned to navigate these obstacles with techniques that I will be sharing with you. I'm still on my journey of learning and growth because we never stop learning but there are few twicks that helped me along the way. And of course the rewards connecting with others through my artwork outweighs all the challenges .
First trick I learned :
1) How to Overcome Artistic Blocks
Artistic blocks can be a daunting challenge for any artist, but there are effective strategies to navigate through it
The First step is to :
Acknowledge and Embrace the Challenge: Recognise it and instead of avoiding it, ACCEPT IT and move on. A famous quote recites..."If you resist it will persist "I know that moving on is easier said than done but If you wait until it's over, you may find yourself waiting a very long time .In order to change something, we simply need to CHANGE. Also for every action, there is a reaction, so start painting as soon as you can—even if it's something very small. In fact, baby steps are even a better approach. We don't want you to get paralyzed again. And ,(as one of my favourite authors says) "Kill the monster till it's small" This is a funny saying but also a very true one ... coz the longer you wait the bigger the monster.. and do you know what will happen at that point ? You won't even bother trying. This is a profound concept because it emphasises the importance of addressing challenges early on, before they become overwhelming ,but is also a very good strategy to move on .
( Part 2 ....COMING SOON )
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my artistic journey. Stay tuned for more insights, tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at my creative process. You can view and purchase my art on my website https://marlenasartgallery.com. Follow me on social media for updates and exclusive content.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Feel free to share this post and leave your comments or questions below. What would you like to hear about in future blog posts?
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