Staying Creative During Distracting Times

This is my favorite time of year. I love seeing friends, having family visit, preparing festive meals - except for one thing.  This is also the time of the year when I feel the most distracted from my creative work.

I've tried to carve out studio time - but that hasn't worked.  Trying to ignore my withdrawal symptoms  makes them worse.  I want to be relaxed, to enjoy the days without the nagging worry that I'm supposed be doing something else.

This season I've decided on a different approach.  I've set my intention to use this time to step away from what I normally do creatively and learn something new.  I've been researching methods of paper making, and find myself fascinated by handmade books as sculpture and ephemeral art objects.  I've spent peaceful and creative moments gathering leaves and twigs from my yard and evenings curled up with books such as Bookcraft by Heather Weston. I'm learning about end papers, binders board, and reading paper making recipes. I'm discovering new inspiration - and because I can fit this activity around family gatherings and busy times I'm not worried that I'm missing out on something important - be it family or creatively oriented.

Discovering this coping method has been a priceless gift.  When I find myself unable to create during distracting times it can affect my ability to enjoy the important aspects of life outside my creative space. 

But finding a way that allows me to both enjoy the distractions while filling me with a new enthusiasm for when I can get back to the studio is empowering. It allows me to be present in the moment. 

Nobody knows better than you do where your soft underbelly of insecurity resides.  For me it's the fear that if I don't keep running faster and faster I'll slip to the back of the pack.  But at some point, I realized that my fear of missing out on the true important aspects of life was greater than my fear of failing, of changing...I wonder if the caterpillar feels that same conflict when he starts to spin his chrysalis.

Comments

[Katana Barnett]

Oh, I've been looking at making paper because of how busy it is right about now. I just wrote a blog post about it, too! do you have links to the resources you're using, or are they solely books?

Hang in there! Love to see pictures of the paper you come out with.

[Daniel Sroka]

I think that's a very good plan. My winter months are chock-fill of busy work: reworking my website, business plans, etc, and I also get easily distracted from making art. Maybe I should break out that encaustic set that I purchased oh-so-long ago but never got around to using, and start to play?

[Marianne Post]

Sue: Thanks for the reminder to be creative without the pressure of creating art targeted for market. I know sometimes when I get into a period where nothing seems to gel its a sign to regroup and explore. I am known as one who never slows down in fear that if I let up the pace I might just stop dead in my tracks. Its refreshing to hear I am not alone.