As soon as I wrote that down, I winced a little.
I myself have been on a bit of a break in creating new products. No, it hasn’t been months but it has been weeks and I’ll admit that scares me a little. It’s not that I can’t find the motivation, more that I am having trouble focusing. This happens to me occasionally and usually I am back on track within a few days. This time, however, seems a little different. Perhaps because the kids are home on summer break (more distractions) or maybe I am just genuinely needing a break.
Either way, the pressure to create starts to creep in and it’s not doing me any favors.
The idea that an artist should feel any sort of pressure in their creative process seems ludicrous to say the least. Creativity comes from the heart and soul and it isn’t something that can be brought forth on demand. An artist has to feel inspired.
And yet…
Many artists do feel pressured at times to create their work, at least in the instances where it’s not just a hobby. If an artist wants to sell, they have to create. And if they want to continually sell, they have to keep creating. So yeah, there is sometimes that feeling of pressure to keep pumping the work out…even in times when the creative juices just aren’t flowing.
Though I do create original art, I don’t consider myself a traditional artist. I am more of a commercial artist, my background being in graphic design. The products I create are geared toward other artists as well as those who need design assets for their own professional needs. But as I mentioned above, I still feel pressure to create new products. Most of the time, I have a great creative flow. I know the product I am going to work on and get to doing that. Other times, however, I feel less motivated and focused.
There can be a variety of reasons for that. One obvious one is having other things in my life taking up my attention. That can be a pretty standard one for most. Another is being distracted by things happening in the world. If we’re being honest though, we’re always going to have things happening in our life and let’s face it…the world is always going to have problems. Of course, some situations do require us to have to step back a little, but if we want to keep creating, we are going to have to learn how to balance the normal, everyday things.
Other reasons are even less helpful in our creative process. I’ve talked before about comparing ourselves to others. That’s a downer right there; a negative mindset that is only going to put a dent in our creativity. You wonder how some creators are able to push out so much work in such little time? I can tell you how, they’re more interested in quantity, not quality. Believe it or not, there’s a consumer base for these types of creators but do you honestly want to be known as a mediocre artist? I’m not talking about all new creators on the block as many of them are learning and growing and the quality of work improves over time. That was me early on and I’m still improving. No, I am talking about the folks just in it to make a buck. Stop comparing yourself to them.
The creative process takes time. In fact, you’ll notice the top tier creators are selective in what they put forth and it will generally be weeks in between each new product they put out…but when they do, it’s a hit! Don’t compare yourself to them either. They have skills and experience that you just might not have yet…but you will. These designers are great for inspiration and important for setting the standard of high quality overall. If your goal is to be as good as them someday then watch how they do it. Trust me, though they might feel the pressure to create just like everyone else, they aren’t letting it dictate the quality of work they produce.
I have heard from some quality creators that they generally try to produce two new products a month. I know that sounds specific but when you are a seller, you do have some sort of goal you aspire to. However, they obviously have figured out a rhythm that works for them and they do their best to stick with it. I also try to create a few products each month, and though it doesn’t always work out that way – usually it does.
And yet another reason for feeling the pressure to create is that we are too immersed. Sometimes we do need to take a step back in order to feel refreshed enough to create again. I’ve made suggestions in previous blog posts but one other thing I will mention is having a hobby. Creativity is our work, so to speak, so like any person who needs a hobby to relax themselves and keep them refreshed, so do we. Maybe it’s fishing, tennis or even cooking. It could also be reading books or writing. Whatever it is for you, give yourself some time to indulge in it.
Lastly, if you’re just not feeling the motivation or focus to create, the worst thing you an do is get down on yourself. It’s only going to further hinder your creativity. Your body, mind and spirit are telling you that you need a break. So give yourself one. I do realize for many of us that may mean not making a certain sales quota. After all, you do need an income. However, it doesn’t mean completely burning yourself out which may ultimately lead you to just give up.
Listen to your heart and mind. Pay attention to your habits, both physical and mental. Keep your mind continually refreshed so you can put the work in. And again, be ok with taking a little time off. You’re an independent creator and part of the reason why is that you didn’t want someone over your shoulder working your fingers to the bone. If you had wanted that, you’d likely do something else.
You chose doing this because you wanted more freedom, more flexibility and to be your own boss.
So be a better boss and allow yourself some space to create.
Until then…
