I lost my creativity...

[emptychipbag]

I used to be the most creative person. I basically lived to draw and write stories and make comics and it would bring me bliss and happiness and balance in life and thought and everything.

It's been a few years now since I've done anything creative. When I try to be creative again I just end up feeling too tired. I've lost my patience and I can't stand to spend hours and days and weeks working on a project like I used to.

I never used to be depressed back when I was always creative. Being creative was it's own reward. I would look forward to it. I would get excited about finishing my projects and then showing them off to people I know. It was like therapy. It put my mind at ease and I would just always be so happy.

Being creative is the key to my happiness. But I always have the "big picture" on my mind and the world on my back and It makes everything seem pointless and worthless and that nothing is worth the effort.

Does anybody know what I'm talking about? It's not really a writers or artists block,....

I mean,... the last time I was creative was back in 2002 I think. I really want to go back to the way things were and live to create and be happy. I want to get this computer off of my art desk and go back to being an artist and forget about the world and the future.

Can anybody relate? How can I go back?

[Scout]

Originally Posted by emptychipbag

I want to get this computer off of my art desk and go back to being an artist and forget about the world and the future.

Can anybody relate? How can I go back?

I definitely can relate. I hate to admit this, but I am starting to think I have a real addiction: to the Internet. I actually do write for a living, copywriting for businesses, that is. And whole days go by where I am not working on a project with a deadline, but instead, I'm surfing the Internet. And then after spending hours on it, I feel physically and mentally drained and dull.

I am convinced it's really addictive. Do you think this may be happening to you, too?

[Dako]

I used to be pretty active as a cartoonist, and took night courses in portraiture. At some point I just got tired of it, and took up other creative outlets like pottery, brewing, furniture making and other stuff.
You go through life once, and while you can develop one talent into a fine art, if it stops feeding your brain a change may help.

I'm a graphic artist but sometimes would rather hang drywall.
The grass is always greener.

[emptychipbag]

Originally Posted by Scout

but instead, I'm surfing the Internet. And then after spending hours on it, I feel physically and mentally drained and dull.

I am convinced it's really addictive. Do you think this may be happening to you, too?

Nah,... I never spend more than an hour and a half on the internet a day,.. because I get bored with it quickly.

[agent]

Originally Posted by emptychipbag

I never used to be depressed back when I was always creative.

Or when you weren't depressed you were creative.

Depression has a nasty habit of taking away motivation. I've been through the same thing, lasted for about 5 (painful) years. Then I went through some changes of situation, and found my muse again.

Try getting away from some of the stresses in your life, and just doing one or two little kind things for yourself everyday - eating well, buying flowers for your room etc. It has a way of filling the well.

[JJRadical]

1)You basically answered your own question when you said you have the "big picture" in mind. Your expectations are killing your creativity. To be creative you kind of have to free yourself of judgements/criticisms. Expectations is the antithesis of creativity because being creative requires you to "create" and that my friend can be a walk into the unknown which causes much trepidation.
2)Instead of forcing yourself to work on one project for hours and weeks why not just do 5 minutes here 10 minutes there...after awhile you may find that 5 minutes has turned into 3 hours.
3)Find ways to integrate your creativity in your daily work/routine. Think metaphorically with your talents and apply it elsewhere.
4)Creativity is a stimulant to the mind and therefore a natural anti-depressant. If you are truly depressed perhaps the depression needs to be treated first.

[Scout]

Well, JJRadical...your advice just inspired me, that's for sure! Good points; thanks - very much - for sharing.

[brando]

I like Dako's take on this one. Sometimes we do develop a talnet, a passion for an art. And we hone it and enjoy it and strenghten it while we can. Sometimes we just move pass it. It no longer provides us the same pleasure it once did.

I once wrote poety quite often. Although i was noe Shakespeare, i thought my art was darn good. I no longer write poetry anymore, and i can relate to you emptychipbag, and you as well Scout.

So i guess try not to think about it too much, and if you feel you still want to persue it, try the book The Artist's Way. It is inspriational and addresses creative ways to retap that creativity.

[itsallgrand]

When my creativity is dying off, I eventually go 'f-it. I'm just gonna play'.
That's what it's all about, right?
Sometimes we make it 'work'. But it ain't!
I depend on my creativity a lot. I'd be pretty scrawed if it died off for too long.
But it cycles. Output, blah, gather up, compost, play, play play play practice, Output.
Blah. lol.

Play. I'll do silly things like garden, do crafts, paint with kids, goof off, get the juices flowing. Mix up my scenery, my schedule, try something new.

Permission to just be a kid. No product.

[Cynder]

As an artist I can relate. I go through slumps from time to time too. For me I have found ways to motivate myself. Like, right now I work at a job that I absolutely hate. I've made this work for me as an artist. Working this job has made me want to work harder at marketing myself and getting art contracts.

I find that going to big events helps me get inspired too. I always have a huge creative spurt after going to the Ozzfest and the Renaissance Faire. Maybe you should attend a comic convention.

I have also worked myself to exhaustion and taken a hiatus because of this. Like right now I am making a Tarot Deck. I took a break from my cards around January of this year because I had worked so obsessively on them that they all were starting to look simalar. My breaking point then was when I was at the computer working on a card and I couldn't remember which card I was working on.

Try exparimenting with a new medium. ONe time when I was in a creative slump I started making jewlery. ONe other time I learned to throw on a potter's wheel. If you try a new art form it might make you want to re-explore old avenues.

That's my .02...