Inspiration, Motivation, Devastation: My Journey with Creativity as an Artist

Hello there, my Creative Universe friends! 

I’m so happy you stumbled upon my blog! Before we dive right in, let me introduce myself. 

My name is Katelyn, and I am a 30-year-old artist living in Southern Arizona. I’ve been painting, drawing, and creating in some form or fashion my whole life. After years of balancing a 9-5 job with my passion for art, I finally took the leap in January 2024 to become a full-time artist. This leap is my dream realized, filled with the hope of endless inspiration and creativity no longer slaving my life away, leaving no energy to create! At least, that is what I thought. In this blog post, I’ll discuss how I have felt dealing with creativity since this journey began and what suggestions I have for riding the wave. 

Chapter 1: Inspiration

At the start, I felt unstoppable. Ideas flowed like a river, filling my phone notes with future projects to avoid losing the idea, as my mind so frequently does. The feeling of inspiration is so nice, isn’t it? That magical moment when an idea hits you like a lightning bolt, and suddenly you're Picasso with a paintbrush or Rodin with a lump of clay. But as the title of this blog hints, this euphoria didn’t last forever.

Chapter 2: Motivation

Motivation initially drove me to complete my ideas swiftly. However, I began feeling overworked as I took on more art shows and networking opportunities. The constant pressure to be creative started to drain me. Sometimes, when motivation is high, I forget to eat or sleep, and I can work for hours on end. But when it’s gone, I’m left questioning my path. What do I even think I am doing if I can’t show up every day? 

Chapter 3: Devastation 

Inevitably, devastation followed. Unhappiness with my creations, lack of energy, and procrastination set in the last months. As a self-employed artist, there’s no boss to keep me in check; it's just me and my doubts. That empty canvas staring back at you with a taunting glare can be quite the adversary. 

So now that we have addressed all the doom and gloom, what are we going to do about it? Because I cannot just sit here and wallow. Let’s talk about how I/we will survive the rollercoaster that is creativity. 

Suggestion 1: Read Coaching the Artist Within by Eric Maisel

This book is a treasure trove of advice on being your own creative coach. Maisel’s insights on developing self-discipline and consistency are invaluable. (You can purchase a copy here if you feel so inclined: https://amzn.to/4ebHTBp )

Suggestion 2: Embrace a Routine

Inspiration, motivation, and creativity are all very fickle ladies… in nice words. They come and go as they want. Setting a schedule for creative time helps foster consistency. Create rituals to invite inspiration, as Maisel suggests. Whether painting or working in a sketchbook, showing up regularly is key. 

Suggestion 3: Take Breaks (but not too long)

Overworking can lead to frustration. If a piece isn’t working, step away and return with fresh eyes. Oil painting has been teaching me that if I am constantly trying to work on an area, the work will smear together and end up a mess. This reminds me to take a breath and step away. If I am unhappy with something on my canvas, whether it be in oil, acrylic, or watercolor, it can be fixed. Take that breather, Katelyn, and you reader, and come back with fresh eyes later that day if you can. You will be amazed at what a new perspective can do. 

Suggestion 4: Laugh and Celebrate Often

When things go wrong, I can get dramatic. Has anyone seen the post for a bonfire burning all her art because she is not good anyway? Yeah, I would join that lady in a heartbeat. We could make smores and talk about our broken dreams. In reality, I am trying to remind myself to laugh it off. Humor can relieve stress and even bring something great out of the mishap. When it does go right, I remember to give myself a pat on the back. Every piece of art, every idea, every brushstroke is a step forward. Celebrate progress, no matter how small.

So, to wrap this up, I am glad you are here to join me as we embrace the journey of being an artist. A life filled with moments of what seems like sheer brilliance, crushing doubt about everything I have ever thought, and every emotion in between. I hope that you can learn with me as we grow together and embrace the muse, even if it sometimes steps on our toes, knocks us over, and then kicks us on the way down. So, let’s keep riding this rollercoaster that is creativity. I will let you know how these tips are working for me in future updates. Feel free to let me know how it goes for you!

Until next time, keep dreaming, keep laughing, and keep creating. 

-Katelyn with Creative Universe Productions