Blocked Again? Your Art Space Might Be Working Against You

I feel stuck with my thoughts.

If you are experiencing something like this, you are not alone! Welcome to the world of creators, where an art block is a shared experience and a mess that can leave you feeling lost, discouraged, and frustrated.

If you’ve lately been wondering how to get rid of art block, this blog brings you ample ideas of what you need to do and how you can eliminate your mental rut with just a simple but effective solution – decluttering your art space. So, without much further ado, let’s dive in…

What is an Art Block?

Creative block, seemingly the enemy of artistic expression, is a state of mental clutter that stops the flow of new and fresh ideas to the brain. A shared problem, even legendary artists have encountered this phenomenon in their lifetimes. Inspiration seems a far cry, and thinking only locks the mind in a tangled state of mental rut.

Stress keeps piling on, and you spend hours staring at the blank canvas, with your brain refusing to respond. Your precious time is lost, you feel jaded, and you start questioning your talent and skills. If these are your symptoms, no doubt you are experiencing an art block.

Your Creative Block is Growth in Disguise

Your creative block is a sign of growth, not of failure. How? It is like a milestone that each creator will traverse in their lifetime, and not a dead end like many might think. In other words, a career is never linear and always full of ups and downs.

So, rather than feeling stressed out, an art block can be transmuted into motivation or opportunities for growth. You may call “creative blocks” a temporary loss of ideas, with your brain requesting to take things slow or perhaps take some time off.

When overthinking or self-doubt jams your brain, it's time to step away and take a quick break. Pause and reflect on what is adding to your mental clutter, and if you have overlooked your art space for a long time, it's time to reconsider, revisit, and upgrade your personal space.

How Decluttering Your Art Space Reduces Stress and Boosts Creativity?

Your art space is your sacred corner that needs to be inviting enough for you to work consistently on your projects. Picture living in a messy space and then follow up with its tidy version. What difference do these make? A lot, right? If your imagination can make you feel uncomfortable, no wonder that in real life it would make you feel disoriented.

Scientific evidence also points out that a cluttered space can make a person feel depressed and fatigued, with a spike in cortisol (stress hormone) levels. The same rule applies to an overwhelming art space that adds to your cognitive overload, spiraling down your working memory, attention span, and productivity. Art therapy heals, but unless you keep your workspace spick and span, it can turn into an overwhelming experience!

Decluttering Your Art Space: How to Organize to Energize?

To counter mental obstacles, you need clarity of thought for seamless manifestation of artistic creativity. Get rid of excessive thinking or cognitive overload by ushering a change in your immediate environment or your art space. Here’s how to get rid of an art block by organizing and decluttering your space:

Keep the Space Tidy

Organizing means keeping things where they belong and not stacking, piling, or overloading your space. Freeing your desk from clutter is not about shifting the mess to some other place just for the sake of “looking neat.”

If you’ve ignored the cobwebs or the dust, it's time to pay attention and get rid of them sooner. Avoid scattering your desk with plenty of art supplies by putting away tools that are not in use for the moment.

Consider donating or removing the items you no longer need or can make use of. You can have a designated spot for your favorite items for easy access. Decluttering will inevitably trash your “creative block” and invite fresh ideas.

Sticky Notes for Productivity

Organizing the space is not only about cleanliness, but also ensuring that your art space has the right materials or supplies for productivity.

These elements are like bonuses ready to amplify your experience and your creative pursuits. Sticky notes with empowering and uplifting messages are like an extra boost to your energy levels and productivity.

Potted Plants

Artistic creativity knocks at your door when you are calm and relaxed, and the best way to upgrade your art room is to bring potted plants. Not just aesthetically pleasing, these plants are like a Zen experience that adds joy and beauty to your lives.

As per studies, house plants play a big role in improving focus, productivity (up to 15%), and lowering stress. You can go for the ones that are low maintenance and are perfect for indoors.  If you are feeling blocked and your canvas is blank, why deny your pots some color? Paint them as you like, and your artistic creativity will sneak in soon.

Light Candles

Lighting scented candles can trigger your creativity and inspire you with emotions. You may consider choosing from a variety that suits your mood and energy.

Creators who are already familiar with the magic of scented candles in boosting artistic creativity prefer making these a part of their workspace. However, ensure that the candles are not kept near flammable art supplies or left unattended.

Put Your Past Artwork on Display

Ensure that your art room has a dedicated space for your past creative work so that it reminds you of your best abilities and potential for greatness.

You can even consider framing your artworks and hanging them on the wall to feel motivated when imposter syndrome kicks in. Self-appreciation is underrated, but it can keep you going, especially when an art block is ruining your day.

Paint walls

Organizing your art space also means going for the wall paint that matches your vibe. You can also paint your wall with patterns, murals, graffiti, or anything that inspires you. However, do not make it too loud or noisy, and let your walls breathe. Personalizing your art room wall is like a DIY project that you will have fun painting.

Feel Comfortable

Ergonomic chairs can be a great addition to your workspace and amplify your feelings of comfort with their personalized options. Traditional chairs can leave us with a hunched back, making these ergonomic chairs highly preferable, adaptable, and immune to discomfort. It's like a catalyst that not only keeps you focused but also boosts your creative power.

Reorganize

No matter how many times you declutter your space, it always ends up messy. This happens as you are not paying attention to your space. Change starts with awareness, and so by staying conscious of your immediate atmosphere, you are inviting change, a positive one.

When you paint your wall, invest in an ergonomic chair or buy potted plants; your space will always be incomplete until you manually enhance it and keep it spotless. So, learning to manage clutter with organization and reorganization is the key to enhancing and maintaining your creative power.

Bottom Line

An art block is growth in disguise, and when it kicks in, it's time to move away from activity and allow yourself some rest. Often, we fail to realize what can help us in finding inspiration, and the answer is just before us – our art space.

Decluttering your art space isn’t demanding, and with a little investment, you can upgrade your personal space to reflect your best choices. Overall, staying conscious of the clutter and its proper management will snip away the creative block and invite fresh ideas to your blank canvas!