Removing Obstacles – Part IV
Getting Unstuck
I wrote an essay, To Flounder or Not to Flounder, in my last studio newsletter about being stuck and it being time to get unstuck and move forward.
To aid in that intention, I’m writing a series of blog posts on how I’m going about this process.
Writing
When I look back at the history of my writing, I can see my blogging really slowed down last summer when I left for Africa. I didn’t pick it up much last fall during all the family stuff I was dealing with either.
Things picked up in December as I was working on the Dream series, inspired by my trip to South Africa and at the start of my prep for my solo show in January.
And then blogging slowed down again in February and March.
There is definitely a direct coloration between activity in my studio and activity in my blog.
It seems obvious to state that if no art is happening in my studio, I have nothing to write about on my blog so things slow down. And to some extent that is true.
But not always. A few years ago, as I was getting my house on the market and buying a new home and then remodeling it, I kept up with blogging. I was inspired by my life and had plenty to say.
Reality Check
After 5 years of blogging, I know that writing about my art, my life and my process is an integral part of my creative process.
Sometimes, like tonight, I struggle with coming up with the words. Still, I’m writing.
This will probably not be one of my best posts in terms of content, structure and clarity or writing, but it will instrumental on keeping me on track and moving forward. Both in my studio and in my life.
Writing, both on my blog and in my private journals, is essential for my mental health. It helps me process events and thoughts so I can understand them and integrate them as needed.
Writing this series of posts, about how I’m getting back on track, is helping me stay focused better than if I were to just do it and not write about it.
I have to think things through, categorize them, think about what I’m learning from this process and then write about it in a, hopefully somewhat, intelligent way. It’s so very helpful in seeing what does and does not work for me.
Lesson Learned
When I don’t feel like writing (both my blog and my journal, but also facebook updates and on twitter) I can tell something is wrong.
It’s essentially an early warning sign that I need to regroup and see what’s bothering me.
I also know that if I just show up and write anyway, things almost always getting better. I process what I needed to process and I can move on.
I was going to skip the blog post tonight. After full day of work and then the evening driving kids around town (or more precisely sitting as my teenage son with a learner’s permit drove around town), I was looking for any excuse to bail on the blog post.
I’m glad I didn’t, because now I feel much better and I’m going to head off to my studio for a while before bed.
PS – Usually I would edit this post for another 15 minutes to tighten things up so I didn’t sound so rambling. Tonight I’m going for a bit of imperfection and posting the rambling, the studio sounds like more fun that a perfect blog post.
Another lesson to learn – not every piece of writing needs to be my best.
Related Posts
Removing Obstacles – Part I – Eating the Frog (Taxes)
Removing Obstacles – Part II – In the Studio
Removing Obstacles – Part III – Self Care
Removing Obstacles – Part IV – Writing About Art – this post
Removing Obstacles – Part V – Success, Failure and Fear – coming soon
Removing Obstacles – Part VI – Connections – coming soon
Removing Obstacles – Part VII – Goals – coming soon
Posted by Lisa in: Being an Artist
Tagged: being blocked, blogging, journaling, moving foward, obstacles, writing















