The creative process is so strangely fluid. I really don’t understand it but I know that it is quite magical, how one thing leads to the next and it ebbs and flows. I certainly experienced that when I entered Emelia’s Necessary Creatives class in 2017. That along with reading the Artist's Way and listening to my intuition to travel to El Salvador and France led to the creation of 735 Flora Vista, a facial essence celebrating and bringing water to homes in El Salvador. I mean, isn’t that a little bit of unexplained magic? You can read part one of that process here if you want to learn more.
So, I say this now because all winter (actually since I released the essence in September) I’ve been in a bit of a creative slump. I’ve been frustrated that ideas aren’t flowing, I’m not producing much visually, and haven't been sharing new work. It feels super frustrating. I really thrive on being in the flow, creating, being busy. I get more done when there is a lot to do. It's a momentum that fuels me to create more.
So this slump has been frustrating. Awkward. I have too much down time. But, every single day, I write. And that is an exploring that has led to small actions, that with a LOT of patience, has led me out of the slump.
Small action number one: Joining an extension of aforementioned Necessary Creatives, a creative support group online. (I wouldn't even be writing this if someone in the group didn't challenge me to, BTW) Two: Writing every day. Three: Listening to my intuition. My intuition leads the way and I rarely know what's next. So you follow the small hints and guides and little things start to happen. There's a shift.
And, slowly, you start to work things out. I don't know what they mean yet. But there are glimpses of ideas. Who knows if this sunflower I drew for a client's drink menu sign inspired a whole children's story? It just may have, as a week after I drew it for a client, I was writing, and a story worked it's way out of me onto the page.
Or maybe it was a gesture. Over 20 years ago, when Mr. Drake and I were dating, he brought me a sunflower when I was sick. So they represent a nurturing sort of love to me, which is reflected in the story.
Or maybe it was the field of sunflowers I came across on my drive from Provence to Grasse that dropped my jaw in the trip that contributed to the essence creation. There really is no way to know.
It's so true for me (and maybe many of you) that you never know what small thing will lead to a new idea.
So, if you are feeling stuck or unsure of what to do next, maybe these small little actions and my SIX MONTH SLUMP give you a bit of comfort. Or maybe you are a creative wiz, churning out things all year long. Please tell me your secrets if so. But if not, it's okay. You'll work it out. Probably, you already are, with small gestures that you don't even know are leading to something magical.
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