Ah! – the artist’s journey- often a path filled with exhilarating highs and challenging lows. If you’ve ever embarked on the adventure of maintaining a blog then you’re probably familiar with the exhilaration of its inception and the unexpected twists that may follow. In my case, the path meandered a bit, but as I return after a break, I’m reminded that the creative spirit is resilient. So, let’s delve into the art of rediscovering creativity after a break and find out how stepping away can enrich our artistic endeavours. This article follows the artist’s journey through breaks and bursts of creativity. It explores the challenges and rewards of stepping away from the canvas, to learn how a hiatus can help rekindle inspiration.

Rediscovering creativity after a break: The Pause That Ignites.

Imagine this: a short break to North Yorkshire, accompanied by the laughter and energy of my two young boys. As an artist, taking a step back from the canvas can be a daunting decision, yet it’s one that can unveil a spectrum of challenges and rewards. So, grab your favourite beverage, settle into your comfiest spot, and let’s embark on a journey and explore what it truly means to temporarily part ways with our creative routines.

Navigating the Lulls: Challenges of a Creative Hiatus

Picture the rhythm of a painter’s daily routine temporarily paused – that’s the challenge I faced. To be honest, it’s something that I’ve had to get used to a lot during the school holidays. The seamless flow of artistic expression disrupted by the buzz of parenting two enthusiastic youngsters. But in this case, I’m talking about a more complete break i.e. with zero painting activity. The packing of sketchbooks and art supplies was a distant dream because being fully present with my family was paramount. Yet, returning to the canvas after a hiatus- even a short one- can feel like attempting to ride a bike after years of not pedalling. The strokes do not feel as effortless, and the well of ideas may momentarily run dry.

The digital world was another realm I stepped away from. Limited internet access revealed how intertwined our lives have become with the online sphere. As the virtual noise faded, a sense of disconnect emerged. Yet, this hiatus also granted space for me to be fully immersed in the present – a rare and beautiful gift.

Unveiling the Bright Side: Benefits of a ‘None-Creative’ Retreat

Amid the challenges lay a treasure trove of benefits. I’m not saying that my break was all unicorns and rainbows. There were sibling fall-outs, moaning, arguments over who won Uno, tears from overly adventurous scrapes, allergies flaring up and the icing on the cake- my car deciding that it would only let me use two gears on the way home from Whitby! But we all survived!!! And not only that, but my break served as a portal to rejuvenation- even the not so desirable moments. Hours spent on the beach, soaking in the beauty of new landscapes, and engaging with loved ones without digital distractions. These were real experiences and often I find that creativity can be found in the most unexpected places. So it was- that these experiences refilled my well of inspiration. Ideas for new projects blossomed, and my passion for art was reignited, brighter than before.

Rediscovering the Artistic Pulse: Navigating the Return

So, how do you gracefully reenter the artistic arena? For myself, patience was the guiding star. Rather than demanding immediate excellence, I allowed myself the grace to ease back in. A journey back home, the joyful chaos of two little adventurers – they required my energy and presence. And I don’t regret one minute of my decision. If you’re a parent yourself, you’ll understand how quickly time seems to pass. Before you know it, those tiny babies have morphed out of nowhere into mini people with their own unique personalities. It really does all seem to happen in the blink of an eye.

But, practicality often nudges us to reestablish discipline swiftly. As a commissioned artist, timelines hold sway. Clear direction on ongoing projects and minimising potential distractions become key. For myself, It helped that I was partway through a commission but it’s certainly not as simple as just diving in where you left off. Music often restores my creative rhythm, above anything else, and in particular, the melodies of Jeff Buckley. There is just something about having a familiar tune playing in the background. The brain seems to remember, “ah this is the music that I paint to!”

Embrace the Unfolding: The Aftermath of a Creative Breather

A break in routine may usher in challenges, but within them lies the potential to emerge stronger and wiser. I think that this holds true for any length of break- that a creative hiatus can pave the way for newfound breakthroughs. And so, rather than seeing it as a problem, I embrace the journey, the hurdles, and the rewards that flourish from momentarily stepping away. My creative spirit stands revitalised and I really believe that it can actually be a blessing in terms of creative energy.

A Renewed Perspective on Creativity

As I return from my artistic interlude, I stand reminded that our journeys are woven with ebb and flow. Stepping away doesn’t equate to surrendering. Far from it- it’s a testament to the art of nurturing our creative essence. The canvas beckons, and I answer with a heart brimming with newfound joy and a palette primed for innovation. 🎨🌊

If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog post, then you can connect with me on the number of platforms-Facebook and Instagram-where I post my latest artworks. I also write a regular newsletter which features more behind-the-scenes content. If you’ve had any of your own revelations whilst reading the article or if you too have rediscovered your creativity after taking a break, and I’d love to hear about it in the comments💕

The post Nurturing Creativity: Embracing Breaks and Rediscovering Artistic Flow appeared first on Rebecca Findlay artist.

Hello there, welcome to Rebecca Findlay Artist blog. It’s lovely to have you here. I realised that I’ve been writing some really interesting emails to my subscribers (well, according to feedback !) but of course these only reach the people who are on my email list and I wanted to start reaching more people. This blog will not replace my subscriber email but it will be a more public space for sharing more about my art and the art of others, the stories behind the art and other blog-worthy news. And, as the title of this post suggests, ‘The Start of a New, Creative Journey’- how everything began.

I do have a tendency to over-share at times which is not always the best thing and has often landed me in some tricky situations. But I want to be real here as I’ve always been in my interactions on social media❤️

The Start of a New, Creative Journey …

This is one story that I definitely want to share- how I started on my journey of being an artist in business. So briefly, for me, it started when I separated from my husband. We’d been living as a family in Saudi Arabia with our two boys. But, as is sometimes the case things did not work out, and I made the decision to come back home to England with the boys who were very young at the time…

Opportunity

Needless to say it was a very difficult time. I had no job and no money coming in. We were just beginning to come out of lockdown- the first wave- and life felt very fragile.. My situation felt very fragile, as it probably felt for many people. But I’m lucky in that I’ve always been fortunate to see things in a positive light and -as challenging as the situation was- it did present an opportunity.

This opportunity came to me in the form of making pet commissions initially. But that wasn’t my first foray into art and into selling my Art. I have an art background and had gone to Blackburn College and then to Kingston University which I graduated from back in 2004. But, as is often the case, somewhere along the way, I lost my passion. Although I never gave up completely I got distracted with life. I was working long hours-and although it was something that I loved doing- helping individuals who have learning disabilities- it took up most of my time and energy. And more importantly, it always felt like there was something missing- I needed to be able to express myself creatively. 

Something Bigger

As mentioned, I did have an art background. I had experience of being in exhibitions- both group and solo -and experience of selling work. I knew that I had something I wanted to share, but despite that had never trusted myself fully enough to do something bigger with my art. But then- what happened during lockdown- lots of people started connecting with their creative side- either taking up old hobbies or starting something new. It was very inspiring. Seeing people talking about and making art online just triggered something inside of me. I had to start taking my art seriously again. So art really saved me in that sense as it gave me something positive to focus on.

When I focused my energy on the art good things started to happen. I started connecting with more people and exhibiting work again. I also started to see opportunities where I hadn’t seen them before and as a result of this started selling more work and getting accepted into exhibitions. After a lot of hard work and perseverance- I had started my own small business. And I’m still learning, still developing, both on the artistic side, and on the business side, but I’m now doing what I’ve always wanted to do. And no matter what happens, I know that I won’t ever lose touch again with my creative side. If you put trust in yourself, it is possible to achieve the things that you dream of and to emerge stronger, and happier❤️🦋

If you’ve enjoyed reading, The Start of a New, Creative Journey, or have your own insights to add, please let me know in the comments below and make sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss future posts. You can also connect with me on Instagram and Facebook. I’d love to hear what prompted your own revelations to embark upon a new path or perhaps what is stopping you from doing this?

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