Thursday, January 15, 2009

Art Therapy

Sometimes if I'm feeling uninspired or totally stuck, I try painting with absolutely no direction in mind. It's sort of like that writing exercise where you try to keep the pen moving for a specified amount of time. I'm not that great at that exercise - I always have to stop and think at some point.

Have you ever watched a two year old paint? It's clear that the reward is in the activity itself. I can't paint with that kind of abandon, but I try...








Sometimes it sparks an idea. Sometimes it gets the creative juices flowing again. Sometimes it's just fun. Somehow, it always makes me feel better.

What do you do to get unstuck?

21 comments:

Rena Jones said...

I loved your paintings, Adrienne. I don't know how I get unstuck. I'm just stuck right now, bigtime, regarding the state of my books. I wish I could see things a little more optimistically. Soon, I hope.

sruble said...

Oh how fun. I like them all, but the third one draws me in.

I need to do this more, a lot more! I tend to angst and not get anything done. When I do just let things go (often out of frustration) everything is better. Sometimes I even get a new style or discovery out of it.

Hope you're unstuck now!

PJ Hoover said...

I love the fourth one! It's fabulous. Of course they all are.

unstuck? I find something menial to do to relax my mind.

Kelly Polark said...

All are so beautiful, colorful, and go with the flow!
When I'm stuck, I stop and try it another day.

Brenda said...

Adrienne...I love your paintings! I wish I was that talented when I got stuck...

I love the first painting...They're all great, but I really like the first one...

I like to sit on my back porch with a cup of hot cocoa and just listen and watch and smell the outdoors...That usually helps me relax enough so that I can concentrate on getting unstuck...

Kimbra Kasch said...

I love the colors. I paint too - if that's what you'd call it. It looks like a two year old's work - but I enjoy it.

One day I'll do a post :) but they aren't as pretty as your work.

Bish Denham said...

I absolutely LOVE the vibrancy of your paintings. You are not afraid to use color and light and movement. If they make me feel good (which they do) it's no wonder they make YOU feel good.

LW said...

Ohhhhh…

What wonderful colors to see on a cold winter day…
What kind of paint do you use? Is it acrylics?

All are delightful but it’s the fourth one that tells me a story…

Louise

Vodka Mom said...

i fix a martini

Adrienne said...

Rena - Must be something in the air! But I think you have great reasons to feel encouraged. Keep the faith :)

Sruble - Those new discoveries are the best! Things you'd never find when you plan too carefully...

PJ - Great idea - I have a ton of laundry to fold. I hate it, but I have to admit it's relaxing!

Kelly - Yeah, sometimes it's best to call it a day...

Brenda - Being outside is great for clearing the mind. I get some good ideas while walking the dog!

Bish - Thank you! That is always so nice to hear.

Kim - I would love to see your paintings!

Louise - They are mixed media, but mainly watercolor.

Vodka Mom - Me too! But not when I want to be productive :)

ICQB said...

I wish I knew how to get unstuck. I'm as stuck as stuck can be right now.

I think you've inspired me to get myself unstuck, though. Somehow. Maybe I'll start typing with abandon and see what turns up on the page. Maybe it'll be something like all those monkeys in a room turning out the complete works of Shakespeare!

Lily Cate said...

I'm liking the fourth one, too.
Windows. Open them all.

Honestly, I don't get stuck that often. It takes me so long to get time to myself to work, I've often been thinking about the project all day. If I do get in a funk, I usually get my self out of the house for a while, and moving. Being in a new place, or with a big group of busy people can be so inspiring.
When I can't do that, I get a little nutty!

Suzie said...

Your work is great

Suzanne Casamento said...

Great paintings. And great idea on how to get unstuck! I go for a walk. The ideas usually come while I'm moving.

Linda Summerfield said...

I eat, it actually doesn't help but I keep doing it!
Your Pal,
Linda

Anonymous said...

I love your use of color!
I've found that the best way to get unstuck is by filling my mind with new things--reading, watching, hiking, going new places.

Anonymous said...

I was going to put my two cents on how I get unstuck, but then I realized: getting stuck is a privilege. Only creative people get stuck. Furthermore, the meaning of "stuck" is a very personal definition. Without demerit to your post, Adrienne, I think the magnitude of your problems with creativity are minimal compared to the rest of us.
-E

Adrienne said...

ICQB - LOL...my daughter's trying to read Shakespeare, and she'd think it couldn't be harder to understand if it WAS turned out by monkeys!

Lily - True, it's not the same when you have to steal those moments to do what you really want...

Suzanne - Me too! Moving around really gets your brain working.

Linda - I've tried that, too...satisfying, but not too effective...maybe we should try playing with our food :)

Green Girl - Oh, switching gears is a good idea. I should learn to do that before getting frustrated with something...

E - Thanks for your nice comments - I hadn't thought of it like that! :D
Creative or not, maybe anyone can relate to feeling uninspired?

Rena Jones said...

Hi Adrienne! I nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award. I love your blog and love the creativity you share here. Check out my blog for details. :)

Unknown said...

I get unstuck by writing. It is my therapy and it never fails. I love the paintings here. It's surely creative and full of expressions. I love the way you blend with colors. Surely, those paintings were able to paint thousands of words already. :D

Adrienne said...

Thanks, Rena...I'll check it out :)

Rhaingel - I think writing is a great release, too...I just haven't quite practiced letting go in writing the way I can with paint.
Thank you for visiting and commenting!