running out of glue...

lately, i've really been struggling to work on art... i'm looking at blogs for inspiration, emailing people, sleeping, drinking coffee- and it's still been hard... i've been unable to blog about anything exciting because there really isn't much exciting going on... you guys don't want to hear about my sleep patterns, do ya?!

over the course of the week, i've been trying hard to get this project underway... i spent two days cutting out parts from thick illustration board for mimi's book (right now, i am keeping her idea secret)... i have a callous on my finger from all the intense cutting..however, today i finally got out of my inartistic funk and was able to create away with paper while isabella slept [for a whopping one hour].... diego was napping away after going to the zoo that morning with his daycare class... i was cutting the paper pieces and gluing a bit here and there... but in the middle of it all, guess what happens?? i run out of glue!!!!

i'm afraid that if i go to michael's to buy glue tonight, i will come home too worn out to work on art... but if i work on art after diego goes to bed, all i can do is cut out the pieces... and you know, that isn't much fun if you can't glue!!!! i'd think a sewing fanatic would feel the same... what's the point of cutting out all the pieces to make a doll if you have no thread to sew it together?!

so now i'm stuck like chuck... there are invitations to work on (with the paper shown above), illustrations to complete, and a paperbag book in dire need of completing...

in the meantime, i would love to know what YOU do when you get in an unartistic funk... aside from the blogs, how do you obtain inspiration and motivation [and a newfound surge of creativity] to create???

Comments

[Great Dane Addict]

I hate being in funks, but they do seem cyclical. Which is super annoying! :) I do the same as you, surf blogs and other crafty sites, or pull out some mags, and oh the coffee!

[joanne]

happens to me all the time - just take a break - look at mags pic blogs go shopping - whatever inspires you... maybe a break for just a bit will help

[Stephanie]

I think it helps if you have more than one hobby/interest. If I get stuck on a quilt, I'll pull out my beads and play around, or my rubber stamps. THen things can "cook" in my subconscious awhile, or something I do might trigger another idea.

Also, if there is a craft show nearby, or a great little gift shop, sometimes that sparks an idea. Try googling some word or phrase to find new sites. Or, check out something totally different from what you do--like jewelry making, wood carvings, or stained glass work. Sometimes another art form has elements that can be adapted to your medium.

[dani (pyglet)]

Really, let me know when you find the answer. I am seriously stuck in a never ending vortex of funk at the moment. I need all he help I can get!

...hopefully it will only be a minor funk cloud for you though and you will be back creating again in no time.

[dawn alice rogers]

i have the same issue. i have tried making lists of ideas for "stuck days". sometimes the lists help, sometimes only time away from my project helps. i am lucky i do many different things creatively so i am able to switch off to another project or medium if i get stuck. below are some things i have on my lists. hang in there and good luck!
*
go to bookstores or surf internet bookstores for art/craft books and browse.
*
read magazines (and blogs) related to types of art that i do not do.
*
go shopping
go outside
take a break
listen to books on cd (i love the harry potter series on cd)
give myself 5 minutes to do a speed project as fast as i can, even if i throw it away after.
bake something
watch a movie
make something for me or for a loved one, not my current project.
go on autopilot and make parts for future projects. like things i always need to use.

:)

[Robyn]

whatever that is for mimi's book is great! She reminds me, in a way, of Velma from Scooby Doo.

[Ali]

I also have dozens of folk art books from the sixties, from other countries, that I turn to when I need an added push of creativity.

[Diane]

I'm in one of those moods right now. Although after looking at your paperbag book, I am inspired and amazed. How did you learn to do that? Classes? Trial and Error? Books?

[Mimi K]

looks interesting! Now my advise :-)
Here is the part you will ignore- don't be too hard on yourself or have completely unrealistic expectations- you have 2 babes keeping you busy and that really is a full time job. Being exhausted kills creativity every time.
When I am in a funk, it often helps for me to clean my tools- desk, sewing machine and sort through my materials. Organize my stuff. Somehow when I look at and touch all my stuff, something usually sparks an idea. If nothing else works, I step back and do some design that has been successful in the past. In other words, not try to come up with something entirely new. By working at all, I might get some brilliant idea. Good luck and get some sleep!

[Gracie]

You know I do all the same kinds of things to give myself inspiration but really when your tired and worn out it feels like nothing works. I personally just won't focus on doing anything. Just relaxing. I sometimes read, write, watch movies whatever! Anything except be creative.
I dunno though it might just be a me thing =s
I hope things work out for you xox

[Ester]

Hi Ellia!
I read this post and burst out laughing... I've already be creating whithout glue... it's horrible!!
Well, to get inspiration I usually see craft magazines and blogs (like yours for example) and I listen lots of music (yes, music inspires me!!)... I JUST CAN'T MAKE ANYTHING WITHOUT MUSIC!!!
Just for example, right now I'm listening "Schrei" by Tokio Hotel... ahah... it's a little bit dark =P but I'm in this mood today... well... I think that I'm speaking too much!! =P
xo,
Ester

P.S. - I have a new blog link and a new e-mail too ;)

[Lisa Clarke]

Well, I guess I just accept that creativity comes in fits and starts. I'm lucky that I don't rely on income from my artwork to feed my family, so if I don't feel like creating, I just *don't*! That being said, I have really been enjoying listening to crafty podcasts lately. It gets my creative juices flowing to listen to conversations with artists I admire. A few of my favorites:

http://www.craftcast.com
http://www.craftsanity.com
http://www.craftypod.com

[Kimberly Kwan]

Just linked over here from flickr...your work is amazing...take a breather and the muse will return! :-)

[lucy]

I think it's comforting to know at the very least, you are not alone. Everyone goes through a funk at one time or another and often times, sometimes lasting a few days, or a week, or more. The good news, it doesn't last--out of no where you will find your artistic mojo again.

For me, I do alot of what others have already mentioned. Clean, organize (sometimes I will find things I forgot I had and it will inspire a new project), read magazines or blogs, keep a list of wanna dos, journal, sketch, listen to music, cook, or go on to another project tucked away from a previous day. I think what's important is to do something, anything everyday. Writer's, artists, crafters are unique in that they don't have a set schedule, so in order to stay on course, you need a routine and to do something, anything, everyday because out of the bad, the not so good ideas, sprouts the true gems (and often times the bad is really good...we are our own worse critics). In anycase, by doing something every day, the creative juices keep flowing and there are less droughts in our muses.

((awww about running out of glue, that blows!! what type of glue do you use for all of your creations, btw??)

lucy

[brenda]

I know how you feel, I get my inspiration the same way, I start looking at blogs, magazines and so on. The when all fails, I turn to prayer and start reading the word and try to be at peace until BAM! you get this feeling inside and you have to create and all the old things you thought of doing become new once again! It really is weird. But I believe all the ideas we write down and we forget about come back and then I say "oh yeah, that's it"! I hope that helps (LOL).