Creative crisis
Pressed by some family and other obligations, currently, I'm forced to put my creative work on hold for a little while. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as I don't have much motivation or inspiration right now. As a person whose work isn't primarily driven by strict deadlines, such a period shouldn't concern me much. Yet, I like having a feeling of actively working on something. If nothing else, by learning some new skills or finishing what I started.
As I wrote before, postponing things and idleness from time to time are part of the game. Many well-known artists had plenty of such periods, even lasting for years in some cases. In other words, sometimes you need to get lost to find the right way again. After all, this is one of the basic principles of art. Of course, today's "hotshots" who managed to turn their creative work into a successful business, would sarcastically laugh at this with the following remark: "Deadlines are all the inspiration you need." And what about "You can't rush art?" I often wonder if is there any place for such thinking anymore.
I have to admit to being stuck in my comfort zone for quite some time now. Over the past few years, I have grown to like certain styles, instruments, and working methods, so I always return to them. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, but it is always desirable to try to stay fresh by discovering some new things. Not so much for your potential audience, but for yourself. This may sound selfish and self-indulgent, but artists create art for their sake first, driven by their inner needs.
From my own experience, I can say that the Internet is a big obstacle in such creative crises. You try to "force yourself" to be creative but it just isn't working… And then you reach out for the Internet while losing plenty of time and energy. Especially if you start reading about the success of other people like you. This is probably the worst thing you can do online. While some people are inspired by the success stories of others, I feel this is generally bad for one's self-confidence. We don't all have equal opportunities, means, people around us, or simply luck.
The time of creative crisis is always good for reflection, recharging your batteries, and doing inventory. Here I think about various recorded ideas and started projects that you amassed over time. For us who use technology in our creative work, this is also a good time for getting rid of the ballast, especially regarding software. I have significantly slowed down in buying new titles, not only for financial reasons and having too many choices on hand, but also for the availability of free yet quality resources. This fact alone can sometimes stimulate creativity.
Regardless of how much you have created and learned so far, you can always find and discover something new. This is the beauty of things. Unfortunately, sometimes it is very difficult to break away from feeling down and keep choosing the path with less resistance. You should never forget your roots and all the good things while trying to suppress those not so great at the same time. While I certainly feel more bad than good in such periods, one shouldn't despair. After every rain, the sun is awaiting.