The Blank Page

Are you suffering from fear of the blank page and a lack of inspiration? Have you ever heard of this phenomenon? Amylee tells us all about it!

My 12 Tips for Overcoming Blank Page Syndrome

What is the greatest anguish for all creative minds?

BLANK PAGE syndrome! We’ve all been there!

Are You Suffering from a Mental Block?

Blank page syndrome is caused by a cognitive break. In other words, a mental hiccup!

The gap between what you have in mind and what you can create in the moment is so large that it can cause a complete standstill in front of the easel or table.

This discomfort can torture us for a few minutes or even several days.

The temptation is then to abandon the creation completely, to think that we will never succeed, and that fate is against us. We are useless, without talent and we feel guilty for being there. You know that kind of moment when our little inner voice takes over? (and this old crone doesn’t mince words!)

The secret is not to be put down and to use good mental techniques.

Here are 12 methods to remember and apply in the event of a mental block.

Causes of BLANK PAGE Syndrome?

• Pressure, stress
• Mental overload
• Limitations created by judgment
• Lack of stimulation
• Routine shackles
• Personal annoyances

You have to eliminate all of these causes, so that inspiration and creativity are rekindled.

Solutions for Regaining Colours

Solutions to remember, that will help to revive a positive dynamic and regain your creative energy,

1. ELIMINATE SOURCES OF DISTRACTION or interruption. Multitasking is not a friend of the relaxed brain.
2. TAKE A BREAK. Knowing how to let go momentarily is a good way to get rid of bulky and limiting thoughts. Take a shower, walk, take the dog out, meditate, and suddenly creativity comes back!
3. SET TIME LIMITS. Some anxieties are due to an attack of acute laziness. The simple matter of having a list, an instruction, or a date written in a notebook pushes us to act.
4. REPEAT A CREATIVE RITUAL. Before getting to worth with pencils or brushes, follow a little ritual unique to your process. Gather your material and colours in one place first, clean your palette, or clear and prepare the area in the workshop. This habit permeates the neural patterns and puts the brain in good conditions of creation.
5. GIVE YOURSELF A POSITIVE VALIDATION Give yourself the sort of gift that any brain likes to receive after a goal has been reached. Highlighting or crossing off the completed missions of the day brings great joy to some. In others, the reward will be of another kind.
6. ACTIVATE. Even if you don’t feel like doing anything at the beginning. Go for it !
7. FOCUS ON EASE. Drawing this hand or this eye might be giving you a hard time. Why not start with something easy or fun: the background, the sky, the plumage of this bird?
8. PRACTICE THE MUSICAL BATH. Create and play a playlist of your memories, or from your youth for 30 minutes. A method that quickly triggers the urge to sing or dance, and relieves all brain tension.
9. RELAX WITH MEDITATION EXERCISES such as divergent thinking, mindful activities such as Hirameki, plasticine, calligraphy or Zentangle. Rather than raging in front of the canvas, relax with a different technique, in a creative journal or another activity to clear your mind.
10. BREAK OUT. Running, moving, or dancing to clear the brain. 15 intensive minutes are enough to help clear your head.
11. CONNECT TO ANOTHER BRAIN. Reading gives us the opportunity to enter the brain of another person. It can be comforting when we access other ideas and mute our own thoughts.
12. ASK FOR HELP. In a deadlock situation, do not hesitate to involve other people or to seek advice from those who can relate.

Content provided by Amylee Paris

The passion of Amylee Paris, painter, consultant and author is to share her paintings between galleries, art collectors and her community. Beyond her pictorial skills and her several ebooks available online, Amylee is also recognized as one of the most influential francophone artist-entrepreneurs. She helps beginners or professional artists to optimize their artistic activity.

You can visit her colourful portfolio or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

GREAT TO KNOW – Find all Amylee’s posts published in GreatArt online Magazine by clicking here!

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