Creative Block. Get Unstuck, Discover New Ideas. Advice & Projects from 50 Successful Artists

289 Pages·2014·97.6 MB·English

by  Danielle Krysa

GET UNSTUCK
C R E AT I V E
B L O C K
DISCOVER NEW IDEAS
Advice and Projects from 50 Successful Artists
Danielle Krysa
CHRONICLE BOOKS
SAN FRANCISCO
This book would not have been possible
without the fifty amazing artists who
generously shared their own insecurities,
inspirations, and advice. I am truly grate-
ful to each one of them. There is also no
way this book would have happened if it
weren’t for the very loving, patient, and
supportive men in my life: my husband,
Greg, and my little boy, Charlie. Love you!
Text copyright © 2014 by Danielle Krysa.
Artworks and photographs copyright © by the
individual artists, unless otherwise noted.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced in any form without written
permission from the publisher.
ISBN 978-1-4521-3002-6

Library of Congress has previously cataloged
this title under ISBN: 978-1-4521-1888-8
Designed by Dinah Fried.

Chronicle Books, LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107

www.chroniclebooks.com
To every creative person that has ever felt blocked. So . . . to all of us!
contents introduction rachel denny
08 60
arian behzadi ashley percival
12 66
jessica bell deidre but-husaim
18 70
aris moore trey speegle
22 74
cassandra smith kristi malakoff
28 80

adam wallacavage sidney pink
32 86
mary kate mcdevitt emily barletta
36 92
lisa golightly jen gotch
42 98
anthony zinonos chloé fleury
48 104
matthias heiderich amanda happé
54 108
justin richel
114
rachel denny ruan hoffmann wendy walgate jenny hart
60 120 176 236
ashley percival leah giberson martha rich ashley goldberg
66 126 182 240
deidre but-husaim amy friend laura mckellar shannon rankin
70 132 188 244
trey speegle hollie chastain lisa congdon wayne white
74 138 192 250
kristi malakoff julia rothman stephanie vovas julia pott
80 144 198 256
sidney pink jesse draxler dolan geiman jen altman
86 150 204 262
emily barletta peregrine honig mel robson alyson fox
92 156 210 268
jen gotch kelly lynn jones camilla engman amanda smith
98 160 214 274
chloé fleury ben skinner fiona ackerman holly farrell
104 164 220 280
amanda happé kate pugsley kate bingaman-burt index
108 170 226 286
justin richel jennifer davis
114 232

introduction Have you ever heard that people who study psychology are often trying to work through
issues of their own? Yes, well, perhaps that’s why I decided to write a book about creative
blocks!
All of this began a few years ago, shortly before I wrote the very first post on my art
blog, The Jealous Curator. I am an artist myself, with a bachelor of fine arts in painting
and printmaking, and a minor in art history. As much as I loved making art, I had a really
difficult time in art school—I just did not fit in. After I graduated, I decided to study graphic
design, which was a much better fit for me. I went on to have a very successful career as
a designer, and then as a creative director. I was totally immersed in my design work, but
never stopped loving and making fine art. I did it quietly and alone in my home studio, but
rarely showed anyone what I was creating. As a designer, I was full of confidence, but as
an artist—well, not so much. I spent a lot of time looking at other artists’ work. Whenever
I found something I truly loved, first I would feel a rush of cheek-flushing inspiration—the
kind that made me want to run out and buy ten new canvases so that I could become the
next great artist of my time. But only moments afterward, I’d feel a wave of soul-crushing
jealousy—the kind that made me think, “Who am I kidding? I could never make something
like that.” Negative and destructive? Yes.
Luckily, at that same moment, someone very close to me gave me a bit of advice. He
said, “Jealousy that is kept inside becomes toxic, and it will eat you alive. But if you say it out
loud, you can turn it into something positive: admiration. You need to do this.” And so I did. I
launched The Jealous Curator in February of 2009, and haven’t looked back. I write a daily
post about an artist whose work “makes me jealous,” but in a good way. Now when I find
an artist that I love, I don’t feel that awful, jealous ache. I feel inspired, ready to get into the
studio, and happy to have tomorrow’s post! I have learned that there is a place for everyone
to make whatever it is they want to make.
What matters is that you enjoy the process of making. There is pure joy in that. Remem-
ber when you were little, and you just made stuff because you had a fresh box of crayons, or
some colorful thread, or a feather that you found on your way home from school—you knew
you had to make something! Anything! Those were the glorious days before the pressure of
trying to sell, or trying to get a rep, or wanting a show in a gallery. That’s what all of us have
to reconnect with—the joy. I’m getting better at this, but I won’t lie: There are still plenty of
days when I am blocked. Totally and completely blocked.
Creative Block is for me and for you—for everyone who’s ever felt blocked. I wanted to
make something beautiful—a contemporary art book filled not only with stunning images,
but also inspiring words, advice, and tips to help amateurs and professionals alike find their
way through those days when the ideas just won’t come. I wrote this book to show you
that if you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone. I’ve written hundreds and hundreds of posts
about successful working artists who seem to have this whole “creative thing” figured out.
But surely they have blocks from time to time! How do they get through them? Where do
they find fresh inspiration? How do they handle negative feedback? Does it stop them in
their tracks? These full-time artists don’t have the luxury of not finishing or giving up on a
project—not when they’ve got a gallery or art buyer waiting for them! So how do they push
9
themselves through those moments when the ideas just
aren’t there? Or when the ideas are there, but their hands or
materials will not cooperate?
So I asked, and fifty incredibly talented artists from
around the world—working in all different mediums—have
thoughtfully, honestly, and often quite wittily, answered. I
asked all of them very similar questions, and here’s why:
I had originally planned on individual interviews for each
artist, but then I realized that I wanted to know if someone
with an MFA would answer the same way that a self-taught
artist might. Do painters have the same kinds of blocks as
photographers? Would an artist from New York have a dif-
ferent place to find inspiration than someone from a small
town in Australia? Does someone who is well known inter-
nationally hear their inner critic just as loudly as someone
who is still getting established?
Some of their answers made me sad, some struck me as
funny, and all of them made me want to get into the studio
and start making art immediately. I hope their words have
the same effect on you.
But where to start? No problem—I asked them that too!
On top of getting insights into their creative minds, each
artist has come up with a creative unblock project meant to
push us out of our comfort zone and, most importantly, get
us moving forward. There are thirty-day challenges, nature
walks, and trips to the thrift shop. There are assignments
to make you draw or collage or hand-letter your favorite
quotes. There. Now none of us have an excuse not to start.
I hope you enjoy reading the advice and thoughts shared
by these amazing artists as much as I enjoyed gathering
them. And good luck with the challenges—I’m going to do all
of them too! See you on the other side.
danielle, a.k.a. the jealous curator
* ART NOTE: The three pieces shown here are mine. They are all from a series
titled, “Alleglory: Stories from the Glory Days.” The thought of showing you my
work makes me feel vulnerable, and frankly, a tiny bit sick. But, if I’m going to
make you take that big leap off of the creative high dive, then I suppose it’s only
fair that I jump, too. There. Now we’re in this together.
10 CREATIVE BLOCK
INTRODUCTION 11