Feelings, Inspirations, Triggers?

I’ve got the creative juice, but no physical mojo to get it going. I know it can’t just be me. There are times when I genuinely question myself as an artist because I don’t create every day. And even though graphic design is my trade, I don’t design creatively every day either. My job requires a lot of production and layout work, but that’s not the same as creating marketing content, drawing illustrations, or the kinds of work people usually associate with art.

I’m still relatively fresh out of undergrad—two years and some months, to be exact. I’ve been doing graphic design for six years and fine art for about nine. When I think about how I used to create so much work before graduating, I realize I had fewer responsibilities and made the most of every opportunity. Now that I have a 9-to-5 and three businesses, it’s hard to find time to make art that’s just for fun. And honestly, that’s been weighing on me.

I did get inspired the other day by a YouTube video showing how to film downward angles. For some reason, that really got me going. My mind started racing with ideas—from filming techniques to projection photography. But even though I have all the equipment to do it, analysis paralysis kicked in, and I couldn’t bring myself to start. So I turned to the only things that help me through a slump: tea, R&B music, and writing.

I’ll keep you posted on how this journey goes and whether I stay on this wave. A lot of personal things have also contributed to this paralysis—stress from work, balancing my relationship, developing an unexpected heart condition, and moving into a new house with my twin sister. So yeah, it’s a lot. It feels good to get it out in words. Now I just need to get it into action.

Until next time…