How Do You Overcome Creative Block?

I haven’t made anything in a very long time. Months, I think. My jewelry biz is very much a side business, and while I would love to do this full time, I fully accept it will never replace my 8 to 5 income. My day job has always been busy and sometimes stressful, and often drained my energy and left my creativity lacking, but about 2 and a half months ago, my boss promoted and left our division. I have been handling a lot of what she used to do, and we have not hired another person. I am not complaining, I love my job and am excited to be taking on more, but it has definitely left me exhausted and unmotivated.

While I can’t really imagine sitting down and completing a jewelry project, I have been thinking about working with clay, resin, and various paints again. I bought several different types of paints and already have a fairly large collection of alcohol inks and mica powders.

I really love the alcohol ink pens on metal charms and pendants. I tried it on several bright silver toned charms and also an antique silver bezel setting. Most likely I will top the sun with resin, but I am more in the experimental phase than the finishing phase.

The acrylic fluid paint was more challenging and I am not sure I like how any of them turned out, but I will continue to try different things. It seems like most people use skins and glue glass cabochons on top. Since I am not a fluid artist, I don’t really get the skins thing, so I am going to have to do some more research. Basically, I poured the paint into the bezels and swirled it all around with a toothpick. On the heart, I came back after taking the picture and used an alcohol ink pen and brushed mica powder on top. I may or may not top these with resin, but I am letting them dry fully.

I tried out the oil markers on some air dry clay. I don’t even remember what I used to make the pattern, but I had just tossed it in my “for later” bin. It turned out okay, not thrilled, but it might look better after a glaze. I did like the ease of the ink pen. I really cannot draw or paint, and struggle with using a brush even following a pattern, but I found this technique to be easy enough for even me! I need to clean up my craft table so I can get the clay out again.

I have no idea if any of these will end up as jewelry, or if anything I make using these techniques will, but it was fun to get back in the craft room and just play. I had no intention of finishing anything, and certainly no intention of making anything to list in my shop. It truly was just a few hours of “let’s try this and see what happens.” Did it solve my creative block? In a way I think it did.

How do you overcome creative block?

As always, you can visit my shop: Home | Mielo Abelo Designs