The life of a designer is one I wouldn't trade for anything. It allows me to try new things, be creative every day, and do what I love to do. Sometimes though, no matter how hard you try, the artistic juices get clogged somewhere along the way to your brain.
The truth is, it's hard to be creative all the time. Sometimes you just want to push everything aside, wish away the constant train of thought, and do absolutely nothing.
I have "off" days, and that's okay. They tell me that I'm trying to do too much at once and that if I just chill out for a while, that creativity will come flowing back. Everybody has "off" days. Sometimes there is simply no time or will to dedicate an entire afternoon to using your reserve tank of originality fuel.
I've learned that pushing through the fog just to make somebody else happy never turns out for the best. The final creation is shoddy... the opposite of how I want to portray myself. Design is an expression of yourself, regardless of if you are creating for somebody else or not. Nobody can rush you into completing something if your heart is not in it because even though they might think it's finished, you will always feel like it's incomplete.
I don't know the point of this blog post... I just had to let my thoughts out today.
ahaha.. love the conclusion. We all feel not creactive or no on our full potential on something we do constatly
ReplyDeleteI'm always happiest with a finished product--something I know I put my entire heart into. It's not worth chugging away on a project if you don't feel inspired or determined anymore. As you said--it won't be your best work. Why would you want that to represent you? That said, what do you do on your "off" days? Do you just take a step back and find other creative things to do? Or just relax with, say, some Zelda? :)
ReplyDeleteOn my off days, I usually do still try to get work done, but small things. I am constantly up and out of my chair and it annoys me to no end! I find that working on projects for myself brings me back into focus. Like working on new cards designs and things like that. When it's for myself, there is no pressure or people to please, so I think that helps.
DeleteI'm glad you decided to share! This is reassuring to me since I too have found that trying to force creativity instead of just taking a break usually turns out badly.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on this one. I work with creative people and I've noticed that they do have off days! But we all have off days even on things we love doing :)
ReplyDeletexo,
janmloves.blogspot.com
I'm having a giveaway on my blog if you're interested :)
I love this! I went from being a full time nursing student to now crafter, designer, etc. For me, being away from the creative thought process made me want it more which is why I left nursing to full-fill my little dreams of being a stay at home mom, wife, and creative surg. :) If I take myself away from the thinking process of new ideas for a while, I feel refreshed and recharged to tackle projects whole heartedly. Thanks for sharing because truth is, we do need breaks and rest from all of the creative thoughts!
ReplyDelete-Kayla
Ah, yes. Sometimes I try to stay up too late to get blog posts written or pictures edited, etc, or sometimes I try to write when I'm just not inspired at. all. And the result is almost always crap. That's when you know you need a break to refresh! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're always amazing, Dana!
cute little corner in the blogoshpere!
ReplyDeletei think that's how i feel about sewing. ppl ask me to sew them things, and it's more like, they are pushing me to do it and i don't feel confident enough and at the end, it's YOUR work and YOUR name puts to it... so, i understand you right there. sometimes, i want to create, but my mind just is not creative enough anymore... =(
thanks for stopping by! :)
ah, such truth, its hard to learn that 'off' days are totally ok..actually a lesson i'm still learning :p
ReplyDeletegreat post! :)
I feel that way at times, there are days where I know I HAVE to work, but I am just burnt out and I find those days I need to just take a break. It seems to work for me..stepping away some leads to new creative ideas for me!
ReplyDeleteI've been feeling this all month - my brain just doesn't want to be creative right now, but my schedule says it has no choice. I've got a post coming next week on how I'm cutting back on the number of clients I book to give myself a break for the last bit of this year.
ReplyDeleteSarah // SillyGrrl.com
I get that feeling too. The feeling that something is complete but it feels incomplete to yourself. I find creativity when you're doing something. I'm one of those people who have to keep on doing things or they'll get very hyper and impatient...the only times I relax are when I'm painting, writing (and even then, my brain is still going, trying to think of ideas), and daydreaming.
ReplyDeleteSmile,
~Jenny
thank you for your visit on my blog, i'm happy to discover yours!
ReplyDeletesee you later
^.^
adorable hat dear! you look cute and pretty xx
ReplyDeleteLetters To Juliet
I can understand you perfectly. Like a 'designer' the inspiration is something that in some occasions dissapear to come back when you least expect it. What I usually do is take my time and look works of other people, but not always works... well it is the first time I visit your blog and I have to say that is really nice. xx!
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean - I have always found it difficult working for someone in a design/artistic capacity. I want to do what I want to create at my own pace... I can't make art to a schedule to someone else's vision and especially if I'm not feeling inspired.
ReplyDeleteGreat post :) xxx
ReplyDeletehttp://jeminixlife.blogspot.com
I have been considering this, also have been asked recently if i want to turn my creativity into a job that will it ruin the hobby, or enjoyment?
ReplyDeleteI think in some ways its useful for us to have so many areas of business, so that certain days can be assigned to paperwork or easier jobs and save your best days for the creativity!
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