My Art Studio is a Metaphor
My art studio is a reflection of my creative mind. Right now, it’s cluttered, messy, and disorganized. There are dying plants, dust bunnies, and piles of unfinished work waiting patiently for my return. Stray objects that don’t belong have found their way in and now linger, demanding energy and motivation I don’t currently have. The space feels like a physical manifestation of my creative block, one that makes it harder to do the very thing it’s meant for. I can feel the clutter as a physical pressure, a weight that makes it hard to breathe, let alone create.
If you read my last post from February 2025, The Life of a Depressed Artist, you know I’ve been struggling to reconnect with my art and push through a creative block. I had some breakthroughs earlier this year and was finally starting to create again, even if only in small ways. I made some changes to my mindset and process around creating, as well as some work to help find the source of my block. I even did a free mini-course for burnt-out creatives called Return to Your Art from Gauri Yardi, which I found incredibly helpful. I would highly recommend her Breaking The Cycle course as well.
Everything seemed to be going really well. I was gently easing myself back into my art, but then a sudden illness set me back. Recovery took months, and even now, “normal” still comes with chronic health challenges. It was frustrating as I was beginning to make real progress before I got sick, and now it feels like I’m starting again. I think the next step is to clear away the physical obstacles that are keeping my studio and me stuck, and return to the practices that were helping me find my way back to my art.
I’m starting small, with some gentle decluttering and cleaning, and allowing myself a few minutes to just play with creative ideas and sketches. I want to make my studio a place that supports me instead of frustrating me and holding me back. I’ve found my way out of a creative block before, and I trust I can do it yet again. What do you find helps you when you are stuck or feeling disconnected from something you love doing?
All photos in the post by Bec Bookwalter.
