Tips for Getting Out of a Long Stretch of Artists Block

Struggling with Artist’s Block? Explore proven methods to overcome creative obstacles and reignite your passion for art. Start creating with confidence again.

BY EMMA RADEBAUGH, ARTCENTRON

How to Overcome Artist’s Block and Get More Creative

Feeling stuck in your creative process doesn’t make you any less of an artist. Everyone experiences it—that maddening lack of inspiration that makes creating feel impossible. Getting out of a long stretch of artist’s block can feel impossible, but the good news is it’s only a temporary phase. With a few thoughtful strategies, you can ease back into your artistic flow and find joy in your work again.

Use these five tips to push through and get back to creating.

Shift Your Focus to Something New

Sometimes, the best way to spark creativity is to step away from your usual medium and try something completely different. If you’re a painter, why not experiment with digital art or sculpting? Writers can dabble in photography, and musicians might find joy in sketching. Diving into a new form of art can release the pressure you might be putting on yourself to perform your best within your usual craft. The change in perspective may even lead you back to your original work with a fresh outlook.

Play Without Expectations

When was the last time you created just for fun—no deadlines, no pressure? Give yourself permission to create something you don’t plan to show anyone or even finish. Scribble in your sketchbook, mix random colors on a canvas, or play with sounds on a new instrument. Creativity often thrives when freed from the weight of expectation. Sometimes, the freedom to “mess up” without judgment is exactly what’s needed to get those creative juices flowing.

Refresh Your Creative Environment

Where you work has a huge impact on your mindset. The space you create art in can give you the motivation to dive into a project, but it can also take away that creative fervor. Make sure that your environment still contributes to your creativity, whether that means tidying up to give yourself space to think or changing the décor to add inspiration. Even using certain scents in your space can give you a creativity boost.

Look around your workspace. Does it feel inviting? Small adjustments like adding plants, a new lamp, or hanging fresh artwork can reinvigorate your creativity.

Reconnect With What Inspires You

Go back to what made you fall in love with creating in the first place. Watch a documentary about an artist you admire, listen to a playlist that gets you energized, or revisit your favorite artworks, books, or movies. This isn’t about copying someone else—it’s about reigniting your passion and remembering why you create. Take a walk in nature or visit a new place for even more inspiration. Exposure to beauty and new experiences can awaken an urge to create again.

Set Tiny, Achievable Goals

When you’re stuck in a rut, setting the bar too high can make it feel impossible to take action. Instead, ease yourself back by setting small, manageable goals. Think 10 minutes of sketching, one small poem, or practicing a single chord progression. These little victories build momentum and boost confidence, reminding you that progress doesn’t always have to be big. Over time, those smaller steps build up into something much more significant.

Breaking Through the Block

Getting out of a long stretch of artist’s block takes patience and self-compassion. It won’t disappear in a day, but each small step forward gets you closer to finding your groove again. Creativity isn’t linear, and experiencing a lull doesn’t mean you’ve lost your talent or love for art.

Remember to shake things up, give yourself kindness, and reconnect with what makes you passionate. Soon enough, you’ll be back to turning that blank canvas or page into something you’re proud of.