Step Away to Create: Managing Overwhelm as an Artist

In creativity as in life, sometimes feelings of overwhelm call for us to step away. To get fresh perspective. To see our art or circumstances through new eyes. 

The online Collins Dictionary defines overwhelm: 

“If something is overwhelming, it affects you very strongly, and you do not know how to deal with it.”

The antidote: 

“The task won’t feel so overwhelming if you break it down into small, easy-to-accomplish steps.”

10 Learnings That Changed How I Think About Emotions by Brene Brown quotes Jon Kata-Zinn’s Mindfulness research findings to describe overwhelm:

The feeling “our lives are somehow unfolding faster than the human nervous system and psyche are able to manage well.” 

The antidote is “non-doing time.” 

For the artist, it is important to step away and take some “non-doing time.” Whatever rests your brain and settles your emotions.

Take a walk.Listen to music that relaxes you. Rest with your eyes by closing them.Enjoy your garden, soaking in the sunshine.

It is also crucial to “break the project down into small, easy-to-achieve steps.”

To do this, we focus on improving the skills we need to move ahead:

Watch YouTube instructional videos. Take an art class to get expert advice from an accomplished artist.

It’s also helpful to join online groups that support people with similar creative passions.

Join an Artists for Joy Creative Cluster with Merideth Hite Estevez. Join a writers’ community like YPM, Your Platform Matters, and get expert coaching with Ann Kroeker.

These are all positive steps I’ve taken. They improve my art, writing, and platform-building skills. These skills will help me self-publish my next manuscript some day.

My recent painting project, “Imagine,” comes to mind when I think about overwhelm for the artistic. Taking process videos helps me to look at the painting with fresh eyes:

As I watch the videos, I see areas I need to improve.

I painted “Imagine” up to a certain point until overwhelm froze my brush in midair.

I knew I needed to step away to get fresh perspective.

The day after posting a new photo on Facebook, I noticed her dress was too high on one side. “I’ll have to adjust that,” I muttered.

I’m moving into uncharted territory having never painted a horse. Just the thought of it envelopes me in overwhelm.

Time to step away again. Look at up-close images of horses’ faces. I will also watch a few YouTube videos to learn techniques before going further.. 

“A journey begins with one step.”

An art project continues with “…small, easy to accomplish steps.”

A book begins with writing but progresses with coaching support.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed as an artist, writer, or any other creative, remember it’s okay to step away. Seek help if needed and then try again.

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