Artist Block - Creative Block - Creative Depression

Do you ever stumble into a period of non-productivity - These books have been recommended by a variety of artists - I cannot admit to reading any or all of them - but my intentions are good (grin)...

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"The Van Gogh Blues- The Creative Person's Path Through Depression" by Eric Maisel

In his book, Maisel states "virtually 100 percent of creative people will suffer from episodes of depression. Why virtually 100 percent? Because every creative person came out of the womb ready to interrogate life and determine for herself what life would mean, could mean, and should mean. Her gift or curse was that she was born ready to stubbornly doubt received wisdom and disbelieve that anyone but she was entitled to provide answers to her own meaning questions."

Maisel provides a four step plan for engaging this type of depression and moving past it. The first point - depression in a creative person is often a meaning issue. Questions to ask yourself:

How can I force life to have meaning?
How can I make life feel meaningful to me?
How can I justify my life?
What is at the center of a creed I might live by?
What is my truth?

As you go through this self reflection, you will notice that answers separate themselves into three categories:
What is means to live a meaningful life
What is means to engage in meaningful work
What it means to spend time in a meaningful way

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"The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron

This book will give you the courage and permission to live fearlessly, to take chances, and to discover what you truly want to do with your art work. It is a course in discovering and recovering your creative self.

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"The Blank Canvas - Inviting the Muse" by Anna Held Audette

At various times throughout this century, there have been artists who denied their cultural heritage as a source for their images...

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Quilting Arts Magazine, summer 2006
Article pg 62 on overcoming a creative block

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