Creative process: Are you in a period of ‘woodshedding’? | Elizabeth Alexander | Big Think

TL;DR

Artists go through phases of productivity affected by life events, health, and self-care.

Transcript

when teaching I would often send especially writing students to look at a retrospective of an artists work to look at work across an entire lifetime and to really pay attention to dates when they are going through that exhibit because I think the thing that you learn is that there are fallow periods and there are you know incredibly generative peri... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🏭 Creativity experiences phases of productivity and stagnation influenced by external factors.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Life events like parenting or health issues can impact the creative process.
• 😨 Self-care, physical health, and mental well-being are crucial for sustained creativity.
• 🥺 Dedication to craft in private (woodshedding) can lead to creative breakthroughs.
• 🤯 Balancing creativity with life responsibilities requires maintaining peace of mind and sharp decision-making skills.
• 🥺 Embracing different forms of creativity leads to continued artistic growth.
• 😨 Artists must prioritize self-care to preserve creativity as a valuable, finite resource.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do artists' life events affect their creative output?

Artists' life events like having children, health issues, or personal struggles can influence their creative phases. These experiences can lead to periods of high productivity or creative stagnation due to external or internal factors.

Q: Why is self-care important for maintaining creativity?

Self-care, including physical health, spiritual well-being, and mental clarity, is essential for artists to sustain their creativity. Being physically and mentally healthy allows creativity to flourish and improves decision-making abilities.

Q: How does the concept of "woodshedding" apply to creative work?

"Woodshedding" refers to the dedicated practice or refinement of craft in private before presenting something publicly. This process of honing skills and ideas in solitude contributes to breakthroughs and innovations in an artist's work.

Q: In what ways can artists adapt to changing responsibilities and life stages?

As artists navigate different life stages and responsibilities like parenting, caregiving, or mentoring, adapting self-care practices becomes crucial. Balancing creativity with personal and professional obligations requires maintaining peace of mind and sharp decision-making skills.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Artists experience different phases of creativity, including fallow periods and breakthroughs.

• Life events like having children or health issues can impact creative output.

• Self-care, physical health, and mental well-being are crucial for sustained creativity.