Monsoon Season
Monsoon season is upon me and it feels as though I’m swimming in a sea of inspiration. As an artist, I experience an obvious ebb and flow in creativity. While the summer season often brings a fresh deluge of ideas and avenues to explore, the winter season always seems to be a bit drier. These spurts of creativity interjected with a dry season often mirror the relationship in nature between periods of abundant rainfall and extreme dryness. So, how do we benefit from both seasons while trying to maintain a flow of creativity in all seasons?
It’s easy to see the benefit of monsoon season. The creative inflow of ideas brings life to our souls and energizes our artistic endeavors. We’re able to do what we are born to do…create. Rainfall is essential for life but much like the parched ground, when we are coming out of a dry season we can only absorb so much. When we experience those first few drops of rain, it can be tempting to try to catch them all. We see the glimmer of potential in each tiny raindrop but the overflow of ideas can leave us in a state of paralysis. Instead of chasing down every little drop, try one of these ideas:
Allow yourself to experience the downpour of ideas without striving to find the “one.” Let your imagination be refreshed and your soul be revitalized as you encounter a new outpouring of ideas.
As an influx of new ideas flows into your mind, grab a notebook and start an inspiration journal. Simply observe the pictures or ideas that float into your mind and jot them down in your journal. For now, just give each idea a one or two-word descriptive title.
Relax and enjoy the experience but pay attention to repetition. Does one idea or word keep coming to mind? Focus on that one idea and write down everything that comes to your mind on that one topic. This is a time to brainstorm, not refine.
As artists, our creativity often feels like a superpower. So, when that endless flow of inspiration starts to dry up, we can feel it! Like Kryptonite draining Superman of his powers, we can feel our creativity dissipate into a dry abyss. Welcome to the dreaded dry season. We may not enjoy this season but remember, it’s just a season. Your passion for art isn’t gone, it’s just hibernating for a bit. The rains will come again, but in the meantime, here are some ways to navigate this season:
Creativity comes from rest, not stress. Be intentional about creating periods of rest in your schedule. I have just started incorporating an hour of rest into my day right after work. It doesn’t happen every day (or even most days!) but on days when I feel like I can’t stop and rest, I benefit the most from a little downtime.
Remember that idea journal? Now is the time to refine! Pull out the journal and look at all those ideas you didn’t have time to explore before. This is your rainy day fund for creativity!
Create something for fun – try a new medium, create something with no intent or plan, make a mess (and enjoy it), practice mindfulness while you create, or try Intuitive Painting. Step out of your specialty and try something new.
Refresh your workspace - do a deep clean, organize your workspace, change the lighting, or head to Pinterest for some inspiration.
Buy a piece of art from an artist you admire. Treat yourself and allow someone else to bring a little beauty into your life.
Dry seasons are simply a part of the artistic process. We don’t have to enjoy every season but we can learn to steward every season. That way, when the rains come again we can be ready to ride the wave of inspiration!
If you have a suggestion for navigating the different seasons of creativity, drop a comment below!
*Photo by Roxxie Blackham on Unsplash
