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Hello Friends! Welcome back to Practice Practice. Dylan wrote this week's email.
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I write to you from the belly of a creative rut. I found my way into this rut through some good, old-fashioned disappointment.
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Recently, I had a pop-up sale for a new batch of ceramics. I had high expectations: I was going to sell a bunch of work! People would love my new designs! Unfortunately, I didn't sell much. I packed up my table feeling deflated and confused.
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Afterward, I searched restlessly for a reason. Why didn't it go as I expected? Maybe it was the wrong day, or the wrong crowd, or the wrong location. Maybe it was the weather? Or maybe my work just wasn't good enough (Hello, self doubt, my old friend 👋🏻).
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In the following weeks, my studio time was focused on pinpointing the reasons my sales were low. As you might imagine, the pressure to "fix" my work just dug the rut deeper. I knew I was in trouble when I started avoiding the studio.
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As a teacher, I constantly tell my students that making art isn't about being right. It's not about controlling outcomes, but taking risks and observing what happens.
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Lately, I'm taking my own advice. I'm back in the studio, experimenting, and pursuing the things that make me curious.
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Make "Bad Art"
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One way out of a creative rut is making "bad art" on purpose.
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Do you loath drawings of dolphins? Draw a whole pod of them! Hate sappy love songs? Write the sappiest song ever written!
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When you make something you don't expect to like, the bar is much lower. It can really help loosen you up!
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Remember, being in a rut is a natural part of the creative process. Like everything else, it is only temporary.
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We'll be back in 2 weeks.
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Until then, keep practicing!
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