This video and post are a bit different than what I normally share with you. I walked into my studio with a whole list of tutorials I wanted to film, but honestly? I just wasn’t feeling inspired. Instead of forcing it, I decided to do what I always recommend when people ask me how to get out of a creative rut – I just started creating without a plan.
Supplies Used
- Oil pastels
- Sketchbook
Rather watch than read? Check out the full tutorial by clicking the video below!
Let’s Get Started!
Forcing creativity wasn’t going to work. So I pulled out some oil pastels that have been sitting unused in my studio for literally years and grabbed a sketchbook with thicker paper. No plan, no reference images, no social media scrolling beforehand – just me playing with colors and seeing what happened.
This wasn’t about making good art – it was about flexing my creative muscles that haven’t been getting much exercise lately. Between having two little ones, plus recently returning from three weeks in the Dominican, my creative practice has definitely taken a backseat.
The Reality of Creative Blocks
I think there’s this assumption that if you have a creative job like I do, you don’t get into creative ruts – but that couldn’t be further from the truth! I often find myself putting pressure on creating things that are “usable for content” rather than just creating for the joy of it.
Social media doesn’t help either. Instead of inspiring me, scrolling often makes me feel stuck, like I’m never as creative as everyone else online. It puts me in a weird headspace that’s the opposite of inspiring.
What I’m Learning About Creativity
As I played with these pastels (drawing some very questionable fruit and flowers!), I reminded myself of some important truths:
- The “messy middle” is part of the process
- Not everything has to be good to be meaningful
- Art supplies are meant to be used, not saved
- Sometimes you need to ignore that voice in your head that says “nobody wants to see this”
Some Life & Business Updates
While I was drawing, I also reflected on some changes I’m considering for my business. I really miss the community-driven focus that Show Me Your Drills had when it first started. Social media has changed so much, making it harder to genuinely connect with all of you.
I want to make some significant changes to get back to what matters most – connection and community. I want to focus less on being part of the “social media machine” and more on creating spaces where we can learn and grow together.
**UPDATE FROM THE TIME OF FILMING**
With the changes I wanted to make in mind, I decided to open up my own Patreon community. And let me tell you – it has been nothing short of amazing. The community members, my community members, are so supportive and encouraging and wonderful! I hosted my first “Office Hours” Zoom call this week, and it was incredible to hang out with so many members. We asked and answered questions, gave feedback on lettering, brainstormed new ideas, revealed Workshop Week spoilers.
Interested in joining? You can find out more HERE!
And That’s a Wrap!
By the end of my session, I had a colorful, messy page of fruit with some lettering and random shapes. Was it a masterpiece? Absolutely not! But it got me out of my head and back into a creative mindset, which was exactly what I needed.
So if you’re feeling stuck creatively, give yourself permission to just play. Pick a material (maybe one you’ve never used before), grab some paper, and make marks without being attached to the outcome. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get those creative juices flowing again.
How do you get yourself out of creative ruts? I’d love to hear your strategies in the comments!
I’d love to see your creations too! Be sure to tag me on Instagram!
Looking for more art tutorials? Check out this one!
And finally, your dad joke…
What’s the best angle to approach a new problem?
The “try” angle.
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