1. Preventing the Artist Block
By Dionne Bates

2. Definitions Artist’s Block:
“Also known as an ‘art block’, a usually random occurrence in which one loses inspiration and motivation” –urban dictionary
-I’m interested not only in the random occurrences, but anytime a student reaches that point

3. The Problem Struggling with prompts by teacher
Struggle with pursuing ideas
-personal struggle
-had ideas, didn’t like them and would put off the project for a week. I want to help students who may also experience this when I have my own class. Last semester-one student didn’t work on my lesson until the last day I was there.
-perhaps students have a big idea they want to work with but don’t know how to pursue it

4. Clara Lieu Visual Artist
Adjunct Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design
Blogger for the Huffington Post
Gives 6 tips to help with artist’s block
Falling
-6 tips come from her own personal experience- series falling -
-She writes an advice column for artists called “Ask the Art Professor”

5. Lieu’s 6 Suggestions for Preventing Artist Block
Talk to peers/colleagues and mentors
-they provide the best support and encouragement
Suspend your inner critic
-rid of ambition and expectation temporarily
Change your environment
-go do something else, leave your piece and art environment
-it will stimulate inspiration and reset your brain!
-6 suggestions don’t necessarily help with brainstorming ideas
-help to get you away from “I can’t” or “I don’t know how to move forward”

6. Lieu’s 6 Suggestions cont.
Change media
-different perspective
-it keeps you working and thinking about your work
-may change your outlook
Take a break
-physically and emotionally remove yourself from your piece
-get a fresh eye!
Don’t give up
-believe that you will persevere
“Being an artist is a dramatic roller coaster ride where you can experience everything from moments of complete exaltation to periods of painful failure. Difficult periods are inevitable when you're an artist. If you don't have tough times, it means that you're not pushing yourself creatively.” –Clara Lieu

7. Falling Lieu’s personal experience with depression and anxiety
Lack of physical and emotional control
Her problem: focus on the sculpture being the final format
She changed her media

8. A Kick in the Seat of the Pants
By Roger von Oech
Developing creativity through 4 different roles”
Explorer
Artist
Judge
Warrior
Activities provided to throughout to explore and understand each of the roles

9. Aha! 10 Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas
By Jordan Ayan
10 strategies:
Connect with people
Design an enriching environment
Get out of your box through travel
Be sparked by play and humor
Expand your mind through reading
Take up the arts
Plug into technology
PowerThink your challenges
Release your alterconscious
Connect with your creative soul

10. Caffeine for the Creative Mind: 250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain
By Stefan Mumaw and Wendy Lee Oldfield
Prompts to get you thinking

11. The Plan Create a Journal/Scrapbook -open and accessible to students
-students can make their own contributions
Or a digital form of it
-a website that students can access
-or a tab/section of class website
Test out strategies on myself and include them in the journal
My personal exploration of the strategies will provide my students with visuals and explanations of my thinking during the art making process

12. References
Jordan, A. (1997). Aha! 10 ways to free your creative spirit and find your great ideas Lieu, C. (2012). Ask the Art Professor: Six Ways to Confront Artist’s Block. Retrieved from: Lieu, C. (2012). Falling. Retrieved from: Mumaw, S. (2006). Caffeine for the creative mind 250 exercises to wake up your brain Oech, R. (1986). A kick in the seat of the pants. Harper Collins Publishers: New York. NY.