Episode Summary:

In this episode, we delve into the complex relationship between taking breaks and maintaining a consistent art practice. The conversation covers personal experiences with burnout, strategies for overcoming creative blocks, and the debate on whether long breaks benefit or hinder artistic growth.

Key Moments:

1.Introduction to Creative Burnout:

• Discussing the feeling of being in a depressive funk and needing a break to recharge.
• Quote: “I’ve hit a disappointment overload and need to recharge my batteries.”

2.The Importance of Motivation:

• Emphasising the need for motivation to keep going and the risk of taking too long of a break.
• Quote: “I realise I can’t take too long of a break or I won’t get any better and may in fact get a little worse.”

3.Consistency vs. Inconsistency in Art Practice

• Comparing art practice to skills like language learning, where consistent use is crucial
• Quote: “I find that I can always pick up where I left off. “

4. Suggestions for Maintaining Skills:

• Proposing a simple routine like drawing once a week to keep skills sharp and combat creative block.
• Quote: “It doesn’t have to be good, it doesn’t need to be finished… but it’ll keep your skills up and maybe it’ll help you work through your block.”

5. The Philosophy of Not Forcing Art

• Discussing the idea that art, like yoga, should not be forced but practiced daily to create a fertile ground for inspiration.
• Quote: “You can’t force it, you can’t control it, you just have to allow it to come.”

6. Alternating Creative Outlets

• Sharing experiences of shifting between different creative outlets and hoe this impacts overall creativity.
• Quote: “I’d rather just switch media rather than set it down for too long and risk losing my creative mind.“

7. Avoiding Creative Rust

• The importance of regular practice to avoid getting “rusty” and hoe it affects motivation.
• Quote : “If I don’t make art in some form at least weekly, I got rusty.”

8. The Cycle of Breaks and Creativity:

• Sharing personal experiences of how moderate breaks can sometimes lead to better starts but eventually cycle back to frustration.
• Quote: “I’ve found I can usually start off better with moderate breaks, then the descent of madness and frustration starts again.”

9. Continuous Practice vs. Taking Breaks:

• A debate on whether continuous practice without breaks is more beneficial for skill improvement compared to taking breaks.
• Quote: “The only way to improve at something is by doing it constantly.”

10. The Balace of Doing and Not Doing

• Exploring the wisdom of balancing action and inaction.
• Quote: “There is a time for everything, including not doing…. “

11.Balancing Mental Health and Discipline:

• Discussing the importance of breaks for mental health and the risk of burnout from continuous practice
• Quote: “Breaks are good for mental health and not dying of exhaustion. Discipline is important, but so is mental health.”

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