Seasons of creativity - lessons from a career as an artist

I used to think creativity was something I could control. If I just stayed focused, inspired and worked hard, the work would keep flowing out of me. But it doesn’t really work like that, especially when the work requires creativity. Making the transition from science student to artist taught me many things about the balance of sustainable productivity. The past 10 years have been an ongoing lesson in the art of this balance.

The longer I’ve made art, the more I’ve realised how seasonal it is. There are stretches where ideas move easily - inspiration flows, confidence is high, and everything feels alive. And then there are quieter times - when the empty page intimidates, self-doubt lingers, and the spark seems lost.

This used to scare me. As a self-employed artist from the age of 21 until present, I have undergone and endured countless battles with creative block, self-doubt and burnout. When your ability to buy food and pay rent is dependent on your ability to create, a delicate relationship with your craft is inevitable. During those silent weeks it felt like failure, like life was moving on and I was falling behind. I tried to remind myself that nature doesn’t grow in straight lines either. Trees don’t blossom all year; the fields don’t stay green forever. There are cycles of stillness, decay, and forest fires that make encourage renewal and make long term stability possible.

Now, when my own rhythm slows, I try not to fight it. I walk more. I journal, even though I'm reluctant. And perhaps most importantly, I make more time for things that help me tune into my body, and get out of my head. I let myself feel the empty space without needing to fill it. Sometimes that pause lasts an afternoon. Sometimes it lasts a season. But it always teaches me something. To be honest with you, these darker moments are where most of my ideas, inspiration and empathy emerge. It's hard to see it in the moment, but once things settle, clarity will come. The key is to ackownledge that you're "off-track" as soon as possible, so that you can embrace this period. Try to treat it as an innevitable, albeit challenging source of value. Not only does this help me to derive inspiration and direction from the darkness, but it usually helps it pass faster. Early in my career I would often work myself into a frenzy, assuming that all blockages could be overcome with force. Until, time and time again, I would burnout and be unable to create anything. It would often take days or weeks to recover. Commissions, appointments and life in general would need to be put on hold until I had found my feet. Nowadays, i try my best to listen to the signs so that I can pivot and change course before its urgent. In most cases, a stumbling block that would have knocked me to my feet in the past, can now be navigated with a few hours of self-regulation. When things feel misaligned, and the pressure is mounting, it's tempting to keep pushing until you get back on track. Granted, there are moments when you just need to keep at it, keep moving until you come out of the tunnel. But life, emotions and creativity are not always so easy to navigate, as I'm sure you know. The truth is, creativity isn’t about constant expression - it’s about staying attentive enough to notice what’s changing inside you. Listening out for what wants to emerge, and giving it space to flow through you.

Sometimes we need to do the opposite of our instincts and take more time, give ourselves more space, when the clock is ticking and the urge to rush is high. If we can give ourselves space to regulate and stay grounded during turbulence, we can actually extract the wisdom that it has to offer.