Creative block is something most of us deal with at some point, but it doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. It’s not always a complete lack of ideas. Sometimes it’s more subtle. You still want to create, but something feels off.. The process doesn’t feel as enjoyable as it used to, or you find yourself starting things without really finishing them.

In this blog, I want to share how I personally recognize creative block, and a few things that have helped me move through it.

How do you recognize creative block?

For me, it often feels like a kind of “meh”. A washed-out feeling.

I still have the urge to get creative, but I’m either unsure what to create, or I’m just missing that spark of inspiration to really get started. And even when I do start, it can feel off. I don’t enjoy the process the way I used to.

I might start new pieces, but not finish them. I move from one idea to the next without really feeling connected to any of them.

When that starts happening repeatedly, it’s usually a sign that I’m dealing with a creative block.

If this sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone.

Play and experiment

If your block comes from a lack of inspiration or creative energy, it can really help to try something new. This doesn’t have to be a big change. It can be a different material, a new tool, or even just a small shift in your usual way of working.

For me, that meant experimenting with texture and combining it with inks. It gave me a different starting point and helped me look at my work in a new way. You can see the process of this experimental piece here.

The most important shift here is to move your focus away from the outcome and back to the process. Allow yourself to play and experiment without expecting anything to turn out a certain way. You don’t have to create something beautiful. You just have to stay curious.

When the focus becomes too much about the result, it often takes the joy out of creating. And that is usually where things start to feel blocked.

Take a break

If experimenting doesn’t seem to help, it might be a sign that you need to step away for a bit.

It can feel counterintuitive, especially if you’re used to being consistent or productive, but forcing yourself to create when you’re not feeling it often adds more pressure. And that pressure tends to make the block worse, not better.

At the start of this year, I experienced this myself. My first reaction was to push through it. I set myself a daily challenge to create with my inks, thinking it would help me get back into the flow.

Instead, it made me feel more frustrated and more disconnected from the process.

What actually helped was allowing myself to take a break from my inks for a couple of weeks. When I came back, I could feel that creative spark again. It helped me reconnect with why I enjoy working with inks in the first place.

Switch mediums

During that break, I started working with a completely different medium and experimented with clay.

Switching mediums can be really helpful when you’re feeling stuck. It gives you space to explore without the expectations you’ve built up around your main medium. You’re starting fresh, which makes it easier to be curious again.

If you normally work with acrylics, you might want to try alcohol inks, or the other way around. It doesn’t really matter what you choose, as long as it sparks some curiosity.

For me, it helped me come back to my inks with a fresh perspective. It also made me realize that since alcohol inks became more of my “business”, I needed a separate creative outlet again. Something that felt like a hobby, without any pressure attached to it.

Spend less time on social media

When you feel stuck, it’s very tempting to look for inspiration on social media. But in my experience, it often has the opposite effect.

You scroll through endless ideas and beautiful work, and instead of feeling inspired, you end up feeling overwhelmed. It can also trigger comparison. Seeing so many people who seem to be better at it can make you question your own work.

That combination of overwhelm and insecurity doesn’t really help you get your creative spark back.

Instead, try to look for inspiration outside of social media. Go for a walk, take an offline class, or use materials you already have but haven’t really used before (we all have those;)).

Sometimes inspiration comes more easily when you step away from all that input.

A different way to look at creative block

Creative block doesn’t mean you’ve lost your creativity. More often, it’s a sign that something needs to shift. Maybe you’ve been putting too much pressure on yourself. Maybe you need a break, or a new perspective, or simply more space to experiment again.

If anything, it’s an invitation to slow down and reconnect with the process.

If you’re feeling stuck creatively, it might help to approach things from a different angle. Trying a new medium can be a really nice way to reconnect with that creative spark again.

If you have never used alcohol inks before, they can be a great way to do that. They’re fluid, expressive, and often a bit unpredictable, which makes them perfect for experimenting and letting go of control for a moment.

At the same time, I know that working with a new medium can also feel overwhelming. Especially if you’re trying to figure everything out on your own.

Having some guidance can make that process a lot more enjoyable. It helps you understand what you’re doing, learn new techniques, and feel more confident as you go. And sometimes it just helps to not have to figure it out all by yourself.

That’s exactly what I focus on in my course Find Your Flow: Mastering Abstract Alcohol Ink. It’s not just about learning techniques, but about exploring the process in a way that feels more natural, less frustrating, and actually enjoyable.

If that sounds like something you’d like to explore, you can join the waitlist here.

You’ll be the first to know when the course opens, and you’ll receive a special launch discount!

No matter what you do, I hope this has planted a seed to experiment, take a break, and maybe try something new!