My funk of the past few months has continued. It seems never-ending—I show up to my studio, do the work needed for imminent deadlines, but my heart and enthusiasm seem to be missing.
A friend, another passionate artist, suggested a book by Rick Rubins ‘Creative Act: A Way Of Being’ that has been an incredible source of inspiration for her. Another book? I feel like I’ve read them all over the years—Big Magic, The Artist’s Way, Steal Like An Artist—to name a few, but in my current state of creative blandness, I decided to download it on Audible and give it a try.
I’m so glad I did.
So many points have resonated with me, and I know I’ll listen to it again (and again) to embed some of its wisdom into my mind for future reference. Its quite short, 5 and a half hours of listening on Audible or as a book, it can be read in small sequences or random pages.
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Rick Rubin’s premise is that the creative process—whether it’s art, music, writing, acting, cooking, basically whatever sparks your curiosity—is a fundamental part of being human. The focus, he suggests, should be on the act of creating itself, not just the final product.
Creativity as a Way of Living
Everyone has the ability to be creative. Creativity isn’t just a skill, a talent or a profession (though some of us turn it into one); it’s a way of engaging with the world, a means of leaving our mark and saying, I was here. This is me. If we dig deep enough into our intuition, if we truly listen to our inner voice—our deep-seated yearning—will guide us toward fulfillment, joy and the understanding of what makes us truly content.
As professional artists, our biggest obstacle is when our creativity becomes intertwined with financial pressures and external validation—social media metrics, gallery representation, sales—it’s easy to lose our internal compass. The voices of others grow louder, drowning out the joy that led us here in the first place.
I know 100% that this is what has led me down this path of doubt and discontent. I have allowed others to dictate my choices and direction of my art journey. This subtle redirection can happen in a variety of ways, many are quite innocuous, but slowly erode our internal choices…galleries requesting certain works over others, art competition entries being rejected, social media algorithms that push some work better over others, and even opinions of well meaning family and friends, can all make an impact on how we move forward. We need to mute the noise.
Finding balance is also essential. Creativity thrives when we embrace it as part of our daily life—not just in the studio, but in simple, mindful acts: sketching for pleasure, arranging flowers at home, making a perfect cup of coffee and actually sitting to enjoy it. Rubin emphasizes that while intuition and joy are vital, so too are discipline and habit. Creativity is a muscle—it strengthens with practice. You will never learn to draw without first training your eye to see.
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Completing projects is equally important. Even when something isn’t perfect, finishing it teaches us ways to improve for the next time. Growth happens in the act of doing, not in waiting for perfection.
And perhaps most importantly, creativity flourishes in community. Finding like-minded people, sharing ideas, and exchanging inspiration makes the process richer. I know this sounds contradictory when it comes to social media, but when we surround ourselves with others who create, without negative judgement or comparison towards our own work, the act itself becomes more meaningful than the outcome.
So, as I sit with these ideas, I remind myself—this funk will pass. The simple act of showing up, even when enthusiasm feels distant, is still part of the journey. Creativity, after all, isn’t just about grand moments of inspiration. It’s about the quiet, persistent practice of making, day after day.
Mia x
