As an artist, inspiration can be a tricky, elusive thing. Sometimes it comes quickly, and other times, it’s like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. The latter was my experience while working on the 12th and final painting in my zodiac series: Scorpio. For weeks, I struggled to come up with an idea that felt right. Like my previous paintings, I wanted to create something true to Scorpio so it was important to capture the transformative, passionate, and mysterious energy of this water sign.
But no matter how many sketches I made or ideas I jotted down, nothing clicked. The more I tried to force it, the more frustrated I became. It didn't help that I'd set a deadline of December 31st, which was less than a week away.
I knew I needed to change my approach, so I did something I hadn’t done in a while: I started painting what I call stacks, an old tried and true way for me to get out of my head and build new ideas layer by layer.
I begin with simple patterns—swirls, lines, dots, and waves. Nothing complicated, just letting the brush glide over the paper without any pressure or expectations. The repetitive motions are very meditative and with each new line I create I can build upon a previous stack, or, begin something completely new. Working like this is a great reminder of why I fell in love with creating in the first place; there is a lot of joy in exploration and expression.
I ended up completing three in the span of a day, and kept coming back to the one I'd painted in various shades of blues and greens. I started seeing the whimsical waves in an ocean. What if this became my background for Scorpio? Suddenly, I could see the finished painting unfold in my mind.
Having this playful background as an anchor gave me the confidence and freedom to concentrate on my scorpion, and the remaining pieces came fairly quickly after that. I finished my painting and completed my series with less than 24 hours before ringing in the New Year.
Finishing this painting wasn’t just about completing another piece in the zodiac series. It was a reminder that creativity isn’t a straight line. Sometimes, you have to take a step back and nurture your connection to your craft before you can move forward. By giving myself the space to create freely, I found the inspiration I had been searching for.
Each sign in my series feels like a single chapter of a very long book, and Scorpio will always serve as a testament to the power of letting go.
If you’ve been struggling with a creative block, I encourage you to try this method of painting. It can inspire you to take a step back, let go of the pressure, and simply create for the joy of it. You might be surprised at what you discover.
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