For about a year and a half, maybe longer, I've been in a creative slump. My goal lately has been to yank myself out using the tuft on my neck that you pick puppies and kittens up by when they're getting into something they shouldn't.
Creative slumps suck.
As an artist, it's easy to point at all the extraneous factors that are at fault. Certainly there are external factors that come into play. For example: doctor's appointments, an accident, or any other life moment that may distract from productivity.
I've seen other artists -- people in general -- complain about the current political climate and blame that for certain levels of anxiety and lack of productivity. I share that sentiment completely.
It may be too early to shout out to the world about getting out of this slump, but I'm putting myself on the path. And with hard work and perseverance, I hope to stay there.
I've been seeing a therapist lately, and we've been exploring my fears, insecurities and how they pertain to self-expression.
Like other artists, I allow fear to prevent me from creating something, for fear it's going to turn out shitty. Not creating anything defeats the purpose of the creative.
I recently completed this self portrait.
It is a motion portrait, btw, so look for movement. It's one of many things I hope to do to stay on the path. I'm not saying it's the BEST image in the world. But it's an image. It's an executed idea. I had the vision. I made a version of it. I'm sharing it with the world. I'm moving on.
In a way, it's a metaphor for how I want to grow out of this place of fear and become bigger in the eyes of my audience. Whoever that might be.
I designed the visual with a couple different people in mind as the subject. One girl didn't respond at all to my request. Another one told me she wasn't the one for the job. At least she responded.
The image is a compilation of eight images composited into one. I'm working on a behind the scenes video now to show how I put it together.
Enjoy.