When the Muse Ghosts You (AKA Making Bad Art on Purpose)
Let’s talk about artistic block. You know, that lovely little feeling when you sit down to create something brilliant and instead your brain is like:
“What if… instead… we reorganize your baking cabinet for two hours and then cry about it?”
I’ve been deep in that space lately. Ironically, I am excited about the paintings I’m working on—I mean, I’ve got some beautiful, weird, deliciously messy ideas cooking. But despite that, inspiration has been kind of... meh.
Not gone. Just distant. Like a flaky co-worker who leaves your slacks unread.
So what have I been doing about it?
Making bad art. Like, purposefully. Garbage. Nonsense. Weird little sketches. Globs of paint with no meaning. Doodles that look like your cat walked across the canvas with Cheeto dust on its paws. And honestly? It helps.
Because here’s the truth: when I can't find that magical “flow,” the only way out is through. And sometimes “through” means making things that are straight-up ridiculous or boring or ugly.
I live with ADHD (shout out to my neurodivergent creatives—you are not alone), and I get bored so easily. That’s why I always have about 5 to 10 paintings going at once. It’s not chaotic, it’s strategic. (Okay, it’s a little chaotic.) But it helps. It lets me hop around when one subject makes my brain go “ugh” and another makes me go “oooh.”
If you’re in a similar space—whether you’re an artist, writer, student, business owner, or someone who simply wants to be motivated but can’t even start—I want to say this:
You are not broken. Your creativity is not gone. It’s just taking the scenic route.
Make weird stuff. Make bad stuff. Make stuff that would horrify your 7th-grade art teacher. The important thing is that you keep making. Something. Anything.
My most recent abomination, March, 2025
Eventually, the spark comes back.
(And in the meantime, your baking cabinet does look amazing.)
💬 Let’s open this up: What’s your go-to strategy for getting unstuck? Do you also create "trash art"? Do you lean into rituals? Deadlines? Dance breaks? Share it in the comments—I’d love to hear how you push through the blahs. And hey, maybe we can all steal each other’s tricks. 💡
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👉 If this hit home, forward it to a friend or share it with someone else who's in the struggle. And if you want to see my current chaos-in-progress (aka “art”), you can always check out what’s happening at LynnetteGrimm.com or on Instagram @LynnetteGrimmArt.
We’re all in this messy, beautiful process together. ❤️