When I was about 16 or so, my grandfather gave me an important piece of compositional advice: put the core idea into different art forms in order to develop it in your own mind. Using the mediums of dance, prose, painting, etc… this instruction has helped me overcome writer’s block a myriad of times. Most recently, I found I was unsure of what aesthetic to pursue in one of my original songs, but turned what I did have into a painting (currently unfinished but shared below). The process is quickly helping me to define the exact feel of the song and though the painting is fairly cliché, so long as I can capture a mood and get the creative juices flowing again, I am satisfied.
To my fellow artists, please share with me your own personal tips on how to overcome hindrances in the creative flow.
