When the Muse is Silent: Navigating Creative Droughts

In this episode of Totally Abstracted, I’m talking about something we all go through as artists - those quiet, uncomfortable times when inspiration seems to vanish.You know the feeling … standing in front of a canvas and just feeling nothing. No spark, no ideas - just stillness. It can be scary, especially when making art is usually how we process life.But I’ve come to realise these slow, quiet seasons aren’t creative failures - they’re actually part of the process. They’re times of gathering, resting and gently reconnecting with what matters most.What I Talk About:

• Why creative stillness is actually a normal (and necessary) part of the artist’s cycle
• How to shift from pushing to noticing
• Ways to ease back into creating - no pressure, no big expectations
• How simple things like changing your tools, working on scrap paper, or noticing the light outside can help
• Why comparison and social media can be unhelpful when you’re in a quiet season

This Week’s Creative Challenge:Just spend 10 minutes making art with no plan or pressure.Pick up whatever’s nearby - paint, pencil, anything - and just play. Smear, scribble, layer, tear. Let it be messy. Let it be fun. Let it be nothing at all.And if you feel like sharing, I’d love to see what comes out of it in the Abstract Horizons community.Links:

• 🎨 Join my free Abstract Horizons group: ⁠https://www.skool.com/abstract-horizons⁠
• 📸 Follow me on Instagram: @michellesleeart