The Blessing of Burnout

How stepping back reignited me.

I took a year off. Not because I wanted to. But because I had to. Actually it was a bit more than a year. A year of re-evaluating, of giving myself the grace to step away. Asking myself what was I giving away, and did I want to continue. You see, there is a lot of pressure (granted much self-imposed) to produce quality art, to sell constantly and nowadays to devote countless hours to social media.

I felt I had lost "color," which is my mojo. I was in a sort of fog. The inability to be motivated-even to go into the studio. At first I thought I was just tired. I had been in many shows. The preparation for them, the packing, the set-up, the marketing. It all took its toll.

All I wanted to do, was garden, hike or travel. Anything but pick up a brush.

I would go in the studio and it didn't feel like my joyful respite. It felt like work. It never had felt that way before.

Very slowly, this stillness started to tickle the creative me. First, I was going to galleries and artist studio tours. The act of filling my senses started to awaken that muse that had left me.

Ideas began to resurface. Colors whispered.

Lipstick on His Collar

I have a new perspective, with more boundaries for myself. Once again I am prolific and colors dance from my studio.

If you are a creative and reading this, how do you honor your natural cycles of creation? What if your creative pause is a reset, not a failure?

If you're standing in that pause now, trust it. The fire returns often brighter, wilder, and more your own.

Barbara Mosher - Abstract Artist - Collected Worldwide

Subscribe to The Art Edit

P.S. If this season of reflection and renewal resonates with you, take a moment to explore The Winter Collection 2025 — an assemblage of abstracts curated for gifting, collecting, and a little luxury for yourself (or someone you love) this holiday season.

Get a first peek →