Creative Block

Personal Project

Medium

Vector illustration on Procreate

Timeline

2022-Present

Background

I began journaling about my experiences with creative block in October 2022. I started keeping a notebook and taking pictures of what I was wearing each day. When I relocated to Germany in November 2022, my life underwent a significant change that is reflected in my documentation journey as well. I set a challenge for myself to create the simplest graphic I could think of in order to see how much of my experience I could convey in that medium. I intend to keep doing this exercise for a very long time—perhaps for a year, a decade, or the rest of my life!

Process

I began a personal project where I meticulously documented the colors of my clothes, carefully cataloging each hue and shade in the Procreate software. This daily ritual became a canvas for my creativity, allowing me to capture the essence of my wardrobe in a vivid, visual diary. Alongside this color cataloging, I also took the time to pen down a brief journal entry each day, reflecting on the events, thoughts, or standout moments that defined my day. This process, taking just 10-15 minutes, became a cherished part of my routine, offering a moment of introspection and creativity amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.

The act of recording these details served multiple purposes; it was not just about preserving the visual aesthetics but also about anchoring my experiences and emotions, turning ordinary days into a tapestry of personal expression. Each entry, a blend of color and prose, became a snapshot of my life, encapsulating moods, atmospheres, and personal reflections in a way that was uniquely expressive and profoundly personal. This practice evolved into a meditative and artistic ritual, providing me with a creative outlet and a momentary retreat, nurturing my sense of mindfulness and my passion for art and design.

I kept up with this routine until I gathered all the graphics together. That’s when the bigger picture emerged from these daily snippets. One of the major revelations was seeing how my style evolved from Mumbai to Berlin. Back in India, my wardrobe was full of bright colors, reflecting the perpetual summer and monsoon seasons. But once I moved to Berlin, my palette shifted to darker shades, perhaps mirroring my mood of being away from family and adjusting to life alone in a new city.
This collection also highlighted my routines, showing the balance between days spent at home and those when I ventured out, maybe to university or to catch up with friends. Observing these patterns was fascinating—it was like watching the ebb and flow of my life during this period. These small yet significant transitions painted a vivid story of my daily life, offering insights into my personal journey and how it was subtly yet profoundly influenced by my surroundings and emotional state.

I thought about turning these graphics into cards, noting down the highlight of each day on them. This way, I crafted a fun, personal memory deck, each card a mini-diary entry that brought past days into sharp focus. Flipping through them became a cherished activity, allowing me to relive and cherish those moments, noticing how certain days stood out with their unique stories and colors. It was a simple, creative way to keep my memories vivid and easily accessible, adding a playful yet meaningful reflection of my daily life.