Creative Block / Creative Energy

I really need to get back into the habit of making things. Manifesting creative energy, so that I a) don't end up withering away and b) do end up amplifying my own creative drive.

I do expend creative energy at work, on tough technical UI problems. It's challenging, and usually intellectually fulfilling, but it's not enough. Designing the right UI solution or the best 14x14 icon can be rewarding, but isn't what someone eould look at and say, "cool!" No one would look at such work for the sake of getting inspired. Feeling accomplished and feeling sated are very different; only a small amount of emotion goes into the interaction design I do on a daily basis.

I think what I'm getting at is that I need an emotional creative outlet. A project designed and driven by me, with only the constraints that I place on it. A project that I can throw my personality into, as opposed to rigidly restricting the visual language or amount of ornament. Cognitive load is a dirty word in my profession; I'd like a project where people DO have to think to understand it, or take it all in.

But what? I feel like I'm at a creative crossroads of sorts. I've investigated a lot of different creative avenues throughout my life. Collage art, poetry, ceramics, songwriting, knitting, graphic design... I've at least dabbled in all of the above, and more. When I was making out wedding invitations, I was working outside of my comfort zone and outside of my skill level as well - and I loved it. I think there's something to be said for both learning a new medium and then learning to become expressive through it.

And truth be told, I think I already know the answer; I'm just intimidated by the thought of getting started. My sister bought me a banjo for Christmas, after I added it to my Amazon wishlist on a whim, and although I truly am excited to get started learning it, I've avoided picking it up or taking any steps to get familiar with it. Oh I have daydreams of how amazing it's going to be when I play an open mic night and everyone I know comes to see me and I blow them all away, but at the moment it's strictly a daydream and nothing else.

There are a lot of superfluous reasons "why," but it all boils down to this - I'm afraid to get started! But, of course, nothing's going to happen if nothing happens. I need to step up to the plate and make this happen for myself, regardless of whether it turns out I'm good at it or not. Time to have an adventure!