What if you’re not burnt out — just bored?
Fine Art Friday #59
There’s a kind of burnout that doesn’t come from overwork.
It sneaks in slowly, quietly. You’re not overwhelmed — you’re just… under-inspired.
You show up, you do the work, you hit your deadlines. You even like the work. But something feels flat.
It took me a long time to realize: not all creative slumps are exhaustion. Some are just boredom in disguise.
I once spent weeks repainting the same subject over and over again — white roses, cream ribbon, pale backgrounds. At first it felt elegant and romantic. But by the fourth or fifth, I wasn’t excited to pick up my brush anymore. I thought maybe I was just tired. Or that something was wrong with me.
But it wasn’t burnout. I just needed a spark.
I started a tiny watercolor sketch of brightly colored things (kind of like Matisse), and suddenly — the color came back. The spark was back. I wasn’t broken. I was just uninspired by beige.
Here’s the truth:
If you’re a creative person, you don’t always need a nap.
Sometimes you need novelty. A new challenge. A different brush.
You might not be burnt out — you might just be bored.
This week’s art tip:
Shake it up. Paint something out of your comfort zone — weird colors, a new city, something that feels wildly “not you.” The goal isn’t to post it. The goal is to wake up.
You can collect a few pieces still available from this collection here.
And if you're planning a wedding and you’re starting to feel “meh” about your Pinterest board? It might not be decision fatigue — it might just be time to infuse it with something that actually feels like you.
Creative spark isn’t something you find. It’s something you light.
I’m cheering for you.
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Thanks for reading today's edition of the Stories I Only Tell My Friends newsletter! & if you're new here—hi! I'm Courtney, fine artist and live wedding painter, honored to paint beautiful celebrations around the 🌎. I'd love for you to stick around and subscribe to keep reading one art tip, once a week. :)