Creative Clarity Series
Published on April 14, 2025

12 Steps from Copying to Clarity: The Creative Journey Through Style, Burnout, and Artistic Breakthrough (Series Main Post)

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Hello, lovely! Today, I’m announcing a very special series. If you remember a while back to the Creative Clarity Series, I’ve broken a couple of the posts down into a more digestible 12 parts. I’m calling it the Creative Journey, and it has 3 phases, each with 4 parts to it. This series is for crafters of any kind who are feeling a bit lost, don’t know where to begin, feel uncertain about personal style, are burned out, or want to take the next creative step, but don’t know which direction to go.

This 12-part Creative Journey Series will guide you through 3 phases of creative discovery. It’s like a map that tells you where you are in the process instead of telling you how to find a destination. The Creative Journey Series will help you recognize that you are already an artist, you just have to figure out which phase you are in, and trust me, this is not a linear path, rather it’s a spiral upward. You may find yourself back at the beginning at times, and that’s okay!

[Dutch Rose Blanket]

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Creative Journey Overview

So what are the 3 phases, and what are the 12 parts? The series moves from imitation and inspiration, through innovation and finding identity, and all the way through to integration and ascension. I have also hand picked books to go alongside the 3 phases, which I will give full reports on, so you can dig deeper and get inspired.

Let’s take a look.

Phase 1, Imitation and Inspiration: Steps 1-4 are a deeper dive into Phase 1 of the Creative Journey. You can read more in my series post Creative Clarity, Episode 2: Phase 1 of the Artist’s Journey and a Deep Dive into the Realm of Copying

Phase 2, Innovation and Identity: Steps 5-8 break down Phase 2 of the journey, which is the topic of Creative Clarity, Episode 3: Phase 2 of the Artist’s Journey and How to Beat Creative Burnout

Phase 3, Integration and Ascension: Steps 9-12 will be a dive into Phase 3 of the journey, but this episode of Creative Clarity has not yet been released. I will be sure to release that episode before we begin Step 9.

Finally, let’s get into the map and where it takes us.

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Quick Note

As I mentioned before, these 12 parts, or steps, are not linear. They’re not a ladder that you climb. They’re more like a spiral staircase that you move up through. You can (and likely will!) return to each phase again and again throughout your artistic life. Maybe you’re just starting out, maybe you’re burned out, maybe you’re on the brink of a creative breakthrough. Wherever you find yourself, you can easily see which phase you are in and find the path forward.

Navigation Links

As the parts of the series are released, I will paste in the links to the posts, as well as the book reports for the relevant reading companions. The book reports are evenly spaced about every 2 weeks, and they are relevant to each phase as a whole. I’ll link to the book reports as the posts become available. Dates are added in for all 8 book reports and all series parts, 1-12.

Phase 1: Imitation and Inspiration

Themes: Foundations, Techniques, and Permission

The artist chooses inspiration, and creates a direct replica of existing art within their craft. This is purely a means to get familiar with the process and technique. This is not the time to worry about originality too much, rather in this phase, you can build confidence in the craft, develop muscle memory, learn techniques and foundations, and gather clarity through allowing yourself to imitate freely and with intention.

Book Report Companions

  • Palette Perfect vol. 1 and 2, by Lauren Wager (Apr 28)
  • The Secret Lives of Color, by Kassia St, Clair (Apr 30)
  • The Creative Habit, by Twyla Tharp (May 14)

[Pictured in Phase 1: 2016 VVCAL Blanket]

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Part 1: Starting with Informed Inspiration

Find this post here. (Apr 21)

Message: Tackling information overload, imposter syndrome, and networking.

Step 1 walks you through the beginning of the beginning. Before the beginning, even. And it’s also a great place to revisit if you’ve found yourself experiencing burnout, or a loss of creativity.

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Part 2: Imitation as a Creative Superpower

Find this post here. (Apr 28)

Message: Copying builds skill and confidence.

Copying isn’t a shortcut; rather, it is literally how we learn. This step reclaims the act of imitation as necessary and productive.

Part 3: The Ethics of Proper Copying

Find this post here. (May 5)

Message: Grow with integrity by honoring influence.

Here, we examine the line between paying homage and stealing. This post will explore the correct best practices and the nuance of imitation.

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Part 4: Signs You’re Ready for the Next Phase

Find this post here. (May 12)

Message: Knowing when it’s time to create your own version.

How to recognize when you have a handle on the foundational techniques and are ready to move on from imitation to starting to find your own voice.

Now, on to Phase 2!

[Pictured in Phase 2: Geometric Lace Blanket]

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Phase 2: Innovation and Identity

Themes: Ambition, Messiness, and Self-Discovery

This, phase, my crafter friends, is the messy middle. It’s where your creative style starts to emerge, and with it, plenty of fear, burnout, experimentation, and vulnerability. This phase is also where the path to real breakthroughs are forged.

Book Report Companions

  • Alma Thomas, by Ian Berry and Lauren Haynes (May 28)
  • Keith Haring: The Political Line, by Dieter Buchhart, Julian Cox, and Robert Farris Thompson (June 11)

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Part 5: What Style Really Means

Find this post here. (May 19)

Message: Style emerges naturally, not forcefully.

Style isn’t something that you can stumble upon. It emerges naturally from the creative patterns that you repeat over and over, even subconsciously.

Part 6: Experimentation and the Messy Middle

Find this post here. (May 26)

Message: The mess is the method. Be sure to make room for it.

This part guides you through experimenting with your art, and helps you uncover pieces of yourself through challenges and trials.

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Part 7: Surviving the Burnout Phases

Find this post here. (June 2)

Message: There will be challenges. Creative rest is productive.

Burnout does not mean the end. It doesn’t mean you’re artistically broken. It means it’s time to rest and reset, take a break and ease back into it by revisiting your artistic beginnings. (Loads of tips here, as artistic burnout is reallllll lol)

Part 8: The Power of Finding Your Unique Voice

Find this post here. (June 9)

Message: Style becomes crystal clear when it’s your own.

At the final stages of Phase 2, you stop floundering in the muddy waters of the messy middle, and you suddenly start speaking in your own voice. This step will help you see when you’re there.

On to the final phase!

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Phase 3: Integration and Ascension

Themes: Creative Fusion, Artistic Maturity, and Progressive Evolution

This phase is where your creative voice really sings. It is no longer just your own in isolation, but it is connected to the lineage of your journey of influence and innovation. Stretch across disciplines, fuse different arts to your own, create something completely new, and evolve your craft.

Book Report Companions

  • Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love, by Laura L. Camerlengo and Dilys E. Blum (June 25)
  • Dorothy Grant: An Endless Thread, by Dorothy Grant (July 16)

[Color Riot Blanket]

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Part 9: Sustaining Your Style

Find this post here. (June 23)

Message: Don’t lose yourself to trends.

Once you find your own personal style, the challenge becomes protecting it from external influences. Inspiration is everywhere, and there is a balance to be found in evolving your personal style and losing it.

Part 10: Cross-Pollinate through Fusion and Play

Find this post here. (June 30)

Message: Let other art forms deepen your work.

Your style grows and evolves when you bring in aspects of other artistic disciplines. Whether it be music, fine art, poetry, fashion, architecture, nature photography, or any of the infinite inspirational arts, you can select bits and pieces to fuse to your own art medium.

[Island Wildflower Blanket]

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Part 11: Staying True Despite Style Challenges

Find this post here. (July 7)

Message: Remain grounded in the face of doubt.

Perfectionism and doubt don’t just disappear in this final phase. They will come back and haunt you, leaving you wanting to slide back to Phase 1. While this can be a great tool, you can first try to keep moving forward with these tips.

Part 12: Artistic Evolution – Never Stop Growing

Find this post here. (July 14)

Message: Your style should grow and develop with you.

Your creative voice is not an endpoint. It is just the beginnings of your artistic evolution. This post celebrates the beauty of growing past even your own expectations.

[Heirloom Collection Blanket]

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Coming at the End: A Reflection Post

Find this post here. (July 21)

Paired with a book report on The Woven Child, by Louise Bourgeois (July 23), this final post will tie the series together with themes of vulnerability, materiality, memory, and transformation. Every phase has these deeper threads running through them, and the Creative Journey often involves growth through pain.

Who is this Series For?

  • Artists in any medium, not just crochet art
  • Creative people navigating identity, style, or voice
  • Artists experiencing the pain of burnout
  • Beginners looking for permission to start
  • Seasoned makers wanting to reconnect with JOY
  • Anyone who has ever wondered if they’re “doing it right”

[Gloria Blanket]

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Ready to Begin?

If you’re ready to start, the first part, Starting with Informed Inspiration will release on Monday, April 21st and the parts will release every Monday through to the end with the reflection post.

I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have loved creating it! Thank you for dropping in to read all about the Creative Journey Series.

Happy crafting!

Rachele C.

Order my crochet pattern book: The Art of Crochet Blankets

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