Painters Block

Every artists hits a rough spot once in a while where the brush just will not move. Ive been here a few times myself, and it is extremely frustrating at times when I have a deadline. So how do you get out of it?
I keep an inspiration book, where I paste clipping from magazines with little notes, or a simple sketch of how it inspires me. I can always refer back to this book for a few minutes before I need to get painting, just to get the juices flowing!!
Going to art shows and seeing what's new in the area or in some other area can be jsut what I need sometimes. I went to First Friday in Richmond with another artist friend this past weekend. It was actually the first time I had been to a First Friday with another artist, which made for an especially unique conversation. I took some pictures of the most inspiring images for me and have really been motivated today.
So how do you manage to get through painters block?

A Constant Need

"Living as an artist without a muse is like sinking slowly underwater, wanting, but not knowing how to swim up and grasp for your breath... for the air that inspires you to live, love and create..."
There is a constant need for inspiration. I am a high powered laser beam, focused and ready, and all I need is something to aim it at. But what? Who? In desperate times I look to anyone to idolize, pine over, vie for... For no other reason that in my constant pursuit of artistic expression.
My art would be classified as an autobiographical narrative. I am always painting the way I "feel" through my own personal struggles or through my interactions with others. I may use vague metaphors and imagery, but it always comes back to a particular situation and the way it made me feel. It makes me wonder if this is why I am constantly pursuing painfully incomplete relationships. Is it true that I am never really satisfied unless there is an undertone of torture in my love life? Or is it just that my need to express myself outweighs my need for complete happiness? Or am I afraid of what my art would turn into if I had nothing to "process through"... Its as if I am most content on a long walk through a beautiful enchanted forest with a thorn stuck in my foot.
Like in the quote, I will always be drowning... the muse just provides the reach.
A therapist would say that maybe this is a defense mechanism I have adopted in attempts to help me feel safe (if that makes any sense)
My friends would say that I don't believe I feel worthy of true happiness.
But an artist would say that we are truly happiest with the experiences of life... that happiness is NOT the outcome of a trouble free life, but yet the result of being present in every waking moment... Happiness sprouts from the seed of our highest intention to FEEL EVERYTHING to the fullest, even our pain. Because it is in those moments, I feel most alive.