What do you do when you're blocked ? Major blocked ?

~marie-paul Aug 29, 2012 Hobbyist Digital Artist

The question is in the title:
how do you deal with art block ?
Not the small ones, that go away in a few hours or days. I'm talking about the ones that seem to last over a months and even more.

Are there things that seem to help you go back to drawing/writing/taking pictures ? Or do you simply wait for it to come back ?

You can no longer comment on this thread as it was closed due to no activity for a month.

Devious Comments

=nelchee Sep 4, 2012 Professional General Artist

What is the reason for your art block? Try reading this: How to overcome an art block

I basically wrote a lot about my own experiences so that should answer your question. The best way is just to avoid an art block altogether by keeping drawing no matter what. Even when you don't feel like it. Even when you'd rather play games or read forums. Even when you think everything you do sucks. Just. keep. drawing.

*LadyViridis Sep 2, 2012 Professional General Artist

Admittedly, I've never really suffered from this, but my advice is, if you feel something isn't working, step away. Go do something else for awhile. Read a book, watch a movie, listen to music, go for a walk. Get yourself away and let your brain wander. Usually when you come back you'll be better able to approach the issue with a fresh take and things will go more smoothly.

If you're having trouble coming up with ideas, again, expose yourself to lots of new things. Look at new art or new books or something; my favorite thing is to go to a bookstore and sit and flip through magazines or random books. With all this new input I usually get some kind of ideas flowing.

Above all, don't sit around worrying about being blocked, that's only going to make it worse. Acknowledge that you're having trouble, take a deep breath, step away, and then try again later. Much more productive.

~Villekat Sep 2, 2012 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

My art block almost always comes from working too hard on a peice and being to "into it". I usually cure it by working on another peice. I get a idea out of my idea journal and work on something small to get my mind off the other peice.

~hiyoi Aug 31, 2012

For me I don't bother trying to cure art block. I focus on something else and before you know it it's gone.
But if you're feeling down or depressed it can get hard to get inspired or find the energy to draw or think of what to draw, so I think your mental state is pretty important, too.

=KrisseyMage Aug 31, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

mostly listen to music, that is my main muse. If that doesn't help, look at tumblr or deviantart for references and inspiration; drink some coffee and try to get focused.
If that doesn't help, sometimes I drink a little to loosen up (only a little

), and just start drawing what comes to mind. I wouldn't recommend it unless you are of age/or have had drinking problems.

~marie-paul Aug 31, 2012 Hobbyist Digital Artist

Oh... drinking... well I'm of age but I practice abstention from alcohol and tobacco

=KrisseyMage Sep 1, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

I see

to each their own

~narutokunobessed Aug 30, 2012 Student General Artist

[link]

That, and its all about feeding your brain for ideas you like to draw. Inspiration comes from anything, so its best to browse, watch your favorite show, fav art works, etc.

You have to remeber, art is half observation, and inspiration. Observing is part of studying figures, real photos, how things work, etc. Inspiration is things you like, deriving from your experiences, drawing from the observe figures, ettc. And then the rest is putting those into practice, which is experimenting around your sketchbook. And alot of these two things, is from studying something and drawing somethine alot. If you have no brain capacity of either, you can't really draw a form that looks like its the illusion of 3D.

~Silver-Mercy Aug 30, 2012

I go to the projects forum and see what other people want drawn.

~marie-paul Aug 31, 2012 Hobbyist Digital Artist

And you draw it for them ?

Details

Statistics

What do you do when you're blocked ? Major blocked ?

Devious Comments

The Journal Portal

Polls

What is your preferred drawing software?

deviantART [dee·vee·un'nt·ART]

Keep in Touch!

Deviousness

Add Media

Style