I know you can get writer's block, but is it possible to get artist's block? What do you do when you don't know what to draw, and every reference photo you look at, you think you can't do? Maybe it's partly a confidence issue, and maybe it's a little of allowing the world to rest in heavy on your shoulders and stifle your creativity. Either way, I think I might have found a cure.
If I take a break, do something else, allow myself to get distracted, and best of all start laughing at something - I laugh the stress away! Then I spent some time looking in my art inspiration folder, where I've collected both pencil and colour pencil art that inspires me. Art I would love to be able to do.
I have a basic art plan to work on each week: Figure Drawing Monday, Still Life Tuesday, Wildlife Wednesday, Landscape Thursday, Urban Landscape Friday, Sci-fi Fantasy Saturday, and Colour Pencil Sunday. This gives me goals to work on to improve my art skills. I am also thinking of trying themes for each week, such as movie week, so I pick a reference related to movies for each one that week, a patriotic week, so each one has to be related to something patriotic to my country, maybe a Victorian week, so everything is Victorian related, etc, etc.
To ease myself back into regular sketching, I am also planning to try just a section of a reference photo if I am too overwhelmed by the thought of tackling a whole finished image. I will still be able to practice my drawing and rendering skills, hopefully gain confidence, and then maybe work on a full finished drawing at the end of the week.
That's the plan anyway. The main goal is just to get me sketching again. I want to be good, and I want to improve my skills. I can be a great artist if I practice. I can do this, I just need to try.
If I take a break, do something else, allow myself to get distracted, and best of all start laughing at something - I laugh the stress away! Then I spent some time looking in my art inspiration folder, where I've collected both pencil and colour pencil art that inspires me. Art I would love to be able to do.
I have a basic art plan to work on each week: Figure Drawing Monday, Still Life Tuesday, Wildlife Wednesday, Landscape Thursday, Urban Landscape Friday, Sci-fi Fantasy Saturday, and Colour Pencil Sunday. This gives me goals to work on to improve my art skills. I am also thinking of trying themes for each week, such as movie week, so I pick a reference related to movies for each one that week, a patriotic week, so each one has to be related to something patriotic to my country, maybe a Victorian week, so everything is Victorian related, etc, etc.
To ease myself back into regular sketching, I am also planning to try just a section of a reference photo if I am too overwhelmed by the thought of tackling a whole finished image. I will still be able to practice my drawing and rendering skills, hopefully gain confidence, and then maybe work on a full finished drawing at the end of the week.
That's the plan anyway. The main goal is just to get me sketching again. I want to be good, and I want to improve my skills. I can be a great artist if I practice. I can do this, I just need to try.
I am doing nothing right now and don't seem to have any inclination. But, it will be back ~ I shall enjoy my photography meantime ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Chrissy, Glad to know I'm not the only one! It's good that you're able to focus on your photography right now, as that will also give you new inspiration once you go back to creating your own art again! :)
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