It’s frustrating, for sure!
The more you think about it, the more frustrated you become, and then you don’t even feel like creating anymore, so you put all your supplies away in a huff and your day is ruined!
(Maybe that’s a little dramatic, but still…)
Why does this happen? I can only speak for myself, but in my early years as an artist this seemed to happen to me more often than it does now.
Personally, it was a feeling of overwhelm. There were just too many options for what to paint and what to paint it with.
Now, I still get these stuck feelings sometimes, but I’ve found that the more you create the more ideas come to you.
Of course, to get this kind of momentum you have to first get over that first hurdle of the what and the how. These following prompts help me to get over that initial hump and spark my creativity:
Take a Simple Object and Make it Beautiful or Interesting
This can be something around your home—an heirloom, a gravy boat, an ugly lamp inherited from your spouse’s grandmother (don’t get me started on that one…)
Basically, you can make your own still life painting based on this object, or even create an abstract image inspired by its shapes or colors.
Make “Blobs” of your Favorite Colors and Let Them Become the Subject
This prompt is a lot of fun when using fluid inks or watercolors. Just splash and splatter on your paper, using two or three of your favorite colors.
Once dry, turn it around and examine it for inspiration. Build a composition around a pretty blob or interesting color swirls, or paint negatively around them to bring out the shapes.
Spend One Painting Session Creating Something Outside of Your Usual Style
“Roadrunner Run” Watercolor and Prismacolor by Aura Lesnjak, 2010
Change Media: If you paint large-scale oil paintings, try making a small graphite drawing. If you paint fine detail in acrylic, try making a free-flowing watercolor piece.
Change Genre: f you paint abstractly, paint a representational piece, and vice versa.
Change Colors: If you paint in bright bold colors, try creating a muted piece in grayed shades.
This piece of mine on the right was my first attempt at painting a stylized animal instead of a realistic one.
It was so much fun, that from then on I almost always stylize my subjects with unusual and bold colors now.
You may be surprised how this one exercise can breathe new life in to your next paintings!
Paint Your Favorite Subject–Upside Down
This exercise really helps you to loosen up if you often paint realistic subjects. The idea is not to make it look exactly like the real thing—it will be more of an interesting interpretation of a flower, or a horse, or a figure, etc…
Take a Walk or a “Time-Out” Before You Get too Frustrated
Sometimes you just need to step away for awhile and refresh yourself. It sounds cliché, but I’ve had a lot of my best ideas when I’m enjoying the quietude of nature.
If weather doesn’t permit a leisurely stroll, sit down with your beverage of choice and peruse a favorite art book or magazine. I have so many back issues of artist magazines, and I learn something from each one every time I look through it.
Capture Inspiration When You Are in the Moment
When you have finally gotten your groove back and you are in the midst of a new creation, remember to listen to that quiet voice that flows through you.
It may be your next great painting! As soon as you can, write it down, record it, sketch it, take notes. Soon, you will have a back log of ideas and your only concern will be finding the extra time to paint them!
How do you overcome artist’s block? Please let me know in the comments below!
