In this video and article, learn some reasons why I slipped into art block, and what helps me get out of it! :D
Intro!
Are you feeling demotivated when it comes to making art? Maybe you pick up your pencil or tablet to create something, but don’t know what to draw.
Or maybe, you have SO MANY ideas of what to draw that you don’t know where to start. Maybe you’re feeling a sense of dread at the thought of creating anything at all right now.
If you’re feeling this way, don’t worry; many artists go through this in their lifetimes. Actually, I’ve been going through a long battle of art block myself! And in this video, I’m hoping to discuss some ways you can get through it if and when it comes for you.
Hey, shooting stars! My name is Dreamer, and in this video, I’m gonna talk about things that demotivated me in art, and what helped me get through it.
Keep in mind that these are things that really helped me in my slump. They may not help you, and that’s totally okay! Do whatever YOU need to to get back on track! :D
Now, then; without further ado, let’s get started! >:D
Disclaimer TwT
And before you think it, NO, I’m NOT gonna say, “Take a break! :D,” because I can’t take a break from art even if I wanted to (I love it too much TWT), and even when I do, it hurts me more than it helps.
But maybe I’m doing something wrong, I dunno.
…
Anyways, MOVING ON! :,D
Video Link!
Here is the link to the video! If you wish to view the article instead though, please read on! :D
What is Art Block?
We like to call demotivation in art many things, but it’s most commonly referred to as ‘art block.’
If you don’t know, art block is basically a state of either demotivation, dissatisfaction, or disinterest of art that a creator goes through. It can rise up for a number of reasons, and it comes for any and every artist, no matter how skilled or experienced you are in your craft.
So, let’s get one thing straight:
THERE IS NO AVOIDING ART BLOCK.
No matter what you do, or how you try, art block is going to come for you at some point in your artistic journey; it’s inescapable. In fact, trying to avoid it is a sure-fire way to get it to come for you even faster.
Now, you may be thinking:
“Dreamer; if art block is inescapable, what’s the point of trying to draw? Why should I try to create something if I’m gonna get demotivated? ):”
And, that’s a fair question!
But nothing in life worth having ever comes easy, and the most beautiful of views often come from the steepest of climbs. Art block will happen somedays, sure; but in these moments, we can find ways to regain our motivation and creativity, and we can push through and come out on top!
So, with that, I’m gonna start listing things that got me into art block, and what helped me get out of them. And, the first one is...
Complacency!
I’m gonna be completely honest with you, here; I’ve been in art block for the past, like, four or so months. I’ve made and tried to start SO many illustrations, and only successfully managed to crank out a FEW that I’m proud of.
A large part of this is because I was bored with my work. See, when I stay in a certain skill level for a long time, my brain tends to become complacent and lackadaisical, which then lowers my enthusiasm for what I’m doing.
But I noticed something from the ones I was proud of. They were usually ones where I tried a new method or incorporated something I didn’t usually use into the illustration!
Maybe I used 3D models for reference; maybe I looked at more artists’ illustrations for inspiration; maybe I learned a new coloring technique. Whatever I learned, I tried putting it into my next serious illustration. And when the results would turn out great, I would be so proud, because something new that I tried actually paid off!
Your progression in art skills is like a video game; if you truly want to improve in art, you can’t stay at the same level forever. So, if you feel yourself beginning to become somewhat bored with your current skill, try leveling up!
Expand your skillset; try to draw things you’ve never drawn before, or use skills that you’ve never tried before!
If you’re more of a painter, try cell-shading!
Do you draw people? Draw more objects! Food, even!
This all depends on what it is you’re wishing to do in the future, but try to gain more knowledge! The sky is the limit.
And when you learn new things and try out new methods, you’ll be excited to see how they work in your illustration-making process, and you’ll be eager to create again! At least, that’s how it works for me. TwT
Another thing that harms me is...
Comparison!
This is actually more important than you think it is!
I want you to do something for me. If you like to view a lot of digital art on social media, go to your Blue Bird or your You of the Tube, or the Tok of the Tik, or the Gram of the Insta... maybe even Chat of the Snap, if that’s still relevant.
And on your “for you” page or home feed or whatever, I want you to scroll down as far as you can and take note of how many objective beginners you see on your feed.
And, let me know if you find any! I genuinely want to know. :)
But if your social media is anything like it was designed to be, your feed is only going to only have illustrations from artists that have a lot of experience, or who’s illustrations are very appealing to the eye.
Now, comparison amongst artists isn’t a bad thing, because it lets you know what you need to work on in your own illustrations, and you can use their artwork as inspiration to get to where you want to be in your art journey.
But when you’re constantly being bombarded with people who have a higher skill level than you, you’re going to begin to negatively compare yourself to the artists you see, and may begin to feel like you’ll never reach their level.
That’s when you begin to feel demotivated and slip into art block, because you feel that there’s no need to draw if you’ll never be as good as the people you admire.
This has happened to me a lot; and whenever it does, I find it a good idea to take a step back from social media, or at least stop viewing so many artists. Narrow it down to a few people you want to learn and take inspiration from, and don’t look at the rest. When you feel this way, the fewer sources of artists you have to look at, the better.
And in this stage, the best form of comparison you can do is with your younger self! Look back on your old illustrations and see how far you’ve come. Oftentimes, we tend to not notice our artistic changes because we’re so focused on improving that we lose sight of the strides we’re making.
And before you say:
“Oh, I PEAKED at my younger years! My art was SO MUCH better back then! D:”
Number one, don’t you DARE say that. TREAT YOURSELF BETTER!!! ):<
And number two, having a drastic art style change doesn’t mean you’re a bad artist. It just means you’re shifting into a style that best suits you, whether it’s more or less detailed.
I actually plan on making a video about that sometime, so stay tuned! :D
But sometimes you need a new perspective on how far you’ve come by realizing where you’ve been, and by focusing on your own progress, not the results of others. Try seeing if this works for you! :)
TANGEEEENNTT!!! >:D
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and a very happy New Year’s celebration! :D
I know the holidays means different things to different people; for us Believers, it’s celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For others, it may just be spending time with family and eating great food until you pass out! And for others, it may be the gifts you give and receive. -w-
But I hope you had a great time and that you enjoyed bringing in the new year, too. ^^
Question: in the song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” do you guys hear, “where the love likely is,” or “where the love light gleams?” I feel like I’ve heard both being sung.
What do you think? :)
But anyways, back to the article! :D
The final thing that makes me get art block is...
Perfectionism!
I have a bad habit of imagining things the exact way I want them to be drawn, and then the second things don’t turn out how I want them to, I give up and lose motivation to continue the illustration.
Same thing goes with my inspirations; I want my work to look as amazing and perfectly polished as theirs, so when it doesn’t, I... tend to want to abandon ship and quit drawing.
And this sucks because when this mindset kicks in, I begin to think, “If my art can’t look the way I want it to, or can’t look like this certain artist’s work... if my drawings can’t look PERFECT... then what’s the point of drawing at all?” And I check out. :(
This really isn’t the best mindset to have, because not EVERY illustration you make is gonna be jaw-droppingly awesome. You’re gonna have sketches that never leave the drawing board; works in progress that eternally remain works in progress.
And that’s okay! :D
Masterpiece or no, with each drawing you make, you’re taking steps further and further into your artistic journey. Each drawing you make is adding onto your experience and craft, and one day you’ll be able to look back on those pieces and be thankful for them, because they helped you get to this point. :D
Or, you’ll be like me, who laughs at them because of how bad they were... do as I say, not as I do. TWT
So, what do you do to conquer this feeling of perfectionism?
As humans, we are all our own worst critics, so I’m sad to say that you can never truly get rid of it. :(
But, the best way to make sure that feeling doesn’t come up as much as possible is to simply... have fun!
I know that sounds generic, but PLEASE hear me out. TWT
The illustrations I’m proud of aren’t special to me only because I tried new things, but because I let go of my expectation of it looking perfect and enjoyed the process.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in the finished product that we lose sight of the process. When you teach yourself to relax and enjoy and just trust the process, you end up enjoying creating so much that no matter how it looks when you’re done, you’re satisfied either way.
And loving the process of creating is a surefire way to keep your motivation up! :D
You’re a great artist; you just have to believe it! :)
Outro!
So, yeah! That’s all I have for this article!
This was really me preaching to the choir; I still struggle with motivation to create something. So, know that I’m fighting art block right alongside you! :D
And remember, these tips may not help you specifically, and that’s okay! Do whatever YOU need to do to get YOUR motivation back! It’s up to you! ^^
I wish you all the best! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, keep fighting art block, and happy creating! >:D
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