Creative Slump: Help!
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Hey @amberwingart I think I know how you feel, I went through a very long and very painful period of my life where I couldn't draw for myself. I am an animator so I could get away with it. I used to miss drawing, but every time I tried to draw I would get so frustrated because I got to a level where I was comfortable drawing, but since I stopped for so long, it felt like I didn't know how to draw anymore, so I would stop. But after 6 years I got tired of it, I missed drawing too much. I thought a challenge would help me, but since I was embarrassed with my horrible drawing skills, I decided to start with just 10 random words. I decided they would be horrible, that I would use just pen and I wouldn't take more than 15 minutes on each one. Since I was Ok with them being very ugly, the 10 drawings became 30, and then 60 and now I'm at 110. I just had to power through the first part and I think you need to do the same, just give yourself permission to do ugly stuff and not care. Then it'll get better.
I hope this helps
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@Camomilla said in Creative Slump: Help!:
@amberwingart My longest creative block lasted ten years
Even though I didn't realize it at the time, this was closely related to me having two children. The constant interruptions, the sleep deprivation, the busy work schedule - all of these things contributed to what became a decade without drawing. I also find that I need some time to actually be bored to get my creativity flowing. I'm also hugely inspired by other peoples art, and need to surround myself with this as well. Art is (at least for me) something that requires a lot of time and space in my life. Luckily, my children are now bigger and less dependent on me, and I can focus more. On anything I like, really. Art is one of those things I could have written EXACTLY that, except that it lasted longer for me since I had 4 children. maternity drained me of any will to make art. it really confused me at times actually, I thought maybe I had enforced that need on me all these years before. but then when I got my time back (some of it anyway), it just came back naturally.
anyway, right now, what works for me when I feel like you do, is doing something completely different than what I usually draw, drawing from observation especially, because I know that while distracting me it also teaches me about the basics (anatomy, fabrics, lighting/shading...) which all help me in every aspect of my own art. I try to approach this exercise very lightly, as fun, no pressure, just study. it doesn't have to look good. I just loosen up. if you struggle with clothing, this might be the right thing to do for you. what you learn from sketching from life helps you to get better at more abstract or simplified stuff too
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here, you could start with this one ^_^
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@audrey-dowling haa haa love it!! might try draw of this one too!!
