The Value of the Hiatus

[brianhamner]

Gee whiz I hope I spelled that right. Hiatus? Damn foreign words.
Anyways I wanted to share something that was a help to me, maybe someone can derive something from it. For about a month I have been kinda burnt out on art, nothing I do satisfies me, I was totally depressed and thinking I would never amount to anything and all that happy horseshit that goes along with being an artist.
Also things in my regular life were kinda piling up and adding to the stress, so I took a hiatus. I purposely did nothing that had to do with art, not even thinking about it. I gave myself time to breathe, and lay around the house like a bum watching a pile of DVDs for a couple of weeks, or doing all the things on my honey-do list. It took me about a week and a half to clear my schedule of the things I've been meaning to do and now that the slate is cleaned I can focus better on my art.
What a transformation. I came back more energized than ever.
So, If you got the ick, and cant seem to focus like you'd like, maybe you could benefit from a short break yourself. Because even if you arent conciously thinking about extraneous bullshit, it can still affect your art.

[jim b]

i agree, i find that taking a break once in a while helps me recharge, step outside of the box and come back with a fresh perspective on things. sometimes you get so obsessed with obtaining the nessecary skills, that you lose sight of what its all about in the first place.

[Seedling]

Thanks Brian. I’m taking a break right now myself.

[Seer]

I think this is true as well. It certainly works when it comes to physical training.
After you've been on a roll it might be wise to gather up your thoughts and let it all sink in and then start afresh. And no, I'm not just hippy-talking.

[Grief]

ive been on about a 2 month break from creating anything.

i found myself getting into a routine of drawing that followed a formula. i didnt feel creative.

that, and goddam the heat does no go well with toiling away in a sketchbook.

[Goog]

Im on a hiatus myself as well, and will be until football is over :dead:, and maybe school as well, I'm trying for valedictorian, taking AP art gives me an edge over the other geeks.

Anyways, I agree with what you said. Sometimes my art consumes me, and it's best to just take a step back and take a breath, and let everything I learned sink in.