Self-censorship and another problem

[hippl5]

I have a few ideas that I would like to draw, but I just can't picture them perfectly in my head. For example, I would like to draw a post-apocalyptic gas mask wearing soldier, yet I can't picture the gas mask in my head. What I picture is a soldier who looks like a Helghast from killzone. Since that's completely unoriginal, I just block that out and decide not to draw it.

I've browsed some COWs and CHOWs and I noticed that the very good artists have some backstory to their scene. I can barely think of a non-generic looking character, but I can't picture the scenery they would stand in, and I can't possibly think of a story in my head. I'm horrible when it comes to coming up with stories.

I want to improve, so I want to draw something original looking, I want to go heavy into details and improve overall, but these two things keep getting in my way.

And please don't throw any character/scene suggestions at me, I'd like to think of something on my own. If anyone minds, I'd like to hear what people do when they think their idea is unoriginal.

[PuppyKitten]

When I think I have an unoriginal drawing I do one of two things:

-I draw it anyway, but am too chicken to show it to other people

-I figure out what specifically feels "cookie-cutter" about it and evaluate whether I have the skill to add originality or make changes. Sometimes costume research is needed and references gathered. Then draw it the new way.

Usually I decide I don't have the skill needed and scrap the idea completely

[Mirana]

I tend to do a bit of research on the subject at hand before I go at it, and then pull something out of left field to inject into the idea if I'm having trouble. Like...look up an unrelated culture, push the idea into the past or into the future, conceive it in a totally different art style, reverse the stereotype, etc.

Once you start spending some time developing your idea in your head, you'll start to see a chain of events attach to it and there comes your backstory. Sometimes this story will even develop in the course of painting the thing. "My character needs color so I'm going to add a sash...which he got from the Empress of Mars...and it's pattern is sort of Indian...so it was when he was a merchant-pirate..."

For the gas mask, I'd probably do a little research on the evolution of the mask, it's function and then go hog-wild with the design depending on my culture, time and character.

[DeJakhalz]

When you got a pic in ur head its pretty normal it aint the final pic of your project. You should look at it more as a direction. When you want to draw a gas masked soldier why dont you just browse trough some good artists you know and also research on how a real gasmask, soldiers and suits really looks like in good detail. And then with that inspiration+the knownledge to draw all the material you are ready to go.

And you also can develop the picture in your head. I found that out sum years ago and now I sometimes got 7 pics flashing in my head(mostly when I go to bed or some other time where Im fully relaxed) which are all mostly pretty original and finished. I still kinda find it weird where those ideas come from...