When in doubt...or at least museless?

[Diichi]

I believe, or at least hope, that all artists tend to go through transitions in their life in which they can't seem to find good, solid inspiration anywhere. Not at school, with friends, not through the internet or books. I happen to be going through one of those phases where I feel as though my work is at a complete standstill. Nothing is improving, though nothing is really getting worse. I fail to come up with new, original ideas, even after consulting my most treasured inspirations, my music. It is really frustrating, and even depressing sometimes. I don't want to come off sounding like some whiny emo kid, so I'll get to the point and ask all of you artists out there; in times like this, where nothing seems to work, where do you go? What is the rarest of rare inspirations for you? Do they lie within certain people, within a specific surrounding? By playing a certain movie?

I'm running really low on ideas, and I need something to get me excited about art again. I've browsed here and threre through the inspiration threads here on CA.org, but it's not quite seeming to hit the right spot with me, at least, not yet. I suppose it also doesn't help that my expectations of a great art school I'm currently enrolled at, is sort of failing me? : /

Thanks in advance for responses!

[Grief]

draw your life. forget the fantasy shit, forget making everything epic, forget quality, forget style, forget the bullshit that prevents you from doing art. don't look to others, look to yourself, no one will start your drawings for you.

stop listening to everything.
draw the silence, draw the isolation, draw the frusteration, draw the depression, embrace your emotions and exploit them. stop being shamed by your inability to be original or creative.

fucking experiment, fail at something intentionally, make a mess, have pride. the only real weakness is not doing anything. how sad is it if you can only draw when you feel happy and motivated? grind your teeth and uppercut your way through a sketchpad, youre only utilizing a minimal fraction of your skill as an artist if you only create when youre inspired.

lift up the pencil and push it around, fuck the outcome, do it!

[Farvus]

I like this quote:

"Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work. " -Chuck Close

[pok82]

Best thing to do when you're feeling burnt out is to just take a break. I don't care who you are, nobody can be creative 24/7. so if you're having trouble thinking of things, just set the drawing aside for a little bit and focus on something else. It's more of a mental thing anyway, so the more to focus on it, the harder it'll be to do stuff that you think is good.

What I'd do though is keep all the work you've been doing, take a break -- a couple of days, maybe a week or so -- then come back to it and look at your work. Chances are it's not as bad as you think it is.

[Diichi]

draw your life. forget the fantasy shit, forget making everything epic, forget quality, forget style, forget the bullshit that prevents you from doing art. don't look to others, look to yourself, no one will start your drawings for you.

stop listening to everything.
draw the silence, draw the isolation, draw the frusteration, draw the depression, embrace your emotions and exploit them. stop being shamed by your inability to be original or creative.

fucking experiment, fail at something intentionally, make a mess, have pride. the only real weakness is not doing anything. how sad is it if you can only draw when you feel happy and motivated? grind your teeth and uppercut your way through a sketchpad, youre only utilizing a minimal fraction of your skill as an artist if you only create when youre inspired.

lift up the pencil and push it around, fuck the outcome, do it!

Well....very blunt, but...thanks I guess XD;

[Diichi]

I like this quote:

"Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work. " -Chuck Close

Mm...see, I don't like that. It makes it seem as though once artists become professional, there's no creativity left within the field, which is simply not true. It may not ALWAYS be as open as one would like it to be, but it's not dead and museless. If that quote is really true, then call me an amateur for the rest of my life. Inspiration is important even to the so called professionals of this day and age, all of which can be backed up by direct interview quotes.

I do understand your intentions were good, however I believe that living a happy, and inspired lifestyle is completely possible, if you work hard enough for it.

Also, I hope I didn't sound rude in my response. It's just rather disheartening to think that the excitement of having such a rare talent just dies off because we're all machines made to go to work and make money. Nothing personal, really! D:

[Diichi]

Best thing to do when you're feeling burnt out is to just take a break. I don't care who you are, nobody can be creative 24/7. so if you're having trouble thinking of things, just set the drawing aside for a little bit and focus on something else. It's more of a mental thing anyway, so the more to focus on it, the harder it'll be to do stuff that you think is good.

What I'd do though is keep all the work you've been doing, take a break -- a couple of days, maybe a week or so -- then come back to it and look at your work. Chances are it's not as bad as you think it is.


Good point; I guess I never really liked taking breaks since this past summer has been nothing but staying in the house (couldn't find a job, etc reasons). So now it's like, if I sit still for more than a half an hour, it's cabin fever time.

[Elwell]

Mm...see, I don't like that. It makes it seem as though once artists become professional, there's no creativity left within the field, which is simply not true.
You've completely missed the point.

Ride it out, it will pass. Maybe as soon as tomorrow.

[Lukias]

I agree.
Its got nothing to do with a lack of creativity. When a drew regularly I didn't require inspiration... drawing became routine. You put pencil to paper, started drawing and stopped after ex amount of time having drawn something. I reguired naught else to let this process happen. I was (I felt) being creative and enjoying it in the process.
Requiring inspiration can be a crutch.. like a drug you need more of in order to get into your zone.
Think back a hundred years.. those illustrators had about a 1000th less in terms of other artists to draw from. For starters there was no internet.
Just get down with your bad self and make shit happen. You are an endless resovoir of creativity.

[chriskot]

Mm...see, I don't like that. It makes it seem as though once artists become professional, there's no creativity left within the field, which is simply not true. It may not ALWAYS be as open as one would like it to be, but it's not dead and museless. If that quote is really true, then call me an amateur for the rest of my life. Inspiration is important even to the so called professionals of this day and age, all of which can be backed up by direct interview quotes.
I think he meant that amateurs look for inspiration and that professionals don't have to because it comes naturally to them.

Anyway, threads like this seem to pop up on a regular basis. Essentially, the replies are usually along the lines of "Take a break", "Draw from life", "Just draw anything", and "Get some fresh air". These are good pieces of advice and definitely all things you should listen to. It'll pass no matter what you do.

[tomwaits4noman]

ever try http://www.conceptart.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=74

weekly challenges

[Diichi]

You've completely missed the point.

Ride it out, it will pass. Maybe as soon as tomorrow.

Hm....I think I'm seeing the message more clearly now. The word work just made me automatically think of a career or job, as opposed to work as in...our actual work, our pieces.