how do i get through days when i can't draw

[kennybrann]

all right this is a dumb question. there are some days when i can't draw anything. all my proportions are wrong everything about it looks like crap. but then i'll go for a week where it all looks good. so my question is, is there anyway to get through those days when no matter how hard you try you can't draw or are you just screwed and you should draw another day.

[tensai]

There will always be times when you are on fire and everything you do seems like a present, so effortless. It's often because you're hand as well as your mind is well warmed up.
The solution to the bad days if you ask me is not to draw another day, but to keep on drawing, but loose the expectations and keep making the mistakes. Be humble, don't think about the outcome, just doing will inevitably warm you up again.. (Only to cool down again and loose it, warming up again etc etc. again and again..).


Have fun..

[FranciscoShreds]

You force yourself to draw. That's it.

Dan dos santos says it best in his vid, as a professional illustrator you can't afford to let mood or anything dictate when you will draw, or how good you will draw. You have to be on your game every single day.

To me, none of this is an issue anymore... Ever since I started my regimen of drawing 12 or so hours a day (something that can indeed be accomplished, fairly easily in fact) where as soon as I wake up I'm already doing warm up gestures, all the crap that might have deterred me a few years ago doesn't even come into play now.

Now, I'm not saying that you have to follow my regimen, however, if you are planning on doing something awesome with art then there's no reason to loose time over some random mood. That's just the time when you should hit the bridgman, the loomis or the hogarth harder than you would other days.

[Black Spot]

It's a bit like having a bad hair day. No matter what you do, it still looks a mess.

[kennybrann]

all right i just gotta get going when the going gets tough. haha sounds good. thanks for the motivation.

[J Wilson]

Work through it. There is the occasional day where you make bad choices, but you just need to have confidence that if you work through it that you'll still end up looking how it should.

[Jason Ross]

It depends...if you are not using reference and your image just isn't working...then get some reference. If you are using reference then step away for a minute, come back with fresh eyes and examine what the problem could be. We would need to see some of your work to really give some sound advice.

[sanakris]

I found that sometimes I get burned out doing formal art for awhile. So when that happens I just do some abstract art. I don't like or do abstract art but it helps to free your mind a bit. It's a break that I realize worked a couple of times for me. Here's an example. It's an 18x12 pen and ink piece. Helps feeds the creative munchies. and the moment you start doubting yourself it's dangerous.

[Nrx]

To me, none of this is an issue anymore... Ever since I started my regimen of drawing 12 or so hours a day (something that can indeed be accomplished, fairly easily in fact)

you dont have a job do you :p

[FLenG]

Go to a museum, art exhibition, watch a movie, animation. Anything that gets your inspiration and creative juices running again.

[AeonPhoenix]

Go outside. Do things with friends. It'll always get your imagination going. Never let your feelings get the best of you, and don't take it too seriously. Art involves patience, discipline, and practice. Best of luck to you.

[Pezz]

Sometimes this forum makes me feel slightly inferior for having a lot of other things I do than drawing trying to lose weight takes up too much of my time! Some posts on here actually make me feel guilty for spending time on ice hockey, bicycling and weight lifting (weight lifting is the biggest guilt factor; pushing my muscles to failure often kills my ability to control a pencil for anything but blind contours) instead of drawing and drawing.

I strangely find that having a day or two of my other hobbies actually helps my brain process what I've learned. For instance, if I do some sketches from life then some anatomical studies for 5 hours one night, sitting down to paint miniatures or playing a good, rough ice hockey game helps my brain process what I've learned.

I often feel that I come back to my drawing table refreshed and with knowledge/technical skill I didn't know I could perform before. I get ideas from just walking outside and taking life in to its fullest extent, now. Let your brain run away and play object/word association for a bit.

If you sit down and get angry at yourself for having a bad day, it just for me seems to spawn more bad days. Just take some deep breaths, relax, watch an inspiring movie or read a good book. Look at nature; hell, just draw angry lines, circles, shapes, squiggles until you see things in them, and let your brain run wild.

[Eric Young]

The only problem I have it when I have an imagination block and can't come up with any ideas. When that happens I usually start drawing from life, figures, or anatomy drawings. Just keep drawing and don't quit for anything.

[Ilaekae]

Wake up. Drinks lots of coffee. Go to the bathroom. Put on comfortable shoes. Open the door. Go somewhere you've never been, or haven't been to in a long time. When you're tired, go home. Drink some cocoa/whatever. Go to bed.

How fuckin' easy is this?

[Pezz]

Wake up. Drinks lots of coffee. Go to the bathroom. Put on comfortable shoes. Open the door. Go somewhere you've never been, or haven't been to in a long time. When you're tired, go home. Drink some cocoa/whatever. Go to bed.

How fuckin' easy is this?

Mmm, cocoa.