How to Fight Artist's Block

Just like writers get "writer's block," I have experienced what I can only call "artist's block." Sometimes I find it incredibly hard to draw. Sometimes, I can't draw, even when I feel that I am trying very hard. This is a (pardon the pun) drawback for a professional artist! The more I try when I am in this state, the more frustrated I become.

I've found some ways to get past it when it happens.
If you get stuck by artist's block, give some of these ideas a try.

Sometimes just getting my art supplies organized and sharpening my pencils helps. I think it could be just the smell of the sharpened pencils that does the trick. Some kind of artist's aromatherapy, perhaps?

Try a style or art supply you've never tried before. Sometimes I think I am stuck in a rut, so although I mostly work in pencil, just playing and experimenting with oil pastels will give me renewed energy for my art.

Stop and think about whether it is fear that the client won't like the artwork that is keeping me back. Fear of failure can be a biggie. To fight this negative thought pattern, I think of prior artworks that I've done that I have similarly worried over, and how the client was very happy with the finished artwork.

If you have thank you letters or letters of recommendation from your clients, you can print them out or make copies, and stick them up above your work area, so you will see them and be motivated and reminded that what you do has value and people love it. If you don't have such letters, ask your clients to send you their comments.

Listen to some upbeat music to lift your mood and give you energy to draw. Here's my favorite playlist.

People are always telling me they wish they could draw but they "can't."

I believe you have the ability to draw, you just haven't tapped into it.

When you sit down to draw, you are probably telling yourself in your mind "I can't do it - I can't draw, I have no creativity..."

your brain is so busy making that come true that you CAN'T do it. That goes for anything in life.
Your self-talk will rule you every time.

It's like that old saying, whether you think you can't or if you think you can...either way, you'll be right.

Here's a little trick I learned from Betty Edward's book,
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain


Give this a shot...

Take a photo and turn it upside down and draw it upside down.
Just focus on the shapes and the light and the dark.
When you turn it over, you'll be amazed at what you have drawn!

Let's pretend for a minute that it was a picture of Abraham Lincoln. We have preconceived notions of what Abraham Lincoln looks like, andif you tried to draw him right side up, your brain would tell you
"Ohmigosh I'm drawing Abraham Lincoln, I can't draw, and I DEFINITELY CAN'T DRAW ABRAHAM LINCOLN!"

But if you draw him upside down, then your brain is just going to break the image down into shapes and dark and light areas, and you'll just work on the shapes and you will be able to do it.

So grab a picture you like and try it!