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Hey so i'm in a perpetual state of artblock and wanted to share some tips on how to get out of artblock/how to improve while still enjoying yourself, plus some general art tips.
Here's a thread
Here's a thread
Base concept: when you’re artblocked, you want to make drawing enjoyable again. First step: ask yourself if you actually want to draw or if you just want a finished drawing in your hands. If you do want to draw, it helps to draw things you actually like.
Step 1: Set a timer for 5 minutes and draw for that long
This helps when I just don’t want to get started. You can work on an existing drawing, or you can just doodle on a sheet of paper. By the end of the 5 mins you’ll know whether you want to keep going or not.
This helps when I just don’t want to get started. You can work on an existing drawing, or you can just doodle on a sheet of paper. By the end of the 5 mins you’ll know whether you want to keep going or not.
If you don’t feel like drawing or you feel worse by the end of the 5 minutes then STOP. Watch TV, play a video game, anything, but don’t draw. You can’t force it. It’s the art equivalent of continuing to run on a sprained ankle: continuing to exert yourself will make it worse.
Step 2: Do studies…. Of things you like
When you hear about studies, you think of still lives, gesture drawings, etc. But studies don’t have to be boring! The key is drawing things that you like, like redrawing aesthetically pleasing photos. Even DTIYS/anime redraws count.
When you hear about studies, you think of still lives, gesture drawings, etc. But studies don’t have to be boring! The key is drawing things that you like, like redrawing aesthetically pleasing photos. Even DTIYS/anime redraws count.
As an aside, if you have access to Photoshop, its Median function (2nd pic) does a great job of removing texture and simplifying forms, which makes studies easier. If you don't have PS then CSP's Artistic effect (3rd pic) also works).
: lanju_fotographie @ Unsplash
: lanju_fotographie @ Unsplash
Step 3: Learned this from @sleuthysaturn! Make lists of things you want to try: the first page of my sketchbook is just lists of ideas. I've attached pics of my lists; when I don't know what to draw, I pick a list, pick what looks fun from that list (or use an RNG), and go.
Step 4: If sketchbooks are too scary, use loose paper. I know, sketchbooks are made to be messy, but I like to keep my warmups out of my sketchbook/draw with purpose so that I can look back at my actual art style and not just scribbles.
However, I carry a small sheaf of 8.5x11 loose printer paper inside my sketchbook just for doodling on. You can also make a smaller notebook for warmups by stapling printer paper together - literally just take 10 sheets of paper, fold them in half, and staple at the fold.
Some specific exercises I like to do:
-Look at a drawing/photo you like, then figure out what you like about it and make a drawing with those traits. This is easier for me to explain with the attached pictures haha
Art belongs to @Sakokii !!
Art belongs to @Sakokii !!
-Make a personal aesthetic moodboard/oc moodboards/songs, etc. Then look at the photos and ask yourself: what makes these photos fit with you/your OC/song? Write those elements down, then include them in your drawings.
For example, I made this quick moodboard of pics that just ~vibe~ with my OC Cal. It helped me realize some motifs that get his character across: soft neutral colors, the season of fall, vague/blurry dreamlike forms, coffee LOL, glimpses of slightly darker/more ominous themes.
Zero pressure drawing:
Use your cheapest materials and printer paper/backs of old homework assignments/whatever. Make whatever shapes make your hands feel good. Write down any thoughts or lyrics that appear in your head. The objective is not “create art”, it's “fill the page”.
Use your cheapest materials and printer paper/backs of old homework assignments/whatever. Make whatever shapes make your hands feel good. Write down any thoughts or lyrics that appear in your head. The objective is not “create art”, it's “fill the page”.
If you're doing this digitally, use lightweight software (like Autodesk Sketchbook and Paint Tool Sai) and turn off pen pressure. A lot of the time I've found I can't draw right because I'm gripping the pencil too hard, etc.
Follow random tutorials:
I go to http://drawingden.tumblr.com , go to random tutorials (or the most recent ones) and draw them. @/vampbyte's
CSP tutorial list is also worth a look:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQOfiXxc7fY_4kVxRMDXpqtBgPZsIlYbc3KPtKWL5iOB6eLD7qWRTiG_kOjpGbBE-oBtHPtNxXRMsqr/pubhtml
I go to http://drawingden.tumblr.com , go to random tutorials (or the most recent ones) and draw them. @/vampbyte's
CSP tutorial list is also worth a look:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQOfiXxc7fY_4kVxRMDXpqtBgPZsIlYbc3KPtKWL5iOB6eLD7qWRTiG_kOjpGbBE-oBtHPtNxXRMsqr/pubhtml
Thumbnails:
Think of a phrase/word/lyric/whatever and make a thumbnail of a drawing. Then make another. And another. Don't constrain yourself, just draw whatever appears in your head. I try to do 10. You can also do this with writing and story concepts.
Think of a phrase/word/lyric/whatever and make a thumbnail of a drawing. Then make another. And another. Don't constrain yourself, just draw whatever appears in your head. I try to do 10. You can also do this with writing and story concepts.
New tools:
If you can afford it, buy yourself a totally random art supply. I used to do this a lot in college - walk down to the art school and buy myself a random $2-$5 pen/pencil once in a while, or get myself a new Copic color at Michaels.
If you can afford it, buy yourself a totally random art supply. I used to do this a lot in college - walk down to the art school and buy myself a random $2-$5 pen/pencil once in a while, or get myself a new Copic color at Michaels.
Michaels usually has a 40% off one item coupon on the site that you can use in store, so Copic Sketches can cost less than $5). Try a medium or brand you haven’t tried before. This’ll also help you discover new favorite tools!
(If cost is an issue, downloading new brushes or CSP assets can work just as well, or testing out the premade brushes in your software that you haven’t used yet. Making your own brushes can be fun!)
-Try media that aren’t designed for art:
I like art pens and Copics, but ballpoints and Crayola markers/crayons work great for doodling for me. Lipstick makes a really nice sub for bloodstains in drawings. Doodle on top of your Copic bleed on the other side of the page.
I like art pens and Copics, but ballpoints and Crayola markers/crayons work great for doodling for me. Lipstick makes a really nice sub for bloodstains in drawings. Doodle on top of your Copic bleed on the other side of the page.
-Make collages:
-If you have access to free/cheap color printing: I use DownAlbum to download my Pinterest aesthetic boards, then print them out, 35 photos to a page. I then cut out all the photos (quicker than it sounds) and occasionally glue/washi tape them into my sketchbook.
-If you have access to free/cheap color printing: I use DownAlbum to download my Pinterest aesthetic boards, then print them out, 35 photos to a page. I then cut out all the photos (quicker than it sounds) and occasionally glue/washi tape them into my sketchbook.
If you can’t print, use old magazines/catalogs/newspapers/paper scraps/giftwrap/paint cards. If you find a free local magazine, take it and dissect it. Use both photos and interesting bits of articles. Paper Source and Lush catalogs have some pretty fun colors/phrases.
Stickers help too! You can get stickers/washi tape for EXTREMELY cheap on Aliexpress or Aliexpress distributors w/faster shipping. (Shein is one such distributor. As far as I can tell, the art is not stolen.)
Stickii Club also designs really nice sticker sheets in house.
Stickii Club also designs really nice sticker sheets in house.
Alright that's all I got off the top of my head haha.... I'll add more if anything comes to mind. Best of luck out there!!
