How to DITCH inspiration as an artist and still create [by an artist]
As an artist, one of the most difficult things to come by is the inspiration to create. In this post, learn how you can DITCH inspiration as an artist and create things with no stress!
” Inspiration is one thing and you can’t control it, but hard work is what keeps the ship moving. Good luck means, work hard. Keep up the good work.”
Kevin Eubanks
In the past, I have seen plenty of artists go weeks and months without creating or practicing their art. As a result, their happiness decreases. You can tell, just by looking at them, that their inability to create is wreaking havoc on their mood.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way!
Best Advice: Ditch Inspiration and Just Do It!
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE
One of the biggest inspiration-killers out there is a sedentary lifestyle. When you’re stuck in this lifestyle, every day becomes the same. Eventually, you don’t look forward to anything and the thought of creating brings you down even more.
This is why a change of scenery can be so important.
Even just taking a walk through a local park is sure to get your creative juices flowing. You could try taking your sketchbook and art supplies with you to the lake. Or have a picnic and paint the reflections of the trees against the water.
In conclusion: do yourself a favor and get out of the house if you really want to just ditch inspiration.
Don’t forget to relax while you’re down there!
Pick up your pen and get to Creating!
Another amazing trick is to literally just pick up your supplies and do it! It may not be the best thing you’ve ever made, but it should give you the motivation to keep creating. Stop relying on inspiration to create your art and just do it!
Visit local Art Fairs and Conventions
A great way to chill out and get some artistic motivation is by visiting art shows and conventions. Sure, you may become jealous of other’s art, but this will give you the motivation to get better at your own!
Check around your town and on websites for local conventions and art fairs.
Draw Something for a Loved One
I’m sure your skills are by now known by your family members and loved ones. And if not, this is even more of a reason to do this!
Social admiration is great fuel for creating, and custom art makes great gifts for loved ones. With that being said, take advantage of your artistic prowess and show your loved ones how much you care about them!
Art App Community
Join an art app community so you can receive constructive criticism on your art. This is an amazing way of realizing what you can improve upon as well as it being a good source of encouragement.
Furthermore, you can learn about new techniques and skills from artists with more experience. Check this out for the best online art communities!
Observe other Artists Online
Watch YouTube! Follow Instagram artists! Something that never gets old is watching your idols while gaining motivation to improve your own work.
For some ideas on who to follow, consider some of these well-known artists.
Download a Prompt App
There are plenty of amazing apps and websites that generate random prompts. Art prompt apps create inspiration for you, no work required! These are also great for creating spur of the moment artwork or using as a plot for writing!
Join your Local Art Club
While similar to the art app suggestion, this has a distinct difference. By joining an art club, you gain the ability to join closely-knit groups of friends and enjoy the comfort of being surrounded by like-minded people.
Wake up early…
I get it, you’re a night-owl. So am I.
The thought of waking up at 9 a.m. is akin to the thought of willfully letting an elephant sit on me. In other words, not nice. However, I won’t lie. I feel so much better when I have more time in my day, plus it allows me to get things done.
If you have trouble waking up, like me, then try this amazing app: Alarmy.
Alarmy is a specialized alarm app that will not stop ringing until you solve a math problem or take a picture of a predetermined object. This, in turn, wakes you up.
With that being said, at least give it a try. I’m positive your sketchbook will thank you.
Remake old Art
Remember those old 2nd-grade drawings that you thought would never see the light of day again? Turns out they will, since you’re going to redraw them.
Whether it be an old knitting project, drawing, painting, or whatever type of art you engage in, it’s bound to look better after years of practice.
Do yourself a favor and give them a makeover! You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much better you’ve become in your craft.
Take looooooots of Pictures
If you’re a photographer, then you already do this. If not, then this is a good skill to pick up.
Take pictures of interesting objects around you, and redraw them or create a story about them later. This will help stretch your creative muscles and freeze a moment of time within your device.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover that you have a talent in photography!
Keep your References Organized! PLEASE!
That is if you keep references. If you don’t, then start!
A great app to do this is Pinterest.
Create a board and fill it up with hundreds of references. There’s no need to ditch inspiration if you don’t need it in the first place.
If you’re more of a hands-on person, then keep your references organized in a folder to locate it easily. This stops you from spending countless hours looking for that one perfectly drawn hand, which allows you more time to create more perfectly drawn hands.
Learn a New Technique through a Class
You want to learn watercolor painting but you just don’t know where to start…
If that’s the case, then consider taking a course teaching you how to do so. There are plenty of resources on the internet for this, but I’ll list a couple of my favorites right here:
Udemy: Though courses are generally $12, they contain a massive amount of content in an easy to understand structure. You can complete these classes on your own time and have an instructor that will answer any questions you have.
Skillshare: Similar to Udemy, but the courses are normally shorter. This subscription is $15/month.
If you want to learn a skill for free, try youtube and other blogs specializing in the skill you wish to learn.
Write down your Dreams, Create Art about Them
I absolutely adore dream journals! Though I have a hard time actually writing in them (heavy-sleeper alert), when I do, I’m surprised by the content of them.
Most people forget 90% of a dreams’ details within 10 minutes! So be sure that you have a traditional journal or a phone app to record it for you nearby.
I have been known to create short stories about my own dreams, along with art detailing the contents of them. I can say from experience that this is an interesting and no-inspiration-required way to get you out of that artists’ stump.
Have a Healthy Exercise and Morning Routine
This is more or less piggybacking on the ‘wake up earlier’ advice but goes into more detail. If you feel unhealthy, your art will suffer. It’s as simple as that.
To stop this vicious cycle, create a customized morning routine that leaves you feeling fresh and ready to create!
If you have difficulty exercising, there are apps and sites to help with that as well. Here’s some more information on that so you can leave your bed and get those happy chemicals!
Collaborate with other Artists
A good way of determining your skill level is to collaborate with other artists. You can do this on virtually any social media site, or you can go traditional and collab with a friend. This helps build teamwork skills (which are vital in many artistic jobs) and gives you the opportunity to learn new skills.
Listen to Music
One of my favorite things to do on a rainy day is set up my studio and create. An important element in this scenario is music. No matter the genre, music helps clear your mind and grants you the illusion of a no-distraction-zone, permitting you to focus solely on your artwork.
If you want to be creative with it, pick your favorite song and make artwork encompassing the lyrics or ‘feel’ of the song!
Ditch Inspiration By Participating in Challenges!
Partake in an Art Competition
Not only does this hone your creative abilities, but it also comes with some perks that most creative people can’t get enough of. Most art competitions boast of rewards including money, art supplies, and/or exposure. Not only will this help you hone your skill to one day ditch inspiration, but there are possible rewards guaranteed as well!
Obviously, some rewards are better than others, but remember, you’re in it for the journey.
Available Art Competitions: ArtistsNetwork
Develop a Routine
If you can’t find the motivation to draw, the best thing for you to do is create a routine. Routines give you structure and grant you the momentum to create on days where all you want to do is sleep.
Trust me when I say this: having a routine is the quickest way to gain expertise in any skill.
Personally, my favorite type of routine is time-blocking. It holds me accountable for the productivity of my day and forces me to draw, whether I have inspiration or not.
Make a Competition among Friends
If you have artistically talented friends, then try starting a competition amongst yourselves. It could be something as simple as:
Who can draw the best dog?
Who can create a mythical animal the fastest?
Don’t forget to add an incentive to participate!
Finally
Don’t be scared to practice your skill. Though this post is geared mainly towards drawing, this goes for anything. Though it’s a simple skill, the ability to ditch inspiration and just create goes against the nature of many artists. Much of that has to do with perfectionism and criticism, as it can be difficult to draw when you have a critic in yourself.
Ignore the critic within you and just create.
