7 Ways to Beat that Art Block

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You get all of your art supplies ready. You sit down to get ready to work… and your mind goes completely blank. Nothing stinks more than being an artist with an art block. Some of us draw as a hobby, but it can really hurt some of us who are trying to make a living from it (or at least make some extra side cash). Here are some ways to overcome that art block and get drawing again!

1. Remember Why you Loved Drawing in the First Place

I guarantee you didn’t start drawing looking to make money, become famous or fish for compliments. Oddly enough, most of us don’t like the attention or showing off our artwork. We draw as a way to express ourselves or draw the things we love. When we finally post our works online and don’t get as many comments or likes as we want (or get criticized), we get discouraged. We let the comments and number of likes to decide whether we should draw or not. When you were a kid you got the occasional “Wow, that looks great!” comment from your relative, but that wasn’t the only reason you enjoyed drawing. Maybe you had an artist you looked up to, an art style you wanted to mimic or just enjoyed drawing everything around you. Use those reasons to keep drawing.

2. Look Back on the Artwork you are Proud of

There are some old drawings of mine that I cringe looking at. Then there is some art that I am proud of, even if it wasn’t perfect. Put together a binder filled with your favorite artworks that you can flip through at any time. When you feel like you “can’t” draw, know that you have drawn great things before and you can do it again. Look and see how your style has changed and how you’ve improved. We seem to forget when we have done great works and it’s good to occasionally look back on them or hang them up in your creative space. 

3. Go Through Your Old Artwork… and Redraw it!

Your old artwork might be dated, but it may be still useful. I have many many drawings from about 15 years ago, and boy did I have some crazy ideas. I designed some interesting outfits, poses and overall concepts. Bring these back to life!

If you go get yourself a nice light board (like this one I got from Amazon), you can trace the old sketch onto a new sheet of paper. I have a lot of drawings that were only drawn in pencil. I have erased some bits, made some adjustments and inked them. You can definitely repurpose old drawings. Because why not? 

4. Take Pictures

Not sure what to draw next? Go out and take some pictures! Having some photos are good for using as references. When I go to the beach or to a place I have not visited before, I like taking pictures of those locations. Not only do you save a good memory of your visit, but you also have reference photos. I use pictures I take as background references in my comics and use them for my blog. You can go ahead and take pictures of your fancy food/drinks. I won’t judge! 

5. Draw all Those Pictures you Took

If you are staring at a blank piece of paper, use the pictures you took.  Use the buildings, landscapes, and street corners to practice drawing perspective. Draw the people, animals, flowers, structures… anything!

6. Carry a Notebook with you EVERYWHERE

Keep a notebook with you. One in your handbag, one at your bedside, a little one at the office (as long as you don’t get in trouble!) Jot down any little thing that comes to mind throughout the day. Some of my best ideas hit when I am standing in line at the grocery store or when waking up 2 a.m. 

7. Work on the Stuff You Have Trouble Drawing

Most of the time we lose the confidence to draw when we don’t know how to go about drawing certain things (backgrounds, body poses, hands, etc.). When you are feeling stuck, maybe you just need a little practice. When you are feeling low and have no clue what to draw, practice working on what you are not good with. Whether it’s perspective or the anatomy, you can google tutorials, or just draw your surroundings. For anatomy, I like going to posemaniacs.com. I like that you are timed for each pose. The trick is not to overthink and just draw what you see, not focusing on detail. The first few will be completely laughable (fun to show your friends!) but after a few days, you will get faster and draw more accurately.

These few ideas have worked for me, and I hope they work for you too! If you find these tips helpful, share this post with other artists. If you have other ideas that help you get past the artist block, leave a comment!