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What Do You Do When You Get Artist’s Block?

Creativity can be a bit of a paradox. Whenever we’re busy, our brains are full of creative ideas. But as soon as we sit down, ready to draw or write or get crafty? Blankness. Creative block, man: the struggle is real. Millions of artists, writers, and creatives suffer from it every day. But luckily, there’s hope. We talked to our artists about what they do to combat this mental blockage by asking, what do you do when you get artist’s block? 

Don’t stay in a creative rut – read what they have to say below (side effects include creativity, withdrawal from socializing to make art instead, having too many ideas, and bloating.)

What do YOU do when you’re feeling creatively stuck? Leave it in the comments!

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“Retro Camping”

I actually go to a place where nature has a great presence. It makes me feel comfortable and at ease, a pure relaxation in nature’s paradise will give me a big imagination to create a scene out of everything I see.

 

Elizabeth Dioquinto (Agimat ni Ingkong / InkCreatives) | Mandaue City, Cebu Philippines
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“Why so cereals?”

When we get artist’s block, we simply leave it be and go do something fun. We figured out there’s no point in forcing doing something that usually comes out so naturally. So I guess the more you try to get rid of this artist block, the more you get stuck in it. It’s kinda hard to deal with that when you’re obsessive with work, but in our opinion the best thing to do is simple relax. Eventually it all goes back to normal!

 

We are Verso (Mathiole, Vó Maria and Hafaell) | Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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“Keziah – Flowers”

I wait for the night to come and for falling asleep. Then drawing ideas come to my mind…the only thing is to remember them the next day!

 

Florent Bodart (speakerine)
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“Let It Begin!”

The best thing to do is to get up and walk away from your work. Rarely does something creative come from a mind that is forcing itself to be creative. Go for a walk, buy an ice cream cone, or try out for synchronized elastic underwear snapping in the next Olympics. Coming back to a design after a new experience will give you a different perspective on your work. Some of my best ideas have come together after going back the next day, to a whole year later before the concept is complete.

 

 

Evan Ferstenfeld (FRICKINAWESOME) | King of Prussia, PA

Usually when I’m working on a collab with Evan and there’s no progress I get Evan to kick my butt back in gear. Totally works!

In general, just forcing myself to work on something does work more often than not. Other times, I actively go look for inspiration in all sorts of places.

 

Mathijs Vissers (Demented)
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“Fish” by Martina Scott

If I have artist’s block, I react in polar opposite ways; I either quieten my mind and go for a walk or a cycle, preferably somewhere beautiful with wildlife, or I put on some lively music which perks me up as much as coffee. Whilst trying to out-sing the music, I experiment with what I already have and see if I can pull something new out of the bag.

 

Martina Scott | Belfast

Featured image is “Stardust” by Vo Maria

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CategoriesArtists Speak
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Carlyn Hill

Dad joke aficionado, cartoonist, & contributor for sites like HelloGiggles and The Mary Sue by night. When I'm not writing or drawing, you can find me in my cave of a room hanging out with my boyfriend, Netflix.