Erika Lancaster- Artist + Online Art Teacher
  • HOME
  • BLOG + FREEBIES
  • MEMBERSHIP
  • CLASSES
  • GALLERY
  • MY ART TOOLS

How to Break Out of an Art Rut

3/24/2018

12 Comments

 
How to Break Out of An Art Block
Follow
*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)

​
​
Do you frequently experience phases of low creativity? Are you currently unmotivated to continue pushing your artistic skills forward? Does a lack of inspiration stop you from creating and progressing as an artist?
​

"Inspiration and work ethic, they ride right next to each other."
​- Jack White
​
​
​All artists are bound to go through some kind of creative block from time to time, no matter how talented or experienced they may be. This makes it absolutely essential (especially for us working artists) to have some sort of effective system set in place to keep us productive and moving forward consistently. 

Though we may consciously decide to take breaks from our art from time to time, being an artist is synonymous with constant creation. Keeping creativity levels high day-in-and-day-out can certainly be exhausting, and it's impossible to be in the perfect headspace for creation all of the time.

However, taking long breaks from our art will most definitely affect our progress. 


In today's blog post, I will share the method I personally use to re-engage with my art in difficult times. This strategy will help you whenever you're feeling uninspired, unmotivated, frustrated, or even just bored with your current art routine.

The goal is to ensure that you're moving forward, even when you're not at your best. You can make the exercise as easy or difficult as you'd like at any given point in time. I'll explain in a bit. 


But first, there's something we have to talk about.



I find there are two main reasons that we can hit creative blocks as artists:

1. We may not feel like creating because we feel insecure or simply bored with our current art routines. In these situations, we have to learn to suck it up and get to work. Sometimes we have to be okay with just showing up and doing what we can.  

2. We can be mentally and physically drained by everything we have going on in life, and will very likely hit a wall even if we do show up. Each one of us is in a different situation, but it's imperative to make time for self-care. It should be our priority above all else. 


If you're in the first camp, I encourage you to power through. The more you push yourself to create in these times of low inspiration, the easier it will become.

If you're in the second, I really recommend you take a few days to plan out how you'll be prioritizing your mental and physical well-being from here on out.

​I truly, 100% believe that if you're not taking care of yourself, everything else will suffer, including your artistic progress. 


Read my blog post titled How I Find Inspiration as an Artist and Some Ideas to Keep You Going. Over there, I share the mental attitudes I have adopted that helps me stay inspired and keep creative blocks at bay.

Abstract painting by Erika LancasterPicture
Abstract painting by Erika Lancaster


​
Picture
Check out my FREE Patreon-exclusive tutorial and class samples here.



​

Practical Life Tips to Get You Back Into the Flow of Creation


Before we actually get into the creative exercise, I'm going to give you a few general tips that you should try. I find when I apply these in my daily or weekly routines, I'm less likely to get into an art block to begin with.



1. Clean and organize your working area

I don't consider myself a neat-freak by any means. However, I have to admit that when things start to get messy around me, it starts affecting me mentally (and thus my productivity suffers). By staying organized, there's much more of a chance you'll feel like getting to work.



2. Get moving

Guys, I cannot stress the importance of physical exercise enough. Some of my best ideas come up when I'm moving. Not to mention, as artists/illustrators, we sit and/or hunch a lot of the time and it's absolutely imperative to stay healthy and work on our posture!

Exercise has brought me a level of mental clarity and energy that I didn't have in my younger (and most sedentary) years.
At the very least, make sure you're taking stretching breaks throughout the day.



3. Go be social or get out of your usual environment

As artists, it can be easy to stay holed up in our studios all day long. Although we primarily work by ourselves, it's important to remember that our inspiration comes through actually living experiences first-handedly.

Sometimes, just going out for coffee with a friend or taking a walk around the block will do! Keep in mind you never want to get to a point at which you forget how to talk to other human beings!

​


4. Set aside some Me Time

I don't know about you, but I feel like life gets so busy sometimes that if breathing wasn't absolutely automatic and necessary to continue living, I think I would forget to do it. Understandably, there will be periods of high stress in our lives, but these should be the exception and not the rule.

Make sure you're setting aside time to do what you want to do in life and enjoy it! Make time for proper rest and to be alone as much as you feel you need to. 



5. Start taking notes

I carry a small sketchbook or notebook everywhere I go. I got in the habit of doing this a while back because ideas randomly pop up in my head throughout the day and I don't want to end up forgetting something that could lead to a good artwork or creative project in general.

It's awesome to have a little bank of ideas in the background because, even if you don't use them immediately, you can come back to them when you can't find anything to work on.


Check out my blog post titledWhy Sketchbooks are Essential Tools for Artists and a Few Usage Tips. 



6. Get inspired by the other art genres

Don't limit yourself to only getting inspired by the visual arts! Reading good literature, watching movies/documentaries, listening to music, and even cooking can lead to amazing ideas for new art pieces! Finding ways of mixing and matching things we love all across the board can lead to the most personal and unique art pieces!



7. 
Create a Pinterest Inspiration board (or a folder on your desktop)

Collect artwork that appeals to you and use it as inspiration. However, never ever compare yourself to other artists! Try to target and make notes of specific characteristics you like (maybe it's the colors the artist used, the line work, how effectively emotions are transmitted, etc.) and try to implement it in your own way. 

Check out my Pinterest inspiration board
here.

Read my post titled How to Effectively Use Other Artists' Work as Inspiration and a Great Method to Start Developing Your Own Artistic Style to learn about my personal approach of getting inspiration from artists I admire, while making sure I'm creating something truly original. 



8. Ditch the perfectionist attitude

Many times, we keep ourselves from even starting because we're afraid of wasting supplies and/or producing something that won't measure up to our expectations (or the expectations of others).

I honestly believe that being a perfectionist is one of the worst mistakes an artist can make.

​
It wasn't until I understood that creating art is more about the process than the end product that I started to really improve my skills and make progress towards finding my style. Not everything is supposed to be a masterpiece! 

​


My Secret Tool for Staying Creatively Inspired (and Challenged)


​
If you enjoyed this video and found it helpful, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. I share a brand new video every week with art tips, drawing and painting tutorials and mindset/productivity tips for artists. *Subscribe HERE*
​


​As artists, we should embrace exploration and challenge. It is through exploring different techniques, supplies and/or subjects that we not only expand our abilities, but are able to learn about our personal likes, dislikes and areas of improvement. 

I like taking moments of low inspiration or motivation to step out of my comfort zone and do something that will challenge me in a way that I haven't been in a while, whether it's a shorter pencil sketch or a painting using mediums or styles I haven't explored.


See, even if you've already discovered your artistic medium of choice and are set on your subject or technique, stretching your boundaries is a great way to stimulate your creativity, reinvigorate yourself and reignite your passion for art.

​Through explorations uncommon to you, you're able to arrive at ideas you wouldn't have thought of, ideas that can later be applied in your larger pieces.


When I'm truly in a tough mental state, I don't pressure myself to generate an amazing product at all, but focus much more on the exploration and journey. 

I disconnect from my inner critique and focus on enjoying the feel of my supplies, each individual color, line and shape. I allow things to happen naturally. This is what I decided to do on the day I filmed the video included here. 

What's important, is to keep moving forward at least in a small way, and not give up altogether. 





Let's begin!

Using the table below, pinpoint which subject, medium, level of realism/abstraction and use of color you usually go for with your work. *I've included a few empty spaces within the downloadable PDF that you can write your current subject and/or medium in if you can't find it on the lists.

Once you've concluded where you usually stand, pick one in each group that you generally don't explore much. Try not to think about it too much or second guess whether you'll be able to create something "effective" or not!

Finally, get to work!

​
Your art piece can be anything from an exploration in your sketchbook to a more finalized illustration or painting. Remember, the goal of this exercise is to stay productive artistically, have fun, and explore.


What makes up an artistic style?
What makes up an artistic style?



Download your PDF by clicking on the green button below this image.

Picture
Picture
Download PDF


​
Picture

​


​I've come a long way since the time I made the decision to get serious about my art and I really believe that the reason why I've been able to improve so drastically in a short amount of time is due to the fact that I challenge myself on a regular basis, give lots of importance to exploration and have embraced imperfection. 

Today, I go into each drawing or painting knowing that not everything is meant to be a masterpiece. Sometimes what your soul needs is to create lightheartedly.

​The trick is to keep moving forward consistently, even in the smallest way, and keep your end-goal in mind, always. 


​
"Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too. If she doesn’t show up invited, eventually she just shows up."
-Isabel Allende




​

Why Criticism is an Essential Part of an Artists Life and How to Handle It Like a Pro
My Inktober Process and Helpful Tips for Drawing Challenges
How to Use Other Artists' Work as Inspiration to Create Original Artwork
12 Comments
tisha @ quiltytherapy link
4/6/2018 02:19:18 pm

As a creative myself I couldn't agree more with your tips. Especially getting out and moving. I started keeping a notes app on my phone so if I'm out on a run or long walk I can jot things down right away. My best ideas come when I'm running because I'm freeing myself and making room for new things. Organizing helps too. Sometimes you find something buried that can spark that interest again!

Reply
Erika Lancaster
4/7/2018 10:32:14 am

Hi Tisha! You're SO right!

It's funny how sometimes with everything on our to-do lists we feel like we should bunker up and do nothing but work all day until we're completely exhausted...
I find making time for mental breaks and, in general, taking better care of ourselves (moving-eating good food-etc.) makes us much more focused and productive when we DO get to work. Not to mention, our creativity definitely increases!

Thanks so much for taking time to comment and I hope to see you around! :)

Reply
Riana Ang-Canning link
4/6/2018 03:25:23 pm

I love this! I'm not a visual artist myself but I think a lot of these same things apply to writing. The blocks you talked about are totally what I feel when I'm stuck and unmotivated to do any writing. Thanks for sharing! And loving the look of your blog.

http://teaspoonofadventure.com/

Reply
Erika Lancaster
4/7/2018 10:51:20 am

Hi Riana,

Writing is totally another kind of art form and it's very hard! I respect writers very much!
It's SO hard to push oneself to finish up a piece when we feel unmotivated/uninspired.. I find doing smaller creative exercises that we're not used to doing definitely helps. I wonder what a smaller creative exercise for writers would be? Perhaps a poem? :O Free-style writing or something of the sort? Something to help get your frustrations out there and rekindle your love for writing.

I've checked out your website and I love it! I loved your What to Do When You’re Feeling Stuck article! Will definitely be coming back for more. :)

Take care and stay in touch!

Reply
Srijana Kattel link
4/10/2018 08:24:22 am

I love it... i can't make art i try to write but it is helpful for all of us

Reply
Erika Lancaster
4/11/2018 06:58:13 am

Hi Srijana,

I'm glad you found this helpful! Writing is definitely a creative field and it can be just as challenging as creating a visual art piece, for sure.
Is there any particular activity that you like doing to get back into writing when you're unmotivated or uninspired?

Reply
Emily Butler-Meadows link
4/10/2018 08:30:05 am

Great post, very useful info! I love the pdf's :) thanks!

Reply
Erika Lancaster
4/11/2018 07:01:46 am

I'm glad you found this post useful Emily!
This type of exercise is something that I like having my students in my in-person workshops do, and I wanted to share them with my blog readers as well! :)
Thank you for taking time to comment!

Reply
Marilyn
6/22/2019 11:32:25 pm

Hello, I found your blog earlier in the week and it is just what I need. Thank you for all of your hard work. I have read several blog posts so far and I love them all; they are very helpful.

Reply
Erika Lancaster
6/24/2019 06:05:21 pm

Hi, Marilyn!

I'm so happy to hear you're finding my blog helpful.

Thank you so much for taking time to leave me a comment. It truly means the world.

I wish you tons of progress and enjoyment in your artistic journey.

Do stay in touch! I have lots of awesome surprises coming. :)

Have a lovely week,

Erika

Reply
Kinsley Allton link
7/13/2020 06:00:52 am

Thank you very much for sharing this nice post. Keep it up!

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
7/13/2020 09:19:00 am

Hi, Kinsley!
Thanks so much for checking this one out, and for taking time to leave a comment. Means the world. :)
Happy you liked it.
Have a great week!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    ​
    Learn Drawing and Watercolor Step by Step Tutorials

    ​
    Best Art Blog Helpful Resources for Artists

    ​

    Picture

    ​
    Become a Patron!

    ​

    www.dickblick.com

    ​

    ​
    www.erikalancaster.com
    is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites
    ​to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


    www.erikalancaster.com
    is a participant in the 
    Shareasale.com Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Shareasale.com partner companies.
    ​

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
       
​  
Website Disclaimer              Privacy Policy              ​Terms and Conditions
©  2022  Erika Lancaster.  All rights reserved.
  • HOME
  • BLOG + FREEBIES
  • MEMBERSHIP
  • CLASSES
  • GALLERY
  • MY ART TOOLS