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Art Funk - What do you do?

Not quite and art block, and not quite a slow down, but something in between. The feeling that you want to draw, but when you go to put pencil to paper (or whatever) there is a leakage that suddenly happens and all the creativity goes -away-.

Or you have stuff to finish, and yet you find yourself doing Other things instead?

Or you have a moment of clarity, start a pieces and then find you can't seem to finish it at all?

What do you do to fight the funk?

i usually go for a walk. my head clears and i get a lot of new ideas that way. something about exercising and getting the blood pumping in the brain meats, keeps you from getting distracted from anything else until you get back and are ready to create again!

unfortunately it's either been too hot or dangerously stormy to do so here. sigh. :C

I get a lot of inspiration and ideas from music. Usually in the car too and love driving, so lotta times if I'm feeling that funk I'll take a short drive down to the park with my dog or something while listening to the radio. And often if I want to draw but can't think up anything, then I do anatomy studies or those 60-second gesture sketch things which I stink at just to get my hand moving on something. ^.^

I look at other people's art. I try to keep a folder of inspirational images on my computer or go through my favorites on DA. If there's a particular mood I'm trying to get into to draw a specific image, I'll do a combination of looking at artwork within the same vein/theme/treatment and listen to music that gives me mental images of the same colors and themes of the image I'm drawing (sort of a synesthaesia thing, with the colors/music, but it's not strong...its like certain tracks of the German Neofolk music I listen to reminds me of winter scenes, mostly that sort of thing).

I tend to listen to music myself as well, switch to my other staple of writting (It's like a back up) or if the weathers nice, get the camera out and a cat if possible. Failing that, a complete mind distract in a good game often works. You tend to get more and more worked up if you're trying to force your hands to work which often backfires pretty badly.

Usually though, I start doodling silly, completely random critters or a bit of mythology since it's a personal favourite. It's unlikely any of them will be seen but it's getting my to move my hand and soemtimes the most memorable creations come about. Notalope was from college boredem and he's still here today :) I usually have soemthing on the sidelines as a fall back, they need to be done anyway so why not?

I like to exercise, listen to music and browse artwork that's relevant to the feeling I'd like to achieve also. Mostly I find the problem is that I'm stuck so I try to draw mindlessly. Doodle a little, force myself to draw *anything* because usually I find the problem is that I get into the habit of everything needing to be perfect when I start off.
so shake it off, shake it off.

In short, my all purpose cure?
Sketch sketch sketch.

Thornwolf said: (sort of a synesthaesia thing, with the colors/music, but it's not strong...its like certain tracks of the German Neofolk music I listen to reminds me of winter scenes, mostly that sort of thing).

IAWTC ^
Music is great for me, and will often set the mood for what I draw, slow music for rainy days//soothing moods.
Instrumentals, Natures CD's Chants- Jpop for me ;) Nature is an inspiration for me as well I find the beach a very calming place :) Also Thorn, any good recommendations for German music? :3 *is hooked on Gregor Meyle ATM*

Naryu, depends on what you're looking for but I find Forseti and Werkraum to be personal favorites. They're of the neofolk genre. If you're looking for something a little more indie pop, I'd definitely check out Wir Sind Helden.

I listen to music, talk to friends, go out to B&N or a coffee shop, and also just try to draw without being a such a enormous backseat critique. Draw a gear, draw a coffee cup. Draw cookie monster. And yes draw it badly. It's ok to because some days you have it. Some days you don't.

I go out to places where people are and draw there. If my inspiration is still just blah, I draw whatever is there. I tend to like to draw old people when I do that, because they're not in a rush to go anywhere, and they're full of interesting shapes and textures.

I get in funks a lot. I just end up drawing better when I'm not in the 'work space'.

Flex in the mirror.

Sulacoyote said: Flex in the mirror.

Hedonist! :D

being I have a bi-weekly comic that must get done on time, I don't have a choice when I get in a funk. I work through it. Granted, not much else gets done in the mean time, but sometimes forcing my way past it helps to relieve it... if that makes sense. ;^_^

Sulacoyote said: Flex in the mirror.

...this is quite possibly the best answer yet though.

Lizardbeth said: being I have a bi-weekly comic that must get done on time, I don't have a choice when I get in a funk. I work through it. Granted, not much else gets done in the mean time, but sometimes forcing my way past it helps to relieve it... if that makes sense. ;^_^

Oh yea... obligation helps.

Sulacoyote said: Flex in the mirror.

As well as healthy amounts of physical self admiration. *grins*

I bust out a different media or work in another style, such as heraldry.

I find that having a large project to work on helps generate ideas- i.e., I've got a couple comic concepts that I've been bouncing around for awhile, so if I want to draw but don't know what, I'll often work on concept art. Then I can kill two birds with one stone- I get to draw and work on story development ;)

I also listen to music and go outdoors for a while, but when I'm in a real funk, I go to the art history section in the library and check out a few books about old painting masters. Looking at what they did and how they approached their paintings helps me focus my own creativity. My faves are John Singer Sargent, Gustav Klimt, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt... among others. :)

Puffbird said: I also listen to music and go outdoors for a while, but when I'm in a real funk, I go to the art history section in the library and check out a few books about old painting masters. Looking at what they did and how they approached their paintings helps me focus my own creativity. My faves are John Singer Sargent, Gustav Klimt, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt... among others. :)

Hear hear! I look at my favorites too, anyone from Rembrandt to Mucha, as well as other culture's architecture and art. I love Moroccan designs.

well, not like you can control the weather, but I find the thing that's most inspirational to me is the rain. I love it and it puts me in that art mood for some reason. ^^ So whenever I'm in a funk that kinda helps. But if I'm really stuck I mentally tell myself to get over it and I force myself to do it anyway and in about a half hour I start getting into a sketch.

Stare at linoleum. Or really, any other object or scene with rather random shapes and shades. tree canopy, ceiling tiles with the holes in 'em, paint splatter, clouds, that sort of thing.

Your brain TRIES to make sense out of the random patterns, turn them into recognizable things. Let your mind wander a little and you'll see all kinds of things popping out of the random patterns, particularly faces. Our brains are particularly good at recognizing faces in even the most abstract patterns. Like seeing the Virgin Mary on a grilled cheese sandwich. now draw! You brain's done all the creative bits already, without any thinking involved.