Motivation when it comes to drawing.. help?

[mysterionz]

Motivation when it comes to drawing.. help? I have many ideas and get overwhelmed when I execute them and they don’t match my reality. At the same time i am art blocked. Any drawing prompts/inspiration to get me started? I want to draw some south park fanart and expand more on my original character.

 

[tazz]

I've found myself browsing endlessly around the google image search. Lots of inspiration there. But that might not help if you have too many ideas already.

In general when I find I'm too overwhelmed to get started on a project, I just focus on one little part of it, something I can start and finish quickly. I often find if I set out to do that one thing, I keep going.

 

[Slime_Punk]

Honestly? I don't draw, but when it comes to art I like to try to tackle things from new angles. For example, instead of trying to 'get good' overnight all in one go, it can be worthwhile to pinpoint exactly where you want to be -- whether that means improving your line work, shading, highlights, or general composition.

Sometimes grinding away at just one aspect all the time gets monotonous, so shifting your perspective (in my experience) can literally change the entire game and breathe new life into your art, and the way you experience it. This can really transform those things you don't like about your own work and motivate you to continue learning and improving, even if it borrows from other disciplines entirely.

Plus, those branching paths and crossover territories are so worth it when you find them.

 

[Judge]

https://brilliantio.com/how-to-overcome-creative-blocks/

 

[Misery]

Okay, I actually have an idea as this is something that's sorta been bouncing around my head as well kinda.

So, think about the stuff you like to make, your art so far, and whatnot, of the characters you like to do. Not like, just any specific character, I mean overall.

Is there a particular element of character drawing (or whatever) that you find particularly important, or that you feel you might be able to focus well on? Perhaps do some drawings that arent so much about the specific character or setting, but more about refining and experimenting with that specific element.

For instance as I've been experimenting and practicing lately I'm discovering that I have a particular penchant for facial expressions on characters in whatever my weird artstyle is. Like, really fine details that can have a strong effect on how an expression is perceived. I absolutely will sit there and go crazy over the exact shape of the freaking eyelids for like 30 straight minutes. That sort of thing. After I realized this, I decided to focus on it for awhile, drawing characters of mine (aka, the pink-haired girl I've shown before, and others that I've not shown) but with the entire point being to practice the subtle facial expressions.

So, something like that where you're making something to focus on and improve a particular strength in drawing that you feel you have. As you do that, you might find that other new ideas come to you as you go. Or a particular thing you start making with the intent of practicing that element ends up becoming something more.

I dunno, that's just my idea based on what I'm doing. Though I dont know if that's actually a particularly good approach. It's just what's working for me.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

This technique can be applied to almost any task. I learned it from a teacher on Masterclass. The class basically taught how to make small changes in habits that result in big gains over time.

According to the class, as I understand it; You set yourself a goal, say with drawing. You might want to commit to 2 hours a day or 10 hours a day. Whatever it is, you are probably trying to do it too long and then you set yourself up for failure.

Instead, take a ridiculously small amount of time, say 10 minutes and commit to the habit of 10 minutes of drawing per day every day. Over time (this takes weeks) this habit will restore your interest and abilities in your art. Once you get the 10 minutes comfortable, you can increase it.

The teacher said it is really important to do this new habit every single day, 7 days per week. Realizing nothing is perfect, the teacher said if you have to skip, don't skip more than one day. Skipping more than one day breaks the habit and your lose ground.

I started this "habit" regarding the writing project I have. Even with the troubles with my husband, I was writing every day. So it was working. But at some point the problems with my husband overtook my life and my writing has stopped again. I am trying to get the guts up to set a 10 minute goal and start again.

I don't know if this will help you or not. In any case, best wishes on continuing your artistic expression through drawing.

 

[RemyZee]

Motivation when it comes to drawing.. help? I have many ideas and get overwhelmed when I execute them and they don’t match my reality. At the same time i am art blocked. Any drawing prompts/inspiration to get me started? I want to draw some south park fanart and expand more on my original character.

I've heard drawing is the basis of the visual arts. Van Gough drew for 3 years before he tried painting. It's elemental to the process. I don't know anything about animation, but there are some good general practices. People say if you can draw a hand and an egg, you can draw anything. It's about practicing and learning techniques.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

I read stories, look at picture books, remember stories told as a child, and places I have visited.