Anyone who's accustomed to creating art, whether it be writing, music, drawings, or any other creative outlet, knows how frustrating art block really is. It's like having a wall built up in front of your most desired goal, and it's honestly terrible. There's so many instances when I want to express myself in art and draw until my hands are sore, but the ideas and the inspiration is almost nonexistent. Although I believe that art block is inevitable, I think there are a few things you can do to make it a bit more negotiable.
1. Go for a walk
This might be hard in the harsh winter temperatures, but going for a long walk around your neighborhood or college campus can be seriously influential on the span of your art block. If you're feeling really courageous, bring along a sketchbook or a journal to doodle some of the things you see or write about the way the air feels. Anything creative that you can manage will fight your art block off, even if in the smallest amount.
2. Watch a film
I get a lot of my best ideas from watching films. I'm the type of person who can get lost in the colors, music, and plots of a film and ponder them for days. Films can ignite a specific feeling depending on the genre and plot line, and those feelings can be successfully translated into applicable creative outlets.
3. Rest
Sometimes, art block stems from the excessive stress that we face on a daily basis. Take a moment to lay down and get lost in your thoughts. Think about your day, about your family, about your goals. Sometimes a quiet room can lead to a hungry mind.
4. Listen to music
Music is a lot like film for me, it generates a lot of feelings and ideas. If you take the chance to really listen to the lyrics of your favorite songs, or even the mood that the instrumentals evoke, you can come up with some really cool ideas that you can write or draw about.
Art block is inevitable, to be honest. Every artist will face it, and it's something we have to learn to deal with and combat in our own ways. Not everyone enjoys films the same way that I do, so that might not be the answer. Explore different mediums of creativity and get those ideas flowing! But whatever you do, never stop making art, the world would be so boring without it.
