It's a tragedy when the dreaded artist's block hits. It's a completely normal occurrence that can happen to anyone, though I bet it is even more devastating when a professional artist experiences it. When your income depends on whether or not you can sell your product or completing a project before a deadline, then artist's block can put you into a dangerous position. It may not even be that you cannot produce anything, but rather creating anything that you feel satisfied with. There's plenty of times where the final product isn't up to par with the expectations that you set forth in the beginning, and that can be just as discouraging. So, here's a few ways to combat that block.
1. Trying Something New
Sometimes, overcoming artist's block can be achieved by experimenting with styles or techniques outside your normal style. That doesn't necessarily mean to throw out everything that you mastered prior and completely convert to a new style. You would naturally add your own flair no matter what the subject is. Of course that is easier said than done; you're bound to meet more frustration if things don't click into place the first couple of tries. Following it through until the end can have unexpected benefits and you might see your art propel to the next level as a result.
2. Consistency and Repetition
The most common way to get out of a rut an be sitting yourself down and just drawing. Force yourself to make something on the paper. Try giving yourself a set number of drawings or sketches that you need to complete by the end of the day. This applies to any sort of medium too. Don't set limits on the subject matter either; it could range from quickly sketching the people that pass you by or the instant cup of ramen that you are planning to eat for dinner tonight.
3. Changing mediums
Find yourself blankly staring at the computer screen with your hand glued to your tablet? Maybe it's time to try out a new medium. Blending colors together is a completely different experience with a drawing tablet than painting with oil paints and a brush. Textures are done differently with say, pen-and-ink drawings than with markers. There's something new to learn depending on the medium that is unique to it.
4. Look Up New References
This is where having access to the internet really shines. There is so much content out there that can be used for reference. I'm not saying that you should copy someone else's work and publish it as your own. Reproduce your favorite piece of art and analyze the original artist's intent. Why did they use this kind of composition? What effect does changing the color scheme have on its subject matter and tone of the piece? Why was this drawn the way it is? This can be a valuable method to learn different techniques from artists you love and seeing what it is that you can improve on in your own works.
5. Take A Step Back
The artist's block that is plaguing your train of thought might be a call for you take a breather. Things in your personal life could be bleeding into your work flow and you need to find the time to decompress. Life is overwhelming and it can be paralyzing if there are more commitments on your plate than you can handle. It's for the best that you take care of your own well-being first instead of continuing to push on without breaks. Spend time with your friends and family, take a little adventure, or try another hobby that you enjoy. It's moments like these can drive more creativity. Perhaps that casual chat you had with your friend can spark new inspiration. All the sightseeing that you've done in another town can change your perspective on a subject. When you come back to the drawing table, you might have enough content swimming through your head to produce something great.
The ups and downs of being a content creator are just as frequent with being stuck in a plateau, in which one is struggling to progress with their art. Just remember that overcoming the rut means that your art will evolve to the next level by the end of it.
