We all at times struggle to feel inspired. Even the great Artists, The Old Masters, struggled with this. I didn't believe it, until I read a number of autobiographies by great artists and the common thread was that they ALL from time to time, struggled with a feeling of emptiness, with no bright ideas on the horizon, and this often led to what is known as artists block
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This is how I overcome Artists' Block.
TAKE A BREAK......This is when one has to force oneself to get out into nature, take a walk , have a swim, smell the roses.
MAKE A COMMITMENT..... Then get to your easle, no matter how many stories you tell yourself that you have no desire to paint, or even to be at your easle. Sometimes by forcing yourself to JUST BE THERE, is enough to get the flow going. Tell yourself, it's a good day to clean up, wash your brushes, clean your paints, get your painting area tidy. That is often enough to get the ideas going. Suddenly you see something, an old painting, a photograph or an idea randomly pops into your head. Before you know it, you're on your way. You may just end up with a masterpiece!
HAVE A TRIGGER ..... A piece of music that you love has a way of getting you directly into the zone. Always start a session in your painting space/studio with the same piece of music so it becomes synonymous with your painting time. I also like to light a candle/and or some incense which reminds me of my connection to the Divine.
PREPARE CANVASSES .......You can prepare some small (or large) canvasses when you are not inspired. That way they will be ready for you to pick up whenever you are wanting to try something new or when you need to get the juices flowing. I like to do a small painting first if I have an idea for a large one. It helps me to get the colour balance and the composition correct.
And lastly ...................................SKETCH SKETCH SKETCH!
.
This is how I overcome Artists' Block.
TAKE A BREAK......This is when one has to force oneself to get out into nature, take a walk , have a swim, smell the roses.
MAKE A COMMITMENT..... Then get to your easle, no matter how many stories you tell yourself that you have no desire to paint, or even to be at your easle. Sometimes by forcing yourself to JUST BE THERE, is enough to get the flow going. Tell yourself, it's a good day to clean up, wash your brushes, clean your paints, get your painting area tidy. That is often enough to get the ideas going. Suddenly you see something, an old painting, a photograph or an idea randomly pops into your head. Before you know it, you're on your way. You may just end up with a masterpiece!
HAVE A TRIGGER ..... A piece of music that you love has a way of getting you directly into the zone. Always start a session in your painting space/studio with the same piece of music so it becomes synonymous with your painting time. I also like to light a candle/and or some incense which reminds me of my connection to the Divine.
PREPARE CANVASSES .......You can prepare some small (or large) canvasses when you are not inspired. That way they will be ready for you to pick up whenever you are wanting to try something new or when you need to get the juices flowing. I like to do a small painting first if I have an idea for a large one. It helps me to get the colour balance and the composition correct.
And lastly ...................................SKETCH SKETCH SKETCH!
"Homeward Bound" Southern Drakensberg, KZN. www.dianeerasmus.com
"INSPIRATION EXISTS, BUT IT HAS TO FIND YOU WORKING"
Pablo Picasso
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