Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

Overcoming Artists Block (part 2)


Once you are ready to start working again you will know itinstinctively. All artists go through periods of 'creative block' - it's normal, but after one such episode there are ways of stimulating ideas and getting the creative juices flowing again.

Visit your local library and take out books that cover materials,techniques and subjects that are not familiar to you. If you are a watercolour artist, why not try oils for once? If you paint large acrylic abstracts, would it be possible to try soft pastels on a smaller scale? What results could you achieve by doing something completely different to what you're used to?

What about trying collage or mixed media work? Take photos ofyour neighbourhood, family or friends. Local places of interest, the countryside, the seashore, the city. Manipulate your photos on your PC and print out as digital art. Use the images, either natural or manipulated as collage pieces. It is so therapeutic cutting pieces and sticking them down. Use a range of materials to finish your work.

Instead of going straight back to paintings or drawings on normal scale, why not create some miniature pieces? How about greetings cards? White card 'blanks' are very easy to source. How delighted family, friends or customers would be to own an unique hand painted card.

Try drawing for once instead of painting, if that's your usual medium, or vice versa. Fill a sketchbook with small quick sketches. You could even time yourself. Three or five minutes maximum for each sketch.

When you're ready to go full size again, try loosening up your technique, by again setting a time limit for each piece of work you create. With a deadline to meet, you will speed up and loosen up. Try not to be precious with your art. Be quick and bold - see what happens.

Paint upside down. Start a new piece, then half way through turn the paper or canvas round 90 degrees. This is a great technique for abstracts. Use new colours - let them flow into each other. Splatter colours onto the wet surface. If you like, you could turn the work once more to finish. What a great way to create 'happy accidents'.

Paint or draw to music. Use only your emotion to make marks on the surface of your support. Play your favourite rock, pop or classical music, let the melodies and rhythms wash over you, influencing how your artwork evolves. I often paint to 'Smile' by Brian Wilson .... and boy do I get inspired!

What about painting left handed if you're a right-hander and vice versa. Trying to do a representational work with your weakest side will produce art that is still yours, but will have a completely different edge to it. Challenging and great fun to do ... if you have the discipline!

Finally, once you get back into full flow, remind yourself of all the artwork you have created successfully. How appreciated you are by your customers. Read their testimonials. Feel that glow again, when you realise that your creativity block was only temporary and that there are fans out there just waiting for you to release some wonderful new artwork into the arena.

Gail Miller is a professional artist whose artwork is a visual feast of colour and fun. Her fascination with bold colours and fluid, expressive shapes and line are evident in funky abstracts, sinuous nudes, vibrant still life paintings and lively townscapes. Visit her website at http://www.gailmiller.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Creativity - Google News

Creativity trumps cute factor in Super Bowl ads - The Detroit News


Globe and Mail

Creativity trumps cute factor in Super Bowl ads
The Detroit News
Perhaps this is why the ads that left the biggest impressions — good and bad — are those that showed sparks of creativity and pathos. This is why Chevy deserves a gold star for its apocalyptic ad. In the spot, a man and his dog are shown in a truck ...
KAMERA OBSCURE: This year's best/worst Super Bowl commercialsBall State Daily News
The Journal's All-Star Super Bowl Live Blog TeamWall Street Journal (blog)
Fiat's Super Bowl ad adds real wow factor to its compact car offering.FOXSports.com
Midwest Sports Fans -Bleacher Report -Examiner.com
all 1,130 news articles »

Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Area to build a cultural and creative production base - Ningbo Expat Life


Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Area to build a cultural and creative production base
Ningbo Expat Life
Cooperating with a leading cultural company of China, Ningbo is going to build a cultural and creative production base in Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Area. The other day, Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Area signed an agreement with Shenzhen Huaqiang Holdings ...

and more »

Hayes: Reflections on being caretakers of creativity - Midland Daily News


Hayes: Reflections on being caretakers of creativity
Midland Daily News
I honestly believe this is a most significant structure, not only as a functional building but also as a catalyst to generate new facts and new feelings in the creative lives of all who use it." The 2011/12 season marks the 40th anniversary of MCFTA ...

and more »

the mystery of consciousness - CNN International


the mystery of consciousness
CNN International
By Antonio Damasio, Special to CNN Editor's note: Antonio Damasio, author of "Self Comes to Mind", published by Pantheon/Vintage, is a professor of neuroscience and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California ...

and more »

Innovation and creativity move to the heart of the curriculum - Financial Times


Financial Times

Innovation and creativity move to the heart of the curriculum
Financial Times
Top schools have devoted considerable resources to entrepreneurship, from electives and specialist courses to in-house incubation centres to help groom the creative leaders of the future. While some business leaders question whether entrepreneurship ...

Who's More Creative? Introverts or Extroverts? - Big Think (blog)


Who's More Creative? Introverts or Extroverts?
Big Think (blog)
The big difference is the kind of environment they thrive in, says Susan Cain, author of a new book on the creative power of introverts. Now more than ever before, says Cain, Western society approves more of extroverts. Have we reached the tipping ...
The quiet achieversSydney Morning Herald

all 62 news articles »

Travel to Latin America with Creative Cauldron - Patch.com


Travel to Latin America with Creative Cauldron
Patch.com
Each performance is part of Creative Cauldron's Passport to the World festival, a pocket-friendly opportunity to travel the world without ever leaving Falls Church. Creative Cauldron is the non-profit arts organization that manages and operates ...

Pinterest, an online bulletin board, inspires creativity - Pensacola News Journal


Technorati

Pinterest, an online bulletin board, inspires creativity
Pensacola News Journal
» How it works: Users upload images or videos (which can be linked back to their original websites for additional info) with a drag-and-drop browser extension. The image, or pin, is then assigned to a board. Users can follow each other's boards, ...
7 Tips for Planning a Wedding on PinterestMashable
Pinterest Gaining Intensity and Support with Social ZealotsTechnorati

all 24 news articles »

Machine Knitters Club offers both creativity and friendship - Knoxville News Sentinel


Machine Knitters Club offers both creativity and friendship
Knoxville News Sentinel
Or maybe you just want to try your hand at a relaxing, creative craft or provide such items for those with special needs? Any which way you see it, the 30 or so women of the Tennessee Valley Machine Knitters Club would be pleased to have you come for a ...

and more »

Plant Creativity Saves GM Millions - Chicago Tribune


Plant Creativity Saves GM Millions
Chicago Tribune
Creative solutions can save a lot of money, and if you happen to be building light-duty and heavy-duty pickup trucks for GM, those savings can run into the millions of dollars. Josh Cable of Industry Week magazine recently toured GM's truck assembly ...

and more »

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

Jumbuck Domain Is For Sale - $5,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.Jumbuck.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker