Feeling Stuck

If you're struggling to come up with new ideas or feeling uninspired, you're not alone. Artist block is a common issue for many painters. I struggle with this a lot but am writing this to keep track of some of the suggestions I've researched to get un-stuck.

• Change your environment.

One way to combat artist block is to change your environment. Sometimes, a change of scenery can do wonders for your creativity. Paint outside, or try working in a different room of your house. You can also try working at a different time of day or night to see if that makes a difference.

• Experiment with new techniques or materials.

Sometimes, using a different brush or paint can open up new possibilities in your work. Or try using unconventional tools or old tools in a new way. Experiment with different textures or layers.

• Give yourself restraints.

If necessity is the mother of invention, putting restraints on a piece can work wonders. Try limiting your palette or impose other restraints like using only your non-dominant hand. Putting time restrictions on a piece or limiting the number of marks you can make on a canvas can also spur creativity. When given limitations we try to think of creative ways around them and often come up with interesting work arounds.

• Look at things in a new way.

If you're going for abstractions try looking at things very close up to see if patterns or compositions emerge or find an image and tightly crop it so that it's not recognizable but is till visually interesting.

• Look to other artists for inspiration.

Visit an art museum or gallery, or spend some time browsing online. Studying the work of artists whose style you admire and seeing how they approach their art can be helpful. It's especially helpful to see original artwork in person. There's no better way to see how the artist treats the materials and the process they use.

• Take a break.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step away from your art for a little while. Go do something completely different, like taking a walk or reading a book. When you come back to your art, you may find that you have a fresh perspective and new ideas.

Remember, artist's block is a normal part of the creative process. Be patient with yourself, and don't give up. Keep experimenting and trying new things, and eventually,

inspiration will come.

Happy painting!