blockage

@affableStrings4654

Hey there,

I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Sounds like you're doing your best to balance your art with all the other stuff in your life. That's a lot to manage!

It's totally okay to take a break from your art when you need to. Sometimes, stepping away can help you come back to it with fresh eyes and renewed energy.

Remember, creating art is supposed to be fun. Don't get too caught up in the pressure to be perfect. The most important thing is to enjoy the process and express yourself.

If you're feeling really down, it might be helpful to talk to a therapist. They can provide support and guidance as you navigate your emotions.

You're not alone in this. Keep going, and remember to be kind to yourself.

@affableStrings4654 Hey there, it sounds like your art has become a duty or even a chore for you and when that happens then the inspiration will naturally dry up. You said perfectionism leads to avoidance so you've identified already yourself what the problem - or part of it - is.

What you do to resolve this depends on a few things. For example, if you rely on producing art for an income then motivating yourself to carry on might be a better strategy, whereas if you don't, then maybe you could take the pressure off yourself by taking a break from it altogether, or at least not imposing this one-a-week target on yourself.

Another question is where inside you, you typically paint from. If you normally paint from a place of joy or serenity then it's maybe about managing your expectations when you are depressed. But if you normally paint from a place of pain or sadness, then maybe you could paint the frustration and depression you are experiencing, letting the art be whatever comes out as that expression.

Also, would a change in medium be possible? Perhaps going from digital art to physical painting, drawing, modelling etc might release something that's stuck. Also painting or drawing with the left hand (if you're right handed, or vice versa) could avoid that need for perfectionism and allow you to just express what's inside.

Whatever you can do to take the pressure off yourself to do something you might not feel like doing at a time you don't want to do it, especially something like art that comes from inspiration, is gonna help. In a way, self care is an art form in itself!

@affableStrings4654 It sounds you are feeling stuck. Your love for art is still there but expectations are making it hard for you. That must be frustrating. I hear about how much you care about you work and how afraid you are of not meeting your own expectations. Your creativity is still there even it doesn't eel like this now. Some pieces doesn't define your perfectionism.

@affableStrings4654 It sounds like you're going through a tough spot, where your love for creating art is being weighed down by perfectionism and self-doubt. It’s really hard when something you once enjoyed becomes a source of stress. It’s also understandable with all the adult responsibilities you have now; it can feel like there's not enough mental energy for both. The key is to be gentle with yourself and remember that art doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Maybe starting small or allowing yourself to make “messy” art could help ease the pressure. How do you usually feel when you’re in the middle of creating something, even if it’s unfinished?

@affableStrings4654 
i understand that depression usually tends to make us distant from our hobbies but i want you to know that youre not alone in this, im sure your attempt to draw a digital painting in a month will be a success! youre doing really well :)! Hoping and praying for your well-being and success in achieving back the passion you had for drawing in your childhood :)!

@affableStrings4654Hello, I hope all is going well since this post. I just wanted to to connect and let you know that as a fellow artist myself, I completely understand how you feel, and have been through something similar. For example, in the past I made it a goal to complete one canvas month or even do one small painting a day. However, similarly it got very exhausting and for me it took the joy out of doing art. What I've learned from my experience is that the more I force myself to do art out of the feeling of responsibility, the less happy I feel when doing art is something I naturally find joy in. While I think your goal is reasonable and doable, just know that sometimes it's okay to not meet the quota as good and even better things take time. :) Art is a process. Moreover, I agree with some of the other comments that suggest trying something new in order to reboot creativity could be a great break that gets you back to where you want to be! Finally, in addition to trying something new, it might even allow you to see your art in a new perspective. Afterall, art is all about viewing things from different perspectives, and your critical/perfectionist viewpoint may change! Wishing you all the best.  

@affableStrings4654

I know my depression has made it hard for me to complete art. I'll just look at it, or try to get into it, and I'll get so irritable about it that I end up leaving it untouched for days at a time. Sometimes weeks. Or like the diamond art painting in my room, months. Sometimes it helps me to get into something new. Something that is different from what I usually do. I was doom scrolling through YouTube one night, and I saw a woman with a knitting board in her lap, making a blanket. My first thought was, WOW that looks really cool! Then I remembered the times I tried (and failed) to knit and crochet. I felt so hopeless and challenged. My Mom and sister were whipping out blankets while crocheting and I couldn't. So after talking myself up that I could learn something new,  I bought a knitting board and some cheap yarn. Someone told me to start small with a hat or something. No, I wanted to make a blanket. A few failed attempts later, I made my first blanket. It's queen sized! I'm proud of it. So now I make blankets, and I've become quite good at it. All it took for me was a leap of faith in myself, some courage, and now I have something to fall back on when I get irritated with my other projects. I remember I now knit blankets and that makes me a bit happier.  

@affableStrings4654

As an artist and writer, I can totally relate to this. One of the things that has really helped me through my art blocks in the past is being ok with failing; I start making art knowing that there is no consequence if it doesn't turn out or I don't like it. It helps me get over that initial struggle, and sometimes the art even turns out alright, sometimes it doesn't but at least I worked on my craft. 

@affableStrings4654

I can understand how challenging that must be when you are juggling so many responsibilities but its okay to keep one step at a time and always don't forget to be kind with yourself .

@affableStrings4654

Hi!

I'm an art student and listener at 7 cups. I totally understand the feeling of setting a goal and wanting to stick to it but failing to achieve it. Perfectionism is something that constantly leads artists to art blocks. Something that I find that has been helpful for me in combating art blocks is to draw literally anything. I'd usually start with shapes. It can be a small drawing, just a sketch, or even lines across a page. I find that perfectionism in me and some of my classmates mostly stems from having clear ideas on what we want to do with our art but not feeling like we're there yet in terms of skills, or having a creative vision that is just not coming out properly. But in order to get there we need to practice and keep creating things 😅.

One exercirse that really helped me with art blocks is an exercise that one of my drawing lecturers made us do once: set a 5 minute timer and draw an object or person with as much detail as you can (but the goal is to draw the entire object/person). This helps you prioritize the most important details, but it gets you to do the most important thing, which is drawing and loosening your hand.

Another thing that might help is to delve into other art forms, like sculpting with air dry clay or carving erasers to make stamps.

Art blocks are totally normal. Be kind to yourself during it. I know you will create things again and your art will be even better! Play with art. And if right now it's not the time to create, then consider that art is always there waiting to welcome you back with open arms once you return to it. ✨💞