Artists: Do you have suggestions on how to get creativity flowing?

Question

I have never taken any art classes and I am fairly new at this. I paint and draw, but there are many times I sit and just stare at paper. Any suggestions of different activities you have done to help get your creativity flowing would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Sometimes get up and walk around...get a new perspective....go outside and enjoy the sunshine...Start praising God for His creation.....that always makes me more creative, I write poems and thinking of Him always helps me.

Answer 2

Start a sketch book - pick up a sketch book and a pen. go out side, to the mall, park anywhere with lots of people and just start sketching them. Use a pen because you can't erase don't worry about how pretty they are or how accurate they are at first.
Try to draw what the person is doing, not what they look like. Are they stretching, bending, tense or loose. When your drawing like this you don't need to think too much use a brush pen, or a crayon.
Also in your sketch book jot down ideas when you get them, draw a doodle or write a note even if you only have 30 seconds put down something so you can remember it later.
When you want to draw and don't have an idea you can go back to your sketch book, which will be filled with neat ideas, things you love and things that sparked your interest.

Conceptart.org has great examples of sketch booking, amature and proffesionals. I often browse through this site for inspiration or motivation.

Somtimes when your drawing and your jsut stumped it's nice to just start drawing, it doesn't have to be anything at first, just squiggles or lines practice meaningfull lines, lines that start thick and get thinner, start thin and get thicker. Cubes spheres cones cubes and eggs are also very useful.

Answer 3

Look at an art history book with lots of pictures (the internet can be so random and have fuzzy pictures and theres not all this clicking and searching involved to look up something decent),
take a walk somewhere where there is lots to see,

brainstorm a list of things that interest you or you love and look that over,

watch some TV design shows (theres so many now like project runway and top design and extreme home makeover and such and such),

go have a conversation with someone who will bring up old memories or good feelings.

There are so many things...

Answer 4

I think that one of the best things to do when you are in an art slump is to go look at other art. The internet is jam packed with awesome art from artists everywhere. You can look at anything from photos, fan art, to fine art , to animation!
I love looking up art on deviantart.com There are a lot of talented people on there!
But if you just start looking at other people's art, you will get an idea of what interests you and you will definitely be inspired by your hard working fellow artists.

Answer 5

It's different for everyone. At what times DO you feel creative? What usually sparks it? Think of times in the past.

Look at other artwork to get your brain flowing. Movies work for me. They get my brain focused on something else that is creative but not directly similar to what i'm doing. It makes my brain churn unconciously & stirs it up. The other suggestion was right about going for a walk or doing something different. Sometimes you get locked in a zone that is really a rut you can't get out of. You'll just keep doing circles in your head. You have to break the cycle by getting yourself in a different environments.
Or just do something wierd & crazy. Just start rolling on the floor. Or start singing for no reason but not with words, just noises. It works. Trust me.

Answer 6

I'm not a painter...I'm a photographer. I love my digital camera because I go outside and start taking pictures of everything! Flowers...fields, butterflies, my kids, trees...close-up, far away. I just start doing it. Pretty soon I have a couple of really good frames...some of the not-so-good frames I mess around with on my computer and digitally fix them up.

I guess my best advice...and I would think that it is true of painting or music or sculpture or photography or anything at all...just do what speaks to you. What you feel, what is in your heart will come out and it will be beautiful, important, and art.

Answer 7

Art is another way to talk,...lol, but with out talking. It is a way releasing. Art can show your emotions.

Try to answer these questions,....but by drawing them

What are your philosophies?
What are those ideas you find hard to explain verbally?
What fills you with deep pride? Is it family? Ancestory?
What bothers you? What agravates you?
What do you feel sad about?
What makes you joyful and happy?
What strikes fear into you?

How do you feel? Try to draw what you feel.

Different types of lines express feelings, Zig Zags are anger, flowing lines are express that your calm,....circles are happiness,......spirals are celebration.....It all depends on where you place things and what colours, textures, ect, you use. Art is like your voice speaking through images.

Don't worry about how "realistic" you can make it. Concerntrate on what lines, colours, ect express feelings you are having.

Hope that gives your some ideas,.....

Answer 8

I am an artist. I find that changing your visual perspective helps...I sit with my eyes very close to the canvas, 3-4", then kinda clear my head, somewhat akin to the mind-clearing during meditation, and just let go and draw what ever comes to mind, even if if doesn't seem like a subject for a drawing; don't worry, your mind will eventually lead to the right subject...this may not work for you, but works for me everytime.....good luck1

Answer 9

I agree with lucky. Take a break, walk, see a movie or look the nature around you. Good ideas came when the mind is clear and free of stress.
I admit, sometimes I drink a beer to help my ideas flow.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

I want to be able to take my own advice:

candles, incense, fresh air, cold air, cold water (shower), make a list of all the blocks you think you have and then why you should ignore them, a clean room/house to make art in, make a list of emotions and then draw something associated with what each emotion-word inspires in you, also something like
1. ugliest art possible
2. prettiest art possible
3. art you'd make right before being executed
4. art you'd make for a kid
5. art you'd make for the one you love
6. art you'd make for the sickest person on earth
7. " " the craziest person on earth
8. " " the ugliest person on earth

Also I think if you are dealing with issues of defilement or feeling too dirty to make art (when water doesn't relieve the feeling of filth) an ancient method of feeling clean enough to create would be to get some dry dirt and rub it on the skin