Hi!
I haven't been online for a very long time and i haven't painted or drawed anything for a very long time! and i feel very depressed about it. And the main reason why i haven't done any artistic activities is I cant get into the mood. since every time i start drawing is just becomes a bit mess! there are times that I draw very good such as the face expression can really been seen. But there are times when I am just drowned in depression and nothing seems to work. it is frustrating! Help me! what can i do to be better and to feel in the mood? I want to inprove my skills, I love creating and i dont want to loose the only that makes me feel happy from time to time. And also i would like to add, what can i do to increase my creative side. (I dont want to copy other peoples work neither do I want to be unhappy what i have created)

Pardon my poor english.
Here is some of my work.

Don't worry. Trust me, we all go through dry spells. My advice is not to try and force yourself. Take a break from drawing for awhile. Lately, I've been more focused on writing than drawing.

I agree with Rick - everyone goes through a dry spell - they come and go. Take a break from drawing - don't force the urge to draw - it will come to you. Work on something (like writing as rsine is doing, or music, etc.) give your brain a break.

I can't tell you what will help you since everyone is different, but I have found that sometimes joining in an art card trade or challenge helps me a little - you are given a theme or subject to draw, so that takes the "what should I draw?" pressure off. Working through some of the lessons on this website has been helpful too (again just a suggestion) - you go through the drawing process without the pressure to produce. Gives me a little "jump start".

Creativity - don't worry about losing it. We all have it within us - it never goes away.

I like your work - you are doing fine.

Hi B0N3

have fun at the draw, never want to enforce,
art is like a plant = they must be preserved and maintained ,
so always practice, practice, practice - even the simple things
... not despair, and if it is not even good = everyone has that from time to time

btw. ... your drawing is good

Yah like Sandra said art trading cards help. It helped me and now I continue to do them, I don't draw that much for myself but I make sure I do my cards. I'll try to attempt a picture after this trade. I'm getting better now.

all I can say about coping is even if you sit out and draw what you see you still copy but mother nature will not complane

but with other art pieces just remember to acknowledge you copied from who ever it was
just enjoy yourself with your art

P.S your English is better that some English folk I know

Oh, those depressions, dont we all know them all too well...
What really helps, is intuition painting/drawing. I recently did the Artful Adventure class here on Drawspace and it has helped me tremendously. I've been close to throwing out every piece of drawing equipment so many times because I want so badly to create something brilliant every time. But that blocks the creative mind, so learning to let go is very important.

Bon3, I know exactly what you are going through. I would say I have been in the same rut for the past year. I believe I am slowly bringing myself out of it, but I have yet to pick up a pencil...

I get depressed during the winter months also. I have an art show in 5 days and have only produced 3 pieces because everytime I start something I mess it up. So don't feel so bad. I take vitamin D pills for my mood also use the SAD light. I hate exercising but if you do just a little it also helps.

Creative sparks come from everywhere not just someone else's work. The way you are feeling, music that you like especially classical music, movies, TV, and ads. I am a professional photographer and thought that drawing will help inspire me to do some different things. Don't give up!!!!

Artist Trading Cards definitely help

Cheri

I think the trading cards help because they are small works of art .. not too much detail is needed and they can be done pretty quick ..it gets you back into the mood of drawing and makes you want to go bigger .. that is what it does for me .. I started a challenge drawing and I still am not done with it yet ...thats not like me at all .

I think one of the most helpful things for me when I hit the wall is to try a lesson that I think I can learn something from. Brenda has blessed us with some good ones right here. It helps you get back into drawing and if it inspires you to take what you have learned from the lesson and do something on your own that may be similiar to what the lesson covered. If you can't find one to inspire you pick up any art book that you have and do something, either something simple or something that is a little more challenging to yourself. By the way kim I like the new avatar of you and hubby!

Everyone goes through what you are describing, and we all cope differently. I can only speak for myself, so for me, what cripples me creatively is when I expect too much of myself. Too many expectations... so I let go, and create some quiet time to reflect. That is when ideas start to flow, write them down, sketch thumbnails, refine your ideas...read, listen to music, do what you love doing, be kind to yourself and most of all enjoy life, you may find inspiration in simple pleasures. Then practice, practice practice, take some lessons, practice some more, refine your skills so that you have the basic techniques and confidence to create what you envision.

Kim-could you please tell me what you mean by trading cards?

Thanks

artist_trading_cards

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Artist+Trading+Cards

I've wanted to reply to this for sometime but it's hard to word things the way I want to with out writeing a book. This is just my two cents and if it goes long I'm sorry. Drawing/painting/writeing/airbrushing all are in of themselves very, very, very fusterating things to do. I love them all, but good god sometimes it's like pulling teeth. Really when you get into complex things it gets tedious to the power of ten. Or it gets boring.
So why do it? Because you love the process, and you love the subject, and love the feel of the tools, and you love the smell, and love createing something. But that don't take away from the fact that its still fusterateing.
A few things that can really help, is learn good skills. At some put in your drawing life you'll realize it don't matter what your drawing it's all the same. Get the correct porprtions, shadeing and lighting, compostion, and mood right and it don't matter if your drawing a horse or a cat or a portrait of your mother, the skills envolved are the same. It takes time and lots of effort to learn skills. Your going to do a lot of crappy drawings that your just going to throw away. Your going to read alot of books, listen to alot of people. Study, practice, do, study, practise, do. And skills will come.
Next draw what interest you. I love drawing portraits, I hate drawing landscapes. This is very important. If I drew landscapes all the time, I'd quit. Wouldn't ever draw another thing, ever. So you've got to find what interest you and go from there. It don't matter if it don't interest anyone else. You create what you love, not what someone else loves. That holds true even if someone wants you to draw something for them. Draw it your way, your style, your expression. If they don't like it they needed to get another artist to do it. That's how I see it.
These things can help, and you'll be mostly happy with what you do, no one's every truely completly happy with their work, but you'll be pleased.

Normally in my opinion, whenever I go through something like that I come back stronger and better at drawing.I think it's like a test...dunno...it be just me...