The best term I can think of for this is "dry spell". I sit with sharpened pencils, pristine paper, subjects too numerous to count, and nothing happens. I just can't draw anything.

Has this ever happened to you?? Does it happen a lot?

I thought this would be a good topic to toss around and get some ideas from one another on how to bounce out of the dry spell. I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks (not much else to do, since I'm not drawing!). Here's a couple of questions to get the discussion started.

Does the dry spell happen at random times? Or just after a big project?

Is it part of being an artist - that is, after producing a work, the mind needs time to regenerate?

Is it better to to confront the problem head-on or just not worry about it and let the inspiration hit when it will?

What do you do to get out of it?

Let's talk!

I know I have been there many times .. I think if you have something that comes up and you step away from drawing ...its like you forget how relaxing it was ..at least for me .. I know with my just having a appendix out I am having a hard time getting back into it ....so I joined the cat trade to modivate myself .. kind of a little push .

I used to come to drawspace only for inspiration. You see, trying to understand how other people's worlds are reflected in their drawing. Nowadays, I've begun to post to challenges and other forums. I realized that drawing and sharing regularly keeps you way safe from dry spell
If not for drawspace I only draw if I have a good idea. I never sit to draw. The idea comes to me suddenly, like a flash, and then I think about it for a while, I wait until the project shapes up in my mind. By the time I decide what and how to draw to express the idea, I become really enthusiastic about drawing. When I finish it, I usually want to hear comments. Then I wait for the next inspiration wave. Sometimes I feel that the time between inspirations are getting longer, then I just begin writing in my diary! It almost always inspires me with an idea. Strange enough, eeh?

omg..i have been in one myself these past 6 weeks or so and it is awful..i sit here surrounded by wonderful supplies and it just wont come..i have really made myself join in the challenges and what not lately and that seems to be helping..i hope to come out of it soon...i just hate it..

I guess I am in that category too. I finished the Flower trade, and was glad it was over. I have all sorts of ideas and challenges around me to draw, but can't get into it. I joined a blog called "Thing A Day" the purpose is to do something creative every day in February and post it. I am woefully behind in this. I am also a member of the Yahoo group Every Day Matters. They have a weekly drawing challenge, and I have the old list of challenges in addition to the current one to draw but I just can't get started. I have even considered limiting my time on the computer, and shutting off the tv when my husband goes to bed, none of this has helped. I have been reading a few books on jump starting your creativity. The one I am reading now, "The New Creative Artist" by Nita Leland is starting to get the creative juices flowing again. Another I read and am re-reading and doing the exercises as I read along is:"Drawing From Within" by Nick Meglin
In a way, I am glad to hear others are suffering this malady too. I remember a time, not too long ago, when I couldn't wait for the weekly challenge to come out. I would print the pictures off and work on them. Now I don't even look at the challenges.
I have started art journalling, and post my work on my blog. I go in spurts on that too. Being a member of these groups, here and on Yahoo has helped me. I have formed the habit of taking a sketchbook with me to any place I know I will have to wait, i.e., doctor's appointments.
I think it being winter has something to do with it, too.

Trish
http://trishsplaceontheweb.blogspot.com/

I'm there too can't seem to draw anything at all...well I guess someone gave me a push cause a friend of mine just asked me to do 2 portraits for her, and one is a triple portrait, I just had to force myself to start them, well..... I started one this afternoon, but did very little on it...if anyone has any magic drawing spells please let me know
In my case I know that has I have be a little "down" that is the main reason for my dry spell.

Kim, I hope you are recovering well from your surgery, big kiss to you

kisses to all of you too

Clara I am not sure if I would try to attempt a portrait for another person when struggling to get out of your " dry spell " I found if I do something that really counts .. I get more frustrated ....so I start with simple and please myself with that then it for some reason builds my confidence back up and I attempt the harder things and am almost always happy with the output .

I have had people actually ask me " How can you loose confidence in your ability " its crazy cause I do just like everyone eles does .. I think its common to feel ...you just cant get started and like a failure when you try .

Yep, I know this feeling very well too...
Sometimes I'm flooded with ideas, emotions and I'm eager to draw. If I had enough time, I could draw a million drawings in a day. And sometimes... I take a pencil and then put it back down. And I have noticed that this happens not just with drawing. There are days when I can't let my guitar get some rest and there are days when I can't even look at it.

I guess that's just the way art is. You can't push yourself to create. If you don't feel like drawing, just don't try to force yourself. I found that if I try to push myself out of this state of my mind it troubles me even longer. Don't worry. Inspiration will come back. Try spending your free time for something else that you like

I think the secret to coming out of a dry spell is.... Exercise! Too cold for a walk outside? Then crank up the radio and dance! Drink LOTS of water, take vitamins, and totally pamper yourself for a couple days... If you don't feel like drawing, then take a hot bubble bath, give yourself a pedicure. When you feel good about yourself and life in general, that's when you'll feel like drawing again, and it will be with a vengeance.

I've been there, and I'll be honest... in 2008 I did one drawing and that was it. I would eye things along the way after I finished that one piece but never sat down and did anything because nothing seem to JUMP out at me.

For me when I have a Dry Spell, I relax. Just relax, don't let it bother me (it's very hard to do that, LOL), and enjoy the moment and clear my mind. Sometimes when I work so much I tend not to do something for a long time.

I try not to let it stress me out otherwise it'll take a lot long for me to do something . When something does jump at me, forget it I'm working on it until I finish it.

Advice, don't let yourself get stressed over it, relax and just take the time to put together things you may want to draw and put it away for later... you'll know when it's time to start picking up a pencil.

Kim, you are absolutlely right! I started one of my portraits but it is not comming as I wished, so I think I'll just put them away for a while and wait to be ready for them, besides these portraits have a lot of clothes, like wool hats, and I'm no very confortable with them yet Some people don't like drawing hair, well I prefer hair to clothes, maybe because I've been drawing hair more than clothes...anyways I will have to wait until I get really inspired to do them.
I just hope it doesn't take to long!

Some wonderful ideas coming through - this is an inspiration in itself! It's VERY helpful to know we aren't alone, that so many others go through this.

Sorry I haven't chimed in sooner - came down with the flu last night. Just in time for the weekend and Valentine's Day. Let's keep this going, it seems like quite a few people are in the same situation - maybe we can all work out of our dry spell together.

Here's a thought - is it the time of the year?

Short reply - sorry guys, I need to go drink more orange juice and sleep.

Get well soon