Crush art block in 24 hours! 👊💥
Have you ever felt stuck, staring at a blank canvas, unsure of what to create next – or worse, unable to create even if you know what you must do?
That’s how I was feeling this week, and boy, does it suck.
For a few weeks now, I have focused completely on commissions and work, letting myself be swallowed by busyness.
As I let myself be dragged here and there, stress took a hold of me, and I started feeling overwhelmed...
... until I couldn’t paint at all, even if I knew what had to be done.
And that's when I realized something was wrong.
It was a simple commission with a process I’ve done hundreds of times before. What would take me a couple of hours to finish, took me an entire day… and I didn’t finish it!
It felt as if I were in a maze, and couldn’t get out no matter what.
But then I remembered: there’s a way out of this.
I’ve been here before, I know the path. I just need to walk it.
The solution
It’s actually quite simple.
Many artists make the mistake of waiting for inspiration to strike instead of taking action. There’s a time and moment for waiting, so it’s not completely wrong. But if you’re overworked, waiting probably won’t solve anything – you still must deliver work, after all.
Artists often avoid creating personal artworks, thinking it's not productive or relevant to their growth. This is common among students, who think studying is all that matters, and professionals, who think they only have time for work.
The result? They stay in a rut, their skills stagnate, and their passion for art diminishes. This is a huge mistake because sitting still as you wait for inspiration often leads to prolonged periods of inactivity, causing frustration and self-doubt.
When you create, you’re pouring part of you into the world. And like a bucket full of liquid, if you pour and pour and pour… it’ll become empty at some point.
So you need to refill your bucket of creativity. There are a few ways to do it, but one of the most important is creating just for the sake of it.
No expectations, no client, no anything.
Just find something silly you like to draw, get back to your comfort zone and let yourself draw for fun.
If you don’t feel like creating personal art at all, then consume media you love and things that inspire you, like books, artworks, series and movies.
Just make sure you do something! Take the first step. Don’t let your mind play tricks with you.
Now, if you’re not dealing with this right now, what can you do to avoid it?
👉 Start making personal artworks frequently.
When I realized I was dealing with this sort of art block, I decided to create something just for myself. No pressure, no expectations – just pure personal expression. And it worked wonders!
Here’s what I created this week:
It’s simple, it’s colorful, it’s soft. Everything I love and 100% my comfort zone. Pair it with a character I like (Mitsuri from Demon Slayer), and it’s a recipe for success!
And it only took me 2 hours to finish it. Can you imagine getting better from art block in just 2 hours?
Of course, I'm not 100% cured, but hey, I did manage to work almost normally the day after. So I figure: a couple more sessions of personal arting, and I'll be back to normal! 😁
How quickly you can get out of it depends on the severity of your case. But keep this in mind: the more quickly you act to get out of it, the more quickly you'll succeed.
Creating personal artwork allows you to reconnect with your passion and reminds you why you love art in the first place. It helps you explore new ideas, techniques, and styles without the fear of judgment or failure – or simply get back to your comfort zone and space out as you pour your soul onto the canvas.
To apply this, set aside time each week* to create something just for you. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be yours. Experiment with new techniques, revisit old favorites, or simply doodle whatever comes to mind.
*(Daily would be better, but let’s be realistic. It’s best to do it weekly than never)
By incorporating this habit, you'll reignite your creativity, improve your skills, and most importantly, rediscover the joy of creating. Don’t wait for inspiration – create it!
I’ll do the same here on my end 😁
Hit reply and let me know your thoughts! I answer to ALL my emails 💖🥰
Cheers!
Bruna
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