Fighting Art Block, From an Art Major
If you’ve been there, you know exactly what I’m talking about – your worst nightmare, art block, has returned! Cue the terrifying music, the cold sweats, the tears…or, maybe not.
Sure, I’m overplaying it, but art block really does stink. Whether art is your major or one of your hobbies, it doesn’t feel well to be cut off from something that connects with you, something that may be a piece of your identity both on and off campus. Art block attacks in any form, whether your hobby is drawing, writing, or Mongolian throat singing. Maybe I won’t be able to help you out with that last one there, but for my visual and written artists, here are some tips on how to beat art block!
Create time for yourself! It sucks to treat art like homework, scheduling a period in order to get it done. But once you make it to your dedicated personal time, you’ll be thanking yourself for the foresight. Even just challenging yourself to get one drawing on the page or one word on the screen will start your creative juices flowing again.
Monkey see, monkey do. Look up at your desk, your bed, the outdoors, what’s on TV, whatever perspective you can find, and just draw what you see! Or write a short story about that cool sparkle-gel pen you haven’t touched since second grade and all the adventures it’s been on in the meantime. The thing about your art is that you can be as grounded in reality or as completely fantastical with it as you please, and there’s a whole grey area in the middle to be explored.
Steal like an artist. You, yourself, are a work of art. No, seriously. You are a collage of every book, show, movie, game, and media you love that you loved throughout your life. If you grew up watching Spongebob Squarepants, put on one of your favorite episodes and draw some cartoons! Doodle some Harry Potter, some Hunger Games, and throw a Wow Wow Wubbzy or a Dora the Explorer in there for good measure. Even in writing, the creation of art is like a never-ending game of Telephone, so don’t be afraid to take your turn.
Use online resources. There are plenty of reference websites for visual artists, or story prompts for writers, all over the Internet. Squibler.io is a good place to start for short story starters, and Line-of-Action.com is a personal favorite of mine for short gestural drawing sessions on different subjects. Seriously, there are hundreds of generators out there, to help you out of any rut!
Remember, part of the reason for the events and clubs at Arcadia is to inspire you; walk through First Friday art sales, page through the Quiddity magazine, or attend a meeting with the Writer’s Bloc! Good luck!
