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Artist's block
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Posted by mandark (My Page) on Wed, Oct 6, 04 at 0:26
hi guys,
I know what a "Writers block" is but is there something like an "Artists block".... where an artist is unable to create art? Did any of you guys encounter it?
I'm actually an engineer and I'm seriously considering changing my profession to being an artist. I know I have it in me and I have an eye for good art as well as the skill required. During my spare hours I just can’t stop thinking about what my first real painting would be. I ve already thought of a dozen paintings that I want to paint, in fact I ve actually painted them in my mind. but I just can’t pick my ass and get myself to start painting. This isn’t an "Artist’s block" (if there is something like an artist's block), it isn’t laziness. It is some kind of inertia. May be its just because I have too many people around me the whole day. Have any of you faced this? This is really depressing.
-mandark
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Artist's block
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| those blocks are sometimes the very thing that allows for the processing time to occur. The perculation is what some people also call procrastination...personally, its right where one is suppose to be. In One moment, life will put a tool in your hand, or some kind of material and your hand will take on a mind of its own and you will only be the vehicle to accomplish what your body/mind has been studying and "perculating" on...the attitude of a "block" is negative...greet the situation and learn what you can, its the next step to the miracle the miracle is the artwork that is manifested when one is called to create. From there I go into metaphyscial things and art no longer is simple- Although it is very simple....Simply and basicly "art" just happens because it is the extention of oneself manifested as a tangible, visual or audio or what ever sense is effected- that art ( no whether its good art or poor art or exceptional art is the judgement of the beholder individually. |
RE: Artist's block
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| Mandark, I think it's unrealistic to expect to go straight into your first 'painting'. You have to draw for a few years first! Observe, draw, play, experiment. Don't start with an objective in mind - if you plan your first painting too intensively in advance, it cannot possibly come alive. As for artists' block - yes, I do get it and then I follow the advice I just gave you - I go for a walk in the woods and LOOK at colours and textures and shapes; I try a new technique, or doodle with a stick dipped in ink, or do some carving instead of painting. |
RE: Artist's block
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| I can develop a woodworking block when a certain part of the project might be better served by another approach. So I always sleep on it. I write many letters to the editor, gardening essays, and such. What freedom to express one's feelings! Yes there are blocks (pit stops) along the road. It is to be expected, and considered part of the process; part of maturing into an artist. Blocks are to be appreciated for what they contribute to the project on hand. Although this thread is one of starting a painting, I would think sketching would be the first step. Working with dimension, shadow, and such. Getting a feel to actually start the painting. A lot to think about; a lot to prepare for. I think most people think of writing, acting, or painting at one time or another. The first step is the first step. Cut the ice and get started. See what develops. And good painting. |
RE: Artist's block
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Hi Mandark,
I just found this posting, and at the moment it is relevant to me exactly.
I am in exactly the same position as you though I have gone that one step further....
I wasnt very happy at work, I share the company with my business partner and have gone from being a Graphic Designer over 18 years to an "Admin and billings" person... ho hum.
I have not been very happy as I am an artist - I have done everything in my years as a Graphic Designer, Illustrations, cartoons, pastels, watercolour, pencil drawings, photos etc etc.... (never did oil) - but they were all for other people.... I was answering all of THEIR issues, and NOT my own. Anyway I identified what my problem was, that I hadnt been creative for about 4 or 5 years... only web site designs then less and less design and more admin... I decided to look for studio space somewhere... where I could be alone and try to work out what was going on and do something about it. Well I have found a great studio, and cheap, as it was subsidised by the local government for artists. I found this great book that helped me get over the first few days of being in the studio. I couldnt think what to do - maybe "artists block", or maybe scared, or maybe there is so much to be investigated that it becomes overwhelming.... so I searched the Net for people with similar problems.... I found a great Book that I advise every artist to get... Herschel B Chip's: Theories of Modern Art, excellent!!! You can get it at Amazon, not expensive, well worth it. NO... there are no answers.... BUT... there are letters from famous artists to other artists, and friends and art critics of the same time. By reading these letters and theories they helpd me understand that I was NOT the only one that had doubts, "artists block", questions on where to start etc.... after reading some of the letters and theories I startd to make movement.... I started life drawing... that is a must.... or go out somewhere and do nature drawing... the reason is NOT the subsject, but the realism.... anything BUT photos for now... you can use pics for reference later... but to get yourself going - Nature and life drawing... it stimulates the sudden rush of whats happening around you. Photos are static moments in time but the life and nature stuff is great kick. I then started to get a feel and a theory and a path I wanted to follow.... In 5 weeks... NOT forever.... I have gone through about 5 different changes to my "path" which is so exciting. I have such a fever for it now, I get frustrated sitting at work, knowing that I could be in the studio discovering new revelations.... FOR ME!!! Thats the secret. As a designer, and in my personal life, I have done everything for everyone else... now I have NO deadlines and I work for me. You will find this is similar to many of the most famous to the least famous artists past presnt or to come. Hope this helsp... its very exciting.
Cheers
Alec |
RE: Artist's block
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| I think any area that requires thinking can have a block, not just creative/artistic thinking. Even scientists have blocks when they reach certain levels. I would suggest to Mandark that if you are indeed wanting to paint, that you paint. If you are really interested in painting you will find the time to do so while you are working in another field. Inertia may be the roadblock, not the people around you. I always dreamed of being an ballet dancer or a pianist. I could actually see myself on stage. However, I am not a dancer nor pianist; but i am an artist. Had you not defined your paintings, I would have thought you were just wanting to be creative. But I believe that you do want to paint and I think you should just dive into it. Buy the paints, canvas and an easel and do it. If you find yourself successful in your paintings, then go ahead and change fields.
Good Luck and post one of your paintings for us to see!
cali |
RE: Artist's block
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Garden/Bill/Anyanka thank you so much for your advice and encouragement. I finally got the courage to get some water colors and now I know how difficult painting is compaired to doing sketches. In fact I learnt my first lesson. I was initially frustrated about not getting the colours right … It took some time to realized that it's because I was applying thick coats of colors and that I should be building up my shades with thin transparent coats of colour (I know this is really really really elementary stuff for all the artists at Quatre Gats but it is fun to learn it the hard way).
Thanks for the advice Cali, but I’m definitely not putting my art at Quatre Gats :).. At least for a while .... won’t be able to survive the criticism! ;) ...
Alec I’m currently reading "Lust for Life" (by Irving Stone, about Van Gogh’s life ) it’s keeping my sprits and ambitions high ;) . I’ll try to get a copy of the book you have advised. I have done a number of sketches form photographs and you are right about photos being "static moments in time" and pretty simple to sketch…. My problem lies in this ... by the time I get home after work it’s too dark to get to do interesting sketches from life. Does it harm to do sketches from pics?
I had been to the Sunday bazaar, at a village nearby, on the weekend and noticed how vibrant life is compared to photographs... full of color.... and noticed that I can’t get the same life into my sketches if I were to do it from a photo. The place was just amazing.... crowded with Gypsies in there colorful attire ...abuzz with buying and selling ... Alec you should be here in India if you really want to paint life. -Mandark |
RE: Artist's block
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What a beautiful topic. I think psychologically a block is fear. So if you are a smart person run and do what you fear. Easy to say and not to do! If I am not ready to do a painting or pastel painting, I do all the tedious prep work that we need to do as artists to make our work great. Like I love to study other artists work, go to a museum and draw or paint a masters work. One artsit I love is Picaso!! He took all other artists work and made them his own. He tryed out each new artists techniques and thought processes by practicing it in paint or pencil. His cumulation of work and making others work with a picasoesque twist became cubism!!!!! He was the biggest copier in the world and found his true voice through this. Being an artist is difficult at best sometimes, being true to your inner vision. Well first you have to find that inner vision and have it surface. Also sometimes just cleaning your studio or some other mundane thing helps with the block.
Just do it! Have fun and challenge yourself as much as you can. Do something towards your goal of painting, if not just painting itself.
I immurse myself in the work and almost obsess about it at times and I dream finished pieces that end up being better ideas than if I had planned them out while I was awake.
Take your art seriously, but not yourself. In other words don't forget to enjoy yourself and lose yourself in the process. Do your rememeber when you were young and you discovered drawing for the first time. Do you remember when time stopped and you felt as if you were thrust into the face of god?! As an artist this is our only sanity and saving grace in life!
Enjoy it!
Ayn |
RE: Artist's block
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Hi again, just came back to this after a long time and wanted to comment on a couple more things:
First, watercolour is one of the most difficult mediums to do well - beautiful when excellence is achieved, but used badly by so many leisure artists that it has put me off even looking at watercolour paintings! Personally, I prefer to use acrylic inks, which have a similar luminosity but 'behave' better, especially if you're after intense colour.
Second, using photographs: you should still draw whenever you can, as drawing an object teaches you to look and see more intensively.
Having said that, I work from photographs all the time - but only my own photographs. I use the camera instead of an outdoor sketchbook, and prefer to draw in the studio, just for the exercise and the 'seeing'. There are certain aspects of a scene which you cannot capture quickly and accurately in a sketch, unless you have a superb visual memory.
As my training is in graphic design, I also frequently alter my photographs digitally, intensify or change the colours etc. Some artists consider this kind of thing 'cheating', but to me the computer is just another tool alongside the brushes and pens. So is the camera.
Finally - India! What great subjects you must have. I would love to visit India for the colours alone one day. |
RE: Artist's block
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| Try drinking, use a broad brush on a small piece of paper, and only give yourself half an hour. It will turn out differently. |
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