Creative Slumps

Do any of you ever feel sort of let down and in a creative slump for a while after completing a painting? It seems I usually go through spurts of creative energy then sort of collapse after a while with absolutely no inclination to paint whatsoever for quite a while. I know some artists go through this but others paint on a regular basis - how do they paint without inspiration or when they really don't feel like it?

And I almost never like what I've painted after I finish it! I hear other artists saying that they like their paintings - are they lying or trying to encourage themselves or what? Do you generally like what you've done after finishing a painting?

If you do get into these sucky moods, what do you do to get out of them?

Someone in Digital Art Academy just recently asked the same question and one suggestion was to do some Zen tangles which is pretty much like doodling with a pencil and sometimes something develops without intent.

You also have access to digital painting. When I'm stuck I just play with different brushes I haven't used before and see what happens. It is pretty abstract, but it does help to re-focus me back to painting.

Thanks, Judy. I do both of those but it's not helped much in the past. I did force myself to paint yesterday and while it's really awful, at least I painted!

Oh, I guess the thing that helps me the most is to look at reference photos - sometimes something will be so inspiring that I'm almost forced to paint it! That doesn't happen very often though and usually only when I've vegged out for a while anyway!

Taking all these digital painting courses has helped get me through because there are specific assignments to do.

He's the results of playing with new brushes I made. This is kind of my version of zen tangles. I like doodling in color.

I like color too and that is beautiful!

Thanks Jan. Hope you're getting inspired again.

Pyschedelic…

Thanks Faisal.

Jan, I usually feel relieved when I finish a painting, almost like I was holding my breath without knowing it. I like to walk away from a painting for awhile when it's finished, and then look at it again a few days or even weeks later. It's THEN that I decide if I really like it. I try not to compare my work to the work of others, as I am still learning and need LOTS more practise.

I approach painting the same way that I look at exercising: sometimes I need to ease my way back into it: I tell myself that I will just work (or work out) for a short while, and I give myself permission to stop at any time. Almost always, once the pressure is off, I actually feel like doing more.

Another thing I do, is to look at work that inspires me. In magazines, on the web, or in person at a gallery. Usually that makes me want to explore my own new work again.
Hope this might help....

Thanks Alan. You must be a poet at heart as your description of the let down after a painting is finished is very descriptive and accurate to what I usually feel. I also like to let a painting sit for a few days to see if it needs something more or to see if it's really finished. The difference between us is that I always compare my work with others and way too often come up short!

Good analogy and advice about painting and exercise! And the idea of looking at other paintings/art follows along with looking at reference photos and would also work for me.