Feeling blocked, grumpy, frustrated, jaded, or generally “not into it”? Me too! I can get that way pretty often, so I’ve learned some good strategies for beating it. Some are artistically-oriented, good for loosening you up and getting you creating, others have nothing to do with making art. (Well, not directly; I think most artists will agree that almost everything has something to do with creating, any little thing can spark an idea, a possibility.) Any of these unsticking tricks can be employed to get you out of your funk and moving again; and not just on your creative projects. I find they often help to lift a bad or stuck mood no matter what it is I’m trying to accomplish.

  1. Doodle. Doodling is a fantastic way to “warm up” creatively, a time-honored artistic version of jogging in place. Do it over a page in progress, do it on a blank page, do it on a piece of scratch paper and recycle it when you’re done. You can even use it as a way to test a pile of pens and markers to see if they still write, or how they will write on an unfamiliar type of paper. Don’t know what to doodle? Flip through an old clothing catalog or fashion magazine; look at textures and lines, look for patterns to repeat. Try making those patterns large and then small, orderly and then organic and messy. Fill a page!
  2. Do some contour drawings. Another classic, contour drawing is a great way to improve your drawing skills AND to get out of your own way. Contour drawing is essentially exactly what it sounds like, drawing just the contours (or the lines) of an object, no worrying about colors, shading, etc. If you’re unfamiliar with this exercise, YouTube has some great videos tutorials on contour drawing. (I’m especially fond of blind contour drawings, where you keep your eye on the subject and off the page while you draw – the results are very interesting and often rather hilarious!)
  3. Splash on some color. Sometimes it’s just the “blank page” effect that can get you stuck. That vast expanse of white can be intimidating. Pick a color, ANY color, and start laying it down. Quickly, don’t think about it too much; use the biggest brush you have – or try a brayer, a large sponge, or just a clean rag. Just bathe that scary page in something – anything. If you decide you don’t like it, you can just paint over it again!
  4. Fingerpaint. On that note, I find a really good way to relax and stop worrying about Making Art is to go back to childhood roots and just dive in – literally. Just feel the paint, let the colors go where they want and let them speak to you – let your Muse speak to the paint. I find that getting visceral and tactile with art helps to open up some great lines of inner communication. (If you usually work with artist quality paints, you may want to spend a couple bucks on cheap non-toxic temperas.)
  5. Consult an expert. Having trouble getting in touch with your inner kid for some fearless creating? Learn from the masters – actual kids! Go color or paint with your kids. If you’re childless, offer to babysit for some one, or volunteer at an after school program. Watch how they just instinctively grab a crayon and GO, not worrying if purple is the “right” color for a tree. They know.
  6. Empty your head. Call it automatic writing or call it a brain-dump, a great cure for a head full of too many thoughts, ideas, and emotions is to just write it all out. Grab a pen, marker, pencil – whatever – and start writing. Whatever is in your head, pour it onto the paper, stream-of-consciousness. Fill an entire page with words; big and swooping, or tight and crammed together – whatever comes naturally. If you run out of space, rotate 90 degrees and write the other way. Keep going til your head feels nice and empty! The art will then flow into your head and onto the page. You can throw away your writing (or burn or shred it as a nice healing ritual) or use it as an element in your page.
  7. Artistic crosstraining. If your usual medium is watercolors, try ripping up an old magazine and making a collage. If you normally do collages, grab a pencil and do some sketching. Like sports crosstraining helps build your muscles by working them in new and different ways, trying new media can help you to grow as an artist. And when you are feeling stuck it can be a great way to build some momentum, since you’re out of your element and more likely to cut yourself slack if it doesn’t some out that well.
  8. Go for a walk. Another tried and true approach, this one is another “oldie but a goodie”. If you’re getting stuck on something, get up. Walk around, stretch your legs. If the weather is good, go for a quick trip around the block for a little fresh air and sunshine. Our bodies are made to move, they crave it, and your brain will thank you. (Personally, I’m a huge fan of Leslie Sansone’s Walk At Home workout videos – not just for weightloss, as they are intended, but for a pick-me-up. She has “one mile” walks you can do in 20 minutes in front of your TV or computer.)
  9. Hydrate. Along with light or moderate exercise, drinking plenty of water is critical for getting plenty of oxygen circulating throughout your body – including the brain. Maybe it’s a bit of a placebo effect, but I always feel better after a nice cold glass of water. If you find the recommended 64 oz a day tough to manage, try getting a filter system like a Brita pitcher. I’ve found that filtered, chilled water makes all the difference in my ability to get plenty of good ole H2O.
  10. Blast some tunes. Get some auditory funk-breaking stimulus. Tunes to your favorites radio station, pop in your favorite CD, or pick your favorite mood-boosting tune and have iTunes create a Genius Playlist. (Don’t have iTunes? Pandora.com will do something similar and create a radio station based on songs you tell it to use.) I like to keep a specific playlist in iTunes just for this purpose. I look for empowering lyrics and upbeat tempos, but you might prefer something more melodic and soothing, depending on what mood you’re trying to create.

I hope some of these suggestions help you out, artistic blocks are so frustrating – and always come at the most inopportune times! Do you have any other ways you break out of a blocked state, awaken your muse, or get the creative juices flowing? Please leave a comment – I’d love for this to turn into a big collection of block-busting ideas! :)