Hitting that Block and Sketchbook to the Rescue
Picking from where you left
The New Year (can we still say that now that we almost at the end of the 3rd week of January). Well I found myself once again groping my way into creativity tougher. December, after handing over my projects, I just decided I needed a total break (except working random sketches just so I don't forget how to draw). I absolutely did nothing. It was a very rewarding experience- watching netflix, spending quality time with kids, going for long walks, eating and everything in between. Honestly, it felt so lot better and very refreshing. However, with the vacation period getting over, when suddenly turning ON a full work mode, is a struggle. Atleast for me.
For those of you know who do not know. Before moving into art and illustration, I had a corporate job doing Finance and Accounting. And it was the same there too. I take a holiday and get back to work, and I had trouble even recollecting the passwords and user ids of the different apps and systems at work LOL. So this is not a creative issue for me. Guess, it’s just the way I am wired defectively. Haha
So, I first did something absolutely for fun and getting out of the stuck-ness
I did a little cut paper collage.
Cross my heart, I honestly didn’t mean to make them into characters, it just happened. I was thinking of some paints, textures and colors when I started and just followed my gut from there
Playing in my sketchbooks have always been more easier. Maybe because I have no pressure of showing it anywhere or a place I can use as a playground for practice. Not sure what it is, but it’s always been welcoming me without any expectations.
So I decided I start back with small habits and sketches more like crawling and walking before I run again.
Here's a few pages from my sketchbooks so far from the 2025.
And some Birdfest in my sketchbooks.
So that’s that so far for how creative my New Year has been so far. Hopefully it doesn’t stay like this for long.
You already have quite a lot for only 3 weeks Rekha. To fight against art block, you can:
1/ make blobs of colors and then try to make people or animals with them,
2/ look at your old drawings and make another one, in a different format or with different materials, for example,
3/ do a Draw This In Your Style,
4/ draw on a live session or replay,
5/ go to the museum, the library, the park, a café and draw the people around you,
6/ choose a color, write it in Google Images and draw all the yellow or green objects etc,
7/ take drawing materials that you haven't used for a long time and give it a new chance to please you,
8/ choose a subject that you want to improve and draw two pages of it, without applying yourself, just for quick practice. Maybe you can draw two pages of hands, noses, bikes, etc. You take reference photos and you set a stopwatch and you draw without thinking,
9/ draw what is in front of you, your drawing material, your pet, your children,
10/ draw a family photo that you took during the holidays.
I know, it's frustrating, but I think you've been doing great work so far this year. Sometimes it just takes time for us to find our footing. I've definitely felt this way before (New Year 2023 to be exact) and am sure I will feel this way again. You'll be good!