Somewhere on my facebook newsfeed, I read that somebody, an artist, was feeling a lack of direction or motivation or something… they felt they were wasting their materials, and didn’t know what to do.

I’ve been thinking about that today. When I feel like that, these are some of the things I do:

1. If painting, I restrict my palette.

2. I stop trying to paint, and draw or collage instead.



3. I read some art books and magazines. I especially like reading interviews in Juxtapoz.








 

4. I work in a journal. Stick in attractive shapes, colours, images from magazines (I don’t cut my precious art mags). I Draw. I write ideas. If you need help getting started in journalling try something like:

She Possible by Diana Howes




5. I plan a work or a series in detail so that I know exactly what I am going to do before I start using materials.





6. I look at the image or painting I am creating, and try to see other things in it, shapes, shadows, figures, that are not what my intention was, and try to draw it out, sometimes using a charcoal pencil and return to paint later.

7. I put music on in the studio, or change the music, or turn it off and work in silence.
Pandora Radio

8. I work with my other hand, ie I am right-handed, so I work with my left instead.

9. I focus on exploring the material I am working with rather than a subject.

10. If painting, I put the brushes down and use other implements. Not just palette knife. Bamboo sticks, scrunched up card, rag… the idea being to play with mark making.