Feels like I've hit a dead end.
Whenever I open my sketchbook, or imaging software, my mind goes blank.
All the great ideas I had a moment ago just vanish, leaving me staring at my paper.

Does anyone have any advice, to help in a situation like this?

Hmm, trying drawing a blank paper. It'll blow your mind.

.: Myxomatosis :.

Here's a game: the scribble game.

1) Make a scribble

2) Look at it for a while

3) Try and make a picture out of it

It's good for your artistic inspiration as it let's you be unlike Solid Snake, think outside the box.

I lie in bed most of the time, waiting until some sort of an idea pops into my head.
But sleep seems to beat me to it all the time.

I play Counter Strike and listen to the noobs complain, that gives me ideas.

just draw tons of random shit that pops up into your head.
flying eyeballs, a maze, screaming mouths, etc…… and just let your mind wander while doing it.

it'll be bound to give you some very intersting thoughts and ideas.

Draw what you think forum people should look like!

Ingest my friends.

Yell at people at school, then get in a fight because nothing says murder ideas like Anger!

Aurora Moon
just draw tons of random shit that pops up into your head.
flying eyeballs, a maze, screaming mouths, etc…… and just let your mind wander while doing it.

it'll be bound to give you some very intersting thoughts and ideas.

Dude i think of flying eye balls too!
Eyeballs with bat wings
Eyeballs flying with flames!


…..aaaaaaakwaaaaaard

Ask for ideas from people and draw them.

play battlefield 2

I have that problem with writing all the time - I usually just want to gounge my eyes out or something, but sometimes something that works is just writing whatever it was I wanted to write, only, of course, it's no where as good. A few days later I sually can clean it up. So I guess just draw what it was you wanted to draw, even if it's just in stick figures, and draw…

Does that make sense?


Alcohol works as well.

Take a break. I find that forcing myself to think of something often makes it worse, because you're no longer doing it because you WANT to, but because you feel you HAVE to.
Start taking inspiration from things you see, things you've never tried to draw before. Like… I dunno, you see your cat lying on its back trying to bat at something hanging off the table, or that kid across the street that managed to do a really cool trick on rollerblades.

Also, a lot of times I look at really good artwork and get ideas. Like, I'll see a pose that I like, and think of something really neat using a similar pose, and try that out.

ozoneocean
Draw what you think forum people should look like!

yeah, do that!

…or go with the alchohol. maybe 420. people are always speculating about how famous dead artists experimented with drugs…or were homosexuals.

do something really boring and then you will feel inspired

Kiara
Take a break. I find that forcing myself to think of something often makes it worse, because you're no longer doing it because you WANT to, but because you feel you HAVE to.
Start taking inspiration from things you see, things you've never tried to draw before. Like… I dunno, you see your cat lying on its back trying to bat at something hanging off the table, or that kid across the street that managed to do a really cool trick on rollerblades.

Also, a lot of times I look at really good artwork and get ideas. Like, I'll see a pose that I like, and think of something really neat using a similar pose, and try that out.

Holy crap, that actually sounds like a very, very good idea.
but then again, so does this one:

Subcultured
play battlefield 2

Ooh… choices, choices…

Read over your archives and try to think of where you're headed. If the problem is you don't know how to get there, think of the most likely way

Okay, this next bit is going to sound dirty, but it isn't. Give yourself a massage. Relieve stress, even if you feel calm. Put your mind into a state of nothingness kind of. Then, think of your comic

Also, enjoy some time away from your usual hobbies and do something else

Hope these help

When one has artist's block, one must relax. (And not only relax, but reeeelaaaaaaxxxxxx.) This would entail looking at art or playing videogames or listening to music. (Or eating chocolate. Especially carmel-filled kisses. But I digress…)

When you have taken a break (or reeeelaaaaaaxxxxxxed) then it is good to just draw. Randomly. Get a sketchbook and do whatever comes to mind. Do character sketches, stare off into space, or eat more chocolate. (I'm starting to digress again, aren't I?)

Another fun thing to do is the random picture game. This is where you draw something random (as in, say, a bird) and then under it draw the first thing you think of when you think whatever that picture is. (Sort of like the word-chain game. Only with pictures)

Aaaaand after all that I feel like I've only rehashed what other people have said. (except the chocolate bit) Sorry about that. ___ I hope at least I helped hammer the ideas in.

promise yourself stones to the groin if you don't come up with something…make those stones happen every 10 minutes.
I guarantee you'll come up with something in 8 minutes.
(it'll take 2 minutes to draw)

seriously, i just take a break, a vacation if you will.
And…don't WORRY about it.

I mope. Seriously, I do. .__.' My “artistic slumps” are naaasty. Give me stomach butterflies like you wouldn't believe. x_x If I can, I sleep, or get the hell out of my house!

stay away from drawing related stuff for a while, eventually it would pull you back to it, then youd feel like your rediscovering stuff all over again, then you're all set to go.

well i'm kinda going through that artist block thing too, it has been going on for maybe a year but as of now i'm playing drakengard 1 and 2. not sure how to break out of this though but don't force yourself to draw cause i know if i do that i just find myself want to draw less.

you could look at pictures and comics or read stories till something gives you an idea, though this don't work for me it's my 2 cents anyway.

Me? I stay in that slump for about 6 months, followed by a small nervous breakdown. Then I'm usually fine.

I suppose that doesn't really help though…

Every body has slumps my reccomendation?

DRAW DRAW DRAW and then DRAW SOME MORE

even if you're not feelin it your skills won't back slide. Also look to places like this forum for assignments that will challenge you and expose you to subject matter you may not have considered on your own

I liked the draw the forum people suggestion, and you can start wit me foo! ^_^

Good Luck!

I get frustrated when I try drawing in a slump because nothing looks right.. which makes the slump last longer.

My advice is to open up a P2P program ( everyone has them! ) and search different words that make you feel something. Download a few songs you don't know that have to do with that word. Usually something sounds different or funky enough to inspire. n__n

Well I have ADHD so I just sit and shit pops into my head. Other than that I read other comics and draw ideas from that.

When I can't draw, I write, and when I can't write, I draw.

When I can't do either, I just listen to music and try to draw inspiration from the lyrics. Sooner or later, something will pop up.

i listen to music and surf the web.

There are a few things I would do in an artistic slump.

1) Read a really good book (most likely suspense thrillers) if I have time.
2) Watch a good movie.
3) Make random doodles.
4) When all else fails, I listen to very depressing music. Because I work better when I'm sad. O.o