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Vgta · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2001 5:42 am

So here I am still looking for a job, getting rather frustrated at the lack of replies (being in Texas doesn't help either) anyways I've been feeling rather blah and un-inspired and was wondering what you guys do to help you get inspired and renewed

[ July 18, 2001: Message edited by: Vgta ]

exo13 · member Member # Joined: 31 May 2001 Posts: 243

What? I'm not the only one who gets the artists' equivelent to writers' block? I can't answer your question, sorry. I feel for you though.

Colleges in maine where they teach digital art are non-existant, so whenever I look at a brochure at a school's art program I get extremely depressed. Why the hell would anyone want to twist up some copper wiring into a random shape and call it art? Maybe I should just start painting triangles and start scribbling, that seems to get more attention than an online portfolio of artwork done in Corel Painter, stuff that I actually worked hard on.

I hate this so-called "modern art" SO MUCH! Shouldn't it be up to the university to teach a form of art where people can actually MAKE money by doing something that at least looks like it took a little effort, as opposed to WASTING money on pipe-cleaners and rusted car-parts? They call it expression, I call it a 5 � refund at an recycling center... 10 � in Michigan.

[ July 16, 2001: Message edited by: exo13 ]

PandaX52 · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2001 2:14 pm

Sometimes it's creatively renewing to stay up really late (or not sleep at all) and visit random places on the internet while singing to yourself in a weird voice, or you could walk somewhere, preferably a park, preferably at night. What I do...

or just stare at the ceiling for extended periods of time, letting your mind wander around aimlessly, great fun...

marky · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2001 2:21 pm

Or take drugs obviously

PandaX52 · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2001 2:24 pm

Vgta · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2001 5:10 am

Done the staring at the ceiling part...don't work. I'll try the walking through the park though.

Vgta · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2001 10:31 am

Anyone else?

Jenn · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2001 10:42 am

Movies, Games, Flash Sites, Reading, Car Mags, My friends, Animals, Nightmares...

Alsorts of things..

Guy · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2001 1:57 pm

i have a serious art block too.. i cant really get any solid ideas most of the time and if i start drawing something it usualy turns out looking bad so then i just through it away and go do something else.. really bites... but something that gets me into a creative mood is going out for drives. i usualy go driving through the hills near where i live. away from everything with my music nice and loud. it helps clear the mind for me anyway.

]Aratex[ · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2001 6:14 pm

Well, if it was up to me, I'd say just let it run it's course.. That's what I did... I was >6 months straight without a single idea, but one finally hit me.. (and you can't have it!)

Then again, I'm a severe pessimist, so you probably shouldn't listen to me... Time to go finish my half-empty Mountain Dew. :-)

burn0ut · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2001 8:38 pm

i got a great book called 'how to get ideas' by jack foster.
its really good, you should check it out sometime

Perplexer · member Member # Joined: 07 May 2001 Posts: 55

I dunno dudes... I have a TON of pictures in my head that I wanna get down on paper, I just rarely have the time doing it because I am busy drawing all kinds of other bs for people who don't appreciate it... anyone knows THAT problem? What do you guys do about it?

fireheart · member Member # Joined: 15 Apr 2001 Posts: 68 Location: UK

Well for some reason with me its usually in the very late / early hours that I get inspired (12:00 - 2:30am ish).

Being on my own in the dark with nothing by my desk lamp and some eerie haunting music playing in the background (music always helps my creative mood).

I find that I am inspired by my dreams, some of which I remember in their entirety and some only fragments.

I’ve sometimes found that writing down your dreams and dream fragments can provide you with an invaluable source for your creative conscious to tap into.

I also have sudden flashes of inspiration while in the shower.

Oh and like PandaX52 said (to some extent) immerse yourself in the subject matter for your work. Visit web sites about it, read books about it, live and breath it.

But then I find that my muse can be very fickle and if I don't grab the moment right then I've lost it. It’s just a shame that I get inspired at such inconvenient times.

Vgta · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2001 5:22 am

Hey thanks guys, slowly but surely I am sure I'll start feeling creative again.

burnOut: Thanks for the book tip, I'll look into it.

Jim S · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2001 5:51 am

Many old artists and authors drank absinth to get inspired. It's a kind of booze that makes you hallucinate. The artists who drank this could paint some really unbelievable and amazing things. I think van Gogh (not sure it was him though) drank absinth and in one of his intoxications he got so inspired he cut his ear off.

/Jim

marky · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2001 5:46 pm

now thats real inspiration!

Dthind · member Member # Joined: 12 Dec 2000 Posts: 436

In my opinion, the best inspiration for things is people, things and places;

people you see
people you like
people you don't like
people you don't know
people you don't understand

Things;

look for different things than you are used to seeing. Force yourself to place you do not usually go to.

Look at things you are not used to seeing.

Places;

If you can go somewhere do so, if you can not fake it.

I kind of just did the noun thing, but it is great inspiration. When in doubt hunt for something that challenges you to think / feel in a different way than you would now.

I was in Vancouver awhile ago. I went down to the gaslight district (not sure if that is the exact name). From there I went to some random park, and from there a fishing point where old chinese ladies were standing and talking. I speak (VERY) little cantonese and walked by and said good morning and how are you doing. Their reactions were so interesting that it became a picture that will last with me forever.

Make yourself go see, think and feel new places.

if not, nevermind...

Ahcri · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2001 9:24 pm

I've also had a "block" for about 2 weeks. But I've finally started gaining my creativity back this morning. For me, I can only paint when I'm mildly depressed or mildly happy. Never in between. Yesterday was the opening of my exhibition at the art gallery I was working in. I met this cute girl there and started talking to her until the end of the reception, which is precisely two hours. I've talked to her before, but she used to think I'm her stalker. But now my name is cleared, it feels great!

Anyways, what I'm saying is, if you're not in the mood, try doing something else to change your mood. I also suggest Art gallery hopping, driving around, and go to a pub and listen to some live music.