Art Block

[the_gneech]

Y'know, I have this big list of to-do items for various art pieces, but for some reason, I am having trouble getting any of them to paper. I hate getting art block on a project that I've agreed to do for somebody; sometimes it makes a commission take way longer than it should (I still owe one to thirdhorse that's going on a year old now), and sometimes it kills it outright (tchall requested a pic that I never could actually make myself draw).

I always feel like such a flake when that happens ... I don't like to come off as some sort of prima donna, and really it annoys me when art is treated as some sort of amazing thing that comes floating down out of the sky and the artist just happens to be the conduit for it. At some fundamental level, art really consists of doing nothing more magical than rubbing the tip of a pencil against a piece of paper so that it leaves a series of smudges that our mental processes read as a picture.

I think some of it may be that my artistic ego is getting in the way. I know that on at least one of these pieces, the reason it isn't going anywhere is because I've done the subject so many times that I've run out of ways to put a new spin on it -- and my ego says that if I can't come up with something clever to do with it, I shouldn't do it at all.

Maybe I should cruise Yerf or something looking for ideas to steal ... that might at least give me enough of a spark to get things moving again.

-The Gneech

PS: And in case you're wondering, "Hey, aren't you at work?" the answer is: yes, I am. Most of my best work is done when I should be doing something else. Le sigh.

Comments

[daemionfox.livejournal.com]

I always feel like such a flake when that happens ... I don't like to come off as some sort of prima donna, and really it annoys me when art is treated as some sort of amazing thing that comes floating down out of the sky and the artist just happens to be the conduit for it. At some fundamental level, art really consists of doing nothing more magical than rubbing the tip of a pencil against a piece of paper so that it leaves a series of smudges that our mental processes read as a picture.

A wise man one told me.

"The greater the artist someone is, the less able they are to actually function in society. All truely great artists are either flaky as a crossiant, have personality problems, or are absolutely barking get-the-net-he's-loose insane.

Something in the artist's brain ain't connected just right, and that's the trade off for being able to do art."

So, it's not just that you're a flake, it's because you're you. :-P

[reptilian-muse.livejournal.com]

I would hug you, but I don't know how you would feel about a relative new guy doing that, so I'll just say this:

I envy you somewhat, the fact that your artistic ego is good enough that you can go, "You know, I've done this so many times... it's no longer interesting to me." I wish I could be that confident in my work, even my friends have to either bribe me, or really twist my arm to see any work of mine.

*sighs* Of course, it doesn't help I have no internal motivation, and have to find outside motivation to practice. At this rate, my comic projects will never see the light of day....

Erf, I lost track of what I was going to say, so I'll just shut up and skedaddle. Keep up the incredible work Gneech, and enjoy the fact you have an artistic ego. *smiles*

and then there's folks like me

[mammallamadevil.livejournal.com]

who should have written up better instructions for the artist! Luckily, it all worked out thanks to your patience, and the recipient was overjoyed.

maybe start up a conversation with the recipient and see if that sparks something?

[tygermoonfoxx.livejournal.com]

I don't call it art block, I call it "paper avoidance". I know I have stuff that needs done and once I finally sit down to do it, I'm all right but something makes me avoid doing so for as long as possible lately. I might think about it, but the motivation just isn't there. Once I've started, I can't understand why I avoided doing something I enjoy for so long.