143+ Ways, with Drawing Ideas, to Overcome Art Block

Do you keep trying and trying to make art and you just can’t seem to muster the energy? Or do you keep creating something that resembles a 4th grader with no art experience, that has never even seen a pencil in their life? Don’t worry. It happens to the best of us. Artist’s block, a.k.a. Art block or creative block, can hit any of us at any time for any given reason. There is good news! In this post I am going to give you different ways, fool proof ways, to break out of this and getting back to creating what you love in little to no time. So let’s dive in!

What is Art Block?

I could get technical and give you a text book definition or I can just tell you. Art block is like going to make a bowl of cereal, something we have all probably done at some point in our lives, and instead of enjoying this nice bowl of cereal with milk or whatever you prefer, the cereal is on fire and you don’t know why because you didn’t even use anything to heat it up. Often times art block will hit us slowly over time, or sometimes it can just hit randomly. It can be frustrating, confusing, or downright depressing depending on how long it has been going on. But don’t worry, like I said in the beginning, it happens to the best of us.

Why Does Art Block Happen?

Art block can happen for many reasons. Here are some that have afflicted me in my life, and may have in yours too.

1. Lack of Sleep

Maybe you have two corgis who like to wake you up at 3am to go potty and a 4 year old who then wakes up right when you just fell back asleep at 5am. This will definitely affect your creative abilities, problem solving, and more when it comes to creating art.

2. Nutrition

How you eat doesn’t just effect your waistline. Ensuring you are at least eating some foods with nutritional value will help your brain keep up with the demands of being creative. Believe it or not, it does take a lot of brain power to paint, draw, sculpt, or whatever meets your artistic fancy.

3. Hydration

I am sure you’re reading this list like “yes these are good ideas, but they’re obvious”. They may be, but some of this can be hard work for some people, so stick with me. Chances are, you may not be drinking enough water, or eating enough (see nutrition), and this can lead to dehydration, leaving you with a raisin brain. Make sure you’re getting enough fluids and nutrition.

4. Mental Health

I haven’t talked much about it yet on my blog, but I suffer from quite a few mental health ailments including PTSD. Sometimes, if this is flaring up, I cannot find it in me to create and it can actually continue to trigger my trauma responses if they are flared. If you are feeling like art is overwhelming you, it is ok to put things away where you can’t see them and allow yourself to process your current situation and emotions.

5. Social Media

This one might also hit home. The pressure to post, and post, and post…you get the point. Nothing jacks up my creative process more than the expectation of needing to post on Instagram; recording my process step by step and sharing some deeply intimate parts of my new piece of art.

Art block can come from many different areas of our lives, and I think a big part of countering this is identifying the underlying cause so we can address it. So here it is, the big ol’ list of drawing ideas and other effective methods to let your imagination run wild and break that creative block.

143+ Ways to Overcome Creative Block, with Art Challenges, Art Prompts, and New Things to Try

1. Try Different Mediums

This is one of my long time, tried and true methods to breaking my creative block. If you want or need a new perspective, trying different mediums, new techniques, or just a new color palette can refresh your creative bones. This is an excellent way to explore different tools & different materials , and the best part is it is a fun way to give yourself new creative inspiration regardless of your skill level.

2. Explore Basic Shapes

I think sometimes we get caught up on making the next Pablo Picasso, but the problem with this is, we can’t always put out our best work 100% of the time. Silencing our inner critic can really help get out of this creative rut we find ourselves in time and time again. Keep it simple and try just drawing basic shapes. This can be the best thing to do to generate new ideas and just get yourself creating, even if it isn’t the most extravigant thing.

3. Create a Daily Habit

The main area that I think many artists lack is consistency. How do you get good at anything? Practice. The best way to do this is set aside like 10 minutes on a daily basis, and just do something. There doesn’t even have to be an end goal or a finishing of a piece. Just sit down (or stand) and create. Draw what is in front of you. Make a cup if you are a sculptor. Paint some colors and strokes with different brushes. Don’t be afraid to just make marks, make something, anything. There doesn’t have to be fine details and just getting something on your blank canvas well get you moving in the right direction.

4. Listen to Your Favorite Songs

Something a mentor told me and that I also practice is that setting a vibe can increase your energy levels mentally, and putting out some good sounds can be a great way to get those creative juices flowing.

5. Trying Different Styles

Personally I really like doing digital art because I live in a tiny ass apartment, and I don’t have a lot of space. I also really enjoy doing portraits. A good idea to break away from my comfort zone is trying different techniques as well as different styles to approach my portraits.

6. Try a TikTok Video Trend

If you are into tik tok, or even instagram reels, scroll through and see if there is something that tickles your fancy and try it out. Often times artists will having drawing challenges that you can try as well as draw this in your style (dtiys) challenges.

7. Get Some Fresh Air

Sometimes we can get a little cabin fever, so getting outside and getting some fresh air can really help. Go for a walk or take a little sketch book and go sit outside and draw the nature.

8. Watch Your Favorite Professional Artist or Artists

Personally, when I find myself in an art rut, I like to go watch videos by Andrew Tischler, Ross Draws, and many many more professional artist (s) because often times they not only have solid art advice but also great insight in general.

9. Give Yourself Enough Time

There are times when you will have unlimited time to do art, and other times you will not. If you have a project you are trying to complete, make sure you have enough time to complete the project from start to finish. In other words, maybe don’t try to paint Milford Sound when you are in the middle of finals week and need to study all day everyday. Finishing projects is a good way to boost your confidence in your artistic abilities as well as avoid giving up on projects that can create this creative block.

10. Look at a List of Drawing Prompts

Wether you are a professional artist or a beginner, I have a great list to work off of here that can help spark your creativity without much pressure. If all else fails, finding a great list of drawing prompts and just going for it can help you beat your art block.

Here are more ideas as well as some new starting points to help you.

11. Do other creative activities like reading, singing, watch a movie, anything that gets your creative juices going that you don’t usually do.

12. Go to your favorite place physically or mentally.

13. Redo your own artwork. This can be a great way to improve works you previously have done kind of like revising your work.

14. Meditate. Take some deep breaths and let go of your anxieties of needing to create the perfect piece of work.

15. Make colour swatches.

16. Analyze your favorite song lyrics and make a piece based off of them.

17. Make something in your own unique style. Find a piece of artwork you like and do it in your style.

18. Make different shapes. You can do basic or interesting shapes.

19. If you like acrylic paints, try oil paints and vice versa.

20. Don’t worry so much about a starting point and just get started.

21. Try different creative projects. If you’re working on a painting, maybe try to start on something else so you can take breaks and switch between either one.

22. Take as much time as you need. Don’t rush your work. There is not a race to get finished (if it’s a personal project anyways).

23. If you are having a hard time, talk to friend/family. Sometimes talking through our problems creatively can help us process what we need to to move past our creative block.

24. Study facial features. Try out something other than what you are comfortable with.

25. Try Out Character Design

26. Draw/Paint/Sculpt a Family Member

27. Take an Online Course or find a free YouTube video

28. Find little cool things or knick knacks around the house to create something with

29. Create something with your non-dominant hand

30. Take photos of a mountain view or a street scene

31. Check out Map Crunch to get random studies

32. There is not going to be a perfect time to create. Don’t wait for inspiration and try to do what you can even if it’s small

33. Don’t fill al your free time trying to do art. Do other things you enjoy doing too! You might find more inspiration NOT doing art

34. The best ideas can come in unexpected places. Carry a small field notebook or sketchbook with you or you can use your phone of course if you’d prefer

35. Create art based off of your favorite TV show

36. Don’t worry about making the perfect brush strokes when painting

37. Don’t pressure yourself too much. Sometimes going a period of time without creating can be really good for you. Taking breaks from creating will happen so don’t beat yourself up.

38. Work on old art. Sometimes making too many new artworks can be overwhelming or even the thought of doing so, which can put you in an art block. Add some new flair to an old piece or take a new look at something you may want to improve upon

39. Find a better way to create. Maybe you are using too many tools. Simplify your arsenol and see where it takes you

40. Look at comic books. A lot can be learned from looking at comic books and their characters even if it isn’t your style of work.

Sketchbook Ideas & Other Art Ideas for Drawing, Painting, & More

41. Flowers

42. Fruit

43. Your favorite animal

44. Trees

45. Leaves & plants outside your home

46. Textures (like doing a texture study)

47. Your favorite dish

48. Your favorite drink

49. Glass

50. House plants

51. A Self Portrait

52. Clouds

53. Dots

54. Shapes

55. Repetitive colors, shapes or other designs

56. Books

57. Characters in your style

58. Characters in their original style

59. An old master study

60. Candles

61. Life drawing- hands, feet, body forms

62. Go people watching and sketch the people you see

63. Sculpt a tiny house

64. Repurpose some furniture or redesign it via painting or upholstery

65. Mushrooms

66. Your state or country or even your city

67. Bubbles

68. Make a structure using the same materials i.e. only marbles to make a statue

69. Anatomy (medical illustration, for example)

70. Cars

71. Your favorite fish

72. Dragons

73. Princesses/Princes

74. Super Heroes

75. Bird Feathers

76. How you feel

77. Your OOTD (outfit of the day)

78. A dinosaur or other prehistoric creature

79. Pizza

80. Your favorite thing in life

81. Logos or icons

82. Bridges

83. Facial features such as the eyes, mouth, etc.

84. First Place ribbon (for you)

85. How your art block feels

86. Interesting Bottles

87. The weather

88. Somewhere you want to visit

89. The beach or the ocean

90. Seasonal (Halloween, Christmas, etc)

91. Fireworks

92. Your astrology sign

93. Metal

94. Musical instruments

95. Make a book cover for your favorite book

96. Repurpose things around your home or using recycling

97. Your desk items

98. Draw your drawing surface- drawception

99. Hearts

100. Vines/Leaves as a design

Other Art Pieces & Projects to Explore to Break out of Your Creative Block

101. Make a surface one color and then glue on items that are only in that color

102. Make a small scale drawing or painting of a much larger piece of artwork

103. Do a photo study of a photo you found or explore Pinterest, Unsplash, and other open source creative commons

104. Do timed art sessions. Set a timer and just go wild for 10-20 minutes. You can do this in a few bursts or add it to your daily practice

105. Have a creative party with friends. Pick a project to do together or attend a paint night in your community

106. Make a mark and build from there. Make a squiggle or other random line and let your imagination do the rest

107. Speaking of making a mark, do a self portrait or photo study of a face and only fill in details using mark making techniques. This is best done using the grid method, too as it is easier to fill in boxes, but you are the artist so you know what will suit you best!

108. Make tangible items such as picture frames, making a design on your lamp/lampshade (make sure it is non-flammable), or creating art to hang specifically around your home that you’ve been wanting to buy but haven’t! Home made art is the best art.

109. Create a pinboard using photos, inspirational quotes & more

110. Collage. ‘Nuff said. Grab those old magazines and have fun

111. Crochet or knit. I know this list is getting wild but remember the tip above about trying different things out of your comfort zone? Nothing like learning something new to inspire you in your common art practices

112. Make some pinch pots

113. Create spiral designs

114. Bottle painting as a vase for flowers or just for decoration

115. Find an object and trace around it over and over and then color in the shapes different colors

116. Make friendship bracelets

117. Create a mandala design

118. Cut out paper and make a new piece of art from it

119. Stain some glass

120. Create something with blocks or legos

121. Make some tie dye t shirts or other wearables

122. Try the bubble blowing method for painting

123. Do paint pour art

124. Use tissue paper and glue to make something colorful

125. Sculpt something weird like soap or a potato

126. Try body painting

127. Make Gift card holders for upcoming events and holidays or even greeting or birthday cards

128. Draw or paint seasonal things such as jack o lanterns or snowmen

129. Create a drawing or painting on multimedia paper, then rip the paper and clue it onto a new piece. On this piece of paper, make a whole new piece of art

130. Try painting on a new surface like plywood for example

131. Do a “you can paint this” tutorial

132. Find a Bob Ross The Joy of Painting video and follow along

133. Paint on objects other than canvas or paper

134. Use charcoal on toned paper to make a different kind of drawing. Use the toned paper to add a richness to your piece of artwork

135. Do a social media challenge. Find one of your favorite artists and see if they have any current or previous challenges you can try.

136. Look at some of your sketchbook ideas and turn it into a refined drawing, painting, sculpture or other piece of art

137. Go out into nature such as just walking or go for a hike and sketch down the plants you see as well as animals if you run into any that aren’t going to harm you

138. Let your imagination run wild and make something that doesn’t exist; a magical being, an invention, you name it

139. Draw your inner critique. What do they look like?

140. Look at something from a new perspective. If you always make portraits from the front perspective, try doing a 3/4 perspective instead

141. Make a mess with acrylic paints

142. Paint a still life with some oil paints

143. If all else fails, combine one of these 143 ideas and make something completely different than anyone has ever done

Final Tips and Thoughts on Beating Creative Block

The most important thing that many artists are missing is fun. Yes, artists do have to work, but if it is making you miserable, then it might be time to take a step back and refresh. Figure out your why again, and also evaluate what would make the creative process more enjoyable. Not enjoying what you are doing can lead to some serious art block, and if it something that is a means for you to pay your bills, this can be problematic.

I have faced creative block so many times in my art career that it is laughable. But each time I have done many of the tips mentioned above, but I also like to follow the formula that has worked for me since my early 20’s. This includes:

Cleaning up/off my work space
Turning my phone to silent as to limit my distraction from social media and other fun apps on there
Brain storm any good ideas I think I may have by writing down lists or just doing small framed sketches
Not being intimidated by the blank canvas by filling it with a solid color or putting random lines/shapes down
Turning on some of my favorite music or a tv show that I don’t have to pay attention to
Lighting a candle or incense
Opening windows for some fresh air (if it’s not too hot or cold)
Not worrying if my work is in my own unique style, but rather getting to the starting point and putting down some brush strokes
Leaving my focus on fine details behind and instead focusing on shapes and shapes only
Last but not least, checking the first 5 things in this post to ensure my physical, mental, and emotional health aren’t hindered if art block is ailing me

If you are looking for great inspiration, different perspectives, or just some other artist’s to check out, I have made a small list below as a freebie to help you out during this art block that I am assuming you are having since you are here. Thanks for reading friend, and good luck on your artistic journey! Remember. Even if you don’t make art, for days, weeks, months, years, you are still an artist.

Emily Artful https://www.youtube.com/@emilyartful

Alpay Efe https://www.youtube.com/@AlpayEfe

Sam Does Arts https://www.youtube.com/@samdoesarts

Ross Draws https://www.youtube.com/@RossDraws

Angry Mikko https://www.youtube.com/@angrymikko

Bobby Chiu https://www.youtube.com/@BobbyChiu

Laura Price https://www.youtube.com/@lulusketches

Jazza https://www.youtube.com/@Jazza

Sebijy https://www.youtube.com/@Sebijy/videos

Ethan Becker https://www.youtube.com/@EthanBecker70

vangoghandloveyourself https://www.youtube.com/@vangoghandloveyourself/videos

Billy Not Bully https://www.youtube.com/@billynotbully