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When motivation wanes...

Pastel & Graphite Drawing

I have a crazy amount of public and private Pinterest boards of inspiration. I have a beautiful plethora of art supplies, I don't have everything I want, but I have the basics. Sometimes despite that I don't make art. Why?!?! I don't know. Some weeks go by and I have made nothing. This bums me out. Like I said, I have inspiration, the issue is choosing what to create. 

I ask myself:
1. Do I want to paint in watercolor or acrylics? 
2. DO I want to draw on cardboard, sketchbook, or beautiful toned paper? 
3. If that doesn't give me the push then I flip through Pinterest boards, YouTube videos, and visit my favorite artist's social media pages.
4. Go to an art gallery or museum
5. Walk through an art store
6. Visit the art section of a book store
7. Flip through my collection of art books

If those 7 steps don't work, I just let it be and view the creative pause moments as having my antenna out and collecting inspiration. Be gentle with it because if you become too serious you'll never have fun making something. 

This drawing on cardboard above I forced myself to make. And 8 is the magic number. Step 8 is to just sketch something, anything, and who cares if it comes out nice. When it comes out nice it feels really good and exciting. And if it looks bad it also feels good because I know I tried and I am returning to a more disciplined way of life. You have to create good habits. It's like musicians playing scales. Athlete's training and exercising. Practice make perfect.
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