Dealing with an artist blcok

spiderDude

So after 11 consecutive weeks of sculpting a character per week to push myself, I've run into a wall. I knew I hit that creative wall when this past weekend I couldn't sculpt a face to save my life :poly119:. I pushed through it but wasn't 100% satisfied.

I've decided to take a step back from sculpting for a little bit(besides from my freelance work) and do other things. I'll satisfy my creativity with some good'ol life drawings, going outside, spend time with family, etc....

I don't know if I'm burnt out, I don't feel like it; or if just some personal difficulties are affecting my art.

Whatever it may be, I've been doing what I mentioned for the moment to get through this.

What are some things you guys have done when you've hit this wall in your path?
Just wondering

Kevin Albers

I usually switch projects, or entire forms of art, at that point. ...So maybe I work on music, or actual painting instead of 3d work etc.

Doing a character a week seems pretty intense, so needing to take a break from it after 11 weeks seems totally fine.

Justin Meisse

search the forums, this pops up a lot so be prepared to hear a bunch of people tell you you're lazy or you should give up. The truth is you just have to power through it.

Neil Gaiman has talked about it a lot, it applies to art as well:

"You’re always going to be dissatisfied with what you write. That’s part of being human. In our heads, stories are perfect, flawless, glittering, magical. Then we start to put them down on paper, one unsatisfactory word at a time. And each time our inner critics tell us that it’s a rotten idea and we should abandon it."

WarrenM

You feel burned out after 11 characters in 11 weeks? That sounds normal. Take a break until your tank refills.

sprunghunt

Take the character you like the most (out of the 11) and polish it to a finished/shippable state.

PixelMasher

go outside, take some time off and inspiration will come back.

GrevSev

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnflBERf2zM"]EPISODE 52 - Visual Library - YouTube[/ame]

spiderDude

Thanks guys, I guess taking the time off for a couple of days or so is best.
Gonna go outside and enjoy the cold weather .

spiderDude

Before anymore comments appear, I just want to say that I don't feel a lack of inspiration or creativity. I'm def still inspired to do art, I guess I just need to refresh myself.

In hindsight, the title is misleading lol, didn't mean for that to happen.

leilei

I get that demotivating 'oh, i'm shit' feeling when I do a stinker (usually regarding animation like badly done ik rigs or a botched face). I try (keyword: try) to fight this feeling by sinking too much time drawing pop culture references quickly on the internet and getting back on track with 3d afterward.

Not the definitive approach. Your mileage may vary.

gsokol

11 characters in 11 weeks?

Man, don't worry about the block....take a break. Go outside, watch some movies, play some games.

I'm sure something will inspire you.

+1 that feng zhu visual library vid.

Ace-Angel

You just burnt yourself out honestly, nothing more.

Take a couple of days off and play games, meet with friends, walk the dog, watch TV, workout outside, etc. and before you know, you will be itching to get back into making new stuff again.

The only suggestion I have is to no engage in anything that requires some kind of challenge out of you with other people, for example, DOTA2 or Competitive Local Marathon would be a very bad idea after an art-burn-out, trust me, you want to avoid anything on that level.