Getting out of a creative black hole

JO420 · Apr 2005

Any suggestions? Recently i think ive worked myself into a rut, my brains wiped on ideas, i know what direction i wanna go to advance my career but i seem to be drained in terms of motivation and creativity, sure im working doing 3d and such but the job is horrificlly unfullfilling, my boss in an idiot,im underpaid and the commute time daily is so much that when i get home i have no energy to make a website which i need to make nor to think up of enviromental art ideas and make em in 3d?

I need something to motivate me towards the path of improvement but im at a loss for ideas,usually being around other 3d artist does this but in this job nor where i live are there any around? usually going to industry events helps but my boss does not consider sending us to events to help us advance and improve, told i was going to GDC,lie,E3 only he is going along with the sales people.

Next week im taking time off to go to New Orleans and relax some and hope it sparks something

anyone here ever encountered this and how do you work your way out of it?

JKMakowka · Apr 2005

Quit your job

JO420 · Apr 2005

Being one of the few 3d jobs in the city i live it isnt a real option.

bill have to be paid one way or another

KDR_11k · Apr 2005

Play a few mindless games, that usually gets your brain moving again.

Or get a trampoline. It's easier to think while you're hopping away on that thing.

Sage · Apr 2005

Yeah I encounter this kind of thing often, like when I had to stop working on my reel to go to Walmart and work there for 40 plus hrs a week and then go home and find out my sister wants to jack up my rent even more and then I find out I have to dish out 200 bucks to buy new tires for my car in order for it to just start it's inspection. So I get some money from my contract work, my car passes inspection, I see my wonderful 40 cent raise from Walmart, spend time with my girlfriend at her mother's 80th birthday and I still have not broken down bad enough to sign my life away for the next 4 years to the military.... Sooo I think you can take it, no really no matter how much your boss is an [email="A@#!!!"]A@#!!![/email]
For inspiration I draw, watch anime, read polycount, I mean I read polycount a lot and then wake up an go to work at Walmart again, get home read polycount!!! JO420 I don't feel two fingers in my left hand but I can really tell you that as long as you don't give up you'll make it. See you have a 3d job, so suck it up and do some 3D art. Just look at it the way I do, if you don't do something soon there will be no tomorrow. I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I'm sure damn well going to find it.

Later going to sleep a few hours because I get to have fun at Walmart tonight. End Rant!!!!!

Good luck on your site really, it's not that hard to do just open notepad and type
<html>
<body>
Welcome to my online gallery where I show off my latest...

<!.. add some images here and there and before you know it it's done!>
<img src = I_ hate_ my_job.jpg>
</body>
</html>

I hope that inspires you a bit sorry if I got carried away.

Since you are in a bad runt try and change your perspective a bit and see it as this being your stepping stone to the begining of your career, whatever helps... And then get to work. Later.

Alex

KDR_11k · Apr 2005

(it's , not <! !>. <! is used for scripts)

EmAr · Apr 2005

I usually play old games for motivation, the games which don't have awesome graphical capabilities but contain definitely beautiful artwork(like the Legend of Kyrandia series( http://www.abandonia.com/ )). Manga is sometimes very inspiring for me too. The other day I handled Laputa: Castle in the Sky. Very interesting designs... I think it's other people's imagination what motivates me the most. As I'm a student I can't say much for your job though. But what chains you to the city you are living in?

JO420 · Apr 2005

"But what chains you to the city you are living in?"

pretty much having a reliable job in which i can pay my bills.

lkraan · Apr 2005

Taking a break from modelling/3d-stuff, games and computers.
Just do completely different stuff.
Since you're going away for a couple of days that might do the trick already.

ElysiumGX · Apr 2005

the desire for money to pay the bills doesn't exactly encourage creativity. neither do long hours listening to asshole management. that vacation you're planning will help.

JO420 · Apr 2005

boobs and booze will sooth the pain

Ryno · Apr 2005

Watch some well-filmed movies. Go see Sin City right now. Rent Titus, Edward Scissorhands, or some other visual feast of a movie.

Read some books or comic books. Go to CGTalk, and take a look at some of the beautiful renders.

Listen to some moody music while sitting there with your sketchbook.

Sage · Apr 2005

Good point KDR_11k

The other thing that gets me inspired very easily is speaking with friends especially if they are fellow artist and love ones.

Alex

Getting out of a creative black hole

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