Motivation

[Zook]

I love making art. I love coming up with ideas for personal art projects, I love the process that goes into creating things, I love seeing how my art turns out, and I love to see how my work affects other people.

Yet I seem to have trouble bridging the gap between thinking about art and making art. I have so many ideas I want to work on, but I just can't bring myself to get started. When I started working nights, I thought to myself "Sweet, now I can have some more drawing time!," but I just can't bring myself to actually do it. My weekends are always booked, and when I get home, all I want to do is play video games.

I need motivation.

How do you folk out here get motivated to create art?

 

[Neon Ness]

Lol I think I make better art when I'm supposed to be doing something else, like during class. I've heard others say this as well.

Sitting down in front of a blank white sheet of paper and thinking "OK! Time to make art!" can be really intimidating. Sometimes the best thing to do is to write down those ideas you have really quick so you remember them later. Maybe it's some really small, random idea -- "Ooh! A purple guy in a tuxedo!" Write it down somewhere, anywhere. Later, make some really quick sketches in the margins of your history notes or whatever of what it might look like. Then take it to a larger scale and redraw it on nice paper, and ink the lines/add color. I think it's better to take small, gradual steps for allowing these ideas to manifest.

And yeah, sometimes all I wanna do after a rough week is play video games too lol. It does tend to drain any creativity I had. But it can also a nice break from having to think too hard on something. At times you may need to just force yourself to put off the video games and force a quick sketch, but do give yourself a break with something relaxing. Art gets really tiring if you work on it 24/7.

 

[Geist]

There's lots of ways I keep myself motivated. I'll just make a list I guess. Everybody loves lists.

1) Find an inspiration. Good work is easy enough to find, but it's more difficult to find that one artist who's work really really clicks with you, and totally knocks you off your feet. Any time I want to draw something and don't know what, I personally turn to Stephan Martiniere and Mike Butkus. Just find someone who makes you want to emulate them the moment you see their artwork.

2) Give yourself projects to do. Instead of randomly sitting down like 'yeah, draw stuff', give yourself a bigger idea to work from. Are you designing characters for a game you have planned in your head? Do you have anything you've done before that you want to make into a recurring theme? Do you want to practice rounding out your weak points in a certain style or technique? Basically create an ends to work towards.

3) Keep an open mind when you're not drawing. Everywhere you go, keep your eyes open for things that strike you as interesting. Something that could be as simple as an abstract shape, or as complex as a really cool looking building. I recommend keeping a camera on you so you can take pictures. Google is also a weapon of choice.
Also, I actually keep a notepad next to my desk at night while I sleep, because I commonly have really intense dreams that are loaded with every idea from songs, to story plots, concepts, etc. Nothing's worse than losing a really really good idea because you didn't write it down...

4) Be competitive. This one might not apply to a lot of people, but this is my main source of inspiration. Whenever I see a piece of work that outdoes mine in any way, I put in conscious effort to surpass it. I always have ask for criticism, and I always listen, no matter who it's coming from.
Be your worst critic, and push yourself past your own limitations on purpose.

 

[neous]

i have the same problem. drawing in class or for procrastination purposes produces stuffs, but at usually too high a cost (for me anyway).

i currently employ 2 strats to cope. +1 new strat.

new strat: listen to geist

2 others:

1. use mindgames.

you have to space/ mindgame yourself into a situation where you are forced to start your art project.

2. be gosu

tell yourself "F*CK IT IMA B GOSU" and then you'll find you can do anything, including start and finish projects. (if you dont know what it means to b gosu just replace with the word "pro"). i used to be lazy as hell but am now im on a gosu streak, accomplishing (virtually) all that i desire to do.

note: i have not yet compiled any data to reveal the success of these strategies. but im working on it ;D

But really, if you still find yourself unable to choose where to start, just pick arbitrarily, its better than nothing. I started 2 novels and drew a spiderman sprite this week using these ways of thinking. Its better than what i used to do: procrastinate in my studies while producing lackluster art.

tl dr: HOW DO YOU REALIZE YOUR DREAMS. You have to just start. and b leet about it.

 

[Geist]

i currently employ 2 strats to cope. +1 new strat.

new strat: listen to geist

Haha I like this guy.

 

[Yink]

In order for me to make good work, I cannot ever completely focus on it. I try to do some of it in one sitting, some of it later (which is usually the other way around for most artists I think).

I'd try taking a walk. I see tons of things that inspire me when I walk.