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J.M.W. Turner's works are awe-inspiring because the artist started
with movement and power, light and volume,
before ever even settling on his subject. |
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I hit a wall trying to write today. I wanted to write about the importance of expressing strong feelings in your work, but I couldn’t figure out how to tie it all together. It was frustrating, but I knew I could get through it because I’d experienced it before, as a writer and as an artist. “Artist’s block” is just like writer’s block: ideas are half-formed but none of them can be fully realized. When I get ready to paint or draw I want so much to take advantage of the time I have to work on art that my urgency can feel like pressure, causing me to freeze up. Luckily, the solution for writer’s and artist’s block is the same—get out of my own head and look around!
So I pushed myself away from my computer and went over to my bookshelf and picked up my stack of
American Artist issues. I let my mind wander as I flipped through the pages, wanting to just react to images visually. This is sometimes what I do at the start of an art project too. To get myself thinking, I'll browse through my favorite magazines looking for design ideas and images that ignite my imagination. Turns out I didn’t have to look very hard—the work of J.M.W Turner immediately caught my eye in the
January 2008 issue. His ability to use color to create a sense of light and space before he even settles on a subject was what caught my eye.
Then I pulled out my copy of Drawing Spring 2010. Going back to previous issues makes me see the featured works, techniques, and artists in a new light. It is a great way to remind myself of things I’ve forgotten or pick up new information that I didn’t catch on my first read.
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Anthony Ryder recommends approaching
a drawing across the whole work, knitting
the individual forms into a cohesive whole. |
A tip that I caught this time around was from draftsman Anthony Ryder. He urges artists not to work in one spot on a drawing for long. Instead, he recommends working across the form "like a weather system sweeping across the country." What a great way to think about drawing! I immediately wanted to pick up a pencil and storm across the page!
The time you make for art is precious, so don’t waste it being blocked. It is a state of mind, and having resources—su
ch as Drawing—that can recharge your interests and pique your curiosity makes all the difference. Enjoy! And how do you get over "artist's block"? Share your strategies for all of us to learn from.
