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As someone who often falls into burnout and creative slumps with my art and animation, I find that taking a little step out of your comfort zone and trying something different really helps! It can be a different medium, a different style, etc. as long as you’re doing something creative.
Oftentimes what gets me out of my slumps is switching from digital to traditional art, and also doing a bit of writing! I always return reinvigorated and full of ideas.
Jan 7, 2025
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this is a great idea and i’m gonna 100% use it, sort of reminds me of when u have to wind something backwards to get it to go the right way again
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➿Pull a joni mitchell and engage in arts that differ from your primary to inform it at a later time.
If you lean more toward visual arts try poetry, song writing, music making, acting/performances for the self, crochet, clay, claymation, videography, sound collection, whistling, discovering new sounds you can make etc.
Often when i want to create but i feel tired or uninspired i try to use still life or my surroundings— BUT If thats boring i ask myself a question and let my train of thought ramble -> connecting that rambling to my pen on paper
Honestly setting your inner critic to rest and creating things that are imperfect is actually incredible!
More often than not letting first drafts be final for a moment allows you to discover what you crave to create.
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🎨First things first: it doesn't matter the quality, the quantity, or the end result. If you create, you're a creative, full stop! Don't tell yourself you're a copier, think of it as adopting little pieces of the things you love and using them as inspiration to drive you. As long as you're not straight-up plagiarizing, there's nothing wrong with using something you love as a stepping stool to grow your own abilities, or as a palette with which you paint your own world.
Also, it's totally normal to feel stuck in a rut, or unoriginal, or to fall out of love with something you've made, or to feel doubt start seeping in. And it sucks! I'm often stricken with the realization that I'm one voice in a sea of millions, and I feel insecure that people will see me as lesser. Or worse: overlook my creations entirely. It makes me lose momentum in my creative process, and makes me feel more disheartened and nervous to put my stuff out there in the first place. "What if I put my heart and soul into this and nobody sees it?" "What if I bleed onto the pages and the consensus is "it's mid"???" "What if I'm wasting my time, and come back in two weeks and think this is utter garbage?" "What if people think it's too close to <other person's work>?"
But then I remember... we're kind of ALL out here, putting our hearts into stuff, trying new things, throwing around ideas, and hoping something sticks. And that's how pretty much EVERY work of art is made! And while it's awesome to get outpourings of support on the things you make, and recognition makes your work feel worthwhile... nothing is going to make you feel more fulfilled than putting your heart and soul into something you're passionate about, and seeing it through to YOUR satisfaction. Ultimately it's not about what other people think, it's about keeping that passion alive in you, and cultivating it so that it never dies.
So what can we do about burnout? Or lack of inspiration? Or when the hope levels are too low? Unfortunately all my "tips" are more abstract than practical step-by-step fixes.
Personally, I recommend steadily and eagerly engaging in the things that you tend to "copy" in the first place. Stop for a moment, and picture the word "enthusiasm." What comes to your mind? What makes you feel that way? Chase that feeling down like it's your most treasured keepsake floating away in wild rapids! Watch shows with artstyles you aspire to. Listen to songs that get you daydreaming. Get out in nature during the sunrise/sunset. Go see animals in a zoo/aquarium, or go people-watching in a mall/park. All the while, don't stop THINKING and MAKING THINGS. Doesn't have to be cute, or fleshed-out, because the beauty is in the moment. Snap candid photos, sketch freehand vignettes of what you see, jot down prose inspired by your surroundings, do whatever you can to keep your momentum without losing the joy associated with it.
The more you let yourself create freely, the more comfortable you'll be in the future when faced with the dreaded Block, the bumps, the discouragement, or anything else that may try to slow you down. And honestly? If you still find yourself stuck, good news: you're still a creative! And that will hold true as long as you desire to be.
TLDR: Don't stop making beautiful things, and if you get to a point where you feel you can no longer make beautiful things, make "ugly" things and surround yourself with things you see as beautiful.
Also, it's totally normal to feel stuck in a rut, or unoriginal, or to fall out of love with something you've made, or to feel doubt start seeping in. And it sucks! I'm often stricken with the realization that I'm one voice in a sea of millions, and I feel insecure that people will see me as lesser. Or worse: overlook my creations entirely. It makes me lose momentum in my creative process, and makes me feel more disheartened and nervous to put my stuff out there in the first place. "What if I put my heart and soul into this and nobody sees it?" "What if I bleed onto the pages and the consensus is "it's mid"???" "What if I'm wasting my time, and come back in two weeks and think this is utter garbage?" "What if people think it's too close to <other person's work>?"
But then I remember... we're kind of ALL out here, putting our hearts into stuff, trying new things, throwing around ideas, and hoping something sticks. And that's how pretty much EVERY work of art is made! And while it's awesome to get outpourings of support on the things you make, and recognition makes your work feel worthwhile... nothing is going to make you feel more fulfilled than putting your heart and soul into something you're passionate about, and seeing it through to YOUR satisfaction. Ultimately it's not about what other people think, it's about keeping that passion alive in you, and cultivating it so that it never dies.
So what can we do about burnout? Or lack of inspiration? Or when the hope levels are too low? Unfortunately all my "tips" are more abstract than practical step-by-step fixes.
Personally, I recommend steadily and eagerly engaging in the things that you tend to "copy" in the first place. Stop for a moment, and picture the word "enthusiasm." What comes to your mind? What makes you feel that way? Chase that feeling down like it's your most treasured keepsake floating away in wild rapids! Watch shows with artstyles you aspire to. Listen to songs that get you daydreaming. Get out in nature during the sunrise/sunset. Go see animals in a zoo/aquarium, or go people-watching in a mall/park. All the while, don't stop THINKING and MAKING THINGS. Doesn't have to be cute, or fleshed-out, because the beauty is in the moment. Snap candid photos, sketch freehand vignettes of what you see, jot down prose inspired by your surroundings, do whatever you can to keep your momentum without losing the joy associated with it.
The more you let yourself create freely, the more comfortable you'll be in the future when faced with the dreaded Block, the bumps, the discouragement, or anything else that may try to slow you down. And honestly? If you still find yourself stuck, good news: you're still a creative! And that will hold true as long as you desire to be.
TLDR: Don't stop making beautiful things, and if you get to a point where you feel you can no longer make beautiful things, make "ugly" things and surround yourself with things you see as beautiful.
Jul 19, 2025
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🎨Recently I went through a rough patch for a couple months where I was only filling about one page of my sketchbook every week and it felt like buns :(
However, a couple weeks ago I started hyper-fixating on Transformers and I’ve drawn so many of those stupid fucking robots I’m not even lying to you. So basically what that means is try and find something that would appeal to you and draw inspiration from that!
Expanding on the inspiration piece- for embroidery, I have a huge Pinterest board of things I’d like to put on my jackets/jeans/shirts. There’s no shame in taking inspiration!!!!
Finally, if none of these things work (and I know it’s easier said than done) literally just force yourself to do one creative thing a day. When I‘m bored at school I draw random faces and people passing by. Just by forcing yourself to get back into the habit, hopefully that will encourage your brain to return to its former creative glory.
Good luck!!!!!
However, a couple weeks ago I started hyper-fixating on Transformers and I’ve drawn so many of those stupid fucking robots I’m not even lying to you. So basically what that means is try and find something that would appeal to you and draw inspiration from that!
Expanding on the inspiration piece- for embroidery, I have a huge Pinterest board of things I’d like to put on my jackets/jeans/shirts. There’s no shame in taking inspiration!!!!
Finally, if none of these things work (and I know it’s easier said than done) literally just force yourself to do one creative thing a day. When I‘m bored at school I draw random faces and people passing by. Just by forcing yourself to get back into the habit, hopefully that will encourage your brain to return to its former creative glory.
Good luck!!!!!
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📺I think it’d be fun, rather delusional of me. It’d probably drive me to an early grave due to the stress.
Jan 6, 2025
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😃at least for me!
I can see the benefits of vinyl, but they are very big- and vinyl players take up a lot of room! CDs are easier to store and display… because they’re compact! Hence the name, I guess.
Also you can buy cd walkmans. I used to have one as a child, but it broke and I had to get rid of it :( Hoping to get a new one at some point.
I can see the benefits of vinyl, but they are very big- and vinyl players take up a lot of room! CDs are easier to store and display… because they’re compact! Hence the name, I guess.
Also you can buy cd walkmans. I used to have one as a child, but it broke and I had to get rid of it :( Hoping to get a new one at some point.
Jan 6, 2025
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▪️Well, not ANY song, technically- but Zappa did enjoy writing songs about weirdos.
Disco Boy and Dancin’ Fool are two songs that come to mind immediately, but I’m sure there are some other songs like that. Hell, Joe’s Garage is a whole concept album centred around a bit of a weirdo!
I’d recommend his songs in general, but if you want some slightly funny descriptions, his discography is there.
Disco Boy and Dancin’ Fool are two songs that come to mind immediately, but I’m sure there are some other songs like that. Hell, Joe’s Garage is a whole concept album centred around a bit of a weirdo!
I’d recommend his songs in general, but if you want some slightly funny descriptions, his discography is there.
Jan 6, 2025