Techniques for getting yourself painting again.

You're in that rut? That's not good. 

Well, there's quite a lot you can do to get out of the rut if you put your mind to it. When I get like that I like to think about painting as something that is done for fun, for your enjoyment only and for pure leisure and escapism. Certainly don't make a big deal about the whole act and don't worry about rules or approaches that must be done. Your critic must be dissolved. Paint as if no one will ever see the painting. Anything you do will be received with great celebration by yourself. Paint using your child instincts and purely for the enjoyment of the act itself. Every stroke is a very fulfilling exploration of yourself and the thing your painting. If you paint trusting your child-self, where you are the only one with all the answers you'll ever need, then your artist voice will start to take over. 

I also try to relax, experience life and think about things that inspire me to want to paint. They may be philosophies, inventions, people, places or things from my imagination. I draw a lot and develop this conversation in my sketchbooks. Paint or draw simple things or take complicated things (compositions) and make them simple. 

I like to think of the things that I like and why I like them. Thinking about why you like something leads to greater awareness and deeper investigation. 

Try writing. Write in your sketchbook or journal. Creating a blog for your artwork is a great place to focus on writing about your art in-depth. Writing helps me keep a dialog going about where I'm at with my art, the way I see the world and understanding my journey.

Try teaching. Show someone else whether a child or a classroom full of adults what you know about drawing, painting, sculpture or art in general. Verbalizing out loud what you know in front of an audience helps you make clear to yourself and others your approach and ideas about painting. You will also find that you will not have time for negativity and your critic will begin to dissipate. 

Record your dreams immediately upon waking. Write down in detail in your journal or do a quick sketch in your sketchbook. You will surprise yourself. Your dream-inspired sketches are a more honest interpretation of your unsolicited inner voice. 

Listen to music. Listening to music while you create or while you're not creating is a great engine. This usually gives way to me reasearching new and existing bands. 

And, when I'm really at a road block in life, I like to listen to Gene Wilder's song, "Pure imagination":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ-uV72pQKI

Or, I'll try having a drink of beer or three. I'll listen to music and find new musicians that inspire a different state of mind or emotion. I also like spoken books or recordings of rants by artists, writers and poets. 

I'll hang out with other artists and talk about art or things that inspire them. I like to hear their perspective and how they see things. I find their points of view are usually more optimistic than my own, and optimism, usually leads to greater in-depth thinking and discovery. 

I'll work out at the gym or at home (but usually not while drinking). Practicing Yoga or just plain stretching can be a great way to awaken the muscles and refresh your physical body.  And, having a moment or two through out each day to meditate--or really, just call it whatever you want. I like to call it listening and feeling the sun on my skin.

Read a book. I like to read many books on artists that talk about their life and art. I like to read whatever... Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, or even a self help book about greater consciousness and awareness. The book I'm reading now is a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go There You Are. It talks about non-doing.

When I'm not quite in the mood to actually make art, I'll do things that are related to enabling the act. I'll build stretcher bars, stretch canvas, build frames, clean glass on existing pieces, take pictures of them or scan them, cut mat board, clean and organize my studio, or even shop for supplies online or in stores. 

Collect reference. I bum around and take pictures with my camera of things that I like (buildings, people, whatever). I may even do a quick sketch of it as a way of documenting it as well. 

Go for a hike and sketch along the way. Sketching isn't always necessary, sometimes just "taking-in" is all that is needed.

I also like to do non-art related activities, such as: fixing my car or house, cleaning my car and truck, studio or house, or doing something nice for someone else.  

Go to museums or galleries where you can see the original works of art. I like to feel the energy the originals have, especially Rembrandt's. I also go to local art shows and gallery openings to support other artists. 

I find that planning out my projects that I am going to work on sometimes helps. Having a clear picture of what you plan on setting out to do such as a series can help motivate you and steer you in a direction. 

Go on Youtube and watch artists paint their pictures. 

I'm usually always researching obscure artists so that I may find a language that resonates with my own. I recently found an artist that I really like, Arthur Clifton Goodwin. In these, I look for new inspiring approaches that lead me to the sheer joy of painting.   

Try looking at this great blog that I recently found. There are many great artists I've never even heard of and I'm sure they all went through the same tribulations. 

http://bjws.blogspot.com

Also, don't forget to get proper amounts of sleep and nutrition. Sleep greatly affects creativity. It's one of the first things I check when I'm in a rut or depressed for that matter. I ask myself, Have I had something to eat? Have I been drinking water? Have I gotten my eight hours of sleep?