Tips for Creative Paralysis

If you're like me, you often have days where you just cannot think of what to draw or paint. You could stare at a canvas all day but nothing would ever feel quite right, or no idea is good enough. 

What I have learned though, is that all of your ideas don't have to be good enough. You just need to put pen to paper (or brush to canvas, Apple pencil to iPad - you get me) to get your creativity flowing. If you don't like something you can change it later or use it as a base idea to start again. They key is to just keep creating, imperfections and all.

In fact, I originally wrote this article with the help of AI because I couldn't work out what to write. I was going through a serious creative block due to many different reasons, and I used AI in my day job so I thought why not let it 'help'.

My creative block didn't improve, the writing didn't sound like me and I soon realised that AI is the downfall of creativity and refuse to use it in my creative pieces - but that's a story for another day. Anyway, I gave myself time (cue "Look at the Sky" by Porter Robinson) and on a good day I deleted the whole thing and... I just started writing. And gosh it felt good.

I realised I don't want my writing or my art to be polished and perfect... I just want it to be me.

That being said, sometimes you just get in a funk you can't seem to get out of. I've been there many times. Those times when no ideas come to mind, or maybe they do, but they all seem to suck and you end up resenting the whole process.

So for the next time I get stuck and don't feel like waiting months to recover, I put together a list of reminders that are easy to think about and easy to draw/paint/ink to give creativity a kickstart.

Tip 1: One Subject, Five Styles

Pick a simple subject, something like a cat, a plant, a coffee cup, the moon.
Draw it in five completely different styles and see what happens.

For example - minimal, messy, detailed, abstract, cartoon. Have fun and keep it simple.

Tip 2: Draw With The “Wrong” Tools

Use a medium or tool you hardly, or never use. Crayon, marker, maybe a digital brush you thought you hated. No pressure, just explore. You might even enjoy yourself.

Tip 3: Redraw Something Old

Find an old piece of your own art and redraw it using your current style, the colours, shapes and mood you feel now. Has anything changed? Or maybe you remembered something you forgot?

Tip 4: Mood Board Mashup

Get together a few pieces of your own art that really feel like you. Think about what they have in common and make something new that blends all of them.

Tip 5: 10-Minute Blind Style Sesh

Set a timer for 10 minutes and speed-draw whatever comes to mind in the style of your favourite childhood cartoon, fave current artist, or a made-up aesthetic. Fast + messy = gold.

Tip 6: Pick a Palette & Let It Lead

Choose a colour palette before you start creating, something you wouldn’t usually use, and let it guide the whole piece. Don’t change your mind halfway.

Prompt 7: Style Swap Collab

Ask a friend (or use a reference image) and recreate their piece in your style, or your piece in their style. Instant clarity on your artistic voice.

Prompt 8: Emotion As Aesthetic

Pick a feeling, like “nostalgic,” “chaotic good,” or “quiet confidence”, and make a piece that visually feels like that.

Hopefully a few of these tips give you just the kickstart you need to help rediscover your artistic voice, whatever shape it takes. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just keep making things, stay curious and give yourself space to grow. 🌱