I always carry my sketchbook and pens around with me, but despite having multiple outings that would usually inspire me to sketch, the book and pens have stayed in my bag.
I haven’t sketched in weeks. Too many other things (like doubt, and lack of inspiration) going on in my head. I really miss sketching. The longer I leave it—the harder it seems to open my sketchbook and make some lines.
Podcast – Raw and honest discussion about Creative Block
As if by magic, I was listening to the latest Kick in the Creatives podcast, and their entire episode was an unedited conversations between Sandra and Tara (the hosts), discussing their own creative blocks and challenges.
This podcast was a good kick in my creative nether regions, and motivated me to dive into a dose of creativity.
What Causes my Creative Block?
Everyone has different reasons for being reticent to engage in their chosen creative activity, but mine is usually because I doubt my skills or feel in a creative rut. That’s when my inspiration to create wanes dramatically.
None of the subjects I’m considering sketching inspire me to pick up my pen to sketch.
How to Overcome my Creative Block
When your inspiration and motivation to create art has drained away, you need to find a solution that works for you. Maybe you need a change of environment, or a change in creative direction. Maybe using different materials or using different techniques. Or how about watching a YouTube tutorial to build a new skill?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Creative Block is personal, and so is the solution. But if you’re at a loss of how to get back into that creative saddle, I’ll share what works for me.
Blind Contour Sketches to Overcome Creative Block
I do love a blind contour sketch (click here for some examples and a definition, from a couple of years ago). There’s something about the blind contour that’s so freeing.
Blind Contour gives you an opportunity to quiet that critical voice in your head. Instead, you’re focused on refining your hand/eye coordination.
Blind Contour is all about the journey, and has nothing to do with the destination.
What I mean by that is, the process of aligning the movements of your eye with the movements your hand makes, is far more important than the resulting sketch.
Blind contour sketches by their very nature are NEVER realistic interpretations of your subject. They will always look a little odd, full of wobbles, and out of perspective. Giving yourself permission to create something that is going to look weird, releases you of those shackles of perfection. You can once again enjoy the creative process, without fear of failure or unrealistic expectations.
After a break from sketching, you can’t expect to create beautiful masterpieces. Sketching is like a muscle and needs training.
On my first BC I forgot the nose, and on the second, the hair was too small for the head. In both cases I started with the left eye. (I always try to leave my BC sketches as just ink, but colour is too tempting, and I can’t resist adding it). Even though the end results aren’t worth keeping, the lessons I garnered from doing the blind contour exercise was worth the effort.
I Learned to Look Intentionally
This third BC attempt is starting to look more like a face! It just shows how quickly you can train your hand and eye to connect again.
By this version, I remembered the importance of slowing down the speed at which my eye pans over the subject, so that it aligns with my sketching hand that was moving slower. If your eye and hand aren’t aligned, you’ll end up drawing what you think you see (using stored images) rather than what you’re actually looking at.
Why Blind Contour is useful for Urban Sketchers
When you’re sketching from life, and you don’t know how long you have to sketch people, speed is of the essence. If you can spend more time looking at your subject with little or minimal time looking at your page, you’ll be able to sketch people more quickly and confidently if you’ve worked on refining your blind contour technique. Of course when you’re urban sketching, you can take frequent (quick) glances at your paper, but the goal is to capture your subject by spending more time looking at them, and less time glued to your sketch.
I feel so relived to be back on the creative bandwagon again. With just these few blind contour sketches, my motivation to sketch has returned, and I’m itching to get outside with my sketchbook.
Let me know if you have a solution for overcoming your creative blocks. Share in the comments below.
