Does anyone else feel like their imagination shuts off when they start drawing?

[Huglust]

I'm often dreaming of things I want to draw, comics I want to make, whatever it is. Yet, as soon as I open my painting software and see that blank canvas, it's like my imagination is whitewashed. This isn't about attempting and failing to create exactly what my imagination sees which in my experience is a poor way to go about any art form. It's like a huge portion of my mind just turns off as soon as I look at a canvas. Maybe this is just how it is? I feel like my imagination can be so strong and then I get to writing/drawing and suddenly a huge reserve of my imaginative/mental energy just disappears. I dream up a script and as soon as I start typing or writing it down, the energy almost disappears. It's the same with drawing.

I've rarely found myself in some sort of zone where my imagination isn't suppressed and I can see exactly what I want to draw and it's almost like I'm tracing an image I've overlaid on the surface with my imagination. It's so fun and I'm wondering if this is a mental space great artists are in regularly. This has happened for me so rarely that it seems like some kind of cosmic occurrence for lack of a less dramatic description.

This is beginning to sound like artist's block, or whatever, and if that's the case I've been in it most of life.

I'm just curious if anyone experiences something similar and/or has some insight. I've made some good art but this issue has often make me feel like maybe this just isn't for me. Yet, I feel relentlessly drawn to it. I need a hobby and I need to have fun doing it at the base level, and painting and drawing looks like it could be so much fun.

 

[TrixieFox]

I'm often dreaming of things I want to draw, comics I want to make, whatever it is. Yet, as soon as I open my painting software and see that blank canvas, it's like my imagination is whitewashed. This isn't about attempting and failing to create exactly what my imagination sees which in my experience is a poor way to go about any art form. It's like a huge portion of my mind just turns off as soon as I look at a canvas. Maybe this is just how it is? I feel like my imagination can be so strong and then I get to writing/drawing and suddenly a huge reserve of my imaginative/mental energy just disappears. I dream up a script and as soon as I start typing or writing it down, the energy almost disappears. It's the same with drawing.

I've rarely found myself in some sort of zone where my imagination isn't suppressed and I can see exactly what I want to draw and it's almost like I'm tracing an image I've overlaid on the surface with my imagination. It's so fun and I'm wondering if this is a mental space great artists are in regularly. This has happened for me so rarely that it seems like some kind of cosmic occurrence for lack of a less dramatic description.

This is beginning to sound like artist's block, or whatever, and if that's the case I've been in it most of life.

I'm just curious if anyone experiences something similar and/or has some insight. I've made some good art but this issue has often make me feel like maybe this just isn't for me. Yet, I feel relentlessly drawn to it. I need a hobby and I need to have fun doing it at the base level, and painting and drawing looks like it could be so much fun.

yep... almost every time... I do sketches of people's sonas every once and a while.
the other thing I do is cats... I heard this idea and thought it was ridiculous but it works...
draw cats... but only allow your self to make 1 change to each cat from the original sketch

 

[IvorySkull]

It happens to me and my girlfriend quite often. We both love drawing, but no matter how clearly we can see the whole picture in our heads, sometimes it just doesn't work. The blank canvas acts like a wall. Other times it just flows naturally and hours go by without me even noticing - I have been on 24 hours-long drawing sessions without feeling the need to eat or sleep.

When I have troubles overcoming the white canvas I've found out that it helps me to sketch VERY quickly. It didn't matter if the shapes are rough and the proportions are not right: I just need SOMETHING to fill the white space. Then I can work on top of the first super rushed, ugly sketch.

 

[redhusky]

Quite often, I have things I'd LIKE the draw/model but then when I sit down to actually do it I draw, no pun intended, a blank. I partially solve this via random word/idea generator or doing requests/getting friends to give me ideas.

 

[Pomorek]

Not really the same way as you guys. But my levels of "mental energy" are always horribly low and all too often I end up only thinking what I would do art-wise on a given day. Without the will to actually proceed. And it's not even a time issue.

I tried various tricks, for example "try it for just one minute, you'll find yourself continuing". Nope. It's comical how many times I simply closed the program after this minute has passed.

 

[Amepix]

Yeah. It happens to me a few times. I just do something else until I get my imagination back.

 

[FitzOblong]

Yes, very familiar with that state of mind. No matter if an empty canvas or text-document, as soon as I could finally start working on something, it feels like my brain is imploding in itself and there is just nothing coming out of it.

And then are far too rare days when every line you draw, every word you type just fits.

 

[Judge Spear]

Blank canvases intimidate people. This is why having a reference library, consistency, and thumbnailing are so important. These among other practices will reduce the chances of you booting up your app or pulling out a fresh sheet of paper and locking up. Regardless of skill, you'll be able to have a habit of getting an idea going even if it's not exactly what was envisioned prior.

Thumbnailing especially is huge. Try it next time you know you have something going in your head but don't feel confident.

 

[Deleted member 162282]

I'm often dreaming of things I want to draw, comics I want to make, whatever it is. Yet, as soon as I open my painting software and see that blank canvas, it's like my imagination is whitewashed. This isn't about attempting and failing to create exactly what my imagination sees which in my experience is a poor way to go about any art form. It's like a huge portion of my mind just turns off as soon as I look at a canvas. Maybe this is just how it is? I feel like my imagination can be so strong and then I get to writing/drawing and suddenly a huge reserve of my imaginative/mental energy just disappears. I dream up a script and as soon as I start typing or writing it down, the energy almost disappears. It's the same with drawing.

I've rarely found myself in some sort of zone where my imagination isn't suppressed and I can see exactly what I want to draw and it's almost like I'm tracing an image I've overlaid on the surface with my imagination. It's so fun and I'm wondering if this is a mental space great artists are in regularly. This has happened for me so rarely that it seems like some kind of cosmic occurrence for lack of a less dramatic description.

This is beginning to sound like artist's block, or whatever, and if that's the case I've been in it most of life.

I'm just curious if anyone experiences something similar and/or has some insight. I've made some good art but this issue has often make me feel like maybe this just isn't for me. Yet, I feel relentlessly drawn to it. I need a hobby and I need to have fun doing it at the base level, and painting and drawing looks like it could be so much fun.

Preaching to the quire! (OMG I've got an amazing idea, *Opens Photoshop to start sketching a character bust, a moment later looks at the drawing* "Wait... who are you again?")

 

[Faustus]

I always start by filling the blankness as quickly as possible with a roughed-out pose made of big circles. Maybe this kind of approach would help you? It gets something covering the whole page quickly so you'll have less empty space to worry you.