It happens to us all – Scribbler’s Block, Writer’s Block, do musicians get blockages? I’m sure they do. What do you do when you’re struggling away in the studio and the creative juices have dried up? You’ve already got three or four pieces of work on the go and everything you try to do to them looks rubbish. I have a nice cup of tea to start with [of course I would. I’m British lol] then I reach for one of my technical books and do some practice.
I’ve had a rough couple of days with no enthusiasm for the pieces I’m working on so I’ve been practicing drawing dynamic hands from a book by Burne Hogarth. They’re quite cheesy and very comic book, but I find them good for practice because they’re very exaggerated so you can see how stuff works. I have another of his books that deals with the dynamic figure too. The top drawing is in conte crayon and the bottom in biro, scribbled into a cheap A4 Belvedere spiral bound sketchbook. They’re only practice so I use cheap paper, but that sometimes frees me up and the practice pieces are often more fun to do and that sometimes helps to release the creative blockage. Hopefully I’ll be unblocked tomorrow.
scribblah 
Hang on in there Scribblah.
Thanks Russell – panic over – got my mojo back today after a few days of anatomy, hands and monoprinting.
That happens to me all the time, mainly I think because I become lazy, and don’t want to expend energy on really focusing on some thing. Best cure for me, is just doing a lot of quick ink-sketch type of stuff. Sometimes it’s going to the Old masters to re-hone the old eye-hand coordination thing.
Great work by the way….you have nothing to worry about.
Thanks Hansi – I sometimes do some study of Klimt and Schiele when my Muse has gone off.
had a day like that yesterday….
It’s a real pain when it happens. I’m hoping for a better one today – tackling some direct monotypes
Your work is very powerful. Where do you exhibit?
Jane Willson
Thanks Jane. I have some of my work in The Brunswick Xmas show in Swansea at the moment and I’ve put a lot up on my website, but it’s still a work in progress at the moment 🙂
What a great idea. Usually I take a walk and don’t do anything creative when I get blocked–almost like when you forget what you’re about to say, and have to think of something completely opposite for the first thought to come back. Now I shall try this method.
I love the way that grappley-looking second hand looks…
I’m glad I’m not the only one to get blocked. I find that once I do some drawing practice, the creativity comes creeping back in. His hands are bonkers lol
I love these drawings! I never had heard of Burne Hogarth. Looked up some books of his on Amazon-added to my wish list–I really like the outrageous hands.
You inspired me today.
he does outrageous EVERYTHING! Now I know where a lot of comic book artists get their inspiration from. I try not to let him influence me too much, but I find he’s great for practice. Good luck with your wish list 🙂