GET INSPIRATION!

It is never a good reason to take a break from your art. It is also never good if you just work at your art but it is easy because you just follow a process without any inspiration. That is just not good! I think it is better to think of some projects when it is like that...An artist once said "It is not just inspiration but perspiration!" But honestly - what do we need to do when there is no inspiration? I will share with you what I do.
1. Variety the spice of life. It is never good to work in only one art medium! Take on another medium and it will give you some real art exploration and many challenges. My favourite art mediums are pencil drawing, painting in oils and prints(lino and woodcuts). But most of the time if I do not work in oils I draw. And that is good because it keep the creative juices pumping!
2. Study! Study your art - show yourself approved. Mastery only comes if others call you a master. A Master must "know" everything about his particular art. For me there are a view places or sources of study:-
2.1 Books about artists - I love to read biographies and auto biographies about artists.
2.2 Books about Art Techniques in your particular medium - maybe, just maybe there is something that you can learn from one of these books.
2.3 YouTube and the Internet - Ah here is a visual or a good read with photos etc. - I regularly watch some technique or website about an artist. Maybe in my mind I think it is not that good but then somewhere the person has some technique or does something where I learn something new.
2.4 Obviously - yes! There are official courses and studies if you have the stomach for it - certainly that will challenge you greatly!
3. Balance between chaos and order – A good thing to do is to bring order to your creative environment - clean the brushes, sharpen the pencils - file the drawings. Put things in order that needs to be in order. For me I thrive on chaos but sometimes I just have to bring order and change everything in order to progress further. This is a great exercise and it gives you a moment to reflect on some drawings which can be developed into paintings etc. Do not be afraid to throw away some stuff - destroy it! On the pc also create order make folders and keep stuff so that you can find it again. Search in the process for inspiration. From perspiration to inspiration! Order also implies organization. Sometimes I make a list and then look at what I haven't done and what really need my attention. Prioritize, organize and get on with it!
4.Time! Some things cannot be altered - you know it is all wrong when you look at the drawing or painting but your mind does not give you the answers or changes. You have to wait and study your own work - put it aside but still in view; as you see it regularly, it will come to you exactly what is wrong and exactly what you must do to rectify it. Then you are ready to change it.
5. Work!There is no excuse for good solid work. Just get busy. Work - it waits for no man. A good idea is to prepare a new board or canvass, finish off some work that you know what to do, sign off some work. Some things just need to get done! Do it!

Yes art is a very difficult work! Don't be fooled because if you do not find it difficult anymore please do us all a favour and get off the bus or else read through this article again and get inspired!