Fear of a blank page and how to get started creating anything
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ค. 2024
- The blank page - Yikes! Starting a new project can be daunting for any sort of creative person. I'll tell you what causes creative blocks and share strategies to shift from paralysis to action. I'll give you a concise guide to turning creative anxiety into a powerful ally in your artistic journey. Let's beat this thing and get to work!
Find more of my courses on SketchbookSkool.com
📚 Some of my Books:
📕 The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly Are: amzn.to/47x7dOj
📘 Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are: amzn.to/49GmtKr
📗 Shut Your Monkey: How to Control Your Inner Critic and Get More Done: amzn.to/3ulN8fG
📙 You do you: Essays on being creative. amzn.to/3R0n96c
👉 Subscribe for More Artistic Insights and Tips! Thank you for watching and considering subscribing to my weekly essays on creativity: dannysessays.com/
Share your thoughts and questions by replying to any of my essays.
👉 Stay Connected:
Check out my other videos for more inspiration and practical advice on living a creatively fulfilling life. And don't forget to subscribe!
Your support and interaction mean the world to me. Let's embark on this creative journey together!
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:02:36] Root Causes of Creative Blocks
[00:05:08] Impact of Blocks
[00:16:04] Strategies to Overcome Blocks
[00:19:11] Tips for Starting
[00:24:26] Conclusion - บันเทิง
![[TH] VCT Pacific Stage 2 - Week 4 Day 1 // PRX vs RRQ | GE vs GEN](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iIi2_04jGr0/mqdefault.jpg)
If you'd like to learn how to draw, watch my free tutorials on this channel. Here's the playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLINz5dTN9-0tS0FEA3UhAB4NVg7oiD6Iy.html
36 years ago my art teacher told me I have no talent for art. I fully believed that for 30 years. Then I took up acrylic painting and I was quite good at it and even sold some paintings! I've not been able to paint for a while because of family commitments and it's been so hard! That is changing now. I can paint, I am an acrylic artist but, I can't draw. I always wanted to draw, and then I found you 😊 Here's to you and thankyou for coming into my life just when I needed you 😀 Can't wait to get back into that wonderful zone 😄
I am 35. I am not a writer, I am not an artist. I express, with disjointed words and wonky doodles. I have no mastery and no technical tools. Often the thought of starting now, feels like a joke, another one of those escapist fantasies. But there is something in my core that tells me I should try. Thank you for everything you've said, Sir. It's all very real.
Don’t expect to be good right away. I’ve been practicing for four years and finally see some improvement! And your way younger than I am!
Sounds like you're a writer & artist who isn't writing or drawing. Perhaps start with crayons to do both & see where it goes. I send you oodles of writer/artist vibes from my creative genius to yours! Been there. Still a work-in-progress.
@@DeAzul7902 :-) thank you
@@carolstefan7662 :-) encouraging to know you have kept at it. It's daunting, but inconsequential as they may be, the silliest pictures I make bring so much joy and fortitude.
It really does sound like you are a writer and artist who just hasn't tried yet. Don't be afraid. Just do it. The joy in trying is immeasurable!
Something that ended up helping me was getting an uncomfortably big sketchbook. I bought an overly big sketchbook because that's all there was. I thought I would struggle using it. But having the extra room, to make big sweeping marks. Wow what a game changer. I also decided to make it imperfect and draw/paint ANYTHING that came to me. It's my favorite sketchbook to work in now. It's a creative playground. As it should be.
I JUST did this like 2 weeks ago! I used to use small - small/medium sketchbooks and I recently purchased a large sketchbook. I don't feel as confined and I can put a whole bunch of doodles on one page. Then when I am ready to try to work on an actual project, I have lots of space to work with.
@@elkforests That's awesome! You think it would be overwhelming but you quickly get used to the idea of it and run with the freedom 😀 Have a great night!
Wonderful tip! It reminded me of a video I made with my son long ago: th-cam.com/video/QxYWuWBnPRU/w-d-xo.html
@@SketchBookSkool❤👍🤗
@@SketchBookSkoolJust watched the video with your son. Hilarious!
I am a 40 mum, maths teacher. I write, draw and do embrodery and creative craft in general. I have always struggled with perfectionism and haven’t do any of these things that i love in years ! I discovered your channel a few days ago and your’re helping me redescover myself and my love for them. You give me confidance again. Thank you so very much for that! Hugs from Belgium (sorry for my english, as french is my first tongue)
Honestly looking through my sketchbooks and project books I realise that ten bad drawings look as good as one good drawing. And the more I fill up my sketchbooks with, good and bad, the happier I am to look back and see my progress.
So true!
This was exactly the pep talk I needed to get started, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks for the advice! Like so many others, I loved drawing when I was young but stopped when I thought it was time for "grown up" things like college and career. I'm 51 now, my Dad passed away, and I decided to try drawing again because life is short and I can't procrastinate on hobbies I love. Taking time to draw each day has been a therapeutic gift to myself.
Two years ago I sat down to write a book. I’d never written a book before. Had a rough idea but nothing outlined. Two years later and writing nearly every single day (sometimes for 15 mins or eight hours), I’m in my final edit of a 200k book as the first book in a series. If I wouldn’t have sat down every day I wouldn’t be here now. Those little moments of dedication really do add up. Love your channel thanks for inspiring me to get my midori journal out and begin drawing even though I’ve never been good at drawing but I’m just gonna set myself free on this like I did with my book. You can do anything if you set your mind to it and show up every day. 😊
Ohhhh, those infinite choices, infinite beginnings. Instead of saying that it paralyzed me, I say "my brain explodes," because of all the stuff that I could choose!
The best advise that I was ever given for painting, although I guess this only works with oils and acrylics, is to mix two colors of paint, the colors don't matter, then paint your entire canvas that color. Once it dries, you no longer have that pristine, perfect, white surface that you're afraid of messing up. You know have a completely "messed up" surface that is still completely usable. It really helps relieve the stress.
Now I just need to figure out a way to do that with my new drawing and calligraphy notebooks! :)
Soo relate to this Danny. I fit into the bracket of people whos day job/family commitments means less time to practice art. And when I do get the time I feel soo pressured to create some great piece or I feel I have to squeeze all aspects of learning art into 1 precious hour!!😬 I usually end up dismissing everything and end up doing nothing😒. Im going to take my sketch book to work tomorrow and start filling in my lunch hour with some simple line work😊. I will no longer sit and fear the blank page!!👍😁
This is exactly me as well! The pressure is on and then instead of creating I end up on the couch watching a series or a film... and then afterwards I beat myself up because I wasted that precious time... 😒
Comforting to know I'm not alone👍😊. I do get frustrated though. Would love the ability to put everything on hold just so I could actually apply some time to draw. I find its the hussle and bussle of life which is what kills my imagination and ability to be creative(And no its not a lame excuse😒)
I love your suggestions and the lovely way you encourage belief in the process. Thank you very much ❤
Done is better than perfect!
Hi, I want you to know the tone of your voice is so calming. It's story telling quality. Consider reading your essays on TH-cam . I tend to get lost when reading, thinking about all the things I need to be doing at that moment. When I listen to your videos you definitely capture my attention and I learn so much more. Thank you for all your hard work.
I always remind myself - process over product, something is better than nothing. Best thing my 2-D art prof ever did was have the class do a pre-instructional drawing (firsrt day of class), do a post-instructional drawing towards the end of the term, then do a critque comparing the two. People who thought they didn't improve were stunned at how much they got better just by showing up to class and drawing.
This was amazing. Brilliant. I have analysis paralysis over everything and it is exhausting. I do feel like it infects everything and my idea of perfectionism destroys the fun. I have a problem of critiquing other people's work and fearing that my work will look amateurish like other amateurs and that destroys me from starting. And that's ridiculous because I am an amateur....I just don't want to look like one! I'm going to replay this video over and over because it is so helpful. I need to let myself screw up and not be afraid of it. Thank you so much.
I seem to struggle with perfectionism too....I feel like everything around me has to be perfect before I can let myself sit down and be creative.....there's dishes, or vacuuming, or clutter, or dusting, or laundry, etc, etc, etc....I too am an amateur. It's funny how so much of the time Danny's essays and videos seem be plucked straight from my head....there's a fear that holds me back. When you're an amateur, there's also a fear of never getting better, or good enough. It's really hard to have such a strong desire and yet feel so paralyzed.
Best tip I ever got was to number the pages. When I get a new notebook/sketchbook I air through the pages and number them so I have already broken it in when I start using it.
It's like you're in my head. This, ALL of this, is exactly where my brain has been for weeks, and it's been bringing me way way down. Thank you for your encouraging words and insight. So very helpful.
When all else fails, scribble to warm up your hand/brain. Relax, open up your shoulder & move from there....❤
We've never met yet you know me so well. Thanks for this essay.
Watched this after your procrastination video and halfway through felt I should be DOING, not just watching, so I did a rough sketch of you on screen, while riding the train. Thanks for the constant coaching and encouragement.
This was a much needed video. Thank you. I had a graphic novel idea in my head for almost 10 years, and I had the fear of starting...but one day I decided to just work on writing the script little by little. I have 12 issues written, and though it's just the rough drafts, now I have something to revise. My story is finally coming together because I decided to start.
Your video is very inspirational. I have a God given talent for art that runs in my family. My Grandmother had it, my dad inherited it, I have inherent it and now my daughter has it as well. The problem is my dad and I have wasted many years not drawing or painting. To me this is so true. Just the thought of what should I draw? Or will it meet my expectations is so discouraging to a person. It's a fear for something so silly. I think a lot about if I had practiced every day, where would I had been with my art after so many years. I try to encourage my daughter to keep at it while she is still young and doesn't have so many other responsibilities yet. Because for me. I still have to find the time, never mind just conquering the fear of a blank page. But I really must get to it again. Thanks for this video. It really made me think about getting started again.
Not sure this is exactly what you portrayed buy my fear has always been the beginning of a new sketchbook. I always felt my first few (sometimes more) pages were really bad while I worked out what the paper felt like and what I wanted to use the sketchbook for. So my hint to trick my fear was to start at the back and work my way forward. It worked for me and now I can start a new book with excitement because I know that my interactions with this sketchbook only get better and better.
I love your style Danny. Your manner makes the content compelling. I am a subscriber to your essays but watching you speak it is so much better. Thankyou from Australia
Awesome! Thank you!
The scripted essays are top. The interviews and collabs are top. But this style of video/pod is gold!
This topic also... So vital, too prescient!
Thank you so much for explaning so well the origin of the creative blockages and how to overcome it !
I can see myself in all those blockages, overthinking becoming paralysis, and also perfectionism with my fear not to start with the perfect drawings.
I understand so much better my fears now. Thank you !
You really explain so well and you give real tips to pass through it.
And I think most of the things you’ve said can be applied to a lot of other things in life, not just to creative blockages.
It is really interesting and so helpful !
Thank you so much for your kindness !
Im thx u bc I’ve been Stuck for 1 yr bc of a few things I did to take next steps.
1 be a vendor x 2 with no success sell prints that cost me $1000 I had saved for 4 yrs.
2. Family was mad at me bc spent that $$
3 if I try to paint for myself it’s not great but my commissions are very good but only 1-2 a year.
So I’ve been very discouraged. But I now know to treat it like exercise and do it for 15 min a day to start just drawing again so I can get my brain at it again.
Thx u god bless.
When I join live figure drawing/painting workshop, the day’s better ones are, more often than not, among the 2-5 min drawings we do on large newsprint paper at the beginning to loosen up. There’s no time to overthink, just have to start, then the pent-up energy starts flowing shortly; probably that’s why.
Mimicking some artists’ beautiful works online with stiff shoulders and doubt about ourselves is a totally opposite method; for me, it won’t work.
Great video. I like the part about feeling like an imposter - see what you can get away with - that's a great way to override that feeling, and really spoke to me as an approach to try. Thanks Danny, I love how positive and encouraging you are
I always seem to find a distraction away from starting my drawing. I like the idea of small squares and, just like a chocolate biscuit, once I start drawing I know I won’t stop at one square. So I’m going to try your approach and do one square to start.
Someone else like me! While watching every time I thought “but what about this…” that was your next point, love your videos ❤
I’m just one step behind you.
Thank you for this pep talk. Ive been neglecting my sketchbook you give me the motivation to try again!
I really love your drawings in squares idea. It worked for me. Its so encouaging and satisfying! Thankyou Danny!
Thanks for this great encouraging message. All of those feelings of inadequacy coursed through me when I began sketching. To conquer my self-doubt, I cracked open an album of my kindergarten drawings…and recalled how fearless I was back then, scribbling stick figures and wonky houses. It,wasn’t about making “art”…it was about playing with crayons. So joyful. So I drew stick figures and wonky shapes in my sketchbook for a long time. It was cathartic.
Just do it for the plot
Thank you for saving me from myself.
Thank you for your advice! It always helps me and inspires me!
Thank you for your recommendations
You such a wise gentleman.. I could listen to you for hours.
Great video. Thanks for the confidence boost 👍
Saving this to watch again and again every time I feel stymied. Thanks Danny, you are always spot on.
I love this video!!! You have a lot of wisdom, and I am thankful that you shared it! Thank you!
Thank you for this. Very much.
Thank you for this - glad I found you
Loving this pep talk Danny!
I’m saving it in my library.
Thank you. 😅
'Just wonderful! Thank you!❤
Your videos are very helpful and stimulants! Thank you very much!❤
Thank you Danny!
Thank you❤❤❤
I was inspired by your video. I let go of judgement and expectation and just started on my blank page and it felt great. Thank you.
I just bought your book "you do you" and I just love it. You are so encouraging and so entertaining that I watch you every day just to remain positive. I cannot draw so I am hoping that I will learn. Thank you for everything you do.
Awesome strategies! Thank you 👍
I can relate to all of that.
Thank you. I needed this video a lot. I have had Aphantasia but am slowly recovering. I can see vague impressions in my head with descriptions. I have decided to become a writer instead of a drawer. This video made it possible for me to open up my mind and get back into the writing process. Many thanks again.
I really needed to hear this today. I’m going to ‘shake it off’ and begin. Thank you.
Thanks for the peptalk! I wish I had this 40 years ago at school 😊 better now than never
Thank You so much! You made my day! I am a procrastinator and a perfectionist but I need to make mistakes I know and then I learn I am always learning. I try not to judge myself but I do. Its my mindset that I have to change its ingrained unfortunately and even when people have told me that my art is good I dont believe them!. Thats a terrible feeling. I hate putting my Art out into the world to be judged as to me I like it and I have a fear of Judgement. I have had it all my life. Its time to change so Thank you for the encouraging words. I plan just to do my Art my way and the way I enjoy doing it. Great Suggestions. Thanks for sharing. Time for my art!
Your words are quite inspiring and elevating sir. Thanks for this video pep talk 😊
You are priceless! 💕 thank you…
The poem “The little boy” by Helen Buckley goes a long way to explain why fear of the blank page might be a problem for many people 😢It is often used in training for people working with under fives to show that it is the process that is important, not the end result. Child careers and teachers don’t realise the damage they are doing when their art sessions result in every child taking home identical pictures or collage which have been copied or done hand over hand, showing the child where to place things 😢What parent would want a mother’s/ Father’s Day/ Easter card that is identical to everyone else’s? A card where a child is able to scribble and paint with wild abandon is far more valuable. When children are shown what to do and have to work to set expectations they lose their ability to be creative x
Thank you.
Awesome 👌❤
Great channel.
I'm a big fan of creative play and was doodling as I listened, just going with the flow. Recently I read Emile Zola's semi-autobiographical novel His Masterpiece (free download from Project Gutenberg), which really gets into the meat of artistic perfectionism and paralysis. The same goes for the movie Cezanne et Moi. Both highly recommended.
Danny is the best
Thanks for your all positive vibes! ❤❤One like is not enough!👏👏👏👏👏❤❤
You are inspiring. Thank you for all you say
You are so welcome
I love him❤
I tried Nanowrimo this year for the first time and finished in 27 days. So I am a winner! Got the badge today. But I really am totally at sea about how to start my illustrated journal. i have always wanted to add colour and the lovely scenery around me in my diary. i dont know how to though and your tip on filling the page with 'bad' drawings is really helpful. i do hope i start this year sometime... 🤞
Have a look at Nature drawing with John Muir Laws
Thank you
You're welcome
It doesn't matter if it's good, what matters is that you are doing it.
This is somthing so greate i'm gona paint it on my wall.
Maybe I should make a video called "Fear of a blank wall"!
Nice idea@@SketchBookSkool
Professionally I do art for a living. When I do my own art, I work differently due to the fact that I do more experiments and try new medias. I find I end up fixing more then putting down the art as I would like. However, the end result is pretty good. So get started and adjust as you go along.
I was looking for the chocolate orangutan miracle, but found your great video! Thanks so much.😃
When I have this with writing, I just start a "stream of consciousness' write and see what comes of it. Sometimes I find a gem of a line or a few sentences that are "good" and run with those. Sometimes, I wad it up and give it to the cat to play with. In art, its a little harder for me. Since I started keeping a "dragabout" where I allow myself to be free, it happens less. I do have a sketchbook that I keep to allow myself a period of time to entertain my perfectionist side. It works for me.
Just show up! I record my hours of Just Showing Up. Present yourself to the table and see what happens. Even if not much happens, the record of hours is incentive in itself. And by Just Showing Up, stuff does happen!!!
I love this video ( exclamation point times a thousand million)
Talking about not doing or beginning a project, is all about "perfectionism", not good enough, possible mistakes etc, until i stumbled on Zentangle. This has changed me forever. I call it meditative art, merely drawing lines that intersect which starts off looking like nothing, until you get the hang of it then begin to colour in and suddenly, you see a palm tree emerge out of crooked inter joining lines!! So the goal is not perfectionism, but creating extraordinarily, the best!!😂❤ Try it, then you'll understand. Enjoy your playfulness😂.
I’m not afraid or worried what people think it’s all the should oughts and musts that get in the way. I’m too Tired to get to drawing after I do them. Dumb I know but there I am
I never had a problem with a blank canvas - i come to it with a desire already- something i want to paint. 😊oil paintings are very easy to correct or paint over many times.
Oh Zoe...😢
Seth Godin says the same thing “Just show up. Every day no matter what. Make it a habit.”
Endings are elusive, middles are nowhere to be found, but worst of all is to begin, to begin, to begin.
👏
❤❤❤❤❤❤
❤
This may be controversial but I have started using ai to help me when I have a drawing block. It started as a bit of fun for myself, family and friends to come up with the most random ideas. It has helped my imagination run wild for when I’m ready to hit the page
How do you use AI?
I really enjoy how AI looks and it can be a fun reference tool, but like any reference tool it can lead to procrastination. I don’t think we’re ever really ready to hit the page and we never will be. Only drawing for real will help you feel more ready to draw.
@@elaineporter182I did reply but looks like my comments were deleted 🙏
My biggest issue is what to draw and I know you say everything but then my brain goes blank. If there were a process of start here got to here it would take the thinking out of it😮💨
Draw your most uncomfortable shoes. Then three things in your kitchen that start with S. Then an otter playing a ukulele. Report back for more, when you have completed these assignments.
Danny, you've done it. You've totally gotten my gears spinning. Now I wish I'd done NaNoWriMo after all this year. Imagine a story about how a cheap red pen saves the world. And, of course, the story starts by letting you know that...
The last 3 year i have drawn every day, until my dog died. She was my muse my best frend my travel buddy. And since that day i dont feel motivatid any more, every day feels the same, no more adventures. Its been 3 months now and nothing... i feel lost and dont know how to find the joy in drawing anymore. 😢
Do you have any advice Danny?
Купи новую собаку.
What do you do with the fear of succeeding? It crippled me to the point of not getting a craft book published some years ago. I would really appreciate it if you would help me with this. Thanks!
Tell me more. Fear of succeeding?
@@SketchBookSkool LOL....I thought you could tell ME. I had a publisher interested in my book, but I froze solid....I just couldn't turn in my work. I KNEW they would accept it, but I ran and hid from succeeding in a BIG way. I have had years of regrets.
First🎉
This video was made for me. Thank you so much. I feel so seen.
Chocolate Orangutan!
It is in the dna. I watched a class of kindergartners with crayons and a blank paper. Some had no hesitation at all, plunging right in. Some sat there and pondered. Some only drew on a small area. Some bombarded the whole area with colors and strokes.
Nope... Thats not in the dna
All children have different early experiences that may determine how confident they are in art. Google the poem The little boy by Helen E. Buckley .
I sometimes just even start with a word. I call this exercise word on word. Each time I come into the document, I will read it, and put down a word. Showing up. That way has really helped me, but even then my inner critic gets going. So, I don't delete any of them. And I see where they go.
❤