Art Block Busters: 10 Ways to Paint When You Don’t Feel Creative

 We’ve all been there—standing in front of a blank canvas with zero inspiration and even less motivation.

The truth is, art block happens to everyone. But the good news? You don’t have to wait for a bolt of creative lightning. Here are 10 tried-and-true ways to break through that block and get your brush moving again—no pressure, just possibilities.


        Sometimes breaking your block is as simple as changing the canvas and getting ourselves out of our comfort zones!!


1. Set a 10-Minute Timer

Give yourself permission to paint badly for 10 minutes. No expectations, no masterpieces. Just movement. Most of the time, you’ll want to keep going once you start.

2. Paint with Your Non-Dominant Hand

It’s weird. It’s fun. It forces you to loosen up and stop being so precious with details. And sometimes? It leads to your most expressive work.

3. Try a Limited Palette Challenge

Choose just three colors (plus white). You’ll be amazed at the variety you can still achieve—and the harmony it brings.

4. Recreate an Old Painting

Take something you made years ago and rework it with your current skills and style. It’s a creative confidence booster and a great way to measure growth.

5. Start with Texture

No image in mind? Just start with gesso, gel medium, or modeling paste. Add strokes, scrape marks, or sponge patterns. Let the painting grow from the surface.

6. Use Prompts or Word Lists

Pick a random word—like “storm,” “whisper,” or “sunlit”—and let it guide your brush. Don’t overthink it.

7. Paint to Music

Put on a song you love and paint what it feels like. Don’t worry about what it looks like. Let rhythm lead.

8. Paint a Mood, Not a Thing

Skip the subject altogether. Think “calm,” “chaotic,” “hopeful”—then choose colors and brushstrokes to match. It’s surprisingly freeing.

9. Copy a Master (Loosely!)

Pick a favorite artist and recreate one of their works in your style. Change the colors, scale, or tools. It’s study and play at the same time.

10. Join a Painting Challenge

Sometimes, accountability helps. Look for Instagram hashtags or art groups running month-long challenges—or start your own!

Final Thought

Art block isn’t a dead end—it’s just a detour. Keep the brushes moving, even if the inspiration’s not fully there yet. One brushstroke leads to the next, and before you know it, you’re back in the flow.

Our brains can get really bored with the same blank canvas staring us in the face everytime we settle down to get creative. Every artist needs to shake it up once in a while, try new things, and break out of creative ruts. It's natural and can lead to some amazing results!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Palette Knives – Texture and Techniques for Acrylic Artists

Image
When most people think of painting, they think of brushes. But if you're only using brushes, you're missing out on one of the most exciting and expressive tools in your acrylic painting toolkit: the palette knife . Palette knives are not just for mixing paint—they can be used to build texture, create bold strokes, and give your paintings a dimensional, sculptural quality. Whether you want to add subtle peaks of paint or create entire landscapes with a knife, this post will teach you how to use palette knives effectively in your acrylic painting practice. What Is a Palette Knife? A palette knife is a flexible, flat tool used for mixing or applying paint. It has a blunt edge and comes in various shapes and sizes—some with rounded tips, others angular or pointed. Unlike brushes, palette knives don’t absorb paint, allowing you to work with thick, bold layers and create dynamic textures. There are two main types: Palette Knives : Designed for mixing paint on you...
Read more

Mixing Beautiful Color Variations With Just Five Paints

Image
  How to Mix Beautiful Color Variations with Just 5 Paints Creating stunning, harmonious color palettes doesn't require an entire art store's worth of paint. With just five key tubes—red, yellow, blue, white, and black—you can produce a full spectrum of colors for your acrylic paintings. This post dives deep into how to mix color variations, develop subtle tints and shades, and build a practice that improves your eye for color relationships. Your Core Palette Start with these five essential paints: Cadmium Red Medium (or Pyrrole Red) Hansa Yellow Medium (or Cadmium Yellow) Ultramarine Blue (or Phthalo Blue for a cooler alternative) Titanium White Mars Black (or Ivory Black) These colors offer balance across temperature and value, giving you a great foundation for mixing. Mixing Secondary Colors By combining your primaries, you can create all secondary colors: Red + Yellow = Orange Yellow + Blue = Green Blue ...
Read more

Creating The Perfect Acrylic Painting Workspace

Image
Setting up your acrylic painting workspace is an exciting first step in your artistic journey. Whether you live in a studio apartment, have a garage to convert, or prefer painting outdoors, this guide will help you create an efficient, inspiring, and practical environment for your creative process. My Dining Room Setup Choosing Your Workspace Location  Small Apartment Setup  In small spaces, maximizing vertical storage and selecting dual-purpose furniture is key.  • Use a Tabletop Easel:       A folding tabletop/plain air easel is perfect for apartments. It can sit on a kitchen table when in use and fold away easily for storage.  • Glass Palette Tip:       Repurpose a kitchen cabinet shelf as a glass palette and store it vertically in a cupboard when not in use.  • Storage Solutions:       Invest in a three-tier rolling cart (like those from IKEA) to keep paints, brushes, and water jars   mobile an...
Read more