10 Actionable Drawing Ideas to Overcome Art Block

Published on 11 July 2023 10 min read

3. Experiment with Erasure Drawing

8. Seek Inspiration from the Abstract

9. Turn Trash into Treasure Art

10. Contemplate Continuous Line Drawing

Art block. It's a term that can send shivers down any artist's spine. You're ready with your drawing pad and pencils, but the inspiration just isn't there. It's like someone put a big, blank wall in your mind, blocking your creative flow. But don't worry—you're not alone in this. Every artist, from beginners to professionals, has faced this obstacle. And that's why we've curated a list of 10 actionable drawing ideas for art block. These suggestions are easy to follow, engaging, and most importantly, fun. They'll get your creativity flowing again, and before you know it, you'll be back to creating masterpieces.

1. Dive into Doodles

Doodling is more than just absentminded scribbles on the corner of your notebook. It's one of the most liberating drawing ideas for art block. Let's explore why.

Why Doodling Works

When you're doodling, you're not trying to create a masterpiece. You're just letting your hand move freely—no pressure, no expectations. This relaxed state can often kickstart your creativity and break through the art block.

How to Get Started with Doodling

Keep it Simple: Start with simple shapes or objects. Circles, squares, trees, or flowers—anything goes in the world of doodles.
Let it Flow: Don't overthink. Let your hand guide you. You might be surprised at what you come up with.
Expand and Explore: Once you’ve got a few shapes or objects down, start adding to them. Turn that circle into a sun, or that square into a house. The possibilities are endless.

Remember, the goal is not to create a perfect piece of art. You're just trying to get your creative juices flowing again. So, pick up that pencil and start doodling—it's a fun and effective way to overcome art block.

2. Navigate Nature Sketching

When you're stuck in an art block, getting outside and sketching from nature can be a real game-changer. It's not only one of the most calming drawing ideas for art block but also a great way to train your eye for detail.

Why Nature Sketching Works

Nature is full of inspiration—from the colors of a sunset to the intricate patterns on a leaf. Sketching from nature can help break down your art block by offering endless subjects to capture.

How to Get Started with Nature Sketching

Go Outside: You don't need to go far. Your backyard, a park, or even a quiet street with interesting plants can work. The idea is to change your environment and find a new perspective.
Observe: Before you start sketching, take a moment to really look at your surroundings. Notice the colors, shapes, and textures. This observation will enrich your sketching experience.
Start Sketching: Remember, you're not aiming for a detailed, photorealistic drawing. Instead, focus on capturing the essence of what you see. It's about expressing your personal perspective.

So, next time you're facing art block, why not grab your sketchbook and step outside? Nature sketching can offer a refreshing break and a wealth of inspiration. And who knows, you might even find your next big art project out there.

3. Experiment with Erasure Drawing

Have you ever thought about drawing with an eraser? It's a unique approach and one of the more interesting drawing ideas for art block. This technique involves adding graphite or charcoal to your paper, and then removing parts of it with an eraser to create your image.

Why Erasure Drawing Can Help

Erasure drawing is like drawing in reverse. Instead of adding lines to create an image, you're removing them. This switch in perspective can be a fun way to shake up your routine and get those creative gears turning again.

Getting Started with Erasure Drawing

Materials: You will need a pencil or charcoal, a good eraser, and a piece of paper. A kneaded eraser works best for this technique as it can be shaped to make precise marks.
Prepare Your Canvas: Cover your paper with a layer of graphite or charcoal. Don't worry about being neat; you're going to erase most of it anyway.
Erase: Now, start erasing to create your image. Think of your eraser as your pencil. The areas you erase will become the lighter parts of your image.

Erasure drawing might seem a bit odd initially, but it's a fantastic way to see your art and the world around you in a new light. It's unique, it's fun, and it might be just the thing to help you overcome that pesky art block.

4. Animate Animal Art

You don't have to live near a zoo to find inspiration for drawing ideas for art block. Whether it's a beloved pet, a neighborhood squirrel, or a bird singing outside your window, animal art can be a captivating and enriching way to reignite your creative spark.

Why Drawing Animals Can Help

Drawing animals is a delightful challenge. The variety of shapes, textures, and movements you can capture offer an exciting range of possibilities. Plus, animals have personality! Capturing the essence of an animal's character can add an extra layer of depth to your artwork.

Getting Started with Animal Art

Choose Your Subject: Pick an animal that intrigues you. It could be a pet, a local creature, or even a favorite animal from a nature documentary.
Observe: Pay close attention to the animal's form, movement, and behavior. The more detail you can capture, the more lifelike your art will be.
Draw: Start sketching, remembering to consider the animal's form and movement. Don't worry about capturing every detail at first—focus on the general shapes and refine as you go.

Incorporating animal art into your drawing practice can offer a fresh perspective and help you see the natural world in a new light. Not only can it help you overcome art block, but it might also lead to a deeper appreciation of the creatures that share our world.

5. Play with Perspective

When fighting art block, sometimes a change in viewpoint is all that's needed. Playing with perspective can offer new drawing ideas for art block, enabling you to see everyday objects and scenes in a fresh, exciting way.

What Does Playing with Perspective Mean?

Changing perspective in drawing means altering the angle or viewpoint from which you view your subject. It's like seeing the world through a different lens, literally. One day you're an ant looking up at towering sunflowers, the next you're a bird soaring high above a bustling city.

How to Play with Perspective

Choose a Scene: It could be a corner of your room, a street outside, or a photo from a magazine. The key is to choose a scene that you're familiar with.
Imagine a New Viewpoint: Now, picture seeing that scene from a completely different angle. What would it look like from above, below, or sideways?
Draw: Start sketching out your chosen scene from your new perspective. This might feel strange at first, but stick with it. You'll be amazed at how different the world can look from a new angle.

As you play with perspective, you're not just coming up with drawing ideas for art block; you're also training your brain to see the world in different ways. This skill isn't just useful for art—it can also help you think creatively in other areas of life.

6. Craft Charcoal Creations

When struggling with art block, shifting the medium you usually use can be a breath of fresh air. Charcoal, with its unique texture and rich depth, can provide you with a new set of drawing ideas for art block.

Why Opt for Charcoal?

Charcoal has a unique ability to create a range of tones, from light grays to dark blacks. This makes it perfect for capturing shadows, texture, and depth. Moreover, it's a forgiving medium—mistakes can be easily smudged away or turned into part of your drawing.

How to Start with Charcoal

Using charcoal can be a bit messy, but don't let that stop you. Here's a simple way to get started:

Pick a Subject: It could be anything from a piece of fruit to a portrait of your pet. Charcoal is great for drawing still life and portraits, but feel free to choose any subject that interests you.
Start Sketching: Use the charcoal like a pencil to sketch out your subject. Don't worry about detail yet—just focus on the general shapes.
Add Shading: Use the side of the charcoal to add shading and create depth. The more pressure you apply, the darker your shading will be.
Blend and Smudge: Use your fingers or a blending stump to blend your shading and create smooth transitions between light and dark areas.

So, why not give charcoal a try? You might just find that it's the key to unlocking new drawing ideas for your art block. And who knows? You might even discover a new favorite medium in the process.

7. Master Monochrome Mediums

As artists, we often get caught up in the world of color. However, sometimes, revisiting the simplicity of black and white can help rejuvenate our creative flow. Mastering monochrome mediums can be a fantastic way to find new drawing ideas for art block and refine your understanding of form, light, and shadow.

Why Monochrome?

Working in monochrome strips the art process down to its basics. Without color to rely on, you'll have to pay extra attention to elements such as composition, texture, and tonal contrast. This can be a powerful way to improve your artistic eye.

Getting Started with Monochrome

Here are some steps to help you dive into the monochrome world:

Choose Your Medium: Monochrome isn't just about black and white. You could use sepia tones, different shades of gray, or even one single color. Choose a medium that suits you—this could be pencil, pen, charcoal, or even a monochrome watercolor set.
Pick a Subject: Just as with charcoal, the subject you choose for your monochrome masterpiece can be anything that interests you. If you're stuck for ideas, why not try a still life or a landscape?
Focus on Tone: Without color, tone becomes even more important. Make sure to pay attention to the different shades in your artwork, from the lightest lights to the darkest darks.

Remember, working in monochrome doesn't mean you're limited. In fact, it can open a whole new world of creativity and help you come up with fresh drawing ideas for art block. So why not give it a try?

8. Seek Inspiration from the Abstract

When the usual landscapes, portraits, and still lifes just aren't cutting it, why not venture into the realm of the abstract? Abstract art can be liberating and just the thing to shake up your drawing ideas for art block. It's all about expressing emotions, ideas, or sensations—and the best part is, there are no rules.

What is Abstract Art?

Abstract art doesn't try to represent a specific image of reality. Instead, it uses visual elements like shapes, colors, and lines to create a composition that can be as realistic or as far from reality as you want. It's a bit like dreaming with your pencil!

How to Get Started with Abstract Drawing

Feeling intrigued by abstract art? Here are some steps to get you started:

Let Go of Expectations: Remember, abstract art doesn't have to look like anything specific. Let your hand move freely and see where it takes you.
Play with Shapes and Lines: Circles, squares, zigzags—abstract art embraces them all. Experiment with different shapes and lines to see what patterns and designs you can create.
Use Color—or Don't: Some of the most striking abstract artworks are monochrome. On the other hand, bold, vibrant colors can make a big impact. The choice is yours.

Abstract art can be a wonderful way to explore your emotions and push your creative boundaries. If you're searching for new drawing ideas for art block, it might be time to get abstract!

9. Turn Trash into Treasure Art

When you're stuck in an artistic rut, sometimes the best way out is to shift your perspective—and your materials. Turning trash into treasure art is not only an innovative way to overcome art block, but it's also a fun, sustainable practice that could make you see the world (and your art) in a whole new light!

What is Trash to Treasure Art?

Quite simply, trash to treasure art is the process of transforming everyday items that you'd usually discard, like old newspapers, bottle caps, or even broken electronics, into incredible works of art. And it's not just about recycling—it's also about seeing the potential in the world around you.

How to Get Started with Trash to Treasure Art

Ready to create drawing ideas for art block out of things you might usually overlook? Here's how to get started:

Collect Your Materials: Start by gathering items that you might usually throw away. Old buttons, fabric scraps, and even broken toys can all become part of your next masterpiece.
Sketch Your Ideas: Once you've got your materials, start by sketching out some ideas. Don't worry about making it perfect—this is just to get your creative juices flowing.
Start Creating: Now, it's time to bring your drawing ideas for art block to life. Use glue, tape, or other adhesives to attach your materials to your canvas and start creating!

Turning trash into treasure art is a creative, environmentally friendly way to overcome art block. So next time you're stuck for ideas, why not give it a try? You might be surprised at what you can create!

10. Contemplate Continuous Line Drawing

When it feels like the well of inspiration has run dry, a simple yet effective drawing technique might be the key to unlocking your creativity. Continuous line drawing is a technique that encourages you to see things in a new way and could be the perfect antidote to your art block.

What is Continuous Line Drawing?

Continuous line drawing is as straightforward as it sounds. It's a drawing technique where your pen or pencil stays in constant contact with the paper, creating a single, unbroken line. This can be a challenging yet rewarding way to get your creative juices flowing again, and it's a great drawing idea for art block.

How to Get Started with Continuous Line Drawing

Ready to give continuous line drawing a whirl? Here are a few steps to get you started:

Pick a Subject: Choose something simple to start with, like a fruit, a household object, or a simple scene. The key is to select something that won't overwhelm you.
Start Drawing: Place your pen or pencil on the paper and start drawing. Remember, the goal is to keep your pen moving without lifting it off the paper. It might feel strange at first, but stick with it!
Don't Worry About Perfection: The beauty of continuous line drawing is that it's not about creating a perfect replica of your subject. It's about exploring shapes, lines, and patterns—and most importantly, about getting past your art block.

Continuous line drawing can be a fun, meditative way to overcome art block. So, why not give it a shot? You might just find it's the perfect way to shake up your routine and get those creative juices flowing again.

If you're looking for more ways to overcome art block and unleash your creativity, we highly recommend checking out the workshop titled 'Using Drawing as a Tool for Writers Block' by Debbie Knox-Hewson. This workshop will provide you with practical techniques and ideas to break through creative blockages and spark inspiration for your artwork.