Grant Lankard's Blog

Blog #2 September 14, 2016
Conquering a Creative Slump

We all have those moments where we just can't get motivated. How do you kick the creative blues? Here are a few quick suggestions:

• Meditate
  
  
  Giving your brain a break every now and then can really help. It's simpler than you might think. Close your eyes, lay back, and just concentrate on your breathing. If you've never meditated before, perhaps you should try some type of guided meditation.
  
  Meditations & Affirmations With A Master
  This is a great guided meditation that is affordable. I try to listen to this every day.


• Switch Things Up
  If you don't have any projects with pressing deadlines, maybe try taking a break from your signature style and/or medium. Realism can be a nice break from the pressure of having to make constant style decisions. Which leads me to my third point...
  


• Brush up on your Basics
  Try taking a figure drawing class or just drawing objects around the house.
  
  You got some fruit? Put 'em in a bowl and you got a subject that I'm pretty sure every artist has painted at some point in his/her life.
  
  
  
  I am going to list several books that I've seen on Amazon but I want to emphasize that a book is no substitute for a good figure drawing class. You should only buy these in conjection with a figure drawing class or if you live somewhere that a figure drawing class is not available. I have not read any of these but I did look for the highest ratings on Amazon.
  
  Figure Drawing for All It's Worth
  
  Figure Drawing: Design and Invention
  
  Classic Human Anatomy in Motion: The Artist's Guide to the Dynamics of Figure Drawing


• Listen to art podcasts
  There are some really great illustration podcasts out there that you can find out about by looking them up on Google. Here are just a few favorites:
  
  Creative Pep Talk Creative Pep Talk lives up to its name. Andy J. Miller has a very positive attitude and I can easily see this being a pep talk for people in the despair of a creative rut.
  
  Escape from Illustration Island I don't know how Thomas James has gotten so many big name illustrators to sit down and talk to him but if you're looking for an interview with a favorite illustrator, chances are it's here.
  
  OCADU's Illustration Podcast They may not have many episodes, but they've promised to put out more. I have no doubt that they will soon have a selection almost as wide as Escape from Illustration Island.


• Idea Notebooks
  Moleskin makes notebooks that are small enough to fit in your pocket. No more reaching for napkins when you get an idea!
  
  Moleskine Art Plus Sketchbook, Pocket, Plain, Black, Hard Cover (3.5 x 5.5) (Classic Notebooks)


• Look to non-illustration sources
  I can't list all of the art that's ever inspired me but putting on music can just put you in the mood to create.
  
  I'm going to list albums by a few of my favorite artists. I feel like these albums set the mood to create but I want to emphasize, the idea is to find the albums that set the mood for you personally.
  
  Orphans [Fold-out Digipak with 24-page booklet]
  
  Talking Heads '77
  
  More Songs About Buildings & Food
  
  Loaded (Remastered)
  
  Hunky Dory
  
  Get Happy
  
  As for movies that inspire, I've listed a few below. I'm not necessarily saying that the movies below are the greatest movies ever but these are films that find clever ways to tell a story visually.
  
  Dark City (1998)
  
  The Graduate
  
  The Cell (2000)
  
  The Wes Anderson Collection
  
  I wanted to highlight a few silent movies because these were filmmakers how had to communicate a lot of information visually. Learning to communicate visually is a skill every illustrator should learn.
  
  The Complete Metropolis (Silent)
  
  Charlie Chaplin 11 Best Movies DVD Box Set
  
  Nosferatu: Kino Classics 2-Disc Deluxe Remastered Edition [Blu-ray]
  
  Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (4K Restored) [Blu-ray]


• Read books on the Creative Process
  
  99U Book (3 Book Series)
  I have only read "Manage Your Day to Day" of the above but it was excellent.
  
  Illustration: Portfolio Series (Portfolio (Laurence King))
  This gets into the basics of illustration. Perfect for beginners or as a refresher for experienced illustrators!


• Take a break
  This is maybe the best advice. If you're getting frustrated, maybe you should get a coffee... or a nap
  
  

Thanks, folks. I hope you found some of the advice on here helpful. If you have more suggestions, please send me an e-mail at gwlankard@gmail.com