Artist's Block Doesn't Exist
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
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This drawing, "The Sword of Michael" is drawn on Strathmore Bristol Paper Smooth 400 series- 14x17 inches. I'm using .5 and .3 HB mechanical pencils (Pentel and Staedtler respectively), Palomino Blackwing pencils, and Black Faber-Castell colored pencils- both the premium Polychromos line and the student Goldfaber line.
Wondering what those quick buttons are on the side of my Photoshop? Check out Sergey Kritskiy's Layer Factory on Gumroad: gumroad.com/a/... 
Хобби
The INSTANT you said to not draw anything and just listen all I wanted to do was draw. I mean, it really was just that quick and easy. I'm forming a new religion around this guy
Where can I sign up?
Well, I can accept that religion
I sign up.
Oh, you're into Zapism too? He does pull the shenanigans of a guru, I'll say that much.
All hail Zapata
"I'm ripped and I'm friendly." LOL
That part killed me! lol
"if you can go ten minutes without drawing you win"
I fully expected you to start trying to teach me math
Lmao 😂
*puts piece of paper in the center of my desk*
*Puts pencil on top*
"If you can go 10 minutes without drawing, you win."
*immediately starts sweating*
Lmao
*hands clutching*
"I won... but at what cost"
"I'm ripped and I'm friendly" Steven Zapata, 2021
I love the "thanks for drawing today" at the end
He fucking knew
"Could you get out of here? I need to think about how I'm not drawing, and super vividly imagine all the cool pictures I'm failing to do."
Who gave Steven permission to record inside my critical mind with such ferocious accuracy?
I don't claim I have an art block, I only watched this video to see what mister Zapata has to say about it and... it's amazing. He may be as good at psychology as he is at drawing.
I don't have art block but I didn't start drawing through the video. I was so immersed in the conversation and it enjoyed every second of it.
Ah okay. So I don't have artists block. I just suck at drawing.
From looking at other people, it seems that almost all art blocks result from mental health problems - primarily depression, anxiety, or both. Burnout is also a culprit. Accounting for that, I'd say art block is seems quite rare among healthy people who aren't overworking themselves.
sucks to be me then.
@@yamapishy9792 tend to your emotional needs first and the "block" will resolve by itself. For me there's usually a feeling of what's the point that is kind of generalized in my overall thinking. It hides deeper issues usually and once you rrcognize them, see them as you will, you feel more free inside.
"Yes, I'm ripped and I'm friendly." That part cracked me up.
This was arguably one of the best art videos i have watched.
Just listening to the words, "look at the pencil and do nothing." fills me with anxiety. I can't. Cannot. There's something trapped in that pencil, and I have to let it out.
I think artist block comes when we don't have a focus, but also when we can't focus on where to start. We think of the rendered picture and pretend to arrive there even knowing we don't have the skills.
Art school and references saved me, having a purpose almost came secondly.
I'd like to thank Steven Zapata, for making this video. Your art knowledge and Philosophical approach towards realty of art and artist has been quite a massive help to me and other artists alike. Thank you for uploading video today
First time I faced true artist's block must have been when I was ten or eleven. I was sitting at a psychiatrist's, who'd asked me to draw something, anything, and the very fact that I couldn't no matter how hard I tried, that the ideas fled off the page and I couldn't put pen to paper in such a brutal, concrete way ... it made me cry. Ten years on and I still draw and make things, occasionally, but it's a inverse exponential curve. Once I used to measure my productions in kilos, then in folders. Now I haven't even filled a folder since high school. Artist's block may very much be more of an absence of something than an actual "thing", a vacuum if you prefer, but to be frank this is even more bleak of an interpretation. Similarly to depression, we'd rather hope that we were "still in there somewhere", instead of half dead, intellectually and emotionally drained. The problem with associating artist's block and depression, or anxiety, or any other mental disorder is that it's essentially a catch 22: one of the best ways to treat these issues is art, but vanquishing artist's block requires dealing with these issues (as is the case with anything surrounding mental illness, the growing incapacity to do anything at all, making it harder to get out with every passing day). The thing is that I've forced myself to draw. Draw anything, to ignore whether I'm satisfied with it or not. Besides, I have no ultimate goal, even if seeing my hand resist my every stroke, feeling like I'm drawing with a fork, is painful and unrewarding. I've even given up on getting "better", because contrary to popular belief and cold hard logic, I don't get better at things the more I do them, I get worse (this isn't even some vague impression, even the people closest to me can't deny that it's my every day life). And yet I still can't muster the strength to stick to drawing something, even an angry scribble, every day, week ... or whenever I feel like it. Lest I "get lucky". And yes, this is sounding very much like burnout, but there's very little I can do without killing myself that can really cure that in a tangible way, because every time I lower my standards, the vacuum follows. The most painful thing about artist's block is the fact that art is such a special, delicate, childish and vulnerable passion, but it's being relentlessly battered and broken by bigger, darker, infinitely more terrible parts of oneself ... it's like a knife straight to my very soul. Safe to say I "won", or rather I lost. Probably a very long time ago. And at this point I feel so helpless that I can do little more than hope ...
Wow, man. I feel you.
I laughed so hard just two minutes in the video. Bravo! no artist ever sat 10 minutes staring at the blank paper and not drawing a line on it. I will remember this every time I think I have artist block... This made my day. Thank you so much, it's such a pleasure to listen to you and discover things.
"you're just trying to trick me into losing this little game"
Allan Watts would be so proud
Im really thankful ,we don't see every highly professional Artist talking about things this deep.Thanks Steven
Incredible illustration
Man, just loved your approach to this one, the writing/speaking is so good.
I can't watch one of your videos without drawing, and it's been really helping me understand the practice from another perspective and just keep doing it. Thank you for the great work!
you know I really liked the part in the video when you ask whether it's actual art block or if it's some other worry creeping in. I definitely have discovered in my own personal experience that many blocks, be it avoidance of art, of relationships, of doing some kind of thing or another was very often related to something else exausting me from the sidelines.
So without realizing, often it was anger, shame, insecurity, self loathing, even hate, anxiety and sadness that i cut off from myself, and maybe made go away through distractions, maybe a game or something. And of course packing all this crap under a rock called ''artist's block'' was a great way for me to rationalize everything in a tidy fake thing that I could even blame myself for, whilst putting every other emotion under a rug and misdirecting myself from the real problem that i (consciously) knew would hurt if i confronted it. And as my therapist reminds me often, it's exausting work to suppress emotions. We pay a mental price for avoiding feeling all that negative shit that we know will hurt when we deal with it. But allowing those parts of me surface and actuallt let the pain take its course has definitely improved my energy and disposition/motivation to draw, even though it was scary and tough as fk.
This is only my personal experience, but if artist's block or heavy avoidance of anything is a recurrent thing in your life i definitely advice consulting an actual therapist. Don't deal with it alone folks, who knows what kind of festered wound might pop out from our minds. Our capacity for self preservation and making defense mechanisms to hide from inner pain is terrifyingly good, sometimes even to our detriment. Thanks for the video and the gateway for self reflection as always, Steve o/
Thank you for sharing, good advice. Anyone who has been interested in therapy should try it
This went from drawing companion to "Get out of my head!" real quick. Thank you!
This is just manipulation 101. I have a real creative block that has prevented me from drawing for YEARS.
This is one of the best videos I've ever seen, and trust me I have watched a lot of art videos. Thanks so much for all the videos you create, especially this one!
i don't know how you do it or what you possibly put in my water by sheer mental force, but i tried everything from brown noise to tooth brush ASMR videos to quell my monstrous anxiety - all didn't work out. and then i run across one of your videos by chance in my darkest hour (well. not darkest darkest. i had a finals deadline.) and somehow that video managed to disintegrate it in a singular ten-minute blast. no more blocky, just worky. that was around winter last year and i've been doing a little victory dance every time you upload a new video ever since. i don't know what kind of strange word magic you weave, but it's doing a great job and i keep returning here whenever the fabled beast of "can't do thing because i'm not immediately good at it" threatens to eat me, so sincerely, thank you.
NO MAHORAGA! Don't become Steven Zapata's art!-
Mahoraga:
Thanks Mr. Zapata!
This was quite a fun break from all the existential dread, thanks :)
what a conversation
You, my friend, are a god!
I can't think of an artist block now, that I've listened to you.
It's exactly like working out and people who claim they "do not have the time for it". But what if your health would be critically affected if you are not working out, would you have the time to work out then?
I bet 99% of people will say "damn right I have time to work out", lol.
Thank you for this, Steven!
I think artist block is a real thing , i dont know about others but for me personally it is caused by bad experiences while studying arts and later on while trying to do something with it , sometimes you just feel like nobody cares like its not needed and other times like the art that you do is wrong or not good enough. Sometimes i imagine the drawings i could make but that doest make me to actually draw, i think its a long journey within yourself to understand what is actually holding you back.
You just said in your message what's holding you back. You think someone needs to care about your drawing and it has to be needed, that it has to be good enough. That's the false believes or "mistake" that's holding you back. What if you draw just because you like it ? And instead of feeling it has to be "good enough" base on an arbitrary scale, just go from where you are right now. When you see the mistake on the paper, instead of attacking yourself for making it, just see it like a gift that's telling you what you have to work on (if you want to improve), and work on that, one step at a time. I don't think the world needs your drawings, because when you do what you love, you are giving a gift to the world. A gift can't be needed, it's a gift.
Drawing: done
Depression: cured
I always had similar images but lacked a lot of things to express them as close to perfection as you, now I know what I have to outdo, thank you for the videos that you share.
my environment has been freakishly messed up since november. so i didn't really draw much all this time. but the task at hand is extremely overwhelming and i continue to put it off.
Bro Steven ! Not only your draftsmanship and skills are next level and amazing, but your philosophy is so good I Have to watch every video twice !!! 🙏🙏🙏
Steven Z the Guru of drawing
ooooh boy, I can already tell this one's gonna be good!
Yessssssssssssss, THANK YOU SO MUCCHHH I'VE BEEN REQUESTING THIS FOR A WHILE NOW💖🙏😀
The Sarcasm and The Storytelling in this video is on next level. Even though your talking with the same voice, I was still able to follow what's happening, even while simultaneously being mesmerized by your art. subbed
Another great one steven. Love you're humble down to earth approach. RUclips is often too flashy and doesn't have the substance. Your channel is different, the way you go about things is great. Thanks bud! Hope all is well!
Whenever I think I have an "artblock", when I sit down and start with drawing doodles, after a few minutes I start to sketch something new. The hardest part is to actually sit down and start, without thinking too much.
I didn't think artist's block exists but I was struggling with a drawing and by the end of this video I just realized I was drawing naturally, without thinking in judge myself =v jajaj thanks!
I had artist's block, until yesterday, when I drew a comic book page, after a year of not drawing my comic book!
Steven was sounding like a long distant hispanic relative I never knew I had who inspires me and pushes me to reach for the collective galaxies. Thank you brother.
you have really an awesome channel, not only about art, but also with really good conversations. Love them
I told myself I had artist block for 21 years. Seriously. Don't do what I did. I used to lie to myself and say I was too tired, or that it was just too hard to put in the time and the work. Or that I "needed" a professional instructor to guide me. There was always later, tomorrow, or the weekend. Except when those times arrived, videogames and TV looked WAY more appealing. I'm now a middle aged adult with 2 kids. I miraculously have ZERO interest in videogames. Never thought it would happen, and I now v realize what va giant waste of my life they were.
I decided to finally put in the serious work in, and I've made more drawing and painting improvement in 1 year than I did in all my years when I just did it when it "felt fun" to do it. Seriously. I spent 21 years without doing a SINGLE drawing. Now I kick myself for wasting all that precious, youthful time. I would be a professional artist by now. But guess what, my age and circumstances will NOT be an excuse anymore. I may or may no longer have the chance to be able to live off of art anymore. But I now know for a fact, that I can become the artist I want to be, if I just put in the work. No special materials, teachers or circumstances needed. Just DO THE HARD WORK. If you are under 40 years old and are reading this, simply DO THE WORK. No teachers or schools needed. Literally google and print out master drawings and copy them. Keep working on it till you are super bored, and then KEEP DOING IT. There is no secret "sauce" or knowledge that others know that you don't. RUclips and patreon are FULL of awesome artists sharing their knowledge. DON'T buy dozens of courses and books. Buy ONE course or book at a time and MASTER it before buying another one. Anything that stops you from putting in the actual work (pencil or brush to paper or canvass) is just an excuse and a lie you are telling yourself to avoid the discomfort of working hard. In other words LAZINESS. Don't do that. Just do the work.
I don’t know about anyone else but I’m pumped!
0:44
"you do not have depression, because it doesn't exist. but fine, prove it to me, if you have depression, take it out, show it to me so i can help you with it. but you can't, it's not a physical object"
-parents
Artist block does not need to be all suffering or even occurring. We over complicate ourselves by tying some identity towards our passions. I sympathize with this but I’ve found a more simple solution, if I really don’t feel like drawing or are frustrated I simply don’t. Leave the drama out of it. I trust that I’ll draw later or even if I feel like I won’t be drawing in a while I’m ok with that. Of course this type of mindset while it can be instantly transformative, is usually cultivated over time. Meditation and wisdom from others has helped me significantly. But for now the best advice I can give is don’t overcomplicate things and simply accept whatever outcome may be( whether you draw or not). Our mind is our greatest enemy or friend.
Man draws rad demon while accessing essential truths of the universe on the side.
That was not just some random rant about some elaborate excuse about not being able to draw, that might be real, might be not,(that shan't be named) it was really entertaining to listen, draw and let the imagination free to it. Thank you
thank you so very much for this, I just draw something for the first time in months because of this video!
I've never had a block, I've drawn stuff i don't like but I've never felt compelled to not draw. It helps to take inspiration from simple things like the clouds in the sky, or the way people walk.
All my support from France, keep going the good stuff !!
Best video on your channel in my professional RUclips viewing opinion.
Couldn't agree more, internally we critique ourselves so much that our inner self just blocks all that juice of imagination, excitement, creativity and fun that make us draw in the first place. I used to be so frustrated at myself for not doing something 'good enough', like really mad, and this is just my own fault for demanding so much of something that should be fluid. Nobody created that bar but me, and then I would just beat myself up for not being able to reach it. After years taking time to know myself better, now drawing became something fun! Everybody should take their time doing this.
It took nothing for me to just subscribe, I can tell how good this channel is for me already.
I love your art its extremely impressive.
My god this is in depth and inspirational!!
great!
Looks fantastic! Amazing artwork! keep it up... 👍😍👍
I don't believe in artist block but I'll tell you what, I sure believe in the depression that's ruining my life causing me to not eat, oversleep, and lose the will to get out of my bed for days at a time, isolating myself for months.
@@Awprod2000 What you're saying is like saying pain isn't real but the bullet you were just shot with is. Does that mean you can just walk it off? No, you need a medical professional to treat your condition. Saying depression isn't real changes nothing because the symptoms I suffer are real, depression just being a blanket term to describe them. Unfortunately for me, peering through the clouds isn't as simple as re framing my mind or meditation. It's something that will require a great effort and someone a lot more educated than me. I appreciate the sentiment you're putting down, but it's different for everyone.
same here.
@@Awprod2000 bro it's literally a chemical imbalance in your brain, it can't be more real than that
@@いあん I've been in the same boat for a few years, although it seems to have gotten better for me. I think the most important thing to have in mind, is to know what is a result of your depression speaking. The most cruel effect is when you lose track and think depression is your own failing instead of a circumstance. By applying this lens I think Steven's advice is still valuable.
Ps: I of course don't claim to know what you think or what you're going through, it's just my view on the subject :)
@@Awprod2000 you can't "think" yourself more dopamine or testosterone what the hell are you talking about? Of course there are people who just like to be sad but how does this disprove that there are clinically depressed people? What next you're gonna tell me that people with schizophrenia are just wrong thinking?
man, I love your videos
brilliant Steven, as always!!!
I was literally savoring this video and finally have time to listen and watch it with care 🙏🏻
I found your art via prokos vids a month ago i guess? and I really binged almost all of your videos on one stand!
Love your relaxing voice and ofc your vids!
The last time I've drawn was last month. I've just been busy with life stuff and totally ignored art but thanks for curing my "artist block" XD
I just feel like honestly I hit a skill wall as to where I know better work is possible but I don’t know the next step to get there , I’m lost in a way but know I can progress
It’s like being in a dark room and you know there’s steps ahead of you but not knowing where to step because the room is dark
Although I suppose the first step is to start walking
I want to be a graphic designer that can draw and it seems that balancing those 2 is hard
Examine the fundamentals of drawing and see how well you are doing in each them. Analyze your work for any recurring mistakes or things you can improve on.
@@SyoDraws thank you! I just started on drawabox recently and want to see where I can get through it!
I lost the game somewhere halfway through this video because I forgot I was trying to not draw.
I started drawing and watched this on 420....so dead ass, smoked a blunt, and listened to this, and then next thing I knew, I drew some ill ass shit that I am very proud of :)
You speak deep truths that stir the soul.
Haha if quote..."you could if you just get out of your own ass" xDDD pure awesomeness
this whole video is just like me when im taking a shower and start having imaginary debates where im the winner because i have all the quick witted answers
That's exactly how I write them.
@@StevenZapataArt i mean, if limitation is the mother of creation, self indulgence is the father 😁
That's such an awesome piece😄
I realized my art block phases always came from me not willing to put an effort of some sort into the work, on way or the other. So now I fight my dumb brain actively by boring it to death.
Oh Señor feels like stabbing me in the back like this? Alright we gonna stare at the wall and let those thoughts going. No games, no film, no music, no nothing. Just a pure experience of the self.
Those blockage periods that lasted sometimes weeks now are reduced to the occasional 1 day crisis. A brain is so afraid of itself nowadays it's beautiful how easy it gets to have it moving.
Steven Zapata Audiobook pls, thanks
It’s not that I don’t want to make anything, it’s that when I try I make garbage and forget how I did stuff and have foggy brain
How some people can hate this great master and character? Thanks for this content, Zapata Sensei.
I’m so confused cause I’ve had depression over my work for months and having no creativity I cry over it every night. What I got is Sever artist block and anxiety I also feel like my future is never gonna be of my dreams
my art sucks. and im making tons of mistake..and im enjoying it.
Sir, I don't think you understand what most of us mean when we say art block.
Art block is characterized mainly by feelings of frustration in one's creative endeavors, the lack of interesting art ideas, feeling unsatisfied with sketches and being able to commit to any piece. It's being stuck.
Art block isn't an excuse to not draw or practice, but just because you're drawing through it doesn't mean it isn't affecting you.
Pushing through without stopping and trying to solve the problem isn't going to make it go away, it's just going to fester.
Dissatisfaction with own creations or even just your level of imagination at any given moment has a lot to do with the input and output, along with where you are emotionally.
It can also do with your artistic tastes being above your own capacity and being frustrated with that. These emotions and aren't fictional, they exist within your head, yes but that doesn't mean it isn't valid.
I feel like for these reasons, I would attribute Art Block to be a symptom of a far worse issue, being burn out. Whenever I feel no passion to draw or I cannot for the life of me come up with any ideas for a piece, it's usually after I've spent days upon days working on something else. Finishing a seven hour painting only to try jumping into another one doesn't work?
I only say this because your video comes off condescending, trying to invalidate and mock someone else whose already frustrated with themselves. I don't think this was your intention but that's how it read.
For anyone who is looking for even more difficult challenge to not draw. I would recommend first, putting both straight and curved lines on the paper in no particular order, or meaning behind them. And then, start doing what ever Steven tells you not to do.
oh artist block is real. but only as a fancy word for laziness lol
As soon as I read the title I thought "it's about time someone said it" I was beginning to think I was the only one I usually roll my eyes whenever I scroll passed a video that says something about artist block but I will say I think it does exist in a way for other people I think it's more a mentality or frame of mind rather than someone suddenly losing the ability to draw. Even if everyone who says they have it were to define what it is I feel like they would all describe it as something else entirely I'd rather hear someone say they don't feel like drawing or that they're not motivated than to say something is blocking them. yeah this became kinda long thanks to whoever for reading it.
I like how u did dat vid bro I think dis da first one I seen by u and da drawing is doooooope 💯💪🏿 +1 subscriber
Dope, dude....
Before i wanted to be an artist i dreamed about being a writter, and one day i saw an interview by Neil Gaiman talking about how you dont need no be inspired to create someting, that changed my life, if you want to be an artist the most crucial labour is to get to work every day even if you dont want to. My best method for that feeling is doing master studies, some cool piece of work that could be a challenge, and it allways work.
This channel is so good 😂
So its just unrealistic expectations and Goalsetting that were not meeting? and we should dispense with those goals and be more accepting of what comes out
Don’t dispense with your goals, just add a strong capacity for acceptance to the tool bag
Well, if this video didn't work i must really hate myelf huh
Hah!
Thats true, art Block doesn't exist, only hard work, good mood and fresh head!
I haven't been able to draw since2020 started, got all the time of the world, all the interest both I'm still not able to do anything, since I was a little child the only thing keeping me alive was drawing, used to finish sketchbooks as if they were candies, the last one is in my backpack like a reminder of what I used to be, and totally white, lost my job, lost my clients and everything drawing had made me archived
Suicide is turning into a very tempting idea each day that passes and Im only becoming hollow
Art block exists
Do take care of yourself. Forget drawing, focus on you.
Your a philosopher my friend :)
haha
Hell yeah another video
I lasted fifteen seconds. This video is so clever because I actually felt like an asshole for arguing with Steven EVEN THOUGH it wasn’t me arguing. Goddammit.
Paschal's wager would be obliterated by this man if he blinked too hard in the general direction of whoever dared to make the argument.
Ouch.
Don’t think I’m discounting the reality of physical reactions now, I’m just attacking a label
@@StevenZapataArt Of course! I was just expressing my deepest feelings with onomatopeya, the only way. I am not one of those 9 dislikes, I think you are perfectly right and I think I understand some of that sweet sarcasm. So yes, you are completely right. Right now I can see how many people have artist block but I also can see there are many levels, from 1 to 10, 1 being I prefer to watch the last trendy movie to 10 flat line on the heart monitor. I know I am my only obstacle. Pain is just a reflection on how far it went without notice. This Pavlov's dog is learning new classical conditioning. If my arms ache, I am gonna draw with my feet. I am gonna bite you for that piece of graphite. I am ripped and friendly though hahahaha hats off.
I have artist block !! in fact i have many !! its in my hands its a block of wood i am cutting with a saw to carve later. its real. ok. over time they turn into lovecraftian gnome stylus holders.
Yup! Artist block does not exist ....... Hey btw i am able to draw individual elements like humans, doors, objects etc. But i cannot combine them and make one piece .... Btw ur answer to my last question was very helpfull 👍
Check out my recent video on drawing real spaces from memory. Practice that a couple times, then put people into the rooms. THEN do it in creative environments you're inventing.
@@StevenZapataArt I actually have artist block all the time, but since I draw girls mostly its always easy if your watching anime. artist block obviously exists but usually when people say it they actually mean depression which is worse than artist block. and others just make excuses for not drawing.
I know your not saying there is absolutely no block, your just telling people to stop making excuses and then calling it writers block. I draw almost everyday, and sometimes I stop only when my hand hurts which is bad.
@@StevenZapataArt ok i will thank u for the tip😀👍
For me is more like not able to draw as well as you usually do and run out of ideas to visualize efectively on the paper, is a mental state i try to avoid setting myself on the right mood, otherwise would waste hours drawing and erasing.
Yes it doesn’t exist; thank the guru for making that distinction lol