33 things to cure artist block

Have you ever had one of those days or weeks where you want to draw something but you can't? Well, here's 33 tips to cure your artist block

1. Listen to music
2. Stay positive
3. Remain focused
4. Take a break
5. Exercise
6. Be confident in yourself
7. Mindmap
8. Find new inspiration pieces
9. Go outside
10. Keep a notepad on you at all times
11. Copy from other artists instead of creating your own work
12. Do a life drawing session
13. Doodle
14. Change mediums
15. Take a new direction
16. Draw something different- anatomy for example
17. Read things that will stimulate the visual vortex
18. Re-design something e.g. old cartoons, manga, etc
19. Leave it for a week
20. Just do it
21. Find yourself a genius
22. Talk through it
23. Sleep
24. Read some books
25. Meditate
26. Do some yoga
27. Force yourself to procrastinate
28. Keep busy with other things
29. Sit down, shut up, go off-line
30. Go and sit in the park and watch the world go buy
31. Do some photography
32. Search for excitement
33. Draw the same thing for 30 days in different ways

Help!

I have had over 130 views on my blog this month, and I have to thank everyone for that because I don't believe how many people view it!

However, I need your help because I make this to help people or inform people of art and everything to do with art. But I want to know what you want me to post!
Please comment below!

Hyperrealism

"Hyperrealism is a genre of painting and sculpture resembling a high-resolution photograph."

The early 21st Century Hyperrealism was founded on the aesthetic principles of Photorealism. American painter Denis Peterson, whose pioneering works are universally viewed as an offshot of Photorealism, first used "Hyperrealism" to apply to the new movement and its splinter group of artists.
However, Hyperrealism is contrasted with the literal approach found in traditional photorealist paintings of the late 20th Century. Hyperrealist painters and sculptors use photographic images as a reference source from which to create a more definitive and detailed rendering, one that often, unlike Photorealism, is narrative and emotive in its depictions.

Hyperrealism, although photographic in essence, often entails a softer, much more complex focus on the subject depicted, presenting it as a living, tangible object. These objects and scenes in Hyperrealism paintings and sculptures are meticulously detailed to create the illusion of a reality not seen in the original photo. This is not to say they're surreal, as the illusion is a convincing depiction of (simulated) reality. Textures, surfaces, lighting effects, and shadows appear clearer and more distinct than the reference photo or even the actual subject itself.

Subject matter ranges from portraits, figurative art, still life, landscpaes, cityscapes and narrative scenes. The more recent hyperrealist style is much more literal than Photorealism as to exact pictorial detail with an emphasis on social, cultural or political themes. 

Hyperreal paintings and sculptures further create a tangible solidity and physical presence through subtle lighting and shading effects. Shapes, forms and areas closest to the forefront of the image visually appear beyond the frontal plane of the canvas, and in the case of sculptures, details have more clarity than in nature. Hyperrealistic images are typically 10 to 20 times the size of the original photographic reference source, yet retain an extremely high resolution in colour, precision and detail. Many of the painting are achieved with an airbrush, using acrylics, oils or a combination of both.

VVG

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh can be counted as one of the most famous and remembered artists in history. 

He was once shunned as mad and tortured because he could see the world in a way that no one else could. Van Goghs' work is now some of the most recognizable work in the world due to the way that he painted and drew his work.

Starry Night

Van Gogh was born in 1853 and grew up in Holland with a religious family due to his father being a minister. When his school ended, Vincent followed his Uncle's profession and became an art dealer. He learnt the trade in Holland and then came to work in England and France. He was successful and initially happy with his work however, he grew tired of the business of art, especcialy in Paris, and lost interest in the trading of art. Vincent returned home where he began to study theology. Even though he was passionate and enthusiastic, he failed exams to enter a couple of programmes. He then worked as a missionary in a coal mining community with hard working poor common people. As his devlopment as a preacher was stalling, his interest in those around him was increasing. His life as an artist was beginning.

Wheat Field with Cypresses

When Van Gogh was 27 years old, he entered the Academie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Belgium. The following winter, living in Amsterdam, Vincent fell in love, had his heart broken, and began painting. The next few years would result in little success in both love and art.

Potato Eaters, painted in 1885 was Van Gogh's first major piece of work. At this time, he was also still having difficulty finding love, but was beginning to receive interest in his paintings. He was now fully devoting himself to painting; living frugally, studying colour theory, and admiring works of other artists such as Peter Paul Rubens. Sadly, Vincent found that his paintings were difficult to sell, which carried on throughout his life. Theo, as his brother and an art dealer, suggested that there should be more colour in his work. Impressionism was becoming popular at this time with bright and vivid colours, while Vincent's work was painting peasants and rural landscapes using dark earth tones.

Sunflowers

After this, Vincent moved to Paris where his art began to take on the style that would make him famous. In Paris, he talked about art to some of the most avant-garde and influential artists of his time - painters such as Gauguin, Bernard, and Toulouse-Lautrec. He proceeded to use more colour and applying the paint with thick, bold brushstrokes. Vincent also began to paint all that was surrounding him. One of his dreams was to start an art colony in Arles in the south of France. Vincent moved here where he was later on joined by Gauguin. While there, Van Gogh entered the most productive and creative period of his life. It was at this time Van Gogh painted his famous Sunflowers. However, it was also a time of great turmoil for Vincent as he was beginning a period of hospital stays for mental illness and physical decline.

After just ten years of painting and producing some 900 paintings, Vincent Van Gogh committed suicide in 1890. Even though he was never fully appreciated in his own time, it wouldn't take long for the art world to recognise the genius they lost. Within twenty years of his death, there were memorial shows of his works all over the world - influencing generations of artists to come.

Vincent Van Gogh's last painting; Wheat Field with Crows

For me, Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most inspirational artists that you can find. Even though he may have been classed as mentally ill, he has painted in a way that no other artist has dared to paint which not only makes his work unique but makes him unique too.

Doctor Who and Vincent Van Gogh

Photo vs Life

There are artists who sit in studios and use reference photos and then there are artists who sit outside and paint the world in front of them

Real vs Gaming

I personally use reference photos to draw from as I have had many times where I have simply been too slow and careful with my work that my subject or scene has simply gone. For example sunsets disappear so quickly that you cannot capture the true beauty of it if you are a slow artist, just like me.

Ricardo Garduno draws from reference photos

With reference photos you can also easily draw grids to check things such as positioning and proportion. I draw lots of people such as actors and singers (my most recent piece is on One Direction) and to get the proportion of the faces, the position of the eyes, lips and nose just right, I use a grid. Not everyone likes using a grid though as some people draw it on too hard and then cannot get rid of the evidence when they complete the drawing itself. Some people also struggle with grids and photos compared to painting or drawing from life because they cannot see the 3D of the world in a photo. Artists sometimes prefer to sit outside the same time repeatedly till they compete a painting or a drawing of a landscape or even a person.

Rob Pointon paints from real life

Life can be difficult though, unless you are a quick artist. The world moves so quickly and yet so slowly that the moment can be gone within seconds. Doing art from life however can also have its benefits as you can compare the piece of art to the real thing or even get the correct colour by simply comparing it there and then. Doing art from life also gives artists the opportunities to show of their work and their process of their art as almost free advertising.

There are four types of artists in the world. Ones that like to draw from pictures. Ones that like to draw from real life. Ones that like to draw free hand or from memory. And ones who really don't care.

Online or On Show?

As we rely more and more on technology, are the traditional art galleries going to die out?

Art galleries are famous around the world from the Tate Gallery in London to the Louvre Museum in Paris where the Mona Lisa is. But as we become more reliant on the use of computers and technology, we are able to view all of these images online without the expense of travelling, getting in and everything else in between. However, does this mean that our traditional art galleries are going to die out due to the technology boom?

"Anyone who relishes art should love the extraordinary diversity and psychic magic of our art galleries. There's likely more combined square footage for the showing of art on one New York block - West 24th Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues - than in all of Amsterdam's or Hamburg's galleries." Jerry Saltz

Girl With A Pearl Earring

Many people nowadays can simply type into Google the image that they wish to see, for example Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, and then view it there and then online. Online you can also reach all the information about the painting literally at your fingertips. However many people will argue that this is no way near the feeling that you experience when you see a painting like the Mona Lisa or the Girl With A Pearl Earring.

Going to an art gallery means that you experience the true atmosphere of being in the presence of a work of art produced by perhaps one of the worlds most famous artists. I personally have not been to a large art gallery such as the Tate Gallery in London, however I find that looking online you just get a photo and the information however you do not get the experience of being there with the artwork and you also do not get the chance to say that you have seen it with your own eyes.

Some people believe that art galleries are for old people or sophisticated people. The people who say this are obviously very stereotypical and do not want to experience the culture that is worldwide. The art that has inspired perhaps the world that we live in today. Art galleries are for everyone from every background of every age. They are, definitely in my opinion, much better than staring at a screen.

 "You've got to invest in the world, you've got to read, you've got to go to art galleries, you've got to find out the names of plant. You've got to start to love the world and know about the whole genius of the human race. We're amazing people." Vivienne Westwood

3 Top Artist Tools

I usually have questions from people asking the top art tools that I take with me on a daily basis

1. I always have a pencil case with me of some sort, if not a pencil is always at hand. Do not worry if you don't have a rubber or a ruler or anything else that is usually in a pencil case - If you have a pencil to draw with then you'll be fine. Any sort of pencil is fine however HB is probably best for quick sketches.
2. A small sketchbook - A4 or A5 is perfect for sketching down small ideas to perfect later when you are in a more suitable place to draw or paint. If you are in a suitable place and you have the time then sit down, enjoy your surroundings and do some art!



Sketch book (Google Images)

3. A camera of some sort is always in my pocket or bag. A phone or a more professional camera, I suggest to always have one in case of emergency. I don't know about you but there has always been a time when I wished I had a camera in my hand to catch a perfect shot. A camera will not pick up as much detail as the human eye but can produce some interesting photos that you can then draw or paint from later. This also ensures you do not miss a moment and you can see more instead of sitting down and drawing. Don't forget that different cameras have different quality so pick the one best for you.

Professional or not? It doesn't matter as long as you have a camera at hand!

True Art?

What is the real definition of true art?

What is true art? Can it be described as an explosion?

There are thousands upon millions of definitions of what true art is, but it really depends on the person you talk to.

Is this true art?

There are also many different types of art which include everything from drawing and fine art to dance and music. Art is a general term for a way to release our emotions in a unique and interesting way. People within the world can specialize in one or more of these expressive arts at different or perhaps at the same time - some artists sing while they draw or paint and some dancers are able to perform drama in their dances. 

True art - "First of all, true art means producing art that is formed by its context and traditions. Good art shows an awareness of artistic traditions. There is always an element of inter-textuality in art - the appropriation and re-appropriation of other artistic artifacts and techniques. Art is an ongoing conversation. True are is aware of that conversation and therefore able to engage meaningfully in that conversation. True are, therefore, cannot be conducted in isolation from the wider culture. We may sometimes speak from the margins, but we cannot speak from the ghetto." - True Art Defined

My own art: A Copy

Personally, the definition of true art, and art itself is "the expression of human emotions through a variety of media" because that is simply the broad term for art. Any way you express your emotions, you can be showing art. For me, true art also has a background story; every single piece of art be that music, photos or a painting, when it had a background story not only does it make the art piece a lot more interesting but it adds value if people know about the story and if it is a good one too.

However there is also another side of art where you are simply copying photos and other drawings or paintings. Some people believe that this is not true art because it does not express emotion or anything else because it is simply a copy, but, and this is a big but, every single piece of art tells its own story even if it is a copy. It is a copy with a new background story, a copy that is technically a new piece because it is its own.

A copy is an original.

What are your definitions of true art?