by Courtney Hatcher

Artist's Block is an obstacle that every artist faces at one point or another.

It doesn't matter what kind of art you make (painting, drawing, music, choreography, sculpture, poetry, etc).  All artists deal with it.  It is a problem.

It doesn't matter what phase of your career you are in or the frequency with which you create art.  Artist's Block is something that we all deal with.  It happens and it sucks but there are things we can do to help alleviate and lessen the occurrence of Artist's Block.

One of the most important tools an artist has at their disposal during bouts of Artist's Block is their sketchbook.

When you are feeling blocked taking a little time to sketch or doodle can be the most effective way to get back on track.

Artist's Block doesn't just happen when you are coming up with ideas, it can happen at any point throughout the creative process.  There are three points during my process that I notice I am plagued with Artist's Block more so than any other times.  Right smack in the middle of a project, during my conceptualization process, and before I've even decided to start the new project.

Sketching is one of the best techniques I've encountered to fight Artist's Block whenever it may strike.

Simple as that.

Whether the composition is off or I'm not feeling the theme come through in the colors or textures.  Something just isn't clicking.  I know if I keep working on it when I'm in this blocked mindset that I'll just make it worse.  And there's nothing I hate more than wasting paint by creating layers that I know I'm just going to hide later.

Unfortunately, living in Michigan that is not always an option.

When the weather is nice here it is breathtaking!  On the flip side the weather in Michigan spends a lot of time being super cold, rainy and gloomy.  When it's 40° and raining a walk isn't the best option.  I've had pneumonia enough times to know better!

At times like these (December through April!), when I can't go for a walk, the best way to find some new inspiration and to work through my Artist's Block is to sketch.

Sitting down somewhere quiet with my sketchbook and pencils always works.  It doesn't matter what I draw, or how long I spend doing it.  It always clears my head.

Walking and sketching do the same thing for me.  They clear my head, pushing all the millions of little things I have to do out of the way and let me live in the moment.

With my art I express the depth of an individual's emotional journey while also reflecting a greater universal connection.  The micro sensation I am exploring can make demonstrating the larger connection more difficult.

Sometimes, when I get too tangled up in my theme, or I can't decide the best way to marry it to a composition or colors, I get completely stuck.

When this happens I have to go back to, or reconnect with, my initial inspiration, which is usually something simple.  For instance, the texture of bark on a particularly old tree I saw while on a walk in the park, the movement of a reflection beneath the surface of recently disturbed water, or even the person who cut me off in traffic experiencing instant karma by being immediately stopped at a red light.  These sorts of simple, often mundane, experiences almost always act as the starting point of my thought process.

From there I begin to analyze what it is about that simple experience or observation that reflects a heightened abstract emotion or sensation and how it relates to whatever I may be going through at the time.

Other times it might take working through multiple pages in my sketchbook before I'm pleased with my thought process.

Either way, utilizing sketching when I'm blocked always helps me work out my concept if I find myself experiencing Artist's Block.

The last, and most frustrating, point in my process where I experience Artist's Block is before I even decide to begin a new project.

Sometimes I feel blocked before I have a new concept in mind.

As an artist there should be nothing more enjoyable than getting my supplies out and making art.

The ugly truth is, sometimes it feels hard to do that much.

There are times in my life, usually when I'm exhausted on some level or overwhelmed by stress, that making art seems like the hardest thing in the world.  Even though it's the one thing that would probably help alleviate the stress and exhaustion the most.

When this happens to me I start to feel extremely guilty and ashamed of myself.  I'm an artist.  What's wrong with me that I don't feel like making art?  Shouldn't it be easy and fun all the time?

The answer is no.

It's not always easy.  Sometimes showing up and being creative is hard.  In life we always want things to be simple and pleasant.  The reality is that some of the most rewarding things in life are difficult and take hard work to achieve.  Art is no different.

When I can't find the energy or the inspiration to drag myself into the studio to start a painting I know I can grab my sketchbook, sit in a comfy chair, and draw for a little while.  The more I convince myself to sketch the more I let go of all the mental blocks that are holding me back from my bigger projects.

Sometimes beginning is the hardest part.  

Maintaining a habit of sketching will help jump-start you and lead you into the bigger projects. 

As an artist it is important to create new art, to experiment and grow.

Unfortunately, life often gets in the way of studio time.  It is not always possible to create a masterpiece everyday.  That is why sketching is so important in the routine of an artist.

The amount of time you can spend sketching everyday is not as important as the act itself.  Sketch for an hour or two if you get lost in the moment, but even five minutes of drawing will have a huge impact on your art, your career and your day to day life.

Maybe you can't take the time in the morning or the evening to sit down and just sketch, that's ok.  Keep a little sketchbook or notebook in your car or purse and you can sketch on the go!  (I don't recommend sketching while driving but if you have one in your car it will be available to you during your downtime.)  If you take public transportation to work you can sketch on the way, during your lunch break, while the kids are napping, sitting in the waiting room at the doctor, etc,.

Some of my best doodles can be found in the margins of my Algebra 101 notebook.

​Inspiration is everywhere after all.

• The Light Switch

Sketching everyday is like flipping the creativity light switch from off to on.

It's visual brainstorming.  Exploring your feelings and thoughts through color, line and form can open up avenues of thought that may have felt blocked.

Just the other day my sister was telling me that her and her co-workers had been having a hard time coming up with ideas for a project they had been working on all week.  Then at the end of the week during her break she doodled to get her mind off of it and something fantastic happened!  When she went back to the project she just seemed to have one idea after another and her newfound creativity inspired her co-workers as well.  By the end of the day they had the project wrapped up.

Sometimes the best ideas start with a doodle.

I like to make sketching one of the first things I do every morning.  When I begin my day with a creative task it seems like that creative momentum follows me and pushes me throughout the rest of my day.

The habit of sketching not only improves my mindset it helps me to be a better artist.  Which in itself makes my personal world a more positive place.  Sketching everyday allows me to practice and hone my skills as an artist.  Committing to this challenge everyday pushes me to evolve artistically and to grow as a person.

Activating your creativity is one of the most important things you can do.  Working on your art and creating beneficial habits is always a good thing.  Sketching is a tool that you can use to live a more creative life.  

Look for Part Two of my 'Importance of Sketching' series coming in the beginning of May 2019!