I think every artist knows it, the so called '' art blocks''.
No motivation, no energy, no ideas, tired of the current style you use etc.

So I made 20 ways of things you could do to get some inspiration to create some art, and I'm 100% sure that after reading this and take this and your work serious, you'll have some inspiration.

Last but not least: never ever give up!



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#1: Download (or fav at dA) work which you like
Make a new Map on your computer and name it ''Inspiration''.
Save everything you like there. Every time you're stuck or have no idea what to add more into your work, you can always look in your ''inspiration'' map.
Don't copy/don't steal things... Just observe and learn.

#2: Dreams
Dreams are often unrealistic or too realistic.
For example:

- You fall
- You can fly
- You see epic monsters ripping someone's skin off

etc.
If you can remember your dreams, try using them for a change.

#3: Sketching
ALWAYS sketch and sketch and sketch.
I know that sometimes we're very lazy... and sketching takes time and gives you not an end-result right away.
But it helps you to save your ideas. Because you might forget them the next day, which is a shame if you do, right?

Sketching is also good for Adobe Illustrator, to create line art.

You can buy ''dummy's'' also known as books with blank papers in it, it's good for sketching.

#4: Mindweb/mindmaps
Mindwebs are good for brainstorming about a concept.
In the middle of the paper you could write a word for example: ''Fruit''
You draw an arrow and write: strawberries and another arrow from strawberries to ''Warm Country'' , a warm country could be... Indonesia and from Indonesia you could go to Japan, from Japan you could go to ''World War 2''.
And there you go, from Fruit to World War 2. Who would ever guessed?
Draw as many arrows as possible and write down as many words as possible... You never know where you'll end.

You can also create a mindmap around a concept, searching as many images as possible that are close to your concept and pasting them all together on A3.

#5: Inspiration from sites
Still no inspiration? Try some sites to look for art like:

http://ffffound.com/
http://www.deviantart.com/
http://www.behance.net/
http://tutsplus.com/
http://flickr.com
http://mediamilitia.com/
http://abduzeedo.com/
http://www.dylancolestudio.com/
http://www.crowdspring.com/
http://www.gomedia.us/
http://depthcore.com/
http://www.evokeone.com/v4/
http://www.slashthree.com/v3/



#6: Take a shower
Did you know that your brain works better while you're under the shower?
Try to think under the shower for an idea, your brain works at its best then, also because it's relaxed.

#7: Clean workspace and be healthy
A clean desk/room to create space for your wacom tablet or your mouse and keyboard.
Also not to get annoyed by flies flying around you or chips in your keyboard. Keep it clean!

Take enough sleep
Sometimes the best inspiration comes at night, and sure you can work till 4 am... But try to get at least 6 hours sleep. I'm telling you: there will be no inspiration if you continue to have 3 hours of sleep every day.

#8: Collaborations
2 brains work always better than 1.
Try to collab with someone who has a completely different style than you.
If you're a digital artist, try to mix your stuff with someone who's into traditional work!
And hey, you also learn from the other.

#9: Lyrics of Music
Don't only listen to music, because I know for sure that you won't understand every word simply because the song goes too fast, because it's not your own language, because the singer isn't singing clear enough etc.

Search up the lyrics! You'll be amazed what some bands are singing about.

#10: Don't think of ''Shit I'm having a block'' the whole time. Stay positive!
Always stay positive. If you keep thinking that you cannot do anything anymore, you can't.
You didn't lost your talent.

But sometimes you go down to go up later again.

#11: Don't think too much
While creating, don't think too much about the details... Let your hands do the hardest work.
The longer you spend time on your piece, the more detail it will get and of course the better it will look.

If your work doesn't look good, then just stop and work on it again tomorrow.
Or take a step back from your screen and check if it still looks good.

What also works, is to ''Transform -> Flip Horizontal'' (in Photoshop).
You'll see your work then in a different perspective, in a way you haven't seen it before.
Work a bit there and flip later back again or just leave it.

#12: Ask your Gallery Moderator at dA
We're here to inspire, motivate, help you.
If you don't know how you do an effect regarding typography, of course you can ask me and I'll try my best to help you out.

And even if you have work and you know that something is missing but you don't know what -- just ask us and we can give our opinions and points of view.
We're here to help you out!

Don't know who moderates a gallery?:
http://communityrelations.deviantart.com/blog/27409506/#B

#13: Look for work you've made in the past
In the past you had different ideas and therefor different work.
Because you've grown, you might forgot those ideas or the effects which you loved to use then.
Old work can always give you inspiration and hey, since your skills are better now, you could try the effect again but make it look better.

Or just go very back and look for some drawings you made as a kid.
I remember myself that I used to draw a sun with sunglasses. Something which now, as 22 years old, I wouldn't come up with.

''Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.''
- Pablo Picasso

#14: Did someone hurt you? Are you angry? Or are you terrible in love? Put it in your art!
Designing can be very relaxing. If I'm angry or sad, I just need to design to let it off.
And who knows, you could create something amazing then in which you couldn't in a normal state (because you couldn't come up with the idea).

#15: Take a drink, go to the toilet, take a break
Don't sit all day in front of the computer wondering when the idea finally comes.
If you need to go to the toilet, please go.
When you come back take some tea or coffee or play Guitar Hero.

Your brain doesn't work better if it's focusing on 1 thing for hours long.
Take breaks! And don't forget to eat!

#16: Observe tutorials, but don't copy the outcome
Tutorials are there to learn an effect.
And sometimes tutorials are good for inspiration as well... Just never copy the outcome. Come up with something new, you'll get more respect if you do.

#17 Magazines and books
Speaking of tutorials... There are also some very good Design magazines out there! For example like Advanced Photoshop, Photoshop Creative, Computer Arts, How Design, I.D. Magazine, Print Magazine, Communication Arts etc.
A magazine can always give you inspiration, also because you buy it and like books: you won't throw it away.

Check out:
http://www.advancedphotoshop.co.uk/
http://www.printmag.com/
http://www.idmag.com/GeneralMenu/
http://www.howdesign.com/GeneralMenu/
http://www.commerce.commarts.com/aspx/home.aspx
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/

#18: Read interviews!
There are always interviews on this site (deviantART) or on http://tutsplus.com/ , in the magazine Advanced Photoshop etc.

Try to look in the mind of someone else. Read her/his experiences , where he/she finds her/his inspiration etc.


#19: Check the Daily Deviations from deviantART out
http://today.deviantart.com/dds/


#20: Last but not least: save this news article!
Bookmark it or put it in Word and save it so that later you can look at it again when needed!