When you hit a creative wall, what is the absolute worst thing you can do? Just taking a break.
Walking away only makes the anxiety of coming back even worse. And the second worst thing you can do? Trying to force yourself to brainstorm a brilliant, original masterpiece from scratch just to prove you’ve “still got it.”
The actual cure isn’t taking a break, and it isn’t pushing harder. It’s completely outsourcing the idea phase. By removing as many decisions as possible, you lower the stakes and kickstart your creative momentum.
Here is exactly how I crush art block by shutting off my mind—and how you can, too!
1. Remove the Decisions (Use a Coloring Book!)
If you are staring at a blank page feeling completely uninspired, don’t start from zero! I grabbed the new Small Art Book by Creative Paula. It’s full of bite-sized prompts and small coloring spaces that make creative projects feel possible again.
I started with a cute little pup outline. Because the drawing was already done, the only decision I had to make was the colors. I decided to do a “seasons” theme:
- Summer Pup: I turned him into a juicy, vibrant strawberry! (Even though real strawberries have been tasting pretty watered down lately, this little guy is super sweet).
- Winter Pup: I made him a cool-toned, icy teal with a cozy blue beanie, scarf, and booties, complete with tiny snowflakes.
- Fall Pup: I was feeling so inspired by this point that I actually sketched a little pumpkin costume for him to wear!
Pro-Tip: If your creative expression has been blocked for too long, it can turn into a twisted form of guilt. Remove as many choices as possible! Start with a coloring page, use a random color picker, or pull up your favorite TV show (like Survivor or The Traitors) and use their outfits or environments for color palette inspiration.
2. Conquer the “Blank Page Paralysis”
Another massive trap with art block is the fear of ruining a piece. You feel like whatever you create has to be perfect, and if you aren’t confident you can do that, you just… don’t create at all.
This is exactly why I struggle with sketchbooks! I always feel like my art isn’t “worthy” of ruining a brand new sketchbook. But that is the beauty of coloring books—if you mess up a technique, it’s just a coloring page! You can always print out a new one (there are tons of free options out there) and try again.
For my second page, I wanted to try a technique that has always intimidated me: a dreamy, transparent raincoat. I used a limited palette of bright pinks and blues. Using a white gel pen to add thick, rippling details around the rabbit’s feet and on the raincoat completely transformed the piece. It went from looking like a naked pink rabbit to a magical, ethereal scene!
3. Draw Something Completely Out of Your Comfort Zone
If you are always creating the exact same type of art, it can start to feel repetitive and chore-like. My final secret to overcoming creative block? Draw something weird.
For my last page, I chose to color a bookmark of sardines. Why? Because I have literally never drawn or colored a sardine in my life!
When you draw things you are known for, your brain expects perfection because you’ve done it a hundred times. But when you switch to something totally unfamiliar, you have zero muscle memory to fight. You get to be a beginner again! You put less pressure on yourself, which naturally pushes away your mean inner critic.
I gave these sardines a fun “color pop” look with bright, chaotic floral patterns. Even though I made a few mistakes (like coloring the wrong square on my buffalo check pattern and accidentally ripping the page with my eraser!), I didn’t stress. I just laughed it off, taped the page back together, and kept going.
The Ultimate Art Block Recap:
- Do not wait for motivation—start today.
- Don’t start from scratch—remove decisions using a coloring book, a prompt, or a random color generator.
- Give yourself a break—draw something completely out of your comfort zone so you can be a beginner again!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve been stuck in a creative funk lately, or drop your best tips for overcoming sketchbook paralysis!
