How to get your creative inspiration back when you've lost it 

..I'm not sure what to do anymore. I feel like art isn't for me because. I put too much thought into my art work. I don't know how to just draw something. I don't have a style. I'm not good at drawing faces or bodies I just - I love art though. I feel like it's all I have. it's what I've planned to go to college for. I'm so lost..

My creativity has been lost for a while, and im scared that im never able to get it back

Guys this is the new internet Art Dad, protect him at all costs.

Im not smart Im not talented Im not confident Art is the only thing im good at And i lost inspiration I even forgot how to draw....

I find as I have grown older I have gained more focus but at the same time that has shut off my creativity. How do I get it back and keep this focus?

Going to College for art kind of killed my creative spark... it became something I had to do instead of wanted to do. You dont have to be "good" or perfect at it in order to make art. Picasso was good with abstract art, which isnt perfectly realistic. I like to follow artists on instagram who are just starting out, who dont post the most amazing pieces you've ever seen. I've found more inspiration through them because they are doing it for the pure joy of making art and not doing it for the way others will interpret it. And people still really like it! Dont force it or guilt trip yourself, only do it when you feel inspired. Could be collage, patterns, anything! Experiment. The biggest creative killer for me was making art for other people and not for myself. I finally got back into art by painting little scenes on rocks. Completing something small scale, seeing it through, on something that only took 2 hours to make helped get the juices flowing again. There's a part of me that feels like I HAVE to make art or I'll feel guilty if I don't. Feeling guilty does nothing to solve it. Take a break from it if you need to, it's not an obligation. Art should be fun. There have also been plenty of times where I start back up and get frustrated because it doesn't look good. But keep going! That's just a stage in the process. Chances are it will look a lot better if you just keep going. Then the pride you feel is so rewarding and encouraging.

Musician here and I'm coming out of a pandemic related depression which seems to have completely blocked my creativity. Thanks for this! It's been difficult keeping my head up this past year, and even though it's gotten better, I find i still need some reassurance that my mojo is not all gone. Yet.

back in elementary school I could think of anything but now as a high school student i just can't

This was super inspirational to me. Honestly, I felt better in the first 3 mins of the video. Thanks for the little push.

7 years later and I have just been inspired by you, Sir. Thank you for helping me contextualize what I’m struggling with and making me feel better about being in a rut. It’s been a year since I moved across the country without my paints and I finally feel like I could pick them up again. ❤

I just graduate college with my degree in literature. The entire time I kept telling myself 'oh well I'll write a book when I dont have to worry about school'. Well here I am, with no creativity. I keep putting so much pressure on myself to write that it seems like a chore , it feels like I'm forcing something that came so naturally. I rarely sit through an entire video like this, but this was exactly what I needed to hear. I cant sit at my desk and expect something to come, I need to live the mundane to write the extraordinary. I know this video is several years old now, but thank you. Thank you for putting into words what I feel like my subconscious was screaming. I need to let it be natural and not forced. I need to not let my daily life limit me but instead inspire me.

I was actually struggling with the whole "nothing I do is original" thing tonight. I had recently found your channel and really enjoy content so I thought I would watch some of your videos to help deal with that feeling. This video helped and you talk about drawing is in such a genuinely loving way. thank you!

I haven't drawn seriously for a very long time, I somewhat abandoned it because of my grades. I want to continue art but I do not have the skills nor the progress to improve my art. It's very painful to look at my art, and I can never be happy or proud at whatever I do. I lost motivation, and I honestly can't seem to image the things I want to image, I can't convey what I want to convey and yet art is all I have and I don't want to break away from it despite loosing the will and motivation to do so.

I used to love art and be very passionate about it but not to long ago I started to find it boring, and a waste of time, this helped me get back some of my former passion thank you!

I've been having this problem for a while. Since I was in middle school I loved drawing abstract things, I never had an image in mind I would just draw and when I was done I felt proud of it because I really liked the way it looked. As of lately I just haven't had any motivation to draw, sometimes I try forcing myself to draw hoping I can just get back in it but I can't. I use to just draw some lines, shapes and just know how to keep it going by seeing a part of what I was drawing and wanting to expand it. Now I draw and have no idea how to keep it going. Drawing has been a part of my life that I have deeply enjoyed for a long time and this problem is very frustrating for me.

I literally am so depressed because of this but my guitar was my first love and writing was a way I have always expressed myself

Thank you very very VERY much! i was about of having a mental breakdown, so this help a lot to calm my mind and just let things fluid along! Again, thank you~

Thank you for your video, I liked it a lot :) I used to write more when I was younger (I'm almost 30 now), but with the time I started losing creativity and motivation. I thought about this a lot and I came up with three main reasons: thinking too much about how I should write something rather than writing it, and being for too long in the same places and not being able to travel are te first two and I'm trying to work on them, but the third one is the one I have no idea how to overcome: I completely lost interest on people and I became too cynical! I travelled a lot during the last years, I did many experiences and volunteering in my country and abroad, so is not that I didn't widened my choices, but what people usually do or say is too boring for me, even if they actually do something interesting in their life. And when they tell me about weddings, children etc the only thing I can think of is how can they be happy just following cultural stereotypes... So how can I write stories about people and for people, if I hate talking with people and I'm not interested in them at all? Aren't writers supposed to listen to people and take inspiration from them? I always wanted to write stories about adventures, those stories that people can dive into when they need to escape reality and that made me company for a lifetime, and I still have some good ideas, but there's something missing...

Hi, I'm a 16 yr old in highschool and I'm having some thoughts. My elementary and middle school life was full of art. I'd draw on my non dominant hand, doodle on my tests and school work, and even on the desk sometimes. I feel like I've lost my passion. I'm now starting to look at colleges and looking at what I want to do with my life. I've switched what I want to do from music and sound production to other things. Now I'm heavly looking at art. I haven't drawn in years, but I enjoy it when I get around to it. But most of the time it feels forced. What do you recommend, taking a break? Slow down? Push through?

I lost my writing skills and I want them back 😭

I’m so discouraged, I used to love painting and loved colors and the smell of oil paint; I used to get excited but now i have lost my desire altogether and that upsets me quite a lot. Thank you for your inspiring words sir.

This helped me a lot, halfway through the video I picked up a pencil, got a small doodle book and started drawing and I seem to have got my passion for drawing back c:

Ty! I felt like everything I created already excist. But like you said everyone copies. It so difficult with social media. Instead of looking outside you look on the internet for inspiration, where everyone has acces. I also try to hard. What makes that I get to critical to myself and my art. Also nice that you see every style as art even doodles. Ther is way to much high expectation these days. I will let it go for now and hope soon my itching will get back.

Thank you, this video really helped. My creativity dried up when I became a teacher 5/6 years ago and now I am working part time I want to do some painting. I’ve procrastinated for the whole of lock down and don’t understand why! I have the ideas in my head of what I want to do, but just don’t seem to have the confidence to sit down and do it. You have such a calm and caring voice and demeanour, you have made it not such a big, frightening thing to sit down and paint.

I'm watching this since i kinda lost the spark of doing journalling it hasn't been productive and i've lost my inspiration. So i would stop doing it for a month or so and get back when i feel like it. I also did clean up where my materials are so now i feel the sense of a clear mind. Thank you for this video i really needed it ❤

HOW AM I ONLY SEEING THIS VIDEO NOW? I NEVER KNEW HE MADE A VIDEO ABOUT MY COMMENT, WHAT??!?! Well, one year later, and i actually did pack up my stuff for a while. But after a couple weeks or months i usually get that art "itch" again. And everytime i felt that little frustration again. I wish i watched this video sooner. But now i'm working on it, both my mentality and skill, but MOSTLY my mentality about it. Thank you so much Shoo, even after more than a year, i still needed to hear this. You hit the nail right on the head for me. 😊

I used to draw constantly in school, thanks to me being bored lol. All throughout highschool I was planning on tattooing and I grew in my skills and styles, but I think I set my bar too high. I got an apprenticeship set up in colorado because I've always wanted to live there. However, of course, things didn't really go to plan. I just kinda gave up on it and started working jobs and drinking and smoking a lot. Now here I am 4 years later wishing I had never stopped drawing, it made me so happy, it was my zen. Having a finished product that people would look at and say "Hey, that's awesome I want that on my body." Now it's just harder juggling life, but I know I absolutely have to tattoo. It genuinely made me happy, hell I could cry right now thinking about it. Thanks for your video

This is what I needed to hear! You helped me so much! THANK YOU!

Hi shoo. it wasn't too long ago that I started to watch videos on drawing. although I was always drawing sense I was young. In fact I think I was born with a pencil in my hand because I always had a fedish when it comes to pencils. as I got older I developed my own skills by watching people like you. a lot of people always told me that I was a artist. but I never looked at it that way. I wanted to draw so bad just to show people it can be done. people use to say that I was natural at drawing. but I always said that I wasn't. I was always making mistakes and starting over all the time. I was always erasing my mistakes as well. with all that struggling I found out that the eraser was just as good as the pencil. when it came to drawing I found out that anything was posable on paper because you can always fix your mistakes. you are right when you say people get there ideas from other people and it goes to show that new doors open in the process. thanks for your hint and tips and hope to see your next video to come.

Omg yes! This ‘at the moment’ message is so right! It’s ok to have a break, explore and come back for more! The world made me feel like i have to create and present something new everyday and post on Instagram and social media! I want to have a break explore then do more! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUU!!

Very reassuring. Thank you!

Absolutely insightful !! This explained my creative block very well ! Thank you for voicing your interpretation

Sir, you're so wholesome. I was inspired by this. Thank you so much!

Thank you again sir, your message keeps me inspired whenever I'm down. Thank u so much!! 💛

Baby steps… solid advice for life too. Thanks!

The very near part of your video, really helped me.

I love your videos, Mr. Rayner!!

Man, a few years ago i used to write such amazing stories, hell I'd write multiple fleshed out, deep, well thought out, unique and original stories in a week, they weren't short either they were MASSIVE stories in scope and length, the stories were extremely diverse, each story looked and felt different from the last, i easily could cram so much emotion and nuance in them, it was so profound and i loved them so much, i used to love writing like crazy, i used to able to write so many stories from a lot of different genres and perspectives. I used to visualize all kinds of crazy ideas, characters, designs, architecture etc in my head before writing it down, i used to go so in depth on minuscule stuff, anything that isn't even important would get paragraph and paragraph worth of text. but I've completely lost it, i don't know how but that creativity just disappeared, i tried writing something for the past 3 years and couldn't really muster up something good, i can't even make a vague small outline for a story, i don't have a single atom of inspiration in my body...what happened? what caused this? how can i get my creativity back?

I want to draw and paint again but I just can’t find it in me to do it 😪

Recently I've been very stressed out because I really want to finish my sketchbook. However, I think I might be pushing myself too much. I don't really feel like drawing, I dont think my art looks that good and it is a struggle to keep the pen on the paper for more then 5 minutes. I dont know what to do and I really dont want to lose my inspiration to draw, espacially since this is the field i want to work in, in the future. Im going to try to not do anything art related for awile and see if I can get my inspiration back, but if I dont, i'll be devistated. (Sorry for my grammar)

Thank you so much for this. I had been struggling, blocked for months to draw and with your video I just felt like something came back to me that I thought I had lost for good. I just started doodling and doodling and doodling, so far having filled a whole page of sketches and will probably fill even more. So thank you, thank you so much, I got some of my 'mojo' back and I just can't thank you enough ^^ Lots of love and appreciation from Costa Rica!!

What has helped me the most is taking a class in a new medium. I'm not there to be the best. I'm just there to try and to learn. And taking art classes relieves me of the pressure to set aside time to be creative. Once I pay that class fee I know I'll show up.

Thank u. need an updated video on this topic.

I am amazed at how you understand and explain about its normalcy..I like that so much...thank u for sharing that. Really amazing and refreshing to listen to someone saying what u already know...and know how to deal with it..but can't get around it to actually do it...thank u is what I am trying to say ultimately. Thank u. Regards.

Thank you I watched you talk for 60 seconds and i got my creativity back

Oh my gosh. This was do well spoken and soon me right now. The discontent. The yearning. I want to express something wonderful but everything I create doesn't work express it. Ty!

Very good video, I just subscribed! As a 17 year old budding artist, I'm doing all I can to immerse myself in animation and cartooning. So glad I've found your channel!

This is really helpfully especially when going through a Creative block! Thank you :)

One of the things I like best about you is that more than other RU-vid vlogger/visual artists/illustrators I've watched, you make art seem as if it's a joy to practice and a journey - one wherein it's okay to make mistakes and to be yourself. You don't make fine art out to be a Himalayan mountain to conquer with ferocious determination and steep pockets for the trendiest art supplies on the market. In other words, you make art accessible. You don't make it out to be some deep voodoo mystery for advanced artists. As a middle aged artist coming back to visual art after - ahem - well over a decade, I appreciate your perspective. I find it encouraging and refreshing. Also, I love your artwork pinned to the wall behind you! Last, when did you start using your Rotring Tikki Graphic Pen more often. In other words, I draw in pencil first and then ink over it and erase the pencil markings as I've seen you do in your instructional videos. When did you get to the point where you were using your graphic pen without having to mark things down in pencil? Or do you still draw things in pencil and then draw over it - especially for your children's books?

I think it's been 1 year and a half since i struggle to get again that jump in creativity to make something. I used to have a project i worked on since i finished high school but after stumbling on some odd coincidences on repeat ruining what i prepared for 8 years it really kicked in my gut with a lack of motivation since it appeared to me as if anyone saw my work they would say i copied from others, despite isolating myself to finish that teenage years dream and around that time the things i liked not being a choice of mainstream. At this point i'm depressed trying to find again something to salvage from old works since i don't want to give up on what i pursued and practiced to get good at since childhood.

Thanks for the reminder that art doesn’t have to have a deep meaning

I rarely comment on videos but thank you for reminding me that the journey is more important than the destination. Such timeless advice, You've earned a subscriber!

Thanks for this video it's really helpful for me right now. I've been a successful designer for 15 years and no I just hate it. I feel like everything I do no one likes. I can't take it anymore. I have totally lost my mojo and I think your advice about having a break is a good one. I'm doing to try doing something more hands on

This video really has come at the right time for me. I am similar to BlackOreoCookie in the fact that creativity and inspiration came to me so naturally when I was younger. Sadly I let work and university get in the way of the things I loved as a child and teenager - writing and drawing. I am now on a mission to find these long lost loves and hopefully build some sort of a career out of them. I was beginning to feel very unfocused and as if I was barking up the wrong tree because my practice didn't have enough aim to it, but I have to remember I am only stepping out the door on this fantastic journey. Thanks for such a well timed video!

Thank you for this. I've been working for months on work for a small group expo (lots of framing and screwing wires in backs canvases) and am completely exhausted - plus because I haven't made any new art for so long it feels like I've lost my way, forgotten how to do it and feel so low with tiredness and bad housing, problems with benefits etc. I need somehow to get back into creating but am surrounded by canvases+ still unfinished and although I'd really want them finished I'm so so sick of looking at them & working on them - so they sit there glaring at me. Occasionally I can do a tiny bit of play (such as monoprints) but I've lost the joy I had in doing them and pretty much everything else. I've got a brain injury and other injuries and lots of pain and I was never like this before: The New Me (& the situation I'm now in - no job, unsafe unadapted home etc.) is so so difficult but I do my best. Seems like hardly anyone went to see the expo and feels like I worked so hard for so long for nothing - it'd feel so good to get some positive feedback, we all need that sometimes, and to sell some would be wonderful. Got to find my arty way again, somehow but I'm pulled in so many directions... But thank you.

I lost my drawing skills😭😭

Thumbs up! Good advice. This applies to creating a lot of art, and even making RU-vid videos. I searched for “lost inspiration to make youtube videos” in google and landed here. Thank you!

When I was at college I had so many mental ideas and I made so much stuff. Uni kind of killed it for me. Now I work as a freelance Illustrator and apprentice tattooist and I never really do anything for myself anymore. Every now and again i'll get a commission that is right up my street and I really _want_ to do it, but it's rare. I just wish I had my motivation back to spend a week on doing a print, or get back into drawing mad characters again. I love my job, but I feel like I never do anything for myself anymore. Being busy gives me motivation but being freelance it's up and down. I lay awake all night last night thinking of mad things I want to draw, but then as usual, when I do get out of bed I have zero motivation.

Thanks for the great advice! Creatively blocked musician here, I'm going to try your suggestions. Cheers!

I go art school at Massart in Boston, I just want to say between covid and everything that has happened to me this last year and and half, no one has helped as much as this video just did. You’re an amazing wise and kind hearted person and I’m happy to have seen this.

Gratitude 💕✨🌹

Thanks, that really saved me from this dark week that I have been in...

honestly why I stopped art is because I felt like it is just a waste of time but now this video has inspired so I'm gonna get back into it again

I used to draw literally constantly, it could be anything. I usually draw people and I used to be very confident and content/comfortable with ny style, I rarely put myself down. But lately after the pandemic and the stress of losing multiple jobs, my apartment, relationships, and going into a lot of credit card and medical bill debt- I can't tell if I've gotten burnt out or something but I can't make my own ideas anymore, I can hardly draw at the level I used to be at before. I can't make original characters or outfit designs, whether its digital or traditional. It makes me feel worthless like I have hit rock bottom because any time I was stressed I would draw to feel better and now I just can't do that. It breaks my heart. I feel worthless.

Excellent video, sir! All of us artists need guidance once in a while.

14 y/O...I hate to admit it but I'm a lazy person and for the most of my life I hated doing anything! I only felt motivated about drawing and improving my creativity.I found my love and passion about drawing at the age of 10.Thats when I found out that I seriously wanted to become successful at it and turn it into 24/7 job,earn a lot of cash( if I'm lucky enough) and in general do something I love for living ..I asked people with lots of experience for tips and techniques ideas,entering art academy,high school..ect...People told me all kinds of stuff and I was happy to say that I was finally starting to think heavily of my future..I knew that it will be a long 'trip' so I practiced a Lot..like A LOTT,drained all of my ideas on paper for past 2 years..At the start of 2019 I decided to stop for a while,just give myself a break...then it began..I lost the will to draw,started skipping my daily doodling in class that I'd Always do while I felt bored...and every source of practicing and having fun genuine fun while drawing slowly decreased... I slowly started to grow hatred towards it. I felt like something bad was about to happen,it felt wrong...but I didn't think much of it.Currently I'm on a spring break...I noticed that the 'thing' "OH I have time I'LL practice tomorrow" began..The feeling I get when I'm bored of doing something..I call it the lazy factor..When I'm only able to do certain thing if I'm forced to by somebody else because I have a strong negative feeling about it..Im seriously starting to get scared.. I might have started to hate drawing ..I...feel like Ill just throw all my hard work and love for drawing for the past years and expirience down the drain...I don't want it to end...because for the most of my life I've been ONLY motivated about drawing,for once in my fucking life..I was ALWAYS fascinated how people capture their ideas on one simple peace of paper,tell a story whitout saying anything,just feel extremely happy of what they made and bring joy to others..I want to do it too..I don't want it to stop.... Can you help me ? I'm willing to try anything! I just want everything back to normal,just how it used to be. :(

I just found your channel and I am getting stuck into all of your videos. I hope you get your own TV show just like Jazza did.

You give the best advice.....Thank You so much!

Great advice, thank you really needed such tonight!

Thank you i couldn't think of ideas and had no motivation

I can't be the only one watching this for Minecraft right?

I think that I'll start an "art diary". In this diary I'll wright all my thoughs about art, the things that inspire me, my emotions and the ways that I can adopt to translete those things into a work of art. Sometimes it's just the loss of contact with ourselves and our inner world that makes us inable to expres what lies deep inside our minds. - a random guy from swiss

All I can say to you is THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

I make cyberpunk models. I feel like I lost my mojo but this really helped me think about it differently and not be so hard on myself. Thank you.

I do my best to practice drawing every day. Most of the time I don't feel inspired before practice sessions - inspiration usually comes to me once I've started drawing. I draw almost every day, even when I don't feel like it, because I want to become an artist on par with professional artists. It's been a dream of mine for years and I'm finally in the habit of drawing daily in order to achieve it while I'm still alive.

Thank you! I'm following you since a couple of month...and today I really need a kick Start!

this helped so much! this was great advice and such a nice video. i feel much more clear minded and inspired to get back to what i love

I've been drawing for 4 years but I losing my " Mojo" because I am not good enough. I feel like every drawing I draw looks like shit

I am so glad your back shoo keep it up :)

I studied art in high school for GCSEs I got a B grade ,my art pieces involved pencil drawings ,pen and ink and ink printings I was never the quickest at producing my art and after I left my art teacher invited me back to do one more piece But in all truthfulness I was burned out and over time I just lost my passion for art this was in 2002 In 2016 I started getting all these ideas for art and the passion started to come back I got into listening to the stone roses and the art work they used I loved it simple yet your eyes always found something new to look at I later did my research to find out it was Jackson Pollock and I was in love with art again Now am making pieces of art via paint and I've ditched the pencils almost entirely The funny thing was in high school I hated painting now I love it People say they like my art but am still hard on myself by saying I can do better

Thank you. I think you nailed it. I feel numb. So I probably need to pour inspiration into my Soul, so I have a passion for writing Music and Lyrics again.

Im a writer and poet and started losing my creative but here I am 💁🏾‍♂️

Just the kind of video I was looking for. Thank you

Thanks for this...I've been getting so frustrated. I don't find drawing fun anymore and I'm not sure whether that is because of my lack of ability and inspiration, or whether I've just reached a point where my passion is dead. I haven't drawn for a while, I've been trying to avoid it in a way... & when I recently picked up a pencil and tried, I just couldn't get it looking right. I've tried reaching out of my comfort zone and drawing different things, instead of people in the same old boring pose, but my proportions are all wrong and it doesn't seem to matter how much I study it. Perhaps I could take a break, but I feel like I have just had a break already. I just don't find it fun anymore and I seem to have lost my patience.

this is so nice, thank you very much!

For anyone struggling with Creativty, Burnout, etc., Ive been reading a book called PsychoCybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. It's a good read to the point where I'm learning a lot about how the human mind works in regard to creativity, motivation, etc. If you're interested, take one chapter at a time and take notes. Your future self would thank you.

Really needed to hear this thank you.

nice! i got back my inspiration of coding thanks!

Thank you 🙂

You can’t lose what you had just have to find it again... they say it takes 21 days of practice for something to become a habit and 90 days for it to be a lifestyle. Just draw stick figures while getting back into it I haven’t drawn in five years but felt inspired when I look at people’s art I know it’s a pain in the ass to regain those skills but the key is persistence and positivity even if you’re rusty.

I woupd love to have you as an art teacher. This is really helpful.

it's painful as an artist. being decent and being encouraged to keep drawing and making art, but then you grab your pen and look at the blank paper and then. nothing. nothing comes out that gets you hooked on that piece and makes you even hunger to finish what you visualized the piece to be like. I still vaguely remember this bundle of good feelings that as a creator you feel, when you are making something that uses all your skills to create the new best from you. it's been so long since that feeling, it's one of the few things that make me feel alive. and the longer I drag this art block out the harder it feels to create again. I just can't find that spark. Guess I should just start drawing small things everyday and not think about it too much, just let it all flow back into place.

7:10 When you want your homework is finish itself.

You’re such an inspiration, thank you🎨

Thank you for the video!!! Very positive vibes!!!

Thank you, sir.

Thanks for the advice!!!

Lost my creativity and will and I’m working as a freelance graphic designer and full time product designer. I feel like I’m being useless day by day and I am panicking because I might lose my job 😢

I'm trying to write a song right now, and at first I was really excited for the song. But now, I feel like I'm not satisfied with any ideas I have for it. Part of it is because I'm writing it down before I record it. And just because it doesn't work on paper, it demotivates me. I just don't want it to feel like a mess in the end.

As a singer this video has helped me alot. Within the first 2 minutes I felt so much relief. Before I felt like there was 2 ton boulder weighing me down and I found myself slipping into depression because one thing that I truly do love that has brought light into my life felt like it was fading and slipping away from my touch. I started questioning if I even had the hunger or the drive for it anymore. My deep inner conscience would be screaming "YES! KEEP GOING! YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO A BREAK THROUGH!" But the darkest part of my mind would convince me to give up.Now, I just want to say thankyou to you and BlackOreoCookie for coming up with this topic to speak on because it came within perfect timing.