I can't finish my painting, how do I find new inspiration?
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
August 8, 2010 1:26pm CST
I am working on a painting at the moment, and I like the things that I have done so far, but I just can't seem to finish it. My paintings are a mixture of paint and paper and I combine pictures from old magazines in funny or unusual ways. Most of my paintings are quite small and this one is a lot bigger, that is one of the reasons why I find it so hard to finish it. I have been asked to paint it and I haven't decided the size myself.
What do you do when you are feeling stuck and can't finish the things you are working on for instanse a painting or a drawing? How do you find new inspiration?
8 responses
@Gerbera10 (58)
• Malta
9 Aug 10
Hi Porcospino, when I can't finish a painting or an article, I leave it and start something else. Eventually inspiration will come back again and you can continue on this picture. New inspirations are found from everyday life. Notice all that goes around, nature, people, life in general. This goes for both painting and writing. Both are cretive arts after all. Good luck on your painting, but I'm sure you'll be inspired to finish it soon!
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
11 Aug 10
Thanks. Yes, I hope that I will soon find the inspiration to finish the painting. You are right, it is probably best to do something else for a while. I am a writer as well and I sometimes get a writer's block, but I don't usually have the same problems when I paint. It is the first time that it is really difficult for me to finish a painting.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
9 Aug 10
I too am a person who likes to complete something once i have taken it up.However at times i find that i cannot finish it due to various reasons.Initially i used to get frustrated and restless until i completed it.Nowadays if i can`t finish something and i find that i am unable to progress, i simply do something else keeping what i was doing earlier on the backburner. Once i have finished that i feel refreshed and then go back to my original work and then complete it.I find that there is no point sitting on something which i can`t complete and wasting my time.Its better to go to another shorter task, complete it and then go back to what i was doing before.This gives me the satisfaction of having completed 2 tasks.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
9 Aug 10
I also get a feeling of restlessness when I am not able to finish the projects that I am working on, but I think that is a good idea to do something else or something easier for a while. That might give my new energy and make it easier for me to finish my big painting. Unfortuneately the buyer is very impatient and he keeps asking me when I am going to finish the painting, but I don't want to force it, and I don't want to do something that I am not satisfied with just to finish it quickly.
@hestylim (1210)
• Indonesia
9 Aug 10
I think drawing, painting, writing and all those creative works need creative mind to finish and to do. There is nothing you can do when you feel stuck beside to stop and refresh your mind.
When I got no inspiration to write, I will just stop writing and do other things that I want to do. Listen to the music, watching TV or just sleep.
When you feel fresher, you can go back.. and hopefully the inspiration will come right on when you see your masterpiece and you will be able to continue doing it.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
9 Aug 10
The painting that I am working on is much bigger than the other paintings that I have made, and that is a big challenge for me as my other paintings are relatively small. So far my painting consists of a woman with some cards in her hand, a boy is "standing" on her head with a basket in his hand and inside the basket there is a woman with a book in her hands. I use my imagination when I create my motives and I usually try to combine the things in unusual or creative ways 
@juliusports (274)
• Philippines
9 Aug 10
as an artist, i guess you don't have to push yourself doing it when nothing seems to come with you for any ideas perhaps it may ruin your project. So i guess you have to take a break and think focus and get your working drive soon.
@GloomySky (35)
• Bulgaria
8 Aug 10
If you are stuck, leave the painting for couple of days. The person who purchased it must understand that it is art and it's better to be finished later than sooner in interest of the painting. Some of the greatest masterpieces in the world are done in months. That way the details are refined to their best.
I'm not a great artist in any area but when I'm stuck with ideas I let go of my creation for a period of time. When I return to the task I know how to finish my project or sometimes I start anew from a scratch.
By the way if your profile picture is one of your paintings I like it. Is it Pop art?
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
8 Aug 10
Thanks Yes, my profile picture is one of my paintings. I am mostly inspired by surrealism, and I usually combine paint and paper, but I like to experiment and try out new techniques. You are right, it is probably best if I take a break for a while. The buyer is impatient and he keeps asking me when I am going to finish, and that doesn't help at all, on the contrary it makes it harder for me to continue when he tries to force me to finish it quickly. I hope I can make him understand that. Thanks for your advice.
Yes, my profile picture is one of my paintings. I am mostly inspired by surrealism, and I usually combine paint and paper, but I like to experiment and try out new techniques. You are right, it is probably best if I take a break for a while. The buyer is impatient and he keeps asking me when I am going to finish, and that doesn't help at all, on the contrary it makes it harder for me to continue when he tries to force me to finish it quickly. I hope I can make him understand that. Thanks for your advice.
@pillaim1981 (64)
• India
9 Aug 10
i feel u should sit alone for a while and go into selfevaluation mode to evaluate what is hindering you to complete the picture
1 person likes this
