Would you share your secret?

[ldg40]

What do you do when, no matter how hard you try, you can't come up with an original idea for a current project?

I guess you could say that I have come up with A VERY SERIOUS artistic block. I am now boardering on severe anger (I am past depression)

Any and all ideas would be more than appreciated!

[Newby]

I take a step back and go for a walk. If that doesn't work I look through magazines (in my case photography mags). Beyond that I'll go surfing through the net and look at other people's work to see if something inspires me. And if that doesn't work, I go get an alcoholic beverage of my choice and sit back hoping the alcohol will kill the brain cells that are blocking my creative ideas from coming to the surface :)

Disclaimer: Drinking for your art is ok as long as it is in moderation :D

[Scott]

I immediately start playing what if.....

What if it were green?
What if a sadistic clown were creating it?
What if I could do it with fingerpaints?
What if I used really ugly fonts?
What if I was half asleep when creating it?
What if the client was Dudley Dooright?
What if I had to make everything brown?


I continue this as I go through my day. I don't sit and try and force a projects. If I can, I prefer to let it just mull around in my head for a while. Eventually something will spark a good path to take.

Now, if it's something that HAS to be done immediately with no time for concept... then i follow basic rules of design — 3rds and a grid for layout. No more than 3 fonts, etc. I can spit out something okay, although not inspiring, by just following the rules.

[1cowabunga]

^ All very good advice. What project are you stuck with ldg40? You could always have Jolt do it. I'm sure he's never busy. :)

~Sam

[ldg40]

Thank you to all for letting me tap your brains! Good to see you again Sam. Yeah Jolt, I mulled all weekend and it is a "HAS to be done now" one. But I did implement Newby's idea more than once this weekend, in moderation of coarse ;)!

[otimpyre]

I have great memory I visualize objects, people, places then I splice them all together in my head and imagine the atmosphere & effects. I play with several ideas if they dont work out they usually spawn new ideas.

[flondo]

Large Triple Scotch,
play with cat.

Repeat.

If no ideas occur,

Go to bed,
Wake up refreshed,
Start again.

[fray]

I usually ask Thundarr or Space Ghost what they would do to solve the problem.


(It's great having a bunch of action figures handy...) :D