Artist block - How did I cope with these monsters?

This post actually took longer than I expected. Probably it's my noob attempt to blog properly. Give me more time to practise this heh.

Every once a while these monsters can crawl up into you that possibly drains your passion out from your heart. Maybe after a project you just don't know what to do next, or having the self- doubt thoughts hitting in. or maybe you start to feel that you no longer enjoy what you're currently passionate about.  

I currently have this "artblock" moment since last week. Couldn't get good night sleep, having too many thoughts clogging up my mind. Usually my art blocks come and go naturally, when I am able to find new ideas to get inspired and such. 

But this time is different.This art block is too evil right in the core, which forces me to look in my underlying problems.

1) Making excuse to avoid the problem

I treat art blocks as a sign that I should ignore it and leave it till the day after. In this case this actually means me getting away from the problem itself. 

2) Self-doubts

 I draw because it makes me happy. But as I progress further, I'm pretty serious to produce more quality art to prep myself in becoming a indie illustrator. From there I unconsciously began to doubt myself that I can reach my ultimate goal. Well you know I think alot....

3) The wall
one of my greatest fears being the preverbial wall is in being able to move onwards and to adopt new changes to myself.

3) being a perfectionist 
This I am very surprised to find myself being so critical of the small irrelevant details. I'd say this is one of the main things that trigger the monster in me. I have my pride in my work and I take care of every details in it.

4) Being impatient
I'm pretty patient when it comes to painting but the irony is this - I disregard everything besides painting. I skip my everyday workout routines, I don't keep in touch with friends that often and I skip on my reading routine too. It's my terrible mistake to have this kind of habit. I got too into painting until it actually became a chore for me.


For some reason, I felt grateful to have this so called art block. It taught me to acknowledge myself more and give in to my terrible habits.

and now comes the bright side 'u'

I managed to come up a few ways to clear this monster out from my mind. Pretty simple but not easy for me actually, especially for a stubborn person like myself...

1) READ!!!!
Okay time for a confession - I never likes reading. Not until 3 years ago when I met a well-known artist whom I looked up to for gave me this advice and I still remember it very clearly - "never stop reading good books" she's my biggest inspiration that got me realize my inner passion to create art.

Reading helps me a lot! especially when it comes to biographical books. I like to wonder about their lives and imagine how it be if i'm in their shoes.


2) Sectioning your thoughts out.
This point here helped me alot. It is my natural habit to think haphazardly and that can mentally blow up my mind. Since i enjoy enjoy journaling , i try to write down my thoughts that my mind is thinking. And then I section them into categories which worries me alot. From there, I slowly write down a logical way to solve it.

Just an example of how I did mine ..

    problems                                                Solution

I'm scared to waste time                      make a priority list

I can't think on what to draw next         Read a book, relax and doodle etc

I cant find my style                      Keep practising, do not compare yourself with others.

3) deadlines
 I am very terrible at keeping self impose deadlines. I always end up procrastinating them. But recently i kept a discipline mindset to be serious on my own work, even if it's just a doodle. To make sure that I put my whole effort into something I dearly value of. Give yourself a reasonable deadline is also a good practice before you venture out to do freelance in future

4) Talk to someone
This is something that I'm most grateful of. Mind you I don't really have much friends to talk to. So to have someone to clearly direct my problems with is something really special to me. If you cant find anyone to talk out your problems with. I'm willing to listen :)

One of my experimental painting to get out from the monster in my head. Just splat colours and let it do its magic ;)

I do hope my tips can help you through this nasty monster out from you. I'm still learning day by day to be a better person. In fact I do think I have a lot more things to learn about myself.

I hope you have a great day ahead :)
Stay gold and keep hustlin'! 

Hsieying

ch- ch- check my out~

Instagram  -  tumblr  

#Dear me - a letter to my younger self.

Instagram  -  tumblr  - art store

Amazon.co.jp haul

Hello ~! How are you reader, I'm now enjoying my umeshu while typing this blog post :) 

I hope you are fine.

My package from Japan came the other day. I compiled of list of things from amazon.co.jp  since november last year with the help of my sister whose currently residing in Japan. Pretty exciting to try these babies! Oh look at that gorgeous dr.ph martin's ink bottles. *_*

From left: kuretake wink of stella pen brush (gold) , Pentel pen brush in black, Pentel brush pen, Pentel brush pen in grey and the refill cartridges.

I usually buy in bulk, to make shipping more worthwhile, or maybe because i'm a hoarder.. hmm..

Hoarder hoarder pants of fire.... 

I bought these two bottles, just because I couldn't make up my mind to choose one.

not pictured : W&N series 7 no.1 brush and dr.ph.martin's radiant watercolour ink set C.

I was already testing them out so i didn't take any photos of them.

Do share any thoughts on art materials and ask away any questions, I'll try my best to help :) 

Stay gold! 

Ashley 

Instagram  -  tumblr  - art store

February Favourites 2015

Some stuff that made my february happy

1. Hair tie
My hair grew longer as weeks gone by. So i can't live with hair ties. Or maybe I should just chope em short..

2. Wet n wild megaslicks balm stain.
I admit i like to put some colour on my lips. But i don't fancy lipsticks as it tends to dry my lips. So a balm stain it is! another favourite will be the Revlon kissable balm stain !

3. MD diary notebook
My art diary. Where I plan out stuff to look forward too, goals to achieve and setting deadlines planner kind of thing. This planner helped me writing out my ideas and it does help me churning out doodles because of the smooth paper.

4. W&N cotman tube.
in shade "madder rose" a slight pinkish red. perfect for blush and soft pinks

5. W&N no.4 brush
This brush is good! pretty flexible enough to draw nice lines :)

6. Mono eraser
I bought this eraser during college time ( about 5 years ago?) i didn't get back to use this until recently. I had too much love for erasers till i can't bear myself using them.

7. Pukka tea - cleanse
Ahhhh tea. Such a serene word

8.almond cookies 
February is the month of the lunar new year! meaning you'll find a lot of yummy cookies and traditional snacks around the house. My most favourite one among all must be these almond cookies. YUMS

9.Tombow mono Zero eraser 2.3mm
I have this obsessive habit towards erasers. This is one of the things that caught my eye and i had to get it! This eraser is my go to eraser when I want to make detail sketch or line cleanup. it's soo tiny it can erase the tiny corners. That's something i don't have to fret much.

Instagram  -  tumblr  - art store