thefilminator

Yup, I know the feeling. I'm sort of convinced that most artists go through that daily in some way or another. I think part of it is just a matter of getting into a drawing routine and having enough artistic short hands to fall back on to get into said routine, so that the process sort of becomes the goal of keeping motivated and eventually inspired. I don't know, I don't think any artist is ever satisfied with what they do if they're continuing to grow or are honest with themselves. But that's also what keeps it from being just an occupation or pressing buttons.

All I can say is that for me, whenever my mind mulls over things that keep me from drawing, I revert back to the Animation Hellhole, the time and place and people. Basically getting into the mindset that I think I had then, of just honing in on what's in front of me and knowing there are more creative and technical possibilities than I'll ever have time to grab ahold of. Getting wrapped up in both the process and the goal. Finding whatever or whenever got you inspired. I guess whatever is important you just can't brood over the cost for too long, which I know for me is what keeps me from putting the time and mental effort into whatever the next challenge is.

...The eternal lightbox that never burns out, the paper that's continually flipped, the glow from the animation test station always on, random discussions in the courtyard of the art department and cheap Chinese takeout just down the street waiting after class...

It's different for everybody, but for me that gets the gears moving and sort of blocks everything else out. There are a couple of moments from Cyril Pedrosa's "Portugal" that sort of capture that:

Anyhow man, I'll be around if you ever want to chat about it more.