I suffer from some classic analysis paralysis. I need to find effective ways to simply sit down and make art. I struggle with the “blank page syndrome”, and often spend my time finding something TO do instead of just DOING something creative.
I know if I just made more art often-good, bad, mediocre-it would slowly improve my skills, and then I’d find it easier to dive in and create.
Here’s to some new habits in 2026
Blank Page Syndrome is so hard! I still do so many of my doodles for my
junk journals on scrap paper and then cut and paste instead of doodling
directly in sketchbook. It has some practical reasons too, but I don’t
want to mess up!
I’ve grown fond of tiny art on scraps of paper when I’ve feeling stuck. That way if I hate, I can shove it in the recycling bin and pretend it never happened. But if I do like it, then I made random art!
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What type of art do you like to do?
I hope you can find something that works for you!
I get it! I’ve had many times where I’ve been stuck in the blank page fear. I think we can find some tricks to help you come at it sideways and bypass that anxiety. Let’s make it happen!
I created a folder on my desktop called “Inspiration”. Anything that inspires me, i throw it in there. A logo, nature, a meme, a pet pic, a classic work of art, other people’s art, my own art. It doesnt matter. Storage is cheap. If it inspires me, for whatever reason, it goes in that folder. Video games inspire me all the time, screenshot and throw in the folder. I’ll be out and about and see a building, or brick pattern, or bumper sticker – I snap a pic and email it to myself, throw it in the folder. I’ll be reading a book, and there will be an included map or ornate page border or something – snap a pic, throw it in the folder. It is a repository of readily available random inspiring images that I find interesting, for one reason or another.
I also have the folder set to “show extra large icons” and sort by “date modified”. When I open that thing, I’m hit by a barrage of recent things that inspire me. Ideally, I’m already holding my pencil and sketchbook is out. Momentum is heading in the right direction. Just start.
So simple and effective! I leave stuff in my camera roll with the intent of finding it later, but that’s an abyss. Taking that extra step to put it in one place is something I’ll be considering!
This is a brilliant solution to such a classic problem! And you also have the added benefit of technically being “offline” when you’re in the folder (as opposed to a scroll on a site), meaning you’re much less likely to get distracted.
Bravo!
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