Overcoming Fear – The Big Blank Page
Now then, this really is a problem that many, if not all artists struggle with sometimes. The fear of the blank page 😰.
As I sit here, I have only feet away, some lovely watercolour paper that I haven’t yet touched. It sits, waiting for the right moment when I have the perfect idea, the right frame of mind and I am in a roll of good quality painting worthy of such fine paper. It’s been over a year. What a waste! 😔
When this happens, it may be as a result of not wanting to spoil a decent sheet of paper, or for those who haven’t been practising art for long, perhaps a concern that we don’t really know where to begin. For others, further along in their art practice, the fear may actually be a lack of inspiration. Regardless of the distance covered in our artistic journey, we ultimately fear our own inadequacy. What if it’s just no good?
But fear not! This paralysis can be overcome.
Here are some ways to reframe your thinking when this phenomenon occurs.
PONDER
- It’s just paper! I often tell students in my online and in-person art classes, if this doesn’t turn out the way you expect, you have only cost yourself a piece of paper. Even if that is a high quality paper, we are talking a matter of pennies. And, I don’t actually even count the time spent as that time has not been wasted! Even if that paper ends up in the bin (which I don’t recommend, but more of that later), you have still learned something and it is therefore time well spent. Which leads me on to my next point:
- Mistakes are your friend. This feels like a relatively new concept that children in school are now being taught, Growth Mindset. This works on the principle of learning from your mistakes and knowing that, if you are not “good” at something, you are just not good at it YET. This can be applied to any subject (apparently despite years of saying I am rubbish at Maths, this doesn’t need to be the case). The only way for us all to grow and learn is to make mistakes first.
- Reframe your expectations. So often, I think disappointment with our art comes from a certain expectation that we had at the beginning. We begin with an image in our minds and when that is not met, we feel like we’ve failed. When you have a blank page before you, try to think of it as an opportunity to experiment. That is not to say you don’t plan a painting, but when that fear comes in, you just need to get pencil (or brush to paper). So play first!
- Try several at once. To have a number of paintings or drawings on the go at one time can actually be a freeing experience. Not only does it allow one page to dry while you work on another, but if you are undertaking several at once, there is less pressure for perfection on one. You can then survey which elements worked and which didn’t. At first there may be good and bad points in each one, and that is ok.
ACT
Ok, here’s what I want you to do just now.
- Grab several pieces of paper, not top drawer quality, just whatever you can.
- Get a few pencils (coloured and graphite) and a biro pen. Set a timer for 3 minutes. Begin on one page drawing an object in front of you, perhaps a cup or a book with a light pencil. Just draw as much as you can in the time given.
- When the timer goes off, take another sheet of paper and use a dark pencil (4B or something). Repeat the same drawing with a new 3 minute time slot.
- Then do the same working with the coloured pencils and then pen.
These are not perfect drawings we are aiming for, more a practice in loosening up. Think of it as practicing your scales on the piano. What is happening inside? You are honing your observation skills and removing the fear of perfection.
After that exercise, you can have a go drawing the same object with a medium of your choice.
Try this each day, even just one short drawing. Your inner critic will thank you for it.
And have fun!!