Having Ideas But No Motivation · Inktober Day #4

[@TheOtakuwish]

Thank you for talking about this issue! I've struggled with this exact thing for years and it's really pushed me away from creating artwork because i get so discouraged and unmotivated. I'm attempting Inktober for the first time this year to try and push myself to create even if it doesn't turn out exactly how i picture it in my head and not give up when it does happen.

[@mystlady85]

I have been having those issues for years. Anytime I see something I like I would would take a picture of it and store it for later. For me, it's about the timing and having a moment to spare to just pick up something to draw with. Kind seems like a sad thing so I will end this comment on a happy note. Minnie - I have been watching some of your videos for a while now. Things you talk about I can relate to a lot. And I really like your artwork and congratulations on having more than 200,000 subscribers. Peace, love & Rock on. 🤘😊💖

[@Laurenlove428]

every time I'm stressed or don't know where to start with my art, I come straight to your channel. It relaxes me and gives me motivation and confidence. You're doing an amazing job!❤️ You've helped me so much.

[@jessicabellingham8142]

I'm loving this series! I have an art history degree & work with an art collection so I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by art a lot but I rarely create - I have little to no inherent artistic skill, no training, and I used to get very frustrated when trying to transfer ideas to paper. But drawing/painting is something I've been trying to get into for years and I find the process (if not the end result) relaxing and soothing. You've inspired me to give Inktober a go, and your daily videos keep me invested. Plus your work is wonderful. Cheers!

[@MDCampbell]

My recent drawing for "Underwater" left me feeling a bit dry. It's fine and all, but there were issues I wish I had considered better and as you said, it tests your motivational attitude when the work isn't reflecting your skill. Your drawing here is stellar, but it's your commentary that really brings it all home. Thank you, Minnie! Cheers! :)

[@KaylyNyman]

Love the addition of graffiti in this; it gave this piece so much life!

[@TheKnickerbocker3]

Really loving the theme of this Inktober!

[@heyimsophiaiguess8835]

They look so great! I’m proud you’re so determined!

[@DesireeDelgado]

I reaaaaally like how you've done all the graffitis on the walls

[@samigirixp9880]

I've been wanting to for a long time and I think I'll actually start to build a sketchbook purely on buildings and landscapes since u really inspired me... Maybe it'll be a good way to get over my art block too 😤 looking forward to the rest of ur inktober videos!*^*

[@nyle1935]

omg that made me laugh so hard! "laying on the bed staring at the ceiling holding my inktober sketchbook in my hand" i can totally relate - love watching your videos whenever i work on my own october art 💖

[@KiarasStudio]

I love your theme for Inktober. It's refreshing from seeing a bunch of characters (who are all awesome). I really do adore how you draw buildings. ❤️

[@serafiiiine]

I just LOVE everything you do. You're my favourite youtube channel by far.

[@cesarrios1452]

Your voice is perfect for ASMR

[@LeLuvicks]

Loved the advice! I used to be super afraid of ruining a drawing; I would avoid inking it, then avoid coloring it... I had to really put myself together in order to lose this fear. Turns out, most things we perceive as mistakes on our piece are often overlooked by other viewers. My perfectionism was holding me back! We are always growing, always changing, and our art will never be absolutely perfect; in fact, I came to realize that once we are able to spot problems on our art we didn't see before, it means we have evolved as artists. It's a very freeing thought! And I'm also loving the theme! Do you have any advice for people who struggle with drawing houses or backgrounds in general?

[@Vickynger]

i also have a tip for when youre unsatisfied with your work (im really quite unhappy with my inktober drawings so far for example, but i wanna pull through anyways): put all your good artwork, the stuff youre really proud of up on your walls. that way when youre dissatisfied with what youre drawing right now you only have to look up to remind yourself that this is only temporary and there will be better drawings and that youre capable of producing good work.

[@dearkorina3157]

I have been watching your videos everyday. I can relate with this topic. I have a bunch of ideas but not the skills nor the time or energy currently. I'm a single mom with two jobs and I look forward to drawing but by the time the kids are asleep and I sit down to draw I'm usually so tired and have a headache that drawing just becomes a chore even though I love it so much.

[@brydenvargas9863]

I've had the worse case of art block since my mom died, but I'm hoping inktober will get me back into the habit of drawing every day. Your channel has been so inspiring to me.

[@minniesmall]

Sorry for your loss 💕💕

[@cronaman3196]

I found yesterday that when I sketch allot before I produce my idea I have in mind, I gain back motivation. yesterdays inktober I was going to follow the prompt. But as I was sketching to gain motivation I liked one of my sketches more than the idea I alredy had for inktober. After that my motivation kind of renewed it’s self and I changed my plans and turned the sketch into my inktober project. I hope people find this usefull

[@hoopofspiders6183]

Thanks for posting these daily videos this month! They're helping me get motivated each day to do my own.

[@AlucardRawks]

GOSH I love this series so much! Definitely my favourite inktober series happening right now!

[@asianita2858]

I love your inktober series! It's mine moste favourite one

[@christinelykke6473]

The Grafitti you added really took this one to the next level, it looks awesome. Everytime you post an inktober i think to myself "THAT one is my fave!" But you always seem to prove me wrong when you post a new one, haha.

[@bel.cascabel]

this houses series is so cozy

[@clairity660]

your buildings are so aesthetic woah

[@mymynaboojarjar]

If I could give two super big thumbs up, I would!!!!! Great inktober piece and super amazing message!

[@TheM0desta]

Absolutely loved the voiceover for this painting. The painting is dope too!

[@ineslopes6260]

this one is so far my favourite from inktober 2017. It reminds me a lot of a Portuguese building back at home in Lisbon! You're doing just great! Thanks for sharing.

[@minniesmall]

Ha brilliant! I was looking at buildings in Lisbon's old town for reference!

[@tylerr7036]

Your style is amazing! I love your art so much. I’d love to see one of your houses as a houseboat!

[@dianeo]

Thank you. My first week of Inktober has been a huge disappointment for me. I've been unhappy with my daily drawings and feeling pretty down on myself. I'll keep trying, though.

[@Ripvanw1nkl3]

Yayyy! I’m happy you challenged yourself and decided to make your theme houses. Super cool!

[@agustina0110]

Thanks for your tips! This morning I was struggling about the idea to do "something beatuful" and I could not draw anithing good. So I take a class on Skillshear (thanks to your link) I saw the Yuko Shimizu work and undertand that my feeling are commun wiht people who are beginning to venture into ink and drawing. The focus has to be enjoy the process of learning something.

[@MrATV-bg3vp]

One of the challenges I like about Inktober are the Visual prompts that are given. As an Illustrator, I believe it's more challenging to develop an IDEA first, then INK and RENDER. I've come under criticism that my INKING wasn't up to par, but I DON"T CARE!! I can ink with the best of them, my main purpose during INKTOBER is to develop IDEAS as well a CRAFT.

[@Min-ld3qk]

Wow! Your drawings are so amazing I love the way you draw buildings !! Well done for pressing on w/ inktober can't wait to see the rest!

[@havenkamps7931]

What do you do when you have a idea you are excited to draw but it won't turn out how you want it to no matter how many times you draw it and how much effort you put in?

[@EmyArt]

Haven Kamps +1 I have the same problem It's so frustrating and after about 3 drawings of the same thing I just stopped and saidi will try to redraw it in the future after more training but I don't know if that's procrastinating :-/

[@moonlightcabin9395]

Loved the finishing touches to portray the vandalism :D

[@absolutely_fabulous891]

These drawings are so beautiful, I could look at them for hours. :)

[@apurupamargapuri4192]

Minnie every day is a good day because of your videos

[@isabellasoares7041]

thank you! i am passing this situation these days and didnt know what to do

[@EmilyArts]

Yay for day 4!! We can do this! 😄

[@charlottebates9082]

This is my favourite so far

[@buumanvuong728]

Best.art.channel.EVERRRRRRRRRRRR

[@trevormoorman624]

What about the opposite? Having motivation without any ideas.

[@hoopofspiders6183]

I was in a creative slump for awhile, sometime back, it was really frustrating. Some random stuff that helped me: walking out in nature, going to a museum, looking at art on pinterest, looking at art in magazines, watching youtube videos of people creating art, reading about artists (their lives, their art process, etc.). Prompts can help-there's prompt lists on places like pinterest. And sometimes just trying can produce something, like with many things, the first step is the hardest. Usually once I start on something, once my creative juices are flowing in my brain, I start getting more ideas than I can keep up with. Also, if you're a writer at all (or even if you're not), having a journal where you write whatever, even free writing, can help. Just getting random thoughts out seems to let the mind relax a bit. And another thing that helps me is going back to basics, like super basics, like little kid basics. Color abstract scribbles with crayons, cut up a magazine and make a collage with a glue stick, finger paint, stuff like that. And if you end up trying something and don't like it, don't be too hard on yourself. I know for me that has just reinforced the feeling I can't make something and adds to the frustration. Just take it as a learning experience and move on. Not everything has to be a masterpiece to be valuable in some way. I hope this may have been helpful in some way and hope you're able to come up with something soon that you enjoy.

[@crime_ron]

If I'm motivated but don't have anything specific in mind to work on, I like to use something completely random to start me off. I'm a musician, and I'll just fire up GarageBand or sit at my piano and write a loop or short piece using the first five notes I sound with my eyes shut. With drawing, you could do something like the ink blot challenge (big blob of ink/paint on your paper, make it look like something) or just playing with line and colour. I find it really helpful to liberate myself from the expectation that I'll come out of this experience with a finished piece of work that I'll put out into the world.

[@Smac3race]

When I'm in that sort of slump, I like to look for challenges on Instagram or Pinterest, like inktober or something similar. They usually give you daily prompts to get you going, the whole daily deadline thing is a great motivator for me.

[@rennydanston6507]

Hoop Of Spiders This helped me a lot, thanks😊

[@lunayen]

Just look up a bunch of prompts online. There are tons of lists on Pinterest. Also, there is no rule that you need an "idea" to make a drawing. Just draw your parents, a stack of books, your dog, a bird, practice anatomy when you feel uninspired by things. It gives you an excuse to practice and you're still drawing daily.

[@r.shanmae]

After Inktober please please do a video on how you made your own sketch book!!

[@frognapsart]

The way the graffiti looks is amazing!

[@patsherard7645]

Loving this Vlogtober! Thank you Minnie!

[@osa_fedot]

Thank you,you motivate and inspire me every day to do my own inktober 🌸

[@TheThomasGallery]

Great video!!! I like the little window graffiti touch!!! Nice!!!

[@TheNativeHorses]

Well, you've already done way-way better than previous years! (That's more than what I have ever been able to do aha) I love that you're also giving advise! I would love for you to do something with Dementors (or something heavily inspired) I think with your style of art for inktober it will work amazingly!

[@jannahart]

These are amazing. Your inktobers are my favourite!!

[@jillthedesigner]

Thank you for the motivational speech, I really needed it! You're awesome!😊

[@rachelbrouwer1504]

This is awesome! You are such an inspiration 💗

[@rainy_daze_]

Can you talk about how you decide what to draw and how you choose colour schemes? Love your videos x

[@stephanybomba]

Lovely!! Maybe you can tell us more about the "how we can watercolor / watercolor with ink" when I look at your work it looks so dosed. Maybe you have some tips on that? Or recommended artist who explain using watercolor and shading with it more. I am a bit lost, right now I just do something but i would like to get more knowledge of what I am doing when watercoloring/ inking. X

[@irenaszlawski3550]

Fabulous artwork, I love how you have different theme for inktober. :-)

[@may-un6iy]

thanks for the amazing advice and i find it remarkable that you answer questions from your subscribers! speaking of that, i wanted to ask you how to deal with constantly comparing yourself with people you know? In my case, i have a really good friend that started to take art more seriously in the same time as me and seeing her make a giant progress while i'm struggling to even draw anything decent, demotivates me a lot. It came to a point that i completely gave up drawing which set me back a big step while my friend became even better (she won a big art award and got suggested to do a exhibition). I would be glad if you could give your advice and opinion about this topic!

[@LeLuvicks]

I used to struggle with this as well, comparing myself to my cousin, who is a year younger than me and used to practice a lot more than I did. But slow progress is still progress. Maybe you haven't really found your style or preferred media yet, and she's been a bit more lucky. You can always look at it in another way, maybe she has a lot to teach you! I'm currently studying art and it's hard not to compare my art to my friends', but it's better for everyone to just change tips and suggestions; this way, we all grow together, at our own pace

[@may-un6iy]

that's great advice thank you!

[@LeLuvicks]

No problem! Best wishes to you and your friend (:

[@may-un6iy]

thank youu:)

[@prettylame7287]

do a video on all things concerning color?

[@minniesmall]

I think that would be hard to demonstrate during inktober but I'll keep it in mind for the future

[@prettylame7287]

Minnie Small thank you so much, and yeah, i didn't really think about that until now, sorry

[@hyelimchoi_]

Can you do a video on how you made a sketchbook? 😉

[@FroggyLoveLove]

You are incredible! I adore your haunted houses ♥

[@djazzify]

Hey ! I recently came across your channel. Your art style is amazing and something similar to what I do . I love your videos and use of colour. You inspire me to paint again !

[@nisot8401]

Wow puting some "graffiti" on the building was such a good idea! It kind of made it more realistic. I really love your inktober videos keep it up! (but no pressure tho :D)

[@kanooklapook414]

I really love your work and style and the theme you're doing for this inktober is awesome. It'd be cool if you published all the drawings you do for this inktober into a book or maybe one of those box sets of plastic card prints?

[@EmyArt]

I too do this all the time I draw a sketch on cheap paper to avoid the pressure of making mistakes then I draw better if it's good drawing I just trace it on a light box

[@SarahFrickArt]

love the graffiti!

[@samigirixp9880]

Saw the title n that's just been me all day 😭

[@fuabkaaj]

Hello Minnie, how do you manage to make a good/dynamic composition in your drawings ?

[@littlegreendress6243]

just found you. you're art work is amazing.

[@PositivelyVika]

Glad I stayed up to watch this video! Love it ! Really awesome Inktober theme. Im curious, where do you get music for your videos?

[@carolinereichard149]

Love this one!

[@Leo__xiv]

beautiful as always

[@ellietopper8389]

Reminds me of The Destructors by Graham Green :) awesome art

[@khonrade98]

I really thought that smiley at the top was the ghost!!!

[@rhaynesmith1158]

where do you find building references... or do you just create them?

[@severemooncandy5032]

Rhayne Smith pintrest is a great source

[@Abraxinaa]

She says in one of her Videos that she really like to look at a random place with google street view :)

[@r.shanmae]

Google Maps, specifically South America and Japan. I suppose after a while all her references add up and then she is able to create new buildings of her own.

[@hoopofspiders6183]

dang, that's a cool idea! I must not have seen the video where she mentioned that, but I like that.

[@r.shanmae]

It was in her 30 Ways to Fill a Sketchbook series, the episode on buildings.

[@TheGlowstickOverdose]

I love this one so much!

[@AdenSava]

Love theme you've chosen. Also do have an inking tutorial ?

[@vorname4950]

Turned out really nice (love the grafitti)

[@moonlightcabin9395]

Question for another video: Are these based on houses around your neighbourhood? Do you often use what's physically around you as inspiration for artworks?

[@EriAikawadiary]

This is amazing💕 さすがミンニーさん💖✨

[@Moumitasartisticescape]

You inspire me to draw... Love and blessings from India ❤

[@anouklafont8194]

This looks stunning ! Are there any topics or drawings skills that you would mostly like to improve ? I personnally really want to get better at drawing buildings after watching your inktober videos !

[@cold1992]

You're not even using a ruler and it looks so nice ! I did a house too for Inktober and wanted to draw it without a ruler but i ended up using it anyway. Cause the windows looked terrible.. I think if I had spend more time on it it would have look better. But i guess i was pressured by the fact i was recording the process and i was scared the video will take a million year to watch lol And me drawing detailed tiny windows might not be very interesting. Anyway, nice video as usual, i can't wait to see your other inktober drawings :)

[@speedpaw8023]

I really want to buy real ink and try to draw with ink for the first time. I think that would be so much fun!

[@camdenhall478]

Could you talk about learning and patience? I am definitely a beginner in terms of painting and watercolor. In the past I have started to learn but then lost patience when I wasn't making progress (in my impatient eyes at the time) and gave up altogether

[@KiyoshiSounkyo]

THANK YOU! I needed this video, I am doing inktober too, though I am not very good at it. Could you give some tips on outlining sketches? Whenever I have to outline my hands always become very unsteady due to fear of messing it up.

[@TrueTeranell]

Hi Minnie! I love this Inktober series, it was an excellent idea to draw haunted houses. I wanted to ask, whether you use reference for your building drawings, or if everything comes straight out of your imagination? I often find it difficult to get the perspective right when not having a reference but I guess that's also a matter of practise...

[@evelynmaya3516]

I have always loved art, so much so I went on to take it as an a-level but my problem is I worry I'm not good enough and that I'm not a 'fine' artist. I know that if I sit down and think and take time to produce a piece I can achieve it but I always have the huge fear of it's going to go wrong so I rush it and then again my confidence is knocked because it isn't what I wanted it to be. Any advice on this? P.s you're so inspiring don't stop producing such beautiful art! X

[@aaronmalope4475]

Hello awesome video, could you please do a video on working with ink especially using brushes like you do on your inktober videos

[@jalopy2222]

Love it Minnie! This is my first Inktober, and I'm so excited, but I've been finding that I often bite off more than I can chew and then have to spend more time than I'd thought on finishing the drawing because it's too ambitious. I usually draw from observation and don't really know how to draw from my imagination. Any tips?

[@EilonyLunar]

Could you talk about what kind of refrences you use? Like for these haunted houses. Have you seen them or have a pictures? Love your videos :)

[@stutiarya]

You are making me love hot press papers now!! 😍😍

[@kennawalter5209]

where can you find images of the sort of architecture youre drawing? and where do you find inspiration to draw these buildings? ❤️

[@dinahgraham4964]

how do you deal with self criticism and finding inspiration?

[@sarahhall5282]

What sort of paper is your DIY sketchbook made of? It looks like it takes the ink really well.

[@mayalooney6780]

How do you prep pages that might bleed ink onto back pages? Thanks!

[@toastsdraws]

Not really a question to make a video about, but do you have a spotify station?? I love your music!!

[@morganpeerless7311]

I’ve always got ideas on what I want to draw but once it’s down on paper it doesn’t look good at all. How do you change it up to make it look a little better??

[@yasminmcdonald921]

What made you want to have the theme of haunted houses this inktober?

[@kayshaa24h]

I have a whole list of ideas but sometimes I just feel scared to try. It's the perfectionist in me, it's a bit all or nothing. But like you said, each try is a learning and growing experience. So do you follow the prompts for inktober from the inktober site or just do your own thing? Also could you please tell me what mic you use? Thanks!

[@mybrightcolours1]

I don't know if you've mentioned this but are these houses from imagination or reference or both? I'd love to hear you take a bit more about your design process for these paintings/drawings/inkings lol

[@Dollydollydoll]

How to take good pictures