When you have too many art ideas ✷ What to do when you are overwhelmed with ideas

[@Dino_Medici]

Whew. Sobering thoughts. Ur a beacon of hope for the creative spirit haha

[@Fruniper]

Im so glad you made this video! I feel like often I don't hear about idea overwhelm, while that's usually the thing that keeps me back from finally getting my art started. Usually I tend to write down every idea I have floating in my mind because sometimes when I finally write it down, I actually dont really care for the idea! So journaling in a way actually kinda helps?? But I love your plan of attack which is only allowing yourself a small amount of time to decide on a reference photo from your album, i'll definitely practice that too! Thank you again for validating this problem, nice video! :)

[@christinakentart]

Oh that is interesting. I haven't tried that before, but in general I journal a lot and find it very helpful for clearing my mind. Glad you have found something that works for you!

[@douglasriddle6447]

Really good topic to address. For me, I handle multiple ideas by........1. Sketchbook. My sketchbook is my idea book. I might take a photo with my phone, but I work out the idea in my sketchbook, where I might record the time and date of the photo so I can go back and see the original spark. But it is my sketchbook where things get worked out.......2. Usually I note in my sketchbook whether I think the painting with be large, med or small......3. This is where the size of the painting/idea comes in. The best way for me to get around idea overload is to have more than one piece going at a time. Always have 2-3 at one time. This helps in several ways. First, you get to act on ideas, even if it is just doing a small painting or study of an idea to relieve the pressure of the idea. Second, it allows you to work on something else when you are stuck on another painting. Often when stuck on painting 1, the answer to the problem will come while working on painting 2. And lastly, you really don't run into the "choosing the idea" stress because the painting becomes more about the painting than the idea. At least for me.

[@christinakentart]

These are great tips, thanks Doug! I use my sketchbook in a similar way as well. I also like your point about working on multiple paintings at once. In the past I've done one painting at a time, partially because I didn't have much space to have multiple large paintings at once. But now that I have a larger studio space, I'm going to try working on a few at the same time.

[@douglasriddle6447]

@@christinakentart Usually the largest piece I am working on is my "main" piece, with the other one or two filling in as smaller works or studies, but one of those might become the next large piece. I feel like that keeps me from losing an idea, but also keeps those idea from hijacking my thinking.....if that makes sense.

[@devernepersonal3636]

0:53. Yep, for 4 years i was at overwhelm. i wrote so many ideas out in word documents but could never feel like doing it because i did not know where to start and i kept getting more ideas. Then flash forward to now and i have the opposite problem that you already spoke of, yet still this same one with all those ideas waiting for me to use them. Yes creative block is the worst indeed, it is basically the artistic equivalent of being constipated. I guess it really is like your motif in your videos, you just have to start doing stuff. i guess doing stuff and feeling that it is valid. and doing it even if you arent really feeling it i guess. 7:09 thank you for validating this. This is my issue as well. My thought would be that if you have a lot of photos calling out to you, you can pick the best elements of each, from multiple subjects, and then pick the lighting from another and apply it over the whole thing and get something really unique. i imagine if i get myself back, i will do that. I truly mean what i am saying, but you are literally not only a full time artist, but on youtube you are a full time artistic therapist and i think that is really cool.

[@christinakentart]

You are not alone! Also I have never been called an artistic therapist haha. But I do hope that sharing my story and what I've learned can help others overcome their creative challenges! Also I like your idea of taking interesting elements from multiple references and combining them. It sounds really challenging, but will probably lead to some cool results!

[@devernepersonal3636]

@@christinakentart I think it indeed would be a challenge! Because, most likely you will have all those elements be in different lighting situations and different angles so you would have to end up doing a lot of work on converting them all into a single lighting situation. Well, to me you are indeed an Art Therapist because you are just being honest about your art journey and genuinely telling us we are not alone. I think you are helping plenty of people. I know that once I finally end up "saving myself" artistically, you will very much be a reason why I was able to.

[@annettemorgan4795]

Very good points! I’m absolutely terrible about procrastinating and/or not starting a painting. I’m never really sure why because I absolutely love to paint. I can’t decide, then I spend hours looking through ideas and then I’m out of time. And I’m so disappointed in myself for wasting another day. I’ve heard that “we, alone, are holding ourselves back”, but how do we get past our selves?? Lol Looking at ideas is merely another way to waste time. Or maybe it is actually just a block. So many ideas.. 🤯😵‍💫 It’s good to know I’m not alone though! Haha

[@phyllislindeboom2215]

My problem is ADD, then working 8-10 hours every day. Coming home exhausted and needed to feed my 3 dogs and hubby. I love to paint. I love to draw in pencil and ink. I love to take photography. I love to make rings out if wire. I have a box never opened with a wooden easel in it waiting to be put together. I also have an unopened box with an wooden tool to weave yarn on, homemade loom. Yes, I have had these two boxes at least 5 years now. I have paint, ink, liquid paint, paper pads, brushes, uarn, wool, the list goes on. Did I tell you that I have ADD? I also hoard! Yes, I do... so I sometimes draw during my 30 minute lunch breaks in my transit bus, or I finger paint. I also have pastel crayons and other newer forms of pastels, jewelry supplies, glitter, etc. So, yes I have ideas but am always overwhelmed, too tired, too cluttered (literally) and feel frustrated so I retreat to you tube to eat up my time and occupy/redirect my frustrations.

[@christinakentart]

Sorry to hear that, it does sound overwhelming! I hope you can find a way to create in peace ❤️

[@annettemorgan4795]

Omgosh!! You sound like me! I spend more time collecting craft items than I do actually working on them. It’s like I can’t stop myself, but I never make time to work on any of it and so many ideas. It keeps me awake at night. I read a tip somewhere that seem to help me for a while. And that is to remove everything off the table that does not have to do with my project so that I can focus easier. That seemed to work for a while, but now I just feel so overwhelmed with ideas that I can’t decide. (I can’t even name all the supplies I have for other exciting projects) It’s either that or artistic block. I guess I need a counselor. Lol. 😂

[@JB-ot9uk]

Exactly me 😢

[@christinakentart]

I feel you ❤️

[@MsMaRo87]

Wow, exactly! This is me and it’s the first time someone has put it into words. (I have 2 small kids and a full time job). Great advice!

[@christinakentart]

Glad you found it helpful! And I have so much respect for you, managing an art practice and two kids and a full-time job. That is so impressive!!

[@TheObSeRvErTheObSeRv]

Thats what your sktech book is for.!! Is to scribble your idea`s down for some sunny day in the futrue.!! And dont paint for the curator Paint for the CREATOR.!!

[@christinakentart]

So true!