5 Creative Ideas to Help You Decide What to Paint

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 I Want To Paint But I Don't Know What

    So you've finally got the time to paint, your supplies are out, and then...blank. You can't think of what to paint. This list will give you some tips for working out of this mental block that so many artists deal with. 


    1.  Just Get Started

Although this is harder said than done, it's still some of the best advice I can give. If you sit around and wonder what to paint, eventually time will pass you by and you won't even be in the mood to paint anymore. So, it's best to just get started. The first idea wont be good, the second probably won't be much better, but eventually (after you get the bad ideas out of the way) at least one good idea will come to you. And when it does, capitalize on it.



    2. Look Through Old Art

One way to get yourself over the mental block of not knowing what to paint is to take a look through old artwork that you have already finished. Looking back through your artwork can remind you what you are good at, as well as give you new ideas as to how you can improve. Start by scrolling through your Instagram, find the pieces you're most proud of, those can be a good start for an idea to paint.



    3. Skim through Social Media

While the last tip asked you to take a look through your own art, this one is asking you to see what others have created. From Pinterest to Instagram to Facebook, every social media has an "art community" (some better than others). And lucky for us, we can use this to our advantage. Just spend 5 minutes looking through your favorite social media and I can (almost) guarantee that you'll have an idea. 



    4. Keep a List of Cool Ideas

This tip is more preemptive rather than something you can do in a pinch. The overall concept is that whenever you get an idea for a piece of art, write it down. Whether that be in a journal, your sketchbook, or in your phone, the important part is to write it down. If you write your ideas down, then it's impossible to forget them.



    5. Paint What's in front of you 

If all else fails, you can always just paint what's in front of you. Paint the view from your window. Paint what's on your desk. Set up a still life from the objects in your room. Painting something from life takes a lot of the hard work off of your shoulders. Also, painting from life is a great way to sharpen your skills




Photo Credits:

Kai OberhäuserElena MozhviloSolen FeyissaGlenn Carstens-PetersEgor Myznik

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