I like to sketch and paint. But I always have the same issue. I will get inspired by something, currently, it's koi fish and glow in the dark paint, draw it out enthusiastically till it's ready for paint. Then I get stuck with trying to find that same inspiration to start painting. I have some sketches that are years old that I haven't finished. It's really bad when I'm trying something new. Because I'm worried about ruining my hard sketched work by doing a bad painting. How does one get past this? This is a pic of the most recent art I've done. But I'm wanting to fix the tail fin. It's an axolotl and a mermaid.
It might sound silly, but sometimes I do a paint by number or something similar. I did one recently for example of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. I found inspiration in the circular motion of the work and has given me a few ideas for other pieces. But whether it is looking at other work that inspires you or doing something like a paint by numbers to clear your mind, anything that offers a change up can spur creativity and imagination.
I think your work is lovely and shows talent. I admit I know little about graphic art. But I am a writer, and I do know that all art involves hard work. The crossover point from amateur to professional is the point where you realize that to produce anything ultimately worthwhile, you need to accept that, at some point in any work of art, inspiration must give way to self-discipline. That may sound boring, difficult and cumbersome, but actually, it's just you, the artist, answering the question, "How much do I really love my art?" If you know you love it a lot, you will decide to take on the harder less inspirational part of your art with the same enthusiasm with which you followed the original inspiration to do it. You will accept that the more difficult parts are part of the total job you took on when inspiration first seized your spirit. And, when you fully accept that, it will not be easy, but it will become easier.
You won't ruin anything in the long run by moving along and doing whatever you believe needs to be done. Make your new motto: "Finished is better than perfect." The only way you can improve the painting part is by doing it.
I hope you do that because your work is, I think, delightful and well worth it.
I've found it's something that can't be forced. Sometimes the inspiration will come in an instant, sometimes it evolves. But when I've worked on something from a contrived place, the product LOOKS contrived. I've found it's better to wait for just the right time. And it could be, that time won't come for that particular work. That happens, too.
