This is more for the less talented artists like me, but feel free to contribute even if you aren't.
So, when you are having doutes about your artistic abilities or having a mental block, what do you do for inspiration? To clear the block, give you new ideas, or bring back your courage to put pencil to paper... or mouse to pad... or stylus to tablet.

The easiest most accessible i find is our own 2Draw showcase! I'm looking at it now even.
Just take a stroll throught that magnificent gallery and my brain is running again.
Or i get outside for some fresh air, take a walk around, really clears the mind.
What do you do?

I do some of the things you do. I also read books, and listen to music, usually classical. If that don't help , slamming my head against the wall is the last resort, don't really help but I get my frustration out anyway. :}

About 2 weeks ago I nearly went nuts and depressed and stuff because all of a sudden everything I drew just looked stupid, and I actually /dreaded/ art at school because it seemed I couldn't paint/draw anymore. But about a week later everything just came flooding back and it was alright...

I hit myself in the head several times with my illustration annual and yell out "Think, mother fucker, think!"
Sometimes it doesn't work.

take a walk

Maybe if you got someone else to do it for you, Clox?

There's a lot that goes on in my mind, and since I have so much time on my hands lol I even try to recall what I dreamt last night and see if I'd be able to "draw" it out and tell people what it was about. Sometimes it's not that easy to describe in words. Other things: looking at pictures in books, magazines, newspapers, watching tv or looking outside, I suppose. Since I'm not such a still-life art person and I'm very picky with 'what' to draw, I just sit back, and relax for bit and close my eyes while listening to music. I let the ideas come to me even though it may take days and weeks. I don't like drawing things that are in front of me so yeah. I struggle when it comes to motivating myself to draw. *sigh* Oh well. "Looking at the showcase" is a REALLLLLLY good idea. *two thumbs ups*

Music, sex, stuff like that.....I don't look at the showcase much because it makes me feel very small and weak.

I generally look at things I really like. Like great art for instance. Different varieties. Those sometimes help. Maybe reading something gives you a visual in your head, and seeing if you can get that visual on paper. Maybe something like that. Music can help too. Something deep, paint a picture in your head. Things that get you thinking. Or maybe.. drink a lot of energy drinks. Get totally hyped, spin in circles, get dizzy, and draw what you see. Could be interesting. Have fun with that!

I know just how you feel Poly. I usualy start listening to deep-heavy meatal-evil music and draw really creepy looking monsters when I feel that way. It really calms me down and gets the stuff back into me.

I snort some blow and fuck hookers. Then I use the patterns in the bloodstained sheets to think of something awesome. Kind of like a Rorschach test.

Good idea alex. :}

I get inspired every time I look in the mirror. It's like my own personal showcase!

I wait two months until I can think of more crap to post on the boards. :|