Stressful upcoming deadlines and the threat of not finishing a piece, surprisingly do not make a good recipe for success. As I work on my third and final art show piece I’ve found myself unable to pick a pencil up over the last few days. Choosing instead to sit downstairs in my dining room (thanks to my parents for letting me turn our dining room into my own personal art studio) and starting down at the artwork. Willing myself to do something. 

My will, it turns out, can not pick up a pencil and draw for me. Bummer. 

I tried forcing my way through this block, remembering I heard somewhere that the best way out is through it. This may not apply to art, I think the piece would have turned out better if I had let my cat draw on it. 

After a few hours of forcing myself to draw and hating every line I put down. I finally just let myself walk away. 

This turned out to be the best way “through” and the very next day I had an itching to finish the piece. Maybe a bit too ambitious for only just feeling like picking up a pencil again in a very long time. 

I did not end up finishing it that night, but I got a lot further along in two hours than I had gotten in two days. 

This did not unfortunately move any deadlines. But hopefully I can power through tonight and get it done.