What To Do When YOUR BRAIN Won't Let You Draw

We've all been there. You want to draw... but when you sit down, pencil in hand, your brain won't let you! So what can you do? Well... I don't have an answer, but maybe my tips can help you get started in taking control of your brain!

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MATERIALS USED:

iPad Pro
Procreate
Apple Pencil
Hands
Brain

[KittenApocalypseReal]

"i dont know why i have to force myself to do it in the first place when i know i WANT to do it"
That my friends, is the most adhd thing ive ever heard in my life
(Doesn't have to be an ADHD thing tho just a very common struggle within ADHD brains)

[verdantflo]

ive found that drawing on post-it notes does the trick! that way, it doesnt have to look good, you dont need to put in a lot of effort, and it doesnt even need to go in your sketchbook. if the doodle turns out alright, get another post-it note and work on the design - ease yourself into making a bigger or better drawing :]

[doodlebuglet]

As someone with ADHD with an ADHD brain that doesn’t want to do things, I appreciate this video

[CanIswearinmyhandle]

My problem is I can’t imagine what to draw anymore. When I was a kid I’d get an image in my head and try to put it on paper and it just doesn’t happen anymore. Now I just doodle and make sketches and never make proper finished pieces

[brdeee]

i think you've inadvertently hit on some serious adhd tips!! the feeling you're describing with 'i want to but i can't get myself to/my brain doesn't want to' is very very similar to executive dysfunction, which is a maaaajor adhd thing. and a lot of what you've said here is really similar to advice for that! brute forcing it works sometimes (and tbh i've found that with adhd i've really only started being able to brute force it now that i'm medicated, but obviously ymmv everyone's brain is weird and different) but you also touched on body doubling/parallel play with the whole streaming thing, sometimes it helps to just be in the presence of other people, even if you're not doing the same stuff. the only advice i've personality found helpful that you didn't cover here was ease of access! this might be where the split is for people with adhd vs people without, but i feel like it can be helpful for anyone. it's basically just the concept of taking any obstacles between you and what you want/need to do and reducing them as much as possible. for doing laundry, this moght look like skipping a hamper wnd putting dirty clothes straight into the washer, for keeping tidy it might mean realizing where you tend to accumulate trash and just putting a trash can there, and for art it might mean keeping multiple sketchbooks so you can have one on hand wherever you are, or incorporating a small doodle into your signature/dating papers/other mundane things just as a way to get your brain moving without needing to think about it. anyways, loved the video and i'm obsessed with the colors on those plant doodles, i just wanted to chime in with some added context/experience!!<3

[marsjac]

This is the exact experience I have with my ADHD, thanks to executive dysfunction. It effects most things for me, but art is a big one. I want to draw, but sometimes I just can't start! It really is comforting every time I see that an artist whose work I enjoy can relate to that experience!

I appreciate you sharing, and I might as well say that you're not alone in it! It can be so frustrating, but the times I can overcome it always feel nice.

Body doubling helps me! If someone is also around me working on something, it helps me start! Much love! 💜

[bleh]

Recently inspired by TheStarFishFace, I started sketching w/ highlighters. I like playing w/ the chunky and pointed tips to get either a silhouette or defined lines and then going over them w/ pen or liner. It’s been a lot of fun!

[vrqphiz]

yea. ive been feeling that. im actually a huge procrastinator and get stuck on a lot of things, more than drawing. this is just what i needed. it kinda goes beyond drawing, i think. not for everything, but being an adult has taught me that sometimes you gotta force yourself to do things. for some of us like me, it becomes more often than not to force things to work. but, at the end of the day, things work out, even if it's not the best way it could have gone, it works.

[sesamebark]

Sometimes using permanent or permanent-ish mediums to sketch with helps A LOT. I find that my sketching is more fluid when I use pens because I’m not too worried about the art looking GOOD. And ironically, when I can have that level of detachment and just let go, my art seems to turn out better. Colored pencils are fun to sketch with too!

[Kunabee]

I'm not a visual artist, but I am a writer. And I find a lot to relate to in this! Sometimes I have to just start putting words on a page. And also, I find that writing a few haikus about random topics usually kickstarts me a bit more - comfort art via words ;) Thanks for sharing this very extremely incredibly relatable video.

[XSaffie_LoveX]

That's so cool. I've been playing Strange Horticulture recently and you've just inspired me to draw some cool plants and mushrooms. Thank you.

[nathanhaimson]

Thank you Kasey!! I've had bad art block for over a year. It's been really frustrating. I have so many ideas, but like in many other areas of my life, haven't had the mental energy to follow through. I think it's also because I'm feeling very stagnant in my art. I basically only do portraits which take me to finish, so it seems like a giant task, and in the end, I still feel like it's not good enough because everything is so posed and stiff. I've been wanting to loosen up, doodle more, and experiment with different styles, but am always worried I'll hate it and get frustrated with myself. I guess it's my own self criticism that prevents me from picking up my pencil most of the time.

[lrose]

I’ve been feeling so low lately because of exactly this, but I was able to do some doodling whilst watching this video and that made me feel a bit better so thank you!!

[konfidencee]

I always love how transparent you are and love all your videos no matter what it is

[snowxprincess]

I try to go experience something new when I'm in this space. Do a new activity, go to an art gallery of museum, visit a new town! I get back, refreshed, with my brain's creative bank account filled up a little more. You can't withdraw creativity from an empty bank account ;)

[greasy_night_rat]

Pretty accurately describes the ADHD (specifically executive dysfunction) experience and mentions being hyper fixated on working on Sketch scouts?!
Very relatable!
For real brains suck! ✌❤🐀

[ladyofthewilds]

I sat and watched this with my 5 year old nephew, and the whole way through, all he said was, ' she's a really good artist!! Look at that! Isn't she really good!!'

I'm so happy I can sit and share your videos with him. Thank you ❤

[netherqueen]

One of the reasons I get like this is because U want to make something colorful with a lot to process and focus on, but I don’t want to draw it. Like I want to color, but not draw something to color in just want to not think and make pretty. So I get a coloring book and any supply I want to use and I don’t think about if color are cohesive or anything I just put pretty color in a spot on the page. Sometimes I’ll work on a page for a year or so and I find it really helps.

[dummysoup]

been struggling with this for years and its gotten so bad that i only make one finished piece every few years, my last one was two years ago in 2022 and all i have are have-finished sketches that i keep deleting

[joeblankenship]

I've been struggling with this a lot lately. Sitting down to draw and everything starts to look the same or I've somehow lost the ability to draw. It's gotten really hard to tap into the "drawing mojo" on command. It seems to come at inopportune times. Like, when it's late and I need to go to bed, I'll pick up a pencil and suddenly get motivated to draw.