Setbacks

A drawing-related injury could be carpal tunnel, wrist pain, tennis elbow, or any other type of injury that results from drawing too much, or in an unhealthy way. These are shockingly common amongst artists! Unfortunately I’ve experienced some strain from drawing in the past, but managed to overcome it by making changes to my workflow, mindset, and routine. The most important thing is to slow down, take breaks, and give yourself time to rest and recover. This is easier said than done – artists often panic that they won’t be able to keep up with their work or learning process. However, you must get rest, because a drawing-related injury is a sign that you are overworking yourself! Take a moment to realize that whatever urgent task you are doing is completely irrelevant compared to the long-term use of your arm. It’s important to prioritize your health – and if you do that, you will most likely recover and be able to draw without pain!

Here are some things that I found helpful in dealing with my injury:

• Mindset: The main thing that’s helped me is to become aware of thought patterns that intensify stress. Stress would cause me to squeeze my pen too hard, have a bad posture and ignore breaks – all of which exacerbated the problem. Over time, I’ve learned to realize when this is happening and take better care of myself when it does.
• Sleeping position: So much healing happens at night, during your sleep! If your arm is hurting, don’t sleep on it at night. This can obstruct bloodflow to the injured area. Also, make sure you don’t bend your wrist into a sharp angle while you sleep. A wrist brace can help with that!
• Frequent breaks: Take breaks regularly! Workrave can help with that. It’s a program that forces you to take frequent micro-breaks and also longer breaks throughout the day.
• Stretches: Be sure to stretch your arm, shoulders and neck throughout your workday. You’re often carrying way more tension in your body than you realize!
• Workspace: Try to configure your workspace ergonomically. Things like a good chair and desk, the height of your screen, and the angle of the screen have a huge impact on how much strain you’re putting on yourself while working.
• Routine & structure: Keep a steady daily routine where you plan your drawing hours ahead of time. This will prevent you from getting stuck in an activity that causes strain. If you can, try to include exercise in the routine, as well as rest and calming activities. Implementing a healthier routine in my life has been the main solution to being more productive! For more information on what I consider to be a healthy routine for artists, check out my Patreon tutorial about creating an artistic routine.

Most importantly: speak to a doctor or physical therapist if you’re feeling pain, rather than power through it. An expert can identify the problem and give specific solutions that will help you! Remember that all bodies are different and what works for me might not work for you, so don’t hesitate to consult a professional for help if you’re struggling with a drawing-related injury.

Artblock is really common and could be caused by any range of things, like feeling burned out, running out of ideas, or negative self-talk. If you’re feeling blocked, it’s important to try and figure out the cause, because the solutions are different for each one!

• Burnout: If you’re feeling burned out, you have to slow down and recover from that before you can back into the flow of drawing. Shift your focus to your basic needs and get as much rest as you can. Do activities that inspire and energize you – even if they are not art-related. If you have the energy to draw, stick to things that come easily to you and that feel comfortable. When you recover from the burnout, your creative energy and ideas will probably return too!
• Negative self-talk: If you are continually bashing yourself and feeling disappointed in your art, you are creating a toxic mindset that will make you feel scared to create. Your art will suffer as a result, which in turn will make you feel worse about what you create – trapping you in a negative cycle. You have to break the cycle by focusing on attainable goals, getting back to your comfort zone, and being more compassionate towards yourself. Check out Loish’s Digital Art School for free worksheets that will help you develop a healther attitude towards your own art!
• Boredom / feeling stuck: Feeling stuck often happens when you have an intense focus on a specific aspect of your workflow that isn’t improving or evolving. Focusing on it is keeping you from getting fresh perspective, or growing in other areas of your art. For situations like these, trying a new medium can be really inspiring, as well as drawing new subject matter. Go outside of your comfort zone and you’ll find something that sparks your creativity!

My main advice is to be kind and patient towards yourself if you are blocked! Many artists have a natural urge to be more strict towards themselves because they think this will boost their growth. This usually doesn’t work, and can even make the problem worse. You will experience way more artistic growth if you’re enjoying what you do, so make that a priority!