I'm sure some of us have encounted the dreaded 'artist's block'...very similar to writer's block. I've had 50 cool ass ideas to do, I've tried a few, none of them are turning out right so I scrap the idea too fast. I must be getting a tad impatient with myself. And now it's like I don't know what to do. The mind shall drudge on.............c'mon Ian think................ MD

Yeah, we all know that. I had a very creative time around christmas (because I feld sad as usual which is really inspiring) - and then, in spring - plain nothing. And now, it's like ten thousand ideas at the same time are in my head, and I'm creative like never before. Time will come for you, too! Take Care, Jimi

How about trying to create an image with a non-brycian feel. A film-noir detective scene or a toonstyle scene. Maybe try making something that bryce normally cant do, like having a ripped shiny metal floor project a caustic reflection effect on a wall. Trying to make something different from your usual scenes or style can often help spark some ideas an will also improve your skills at the same time. If you want to make a fun image you could try to make a scene where a group of mice try to get a bit of cheese from a place wich is difficult to reach. Make them use all kinds of small everyday objects to create some wacky contraption that gets them to the cheese.

Jimbo, I hope that doesn't mean your sad again.

ripped = rippeled

Not sad as in my darkest hours, just sad as normal. ;-) But it is true - sad times really turns my engine on, and times of despair and tears create images like "Inner solitude" and "Who am I?". It's part of my life, and (even if it sounds funny) I don't want to miss it. J.

Great advice so far...Rayraz you talked about something off the wall...I think a perfect example of that is Rochr's picture where he used the monkeys and protrayed them as being Corel pencil-necks...it was hilarous, not his usual stuff, and I haven't asked him, but I'm sure it sparked an idea or two here and there. I may have to think about that. Have a little FUN w/ Bryce instead of trying to make my next image better than my previous one...I think that's my biggest prob. MD

MD: One little trick I use sometimes, is to surf through Free Stuff, pick out an object that catches my eye, bring it into Bryce and texture it. Sometimes getting familiar with the object suggests a picture in my mind's eye of how to use it in an image. And sometimes not. But at the end I have a nicely textured object in my arsenal, ready to use when something does come to mind. And I'm trying to model in Bryce more until inspiration hits, a nice way to pass the time in a positive way. Maybe your Muse is just on vacation. I usually find my Muse is passed out drunk on the sofa (figuratively speaking).

Happens to all of us now and then! And even more frustrating, when you have those 50 ideas, (looking good when picturing them in the head), turning out crap in the creation. To always try to max the last post, which is usually the best one, is to ask for trouble. I personally think "Downtown" is my best piece, but theres no way in hell, i will produce something remotely that good soon. Eventually that will happen, but by accident! :) As Rayraz said, try creating something different from your usual stuff, go through some old WIPs, organize your models. Eventually the ideas will come. Wish i could help!

Rochr...that was good enough help right there. Very good advice, especially on not trying to make the next image better. Personally I consider Fisherman's Wharf my crown jewel and, not that I tried to make the Nautical one better, I wasn't nearly as excited to post that one as I was the pier. I'm gonna head to a softball park tonight and watch some ball, clear my head some, and hopefully come back w/ an idea soon. Well, head to the ballpark and wish I was playing...ugh this sitting around w/o a job or team isn't helping my creative mind either. At any rate, thanks for the comments so far! MD

Rochr...you know you also touched on another point I forgot to mention...about having 50 ideas and they all look like hell in the creation. That's exactly what happened to me today...couldn't have related to that anymore! :) I had 3 ideas go down the pooper today just because it didn't look right. I saved them as WIPs so I can pick them up later if I want...but just wanted to say that that feeling has been numerous lately. I had 3 masterpieces thought up...and then they looked like I used crayons for my idea. :) MD

Ive had a lot of pieces ending up that way recently. And the more you try, the worse it gets. Very irritating! :( Usually when this happens, its better to leave Bryce alone for a couple of days and do something else! A suggestion, Have you ever tried coming up with a good title for a pic, and create an image based on that title? Sometimes that might help.

That's what I just did, didn't touch Bryce for a couple of days, and for the same reason. And Rochr is right, don't try to max out your last one, otherwise you're asking for trouble :) My real job is writing, and when I have writer's block, I just go on writing something completely different from what I had in mind. Most of the times it works... Don't worry, you'll be up and running again soon. :) S.

I run into the funk-wall every now & then...there's no logic to it for me. Last couple of times I just started surfing and I ended up throwing some entries together for a contest or two. When the context is "semi there" sometimes the content comes easily. Other times my brain just explodes lands all over the keyboard & monitor, my hands "just do it". Oh, and about those 50? they'll never see the light of day.LOL Listen to some music, break on through to the other side, Jimi hendrix(redhouse), figaros wedding, pink cookies in a plastic bag, gettin crushed by a buildin. Good Luck ICM

SOmetimes I take a picture from a magazine usually architectural -- something simple and try and duplicate A part of it exactly sorry your stuck roch222

PS...... MadDog I have over 300 WIPS Under my Belt!!! - Talk about never being satisfied with a final result ... I might be the queen of unfinished renders,,,,,, roch222

How about a change of view? I have a modelling problem that needs to be solved in Bryce. Wanna give it a shot.....? If you're working for someone else maybe you'll think straighter.............

hahahahaha and i thought i was the onl;y one sufering from this! most of my WIPD are technical drawings! i started my RECHARGE work as per inspired by ROCHR's work and keep on doing the same thing on other areas.. you wann a know some of my wips that may never materialize? vie got the NEBUCHANNEZAR ship which is mostly terrrains.... darn thing kept on hanging my comp... A mecha inspired by the some japanese caroons 3 fantasy pics and one large scale aftermath scene of a war... but ive never even got to touch it... dang! Dont worry about it man... all the images i posted here started out as a little play, the REAL ones never got out... except for a very few... one day yuou'll get over it and then viola! another masterpiece! ps... your doing great... your pretty fast and im a bit frustrated that i cant work that fast... hehehehe to many things to do 1st...

Thanks for the great words Eyecon...always is good to hear that stuff. I think in some cases I work TOO fast, I noticed some of my upload dates on my images...I was doing this same thing back in Jan and Feb before I had to break to study for certifications (of which I didn't get any...failed 'em...which brings up a whole other bad story not for this thread.) Then I ended up taking 3 months off of Bryce b/c of my move...so I'm not gonna do that this time, I'm not moving anywhere or taking any cert tests...but I'm just in one of those funks. I have an idea stirring in my head but I'm not gonna think about it too much until I have a firm idea in when I'll start it. It's a more simple scene and goes off of some advice I was handed earlier in this thread about coming up with a word or name and making a picture TO that word or name. This should be interesting. I think in some cases I was trying to be overly detailed in the pictures, going for that big bang that rushes to the top of the Hot 20 list or something...and that's not a good thing to do. It's something my pier image did I think...it made the Hot 20 (my first in that list) and I got kinda a big head...the key is to stay level-headed because you never know, you'll be drawing with crayons and markers the next day. Now that I've taken a couple of steps forward with my last few images, it's time to take a step back and do something simpler but just as effective. Everyone has been so cool in this thread...I think it's one of those someone (maybe myself again in the future) will read when I hit this funk again. It's a good booster. MD

MadDog, Sometimes it's as simple as asking the right questions. remember Doug Adams made a big deal about some computer finding the answer to what is the meaning of life the univers and everything. It took the compter several years but it finally came up with the answer- "42". the computer scientists realized that the answer didn't seem to fit the question so they asked the computer what was the question to the answer. several years later the computer answered "what is 6 x 7?" So ... what was the question again?

Yeah, the "do something very different to what you have been trying" idea for beating artists block seems to work (or it has for me on occasion). The city pic with the column of soldeirs I was doing, for those that remember back a while, sort of hit a hole, so I've been doing a landscape style pic.... its been interesting so far. And as for the 50 ideas that turn to crap in the creation process... well, could my hard drive and recycle bin tell some stories on that little issue....

Since I've started playing with Bryce, my whole life has been artist's block. What helps me? I go to the park and take pictures, then try to render them. Walk around Boston and see if i can't draw that building. Or that one. I've been playing Unreal 2K3 and thinking, "Hmm... Wonder if I can't draw that map in Bryce..." Another fun thing to do is, when you're sitting in front of the computer, stumped - IM one of your friends and say, "Give me something to draw. first thing that comes to your head." Although, I almost ended this practice when a friend of mine said, "The Double Helix!", it's still an on-the-spot challenge that can lead to some interesting images. Hope these help.

Nice tips Nick...I like the idea of playing Unreal...I actually have that planned for when Half-Life 2 comes out, I'm probably gonna be out of Bryce for a month because I'll be immersed in my new virtual world...hehehe...I've seen previews and there are some AWESOME buildings and maps I want to do in Bryce...but gotta wait til the game comes out first. MD