For the past year and more I have been happily playing with Poser. My husband got me Poser 5 for xmas and I have spent loads at Daz and other sites, plus downloaded so much my shelves are full of CDs. I have had so much fun, creating pictures and learning. But suddenly I feel as though something inside me has died. I look at other peoples pictures and just see my own as pathetic. I have never kidded myself that I was a real artist but I was satisfied that I was getting results which I liked - which is surely what counts. Perhaps I am just having a downer at the moment, I don't know. Does this happen to any of you? Can you get over it? I can surely not justify abandoning Poser - I have invested so much time and money and I was just beinging to get to grips with modelling my own props and stuff. This time last week I was so happily Poserfied. Now I feel kind of empty and stupid.

That happens a lot in Ballroom dancing. Hit a plateau, get depressed, then something or some one says something to trigger your interest. Just play, try new lighting, backgrounds. I've discarded way more than I've kept. Try mixing and matching coustumes. No one said your art has to be like everyone elses. Make it funny, serious, exotic. It's yours.

I think this happens with anything creative - I'm a musician - there have been times when I've been on A roll writing and recording around the clock, then there are times when nothing seems to come out. It just takes patience to wait for the muse to return. Sometimes you just need to refocus your energy on something else, something new for a while to stimulate your creative juices. Good luck : )

...or go back to the simplest ideas. I got tired of doing pics, and so moved on to modeling. Then I went back to pics again, but this time to their simplest. Face portraits. One light. Soft expressions and going for a specific look. And one thing to remember, you may not think your work is great compared to someone else, but someone thinks your work is wonderful. Pieces I've done that I considered throw away, and almost embarassed to post have gotten the highest critical acclaim. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and thats not always the artist themselves. Your "Love of a Lady" is rich in detail and the composition is wonderful. "William" is a great character study. "What is it?" is fun and simple, but well done in color and composition. "One too many" hits home. It reminds me of one of my aunts. Almost to a T. You've got real talent bringing out the best of a character, even Don and Judy (and thats saying a LOT for me). Have a cup of coffee at the local brewery, watch the people, and get some ideas. You got a lot talent, kiddo.

Try not to think of HAVING to use Poser to justify the money spent - that's guaranteed to pour quick-drying cement on your block. You are no doubt much better adjusted than me, but I've always been prone to getting enthusiastic about something, doing lots, getting frustrated and pulling back with a "never again", for a while - so far it has cleared after a break, completely switching off an ex-enthusiasm is usually more gradual.

Yup, yup! I thin this happens to everyone at some point. I find it
really helps to reconnect with outside interests for a while. Just
take a break for a little while, and then come back and do what
nickedshield said. It really works. Try something abstract too.
Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective, and Poser doodles
(take an object or figure, and play with the lighting until
something strikes you, then camera angle...or take out an old pz3
and view it from a different focal length, and focus on a different
aspect of the composition) are really good for that. >^_^

Ask yourself why you use Poser. Better yet, ask yourself why you create pictures. There must be something which sparks creativity in you, else why bother? So, my guess is the urge is still there, just dormant for whatever reason. Take a leaf out of another artist's book and try to execute an image in their style. Failing that, try to execute an image in your own style but using someone else's mindset. To use myself as an example, I often create pictures which are representations of an emotional state, rather than a concrete reality. I got very heavily into surrealism and I have tried my damnedest to use its basic principles for many of my images. Another idea is to ask someone to give you a design brief. I enjoy creating images to someone else's idea. It's an entertaining challenge to make an image which someone else has thought up, and to make it appealing to them. Or, create a picture which is at a complete tangent from your usual work. Don't do anything in your usual style or content. And if all that fails, switch off the computer and do something else. You'll get the creative urge back sooner or later.

One good suggestion, in one of the Painter newsgroups I think, was to go into a bookshop (or record shop, or video shop) and browse until a title hits you, then try coming up with a cover (never mind whether it fits the subject of the book - just go for the title).

I find that switching media often helps defeat artist block. If Poser isn't working for you, try another program like Bryce or Mojoworld or Zbrush. OR even gasp something in real life, like drawing or gardening or cooking. Even something as prosaic as finally cleaning out your closet or organising your collection of antique cheese labels can help.

It will come back :-) My suggestion based on experience: get back to the truest passions of your life. What is in your life that fires your passion since a long time? Are you a long time movie buff? Get back to cinema, read movies magazines or books. Did you always like museums? Go visit some for the pleasure of it, without the making of art in mind. Or buy that art book you always wanted to. Are you passionate of fabrics? Go get some new ones and make yourself or your daughter a new dress. Passionate of music? Get yourself some new cds and listen again to those old ones you did forget. Whatever is your ancient passion, the fire is still there for it burning under the ashes. wehn you revive it, also suddenly the ispiration for your work will come back, the moment you less expect it. Just don't LOOK for it - let it happen. Orio

Hi Elgyfu, That is kind of happening to me also right now. I can empathize. I am running out of ideas and sometimes feel that I am not putting enough heart and spirit into my renders. I find I miss doing abstract art and sometimes when I need a break from Poser I go back to that. Also, finding new items ( especially in the free sections) helps gives me ideas to do innovative pieces as well. Please hang tight...it will come alive in you again. Warm Regards, Nancy Deer With Horns (SophiaDeer)

Elgyfu: I don't know that I can offer any more excellent advise than what you've already been offered by everyone else. I'm still new to Poser and find I spend most of my time getting excited about new products, buying them, rearranging my runtimes to keep them under 10G and then being out of energy and time to do anything productive with the products! :) I also spend way to much time in the forums!! :) Pdxjims is right.....you have a real talent for character study and composition. I loved "What is it"! As a cat lover, I think you captured their curious nature beautifully and in a very humourous manner. "Night, Night" is such a very sweet image and I've always liked "Real Woman" because we don't see enough good compositions of average people in the gallery IMHO! You and I have been doing this for about the same amount of time (I bought myself Poser 5 for Xmas!) and yet, you have created a lot more than I have during that time.....and good quality stuff too. I take my inspiration from the real world....people I know.....or events that have occured. Sometimes things work.....sometimes they don't. Some ideas that I think are going to look great, don't turn out at all....so I toss them and move on. They never get posted (thus my skimmpy gallery...I've "tossed" more than I've posted!) Yes....what you're experiencing happens to everyone. Not just in art either....but in life in general. It's about being human, I guess :)

Ditto on all the "I know how you feel"s... When I was going to college the art professors used to tell us that when we got "artist's block" similar to "writers block" to go back and clean up the studio. That's always worked for me. Go over your old stuff, get rid of some old stuff, take inventory of your art supplies, keep some and toss some (you get the idea). Cleaning up the studio is like going over your life and trying to find why you started creating art in the first place. Why am I keeping this box of charcoal nubs and 15 giant markers (all dried out)? So you toss out the markers and keep the nubs! One important thing is to try and get back to basics like drawing, photography, watercolor things that you can get messy with. Draw shapes, take pictures of objects and I like to do watercolor landscapes. So all this basic stuff will somehow bring back that creative spark you might be missing. It won't happen overnight but eventually you'll sit back down at your computer and create one of the best works you've created.

elgfyu, What's missing is positive feedback. If you just sit and compare your stuff to the best of the best (and remember, a lot of people here are professional) you start hearing only that voice in your head saying, "my stuff is no good". I'm not NEARLY as good as even the average poserholic, but I found I get a LOT of good strokes by using poser for charity services. I make posters up (if they will pay for the printing) and have become widely known for Powerpoint presentations using .avi's and animgifs I do with Poser. I am currently doing a lot for our local symphony, such as projected powerpoints in the lobby to recognize and thank the symphony sponsors. I get a lot of compliments and each time I try to outdo the last one in technique and humor. Take some of your stuff around and I bet you get a lot of interest. Especially if you donate your work. Do it for true charities though....don't undercut any professional artists by giving it free to clients who can and should pay...if they want it, make them pay. Scarab<-currently teaching myself to animate the Mill cat

Scarab makes some good points there. It also ties in with my suggestion that you should try working to someone else's ideas for a while. If nothing else, it will teach you some discipline in your working methods. Have you thought about doing something similar to ziggie? He makes greeting cards, "Get Well" cards, I believe, for his local Children's Hospital. Sounds like an absolute goldmine for ideas to explore. You can go for full-on funny (my own choice, given the subject), sweet or dramatic. Or a combination. It's a win-win situation. Just look at ziggie's renders for ideas. Not every picture has to be a great work of art, but (IMO) you should at least be making your viewers react in some way, else why even bother? So, make 'em laugh/cry/think/angry/sad/whatever it takes. By the way - and this is a completely serious comment - have you considered making outright violent and/or pornographic images? They may be a million miles away from the things you usually create, but they may help to open the floodgates. My suggestion for these kinda images is (and this is just my opinion, for what it's worth), look for the emotion in either type of image. Make them human.

Yeah! Make a violent funny pornographic greeting card! Tee hee Scarab

It happens to everyone, I think...and with many programs. I used to love PSP and would stay up all night working on an image. Then all of a sudden....nothing...I didn't like what I tried and had no ideas for new things. That would last a few weeks and then one day I would get to thinking about a cool project and race to the puter to work it out. Taking classes often helped, too. Poser has been the same except I have more options with it. I seldom make images any more, but I love to model things in Poser. Adding Bryce has been a big help, too. Importing and adding Poser objects enhances what I do in Bryce. Look at all the challenges around and try one or 2 to get some ideas. Look at art work and calendars and children's books. Try to express some emotion or season or era. Ask a friend what you could make for them. Or find a group of friends and pick a topic to do together. I belong to a small group of Brycers that share ideas/topics every week. Another place to get inspired is in a Hallmark or card/gift store. Take a look at some Poser things you have never used and see if they might be fun. Just a few ideas from someone that has been there many times. Diane

Sure it happens! Every time I visit the gallery, in fact... there are true artists out there! I finally accepted the fact that I illustrate stories, I don't create art... Sigh. Go out and create for the fun of it, not to do the perfect render. Put your thoughts to pictures, music you hear, stories that float through your head. And take a break to smell the roses...

i think you should set a goal for yourself: tell yourself that you're going to (for example) come up with one nice, professional book cover every two weeks, or maybe you'll come up with a cool cd cover once per month, or decide that by xxxx date, you'll understand how to animate and come up with a neat short flick to post at www.triggerstreet.com (these are all just examples...) more or less, 3d is a hobby but it can be much more. if you want to peak your interest, give this hobby a sense of purpose. you'll find yourself engrossed before too long ;)

The outpouring of support from this community is extremely warming. I think, if anything, these responses can help in melting almost any block you may encounter. :) I, myself, have been there. It's why I stopped using Storm for a while and developed my own model. What I had to learn to do, though, is stop looking at other art and artists for comparison. Instead, learn to look at them to give your own muse a breather. Learn from them, guess their techniques in a sort of game. Maybe even borrow, with alterations of course, something that you've learned. Make their work your inspiration, not something to tell yourself that you're 'not good'. Advice I have to remind myself to follow, at times, but still. Your muse will find you again. No artist is ever truly satisfied. Those who are... are now celebrated (in their passing) for their timeless pieces. Think... Van Gogh. :) Peace.

Thank you all so much. I am almost crying reading this. You are so kind and it is so good to know that so many others have this problem too! I had actually done some posters for local charities and really enjoyed it - posing is better when you have a purpose! Possibly that is all I need. I will indeed take time out to just let inspiration hit me. I am also going to get stuck into Cinema 4D and do some more modelling for a break from Poser - I hope you guys are ready for some iffy freebies! Thank you again, I was so down last night and felt so empty. This morning I feel much more positive - I am so not giving up Poser, sure, I have a long way to go but perhaps that is a good thing - I always did like a challenge! Big hugs, Elgyfu

Whatever you do....someone wants/needs it...and no, you do not have a "long way to go"...If someone, somewhere can use what you do...just keep doing what you are doing and trying to make it better and better until someone says "how much would I have to pay you to do that for me..."...THEN you are a professional..... Just always keep it free to the ones who let you strut your stuff... Scarab

I'm just coming ou of a major block myself - so I know just how frustrating it can be! What I do when inspiration won't come is to concentrate on learning more about the software - fnding tutorials on aspects of it that confuse me (like lighting!) and working through them. That way, I'm investing the creative downtime in improving my techniques, so that when I'm back into creating, it's easier to get the effect I'm after. Alternatively, as someone else suggested above, try working with a different bit of software for a while - I alternate between bouts of Bryce and Poser. If all else fails, just put on some loud music, and illustrate the emotions it invokes! And whatever you do, remember that this is supposed to be enjoyable!

Jane, I wanted to add my two cents to your question, too. As all the other previous people alreaydy said this happens to everyone. I had this kind of hangover, too. And not only once. ;) It's a good idea to do something completely different. During the last six weeks I didn't touch Poser at all. Spent a lot of time with reading, biking and walking. I have dozens of pictures in my mind - old and new ones. And now I don't know where to start first. lol So don't worry about your creativity block. Just do something you like to do and the ideas will come back soon. Just wanted to let you know that you're not along with this issue. Everyone experiences it from time to time. All the best, Phil

It happens to me every six months or so. I think I'll never be any good, so I give up in disgust and concentrate on my writing for awhile. Until I get stuck there, and return to Poser. And wonder of wonders...I seem to get better with every little hiatus I take. Both with writing AND with Poser. So don't worry -- it will come back. And better than before!! Take care of yourself. hugs Kimberly

Attached Link: Renderosity Magazine Contests Are Go!

Several people have mentioned that one way to break a block is to give yourself a challenge....I just want to remind everyone that the Renderosity Magazine contest for the cover, and online prose/poetry contests are currently running. Even if you think you aren't good enough....especially if you think you're not good enough...it might be worth your while to check this opportunity out and join in. The very act of challenging yourself to do what your are scared of doing might shake loose a block or two. Excellent advice given by everyone...very thoughtful, and I personally appreciate it very much. I've been in the doldrums myself these days and it pays to remember we're not as alone in our anxieties as we think we are. Take care.

I've been really down lately as well due to what we think might be a thyroid condition. That and school have really eroded my time. I haven't felt too inspired lately either. So I haven't produced a lot lately. I think it goes in cycles. Hopefully, I do well on my Tox exam and the results of my TSH test come back soon.

I sure hope the results are good ones. When a person is stressed and under pressure, it can be awfully hard to be creative. I'll be thinking of you.