What keeps you going and gets you started

**DazDaryl** · November 18th, 2007, 07:35 PM

What do you like to do whilst you paint / draw that keeps you returning to your projects?

I like to drink green tea and playstation when i need breaks.

**GoMegaX** · November 18th, 2007, 07:37 PM

I seem to be okay as long as I have somekind of background noise. Be it some music or a movie, etc. I also tend to take a lot of smoke breaks since no one I live with will allow me to smoke anywhere in the house. lol

**Jason Ross** · November 18th, 2007, 08:53 PM

red bull and good music has been working for me.

**DazDaryl** · November 18th, 2007, 09:18 PM

i used to smoke cigarettes, i find alot of artists take alot of stimulants. Like coffee and cigarettes to give themself a boost. or heavier..............

**smugbug** · November 18th, 2007, 11:38 PM

Music, movie in background - keeps me going as I work away. What helps in maintaining my energy levels is weight training.

So I've never needed more than a cup or two of coffee a day. The only thing that's heavy are the weights. Heh.

**LEEBLEEB** · November 19th, 2007, 12:05 AM

Chewing gum, music and tea.

**fionkell** · November 19th, 2007, 12:12 AM

Usually just some music, of varying genre, depending on mood. And I suppose that bottle of whiskey above my underwear drawer comes in handy from time to time...

**lavhoes** · November 19th, 2007, 01:17 AM

The usual, online radio stations via Winamp, maybe MST3k on in the background, a soda and the occasional cigarette.

The thought that some day working two completely unrelated post-undergrad jobs for 60+ hours a week for a barely-liveable wage that have nothing to do with my art career will some day pay off, that's what gets me drawing in the first place. I imagine most of us have big dreams, and it is only the biggest of dreams that get people moving. The thought of actually being able to draw 12-16 hours a day is enough to keep me drawing when I can, and someday I'll get there.

**S.C. Watson** · November 19th, 2007, 01:25 AM

music.

and fear.

mostly fear.

~Oreg.

**ArtZealot** · November 19th, 2007, 04:26 PM

Coffee + music (pink floyd, nine inch nails, led zeppelin)

Lately i seem to almost always have a guildwars thread minimized to get ideas from. their stuff is the bomb.

**Bhrazz** · November 20th, 2007, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by Oregano

music.

and fear.

mostly fear.

~Oreg.

Around the same here...+Cofee+Beer+Cigarets but mostly... Fear. The sooner I die, the better it is!

**TheGnoll** · November 20th, 2007, 04:20 AM

Originally Posted by DazDaryl

i used to smoke cigarettes, i find alot of artists take alot of stimulants. Like coffee and cigarettes to give themself a boost. or heavier..............

i wish cigs stimulated in me ANYTHING apart from coffing like an old truck.
During my sketching frenzies i always need music, cigarettes and cups of tea.

ciao

**Presence** · November 20th, 2007, 04:23 AM

I have been working on the same personal project, 5 hours a day, almost every day for the past seven years.

I think the concept of 'drive' begins to fade after a while, it is just something that 'has' to be done, no reason needed, only your dreams.

Inspiration though comes in every form, limiting what you take in and what might guide you is a dangerous game. One day it is a new soundtrack, a pod cast, an ad, a posting here at CA, fashion, weather, politics.

If I ever had a piece of Mr. Miyagi advice it would be "Be like sponge" You might find you never have to go looking for 'drive' again.

**Farvus** · November 20th, 2007, 06:05 AM

What gets me started ? When it's gloomy morning (kind of like this) and I'm in bed trying to start new day without success, I count slowly from 10 to 1. Usually on 3 I have enough energy and on 1 I don't think and just quickly get up. I guess it came from my early childhood factination with NASA Space shuttle take offs

.

I never tried it out on art though...hmmm.

**Alzorath** · November 20th, 2007, 07:13 AM

What I have while working: Background noise (music or people talking usually) and a snack or drink (lids are good inventions

)

What keeps me working: I'm not entirely sure - I just know that I want to do something I love rather than working through the day to day grind that so many people get stuck in (and I am enduring right now). I also want to be able to create all those crazy pictures in my head, and if I can survive off that I'm happy (and there's no short supply of those crazy pictures

)

**mambo** · November 20th, 2007, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Oregano

music.

and fear.

mostly fear.

~Oreg.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!

We're living parallel lives brother. I was going to come in a say one simple word.... espresso. But I've come to my senses with your pithy post and will now concede there are two things that get me started and keep me going...

espresso and fear

mambo