What to Do When You feel Like Giving Up [51]
At one time or another, most of us have considered giving up making our art. In this episode, we share our own experiences and discuss why this feeling arises. And hopefully encourage you with some new ways to get out of this state.

Perhaps we have ambitions that exceed our current skill level and this leads to disappointment with the results. Sometimes, we are not creating what we really want to create, leading to boredom and burn-out.
It is also common for people to become discouraged when they lack a support system and even when they have a spouse or partner who actively discourages their art-making. The conversation leads us to conclude that all these issues can be addressed – we can find support elsewhere, we can improve our skills through education and practice, and we can start to make art that we really love instead of just doing the same old thing.
This week we also tackle the topic of returning after a break and offer our different perspectives on how to get back into your work after the holidays.
Here is one way I use to do a quick ‘check-in’ with work in progress; small thumbnails of everything currently on the go. It helps me see any connections between the work, drawing them quickly helps me re-acquaint myself with them and decide what to do next.

Mentioned:
Find out about my Connected Artist Club and join the interest list HERE
Link to louise’s Flickr album of self portraits https://www.flickr.com/photos/63799511@N05/albums/72157663186899771
Link to studio tidy post How to Kon Mari Your Studio
Nour the artist/Ocado delivery driver! NourKarim-Eddin

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Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Ladies…this has been the BEST so far! I love both of your discussions on this topic. Alice our lives are weirdly identical, Art School/graphic desiger/mom. I gave up at the exact same time you did, and realized recently that I was “depressed” (the definition you used) for so long until I started painting 10 years ago. Thank you both for the creation of this podcast!
Thanks Suzanne – there are so many who put things on hold… it’s always nice to hear which episodes you like 🙂