I usually set deadlines and goals for when I would have stuff done but that makes more sense for projects that take several days or weeks to do, rather than arts.

It's not really easy to set deadlines when you're doing it out of your own free will. :p

music , and free time are 2 big motivations to draw :3
also , when you start drawing when you actually dont feel like to it mostly turns out that you'll enjoy it anyway after a few minutes

Well, that's to help out with the inspiration thing, what if I dunn have the motivation to even try? o:

then i order you :3.. you cant refuse , or else am gonna draw you naked >;3

Hmm.. ^.~

But. D:
That's not fair. ;~;

life isnt fair ;3

u.u

Stop fucking around, squirrel, and just draw things, lots of THINGS! :D

What kind of things? This thing? Or.. no.. you can't possibly mean.. THAT thing?

hooho oh oh!

DD:

What about Santa clause?

wha? o:

I just make myself do what needs to be done.

It's not always that easy. :<

I know. It may sound weird but most of the time I don't really know how I motivate myself to do things. Though if cleaning needs to be done I usually put music on.

Have you tried doing other things, as in another type of art like photography, collages, writing, etc? Drawing alone doesn't always motivate me, but looking around and studying other medias is helping me build my confidence in drawing.
For example, writing an idea out first instead of drawing it out or focus on areas of your art that you want to improve. If you have trouble with indoor settings, check out DIY and HGTV for some great ideas, but also listen and watch the details very carefully. How and why they choose the patterns and lighting, the accessories used, etc.

Well.. I can take good photos, but I'd have to borrow my brothers camera to do that. I don't like to write. And I find collages kinda boring to do, so that kinda leaves just drawing/sketching/painting..

If I'm out of the house for whatever reason, I always have my sketchbook with me. So sometimes I go to the park and practice my life-drawing. Like, drawing everything from plants to trees to animals to buildings and structures.
So, it helps if I'm out of the house doing it rather then being at home in my art corner. If only I could either bring that calming, peaceful, and wanting to do things, atmosphere, in here so I can get things done, or bring my pc with me outside.

But, like I mentioned.. It's not like I'm not drawing anything. It's just that I'll try to draw something here. (in fact, I have a couple sketches I've been doodling up in the past week or two that I was gonna post some time tomorrow.) And I will have fun with it, but I work kinda slow. So, if I ever have to stop for more then, lets say, an hour, I'll most likely be out of the mood and not want to work on it again. It's hard for me to pick things back up after I've already put them down already. It kinda feels like it's an 'Oh... This again?' kinda attitude.

There's also this... When I go to doodle or draw something, I usually just want to draw what I feel like drawing. That usually is most of the time something dumb for myself (unless I get sucked into it, which does happen, ) and rarely is doodles for people of their characters. It's also almost never any of the requests I've gotten in the past year or so...

How about sculpting? Any random objects or junk lying around that you can combine in interesting ways?
AND, since you mentioned you can paint and feel calm when outside, here are some more suggestions. You could try painting or drawing on something different: a different type of material than you normally use or painting on leaves/plastic bottles/etc instead of on normal paper. Even using the same process pattern over and over again [as in "draw in sketchbook, scan in computer, edit in program, or another regularly used process] can get dull. So simply mixing up the way you do it somehow, if you can, may make things more fun.
...This actually reminded me that driveway chalk used to be really fun, but it's getting too cold for that now...oh well...

Also, I commented because I am going through something similar. Though I've always been slowish with my personal projects, my drawing hasn't ever stop completely; it just may not happen daily. My main problem is getting to a point where I would deem something as finished, and thus showable. When outside, I don't really want to be in a work mode; I want to just enjoy the environment since I'm so relaxed and comfortable there. However, when inside, my current workspace drains me of motivation and wanting to draw. Even editing sketches that I was previously excited about here makes me lose interest, especially since it took me so long to get to the point of even focusing on that one thing intensely. But, once I stop, in either case, it's still really really hard to come back and work on the piece again.
Since I've confronted many of my internal limitations, once I get the external ones under control, I think I should be fine and able to produce/post more work more often. We shall see though. *shrug*

Why not do both? Doing something you'd like blended with something including others' characters?
Are your requests really that strict and leave you no bending room?

I have similar motivation problems but it's usually a by-product of depression rearing it's ugly head.

For what it's worth, I'd urge you to stop doing requests and start taking commissions. You'd be getting something for your time and effort, which could be motivating in itself (or at least replenish your art supplies). You're definitely skilled enough that people would (and should) pay for the work they want done.

You owe me $5 for this advise. I accept PayPal and McDonald's gift cards. ;>

No. D:
No monies unless they feel like they want to tip. :<

even i have days that i dont feel like doing art or play guitar. its more of the sort of mood youre in. its like that with me

Do you do anything to help get yourself out of that mood? o:

sometimes i just do it. yesterday i was trying to do a bday pic but it was going wrong and i gave up. today i gave it a go and manage to get it done

yay

make it a habit to work every day. set a time, and no matter what you are doing, you drop everything and then draw for the time.

I do work every day. Or, at least, I try to.

I can't really set a time either. My day to day life isn't that organized. x3
Cause, I know If I try to set a time for it, I know that'll get interrupted by something else I gotta do.

Okay. If you won't charge, I sincerely hope those you do requests for are sincerely grateful for your effort and thoughtfulness. If they aren't, I'll seek them out and give them the evil eye until they fel uncomfortable.

Don't do that. D:
It's completely optional. It shouldn't be required. o:

I'm not saying they have to pay, tip, or pass anything of monetary value your way so long as they're appreciative. Anyone who isn't deserves to have a hole stared through them. Trust me, it's what birds do best. ;>

hehe. Well, thanks. :p

Sometimes I take a nap until the feeling of wanting to do something passes.

Sometimes you've just got to push yourself into doing something, even if it hurts at first. Of course, then the problem is that you suddenly get selective amnesia so you'll forget what you intend to do only for you to remember and start getting motivated when you can't work on the thing.

Peter_Drucker wrote:We know nothing about motivation. All we can do is write books about it.

um well
inspiration just doesn't "come", neither does motivation...
but I just sort of force myself to draw every single day
with work + school it's tough but way worth it. it's a way to feel relief and since I'm way introverted that I don't talk about my "feelings" or any crap, it's very therapeutic to me.


everyone's different, though... I have a harder time motivating myself to get up and cook dinner. >_>
maybe you need a new muse.