Fighting isolation blues?
Use this downtime to concentrate and channel your energy into creative drawing sessions.
Check out our guide on how to do it right!

From passive boredom to creative drawings
From passive boredom to creative drawings

When I ask my friends how things going with
the confinement due to Covid-19, they told me:

“Home is boring. I’m doing nothing! Help!” 

And Yes, I agree. It is!
However, even though we are locked physically, our mind is free.

This is why I believe there are 2 kinds of boredom for artists and designers:

  • The “Passive Boredom”
    when you watch movies and scroll social media all day.
  • The “Creative Boredom”
    when imagination activates anytime, anywhere!

Are you addicted to screens and Netflix binging?

scrolling anytime
Are you addicted to screens?

First of all, I invite you to count the number of screens you have at home:

  • Television, Tablets, Phones…

What we mainly spend our time is watching screens:

  • Netflix, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Snap Chat…

We are so surrounded by screens.

We cant deny screen entertainment is fantastic.
But how come we have been so much occupied watching movies, at the end of the day, we still describe our days as boring?
Why don’t we have any feeling of Plenitude or Satisfaction?

To be fully happy as an artist or a designer,
instead of being passive spectators from screens,
you need to become active creators using your pen.


Are you losing from the Opportunity Cost?

wall e watching screens all time
Are you missing out on something important?

We do meaningless actions that take over meaningful ones. 

We scroll feeds and zap content instead of drawing, writing, and thinking about new projects…

See also  Do not skip your perspective lines

Television and Social media are like “Sugar”.
They give an instant boost of satisfaction.
But what are the long-term benefits?

We all have 24 hours a day.
Try to see how you spend your time daily, and how many hours it represents per year. This time could be precious for practicing new creative skills.

I shared previously how you can save 5 months per year for your own projects.

Be aware of how “The Opportunity cost” impact your life, so you can start making positive change :).


Activate the “Creative boredom”

kid drawing with creativity and colour pencils
Creative boredom to discover your passion

In the ’90s,
we didn’t rely on so many screens to entertain ourselves. 

In France, television had 6 channels only,
and we didn’t have programs “à la carte” like Netflix.
It happened we get bored too. But it is ok. 

Child imagination travel randomly.
We would sing, play toys making stories, play marbles, tapping stuff to make music, whistle, or even cooking at home. And of course, drawing. :)

We didn’t found refuge on screens to compensate.
As well we say it is good to keep counting without using calculator, so you keep your brain alert. It is the same for imagination.


There is no minimum age to start to be creative!

At this time I call Creative boredom, you may find out a new Passion for yours.
There is no age to start.

Kids are fearless to try new things. Adults do fear.
So remember. No one is judging you.

No one will ever say anything about trying something new. Give yourself a chance to better discover a new passion no matter your age. How about inviting your family to participate in these playful activities!

See also  Fast Track your Drawing Abilities - Embrace Iterative Sketching!

Plant and Nurture your Creative Seed

planting seed creativity
You never know how tall your seed will grow. Nurture your passion.

This creative boredom was for me the seed of being a designer years later.
I didn’t know it yet, but I would enroll in a Design school once becoming an adult.

Before going to sleep, try to fulfill your day with something you will remember years later or feel proud to tell your kids, grandkids… 

Make your boredom become a source of creativity. 

Build something for yourself.
Learn a new skill. 

No matter what activity you choose during this isolation time, fall asleep with the feeling that today, you are a little better version of yesterday by trying something new. 

Think positive!
Isolation is the best time to discover and nurture your creativity!
Practice drawing like meditation. Give yourself a whole afternoon for drawing.

(Remember to put your phone in airplane mode, or better, drop it in another room. Your brain will forget about it. And you will feel a sensation of peace. 

Take care.
Cheers,
Chou-Tac


PS: A positive message from Aaron

Aaron level up his sketching design level during corona crisis confinement

A trick to break the rule:
Draw what you see on the screen while watching a movie or a cartoon. 

Here is the link from when I was bored on a long flight
and decided to start drawing the movie: The Grand Budapest Hotel.

in-the-plane-to-singapore-thebudapesthotel-theDesignSketchbook22-1
Drawing The Grand Budapest Hotel – watching the movie in a long flight
in-the-plane-to-singapore-thebudapesthotel-theDesignSketchbook2_thumb.jpg
Drawing The Grand Budapest Hotel – watching the movie on a long flight

3 comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello! I'm Chou-Tac, a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your dream goal as a student or professional designer.

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

Trending

Last comments

  • Samuel Adeniji: “Lagos, Nigeria. It is important for me to learn how to sketch to visually explore and communicate ideasJul 14, 06:26
  • Sajid Munir: “Live in the UAE, am 50 years old. Want to learn so I can be busy in my lonely time.…Jul 13, 12:28
  • Jarul Thakur: “I’m an international student from India, currently in my first year studying interior design in Malaysia. I truly believe that…Jul 12, 00:17
  • BSwin: “This post is super helpful! The Random Product Technique sounds like a fun way to spark creativity and break through…Jul 11, 02:36
  • Mark Thompson: “I m 59 South African I love drawing but have bad habits. I want to start from scratch as though…Jul 9, 17:04
  • Mark Thompson: “I m 59 I love drawing but have bad habits. I want to start from scratch as though I am…Jul 9, 17:03
  • Sam Grosjean: “Pensacola, FL 22 years old I want to bring my ideas and imagination to paper. I did a Google search.Jul 8, 19:46
  • Jo: “Hi, Australia, 50, Im looking for a new hobby, I remember loving to draw when I was younger So hoping…Jul 8, 17:35
  • Spencer: “Austin, TX 50 yrs old I want a way to bring my creations to life I found your blog searching…Jul 8, 10:44
  • Chou-Tac: “I just replied in your email Dion. :)Jul 6, 17:02
  • Dion Lee Uren: “My days are short, I have bowl cancer & before I part this earth always loved to draw muscle cars…Jul 6, 16:28
  • Rashon Richardson: “1 – Florida. 19. 2 – currently studying to be an electrical engineer but I have an interest for designing…Jul 6, 02:07
  • Chou-Tac: “My pleasure Linda. I do have some content about Urban sketching. Hope it helps! Feel free to leave me a…Jul 5, 21:37
  • Adam: “I’m 40 y.o. from Czech. I need to improve to visualize my sketches. I dicover this from Google.Jul 5, 13:06
  • Adam: “I’m 40 y.o. from Czech. I need to able to visualize my idea. I believe it can improve my communication…Jul 5, 13:04
  • Candy-Chan: “I’m from Chicago and I’m 20. I want to learn to sketch to improve my art skills and be more…Jul 5, 09:00
  • Linda Cadeau: “I am a senior and started drawing about 5 years ago. Just want to learn how to draw objects that…Jul 4, 22:09
  • Marc Benitez: “USA 67 1. I have been drawing and scribbling since I was a child. I’m doing some blackletter calligraphy and…Jul 4, 11:27
  • Go: “hi, i want to learn how to draw, sketch, color reflections on glass cups, carafes, windows, doors, buildings, etc problems…Jul 2, 15:45
  • Gurupreet: “Hi, I come from India and I am 20 years old. I am an freelance artist and I use to…Jun 30, 22:14
  • Jatin Verma: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, 1.India, 30 2. Studying graphic design and Sketching 3.…Jun 30, 14:19
  • Jatin: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, 1.India, 30 2. Studying graphic design and Sketching 3.…Jun 30, 14:11
  • Murad: “Google search Yes learning more Intersted with your blogJun 29, 11:08
  • Fausto Blanco: “I’m an stell erection and construction estimator, my field is estimate. Labor and material quantities for big warehouse buildings, also…Jun 28, 09:14
  • NISHTHA HARSH NIRMAL: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, but product sketching career-wise. I discovered this through PinterestJun 27, 14:32
close-link
Start Sketching Today Step-by-step!

GET YOUR DESIGNER STARTER KIT NOW!

The
close-link
The
YES! I NEED THE BOOK!
Send me The Book
close-image