Art Lesson: Dips

Art Lesson: Dips

Depression is a funny thing. 

Mental illness of all sorts is a funny thing. Pops up in all sorts of ways, it likes to when you don’t need it around especially. 

I try to write up art tips for people that are less about Art with a capitol “A” and more about the struggles that crop up within it. Within ourselves. 

A great deal of creatives deal with depression, or with mental illness in general. Anxiety, mood disorders, executive function disorders; it’s alluded to constantly in all sorts of platitudes, to the point that people joke about it. But it’s real. Creatives generally struggle because of the nature of creating. It’s always taxing even when it’s fun, and it can be hard when you feel the constant need to make things, and even worse when you burn out. 

I think it’s important to emphasize that it’s not uncommon to have dips. Dips in mood, dips in perceived artistic skill, dips in interest. 

These are ok. It’s apart of growth, and sometimes it’s unavoidable. Usually it’s inconvenient. 

Dips are natural. You’re not bad at art. You’re not losing your ability to be creative. You are not stupid, you’re not unwanted, you’re not alone. 

Dips can be a sign that we need a break. They can be a sign that we need a challenge. They can be a sign that we need to talk to someone and work on ourselves. They’re never permanent. 

I know I personally struggle with feeling like I’m just not a creative person. I beat myself up because I can’t meet personal deadlines, or I lose engagement with personal projects quickly. 

None of that means I’m a bad artist. It means I have to find frameworks that work for me.

What do you do without people asking you to? What is the work you do just because it feels good to be alive when you’re doing it? 

Maybe it’s working with others? Talking with people? Organizing? Growing things? Relentlessly polishing? Making people laugh? Watching birds? 

It can be a hard question to answer when you’re depressed or having an episode. Hold the question with you though. There are usually moments in the day where the heavy is lighter, and note when that is. Note why that is. 

Being able to incorporate those underlying interests will help you learn the right path. 

For me, it’s helping people. It’s not a cure-all for my problems, but it helps me manage my goals and expectations. If any one person gains something from relating with my work or words, that’s a win. They are my win. 

I know this is meandering and open ended, but I want to relate that having a dip in interest, art, or emotional health is natural. It’s not pleasant, but it’ll pass. Stop for a moment and think about what you’re needing. 

Honestly if you’re having trouble figuring it out, DM me and we can chat about it. I can’t promise answers, but I can hear you out. Sometimes framing your thoughts sets the answer out in front of you. 

Be kind to yourselves. I know you’ll make it. 

More Posts from Eicee and Others

5 months ago

https://www.tumblr.com/eicee/770127483826847744

fancytacowonderland / Alice Jepchumba Simatei is a documented scammer profiting off of the genocide. they have stolen a paragraph from this gofundme https://www.gofundme.com/f/uk8x8q-help-my-family-leave-gaza and instead link to their own paypal account.

https://www.tumblr.com/kyra45/763448973538246656/hi-there-sorry-to-bother-but-hoping-for-a-second

https://www.tumblr.com/slenbee/769631048907833344/list-of-current-scammers-part-3

they’ve been running this scam for months now, every time they are terminated they just make a new blog and spam send the exact same ask, and every time their paypal account is reported they make a new one under a new name. 

here you can see their previous blog, furryreviewearthquake, using a paypal account under the name Samantha Yeges: https://www.tumblr.com/ohtobecat/762873111064543232/my-family-is-still-staying-in-half-of-the-church

here is reallymellowtriumph with the paypal name Purity Sikuku: https://www.tumblr.com/tvmblrsillyman/755025849705791488/my-family-is-still-staying-in-half-of-the-church

would you mind deleting their scam from your blog, or clearly labeling it as a scam so it doesn't spread to others? please remember you can use the tumblr search box to search the username/paypal account name/text used by people asking for money to check if they’ve been proven to be a scammer

Thank you for informing me!

Apologies for not being aware, I'm not that much active on online lately.

Posting this for awareness too.


Tags
5 months ago

you can and should throw rocks at AI “Artists” btw. its fun AND free

3 weeks ago

love and deepspace vibes with kyle aaaaaa

Sergeant 🥰
Sergeant 🥰

sergeant 🥰


Tags
4 months ago

Hey so uhhh. These are some messages I received in my inbox yesterday back to back before I even had a chance to see the message, let alone respond to it. I’m going to post it because I’m pretty sure this is somebody trying to guilt me into participating in a scam. The account only has one post which is nearly identical to the first message I was sent. Please vet the people you are sending money to.

Hey So Uhhh. These Are Some Messages I Received In My Inbox Yesterday Back To Back Before I Even Had
Hey So Uhhh. These Are Some Messages I Received In My Inbox Yesterday Back To Back Before I Even Had
1 month ago

Just a reminder for any bloggers that are unaware—

The following blogs are spam blogs, all pretending to be Palestinians needing help in Gaza. They are mass flooding tumblr inboxes with identical text + emojis in order to ask for $90k USD.

Even when you block these blogs, they will use a side blog to send you seemingly infinite anonymous asks, and THEN change the sending blog when you block that anon.

At least 2 of these blogs have been confirmed by @gazavetters to be spamming blogs.

Here is the list:

mosabsdr

abedmajeed, which is now both aboodfmly and derawi1994, and which is also known in tags and/or blogs as:

Abdelmajed (tag)

abedmajder (tag)

familygaza5 (blog)

derawigaza (blog)

derawifami (blog)

(All of the above under aboodfmly link to the exact same chuffed fundraiser.)

nasergz

sajagz

abd20001

nasr-daher

Note: mosabsdr has a note in gazavetters' official vetting Google Doc to warn others of the spam behavior, since they are violating rule 2 (do not spam supporters or non-supporters).

Most or all of these blogs have replies turned off, so it's virtually impossible to message them directly and ask them to stop sending asks.

Please block, delete asks, and do not engage with these blogs.

To block anonymous asks: you have to wait until you get one, unfortunately, but you can then hit the 3 dots on the top right and then block the specific anon that sent you that ask. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing.

Stay safe out there, and please donate to help Palestinians at this World Food Programme link.

1 year ago

Someone reblogged my post about racists intentionally leaving Gaz out of 141 content and they said “It's not that people are racist, it just that most, not all, but most people just aren't attracted to Gaz and won't include him...”.

How dense can you be?

You don’t have to be attracted to Kyle. Everyone has their preferences, but to write 141 content, specify that the content is for 141 as a whole, leave out Kyle and/or replace him, is FUCKING RACIST. No one writes for 141 and swaps out any other member; it’s always Gaz.

Please don’t reblog my posts with stupid comments like that. You’ll be blocked, just like the person who made this asinine comment.

It goes without saying, but 141 includes Kyle “Gaz” Garrick. If you’re gonna exclude him, your content shouldn’t say it’s about the 141. Period.

Someone Reblogged My Post About Racists Intentionally Leaving Gaz Out Of 141 Content And They Said “It's

Tags
1 year ago

Never ever be normal about fictional characters but please GOD be normal about the people who play them, I am begging you

5 years ago

this 'culture' of getting emotionally attached to famous people often makes me uncomfortable, i'm not gonna lie. i'm not judging anyone but myself when i say that. when at the end of a day watching a movie/tv show with my favorite actor or actress (or simply seeing a photo of them) is the only thing that makes me smile.. i find it sad. but then i remind myself that this is a weird world we live in and we all cope in different ways and storytelling (movies, books, tv shows, writing etc) as always been mine. i started watching the mandalorian several months ago and i'm going to be honest i watched it because i was bored. i've seen all the star wars movies and i liked them but i wasn't really invested until i met din djarin. this show really opened a door for me. not only did it allow me to find a universe made for me. but it also reintroduced me to pedro pascal. an actor that my younger self unfairly overlooked. but now i'm all grown up (kinda) and i'm able to see how talented he is. he brings so much authenticity to his characters and never shy away from a challenge. between oberyn, javier and din you can't deny his impact on pop culture. but what truly makes him someone special for me is his heart. in this business people are usually saying shit you want to hear to sell their movies and they move on. they feel like unreachable entities and it left us with a cold feeling. which is not the case with pedro. not only does he interacts with us (as best as he can) but he also make sure to make his voice heard. and also the voices of people who aren't heard. he is someone who feels like you could grab a coffee and have a chat with i deeply love this about him. today is his birthday and i guess this was my way of wishing him the best fucking birthday possible. i hope he'll spend it surrounded by his loved one and cakes. i'll probably drink a cocktail in his honor (look at me finding excuses).

happy birthday pedro thank you for being my lifeline when i needed it the most. you opened my eyes to so many things. and i'm grateful.

This 'culture' Of Getting Emotionally Attached To Famous People Often Makes Me Uncomfortable, I'm Not
2 years ago

tiny soap simply groovin out here


Tags
1 year ago

You've heard of Elf on the Shelf...

. .now get ready for:

You've Heard Of Elf On The Shelf...
You've Heard Of Elf On The Shelf...
You've Heard Of Elf On The Shelf...
You've Heard Of Elf On The Shelf...

This is so badly done if artists wanna do it properly pls do 😭.

It's Soap on a rope, Ghost on toast, Price on rice, and Kyle in a file


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eicee - They say times are hard for dreamers
They say times are hard for dreamers

Cee(24y/o) here! MDNIWelcome my stuff blog! Art and fanfic blog: @aiceearts

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