Basman

How to rekindle passion after burnout?

14 posts in this topic

About 2.5 years ago I applied for an art school which required me making a large portfolio to the deadline. Most of the things they asked for where things I where unfamiliar with and had no prior material of, so I grinded away. I think I worked 6-8 hours almost everyday for 1-2 months straight or so. I managed to finish my portfolio just the day before the deadline. I had to learn as I went. I had to build the bridge as I crossed it, which only added to the workload. I got rejected for lacking skills by the way, but that is besides the point.

I was burnt out on art hard after that ordeal. I barely touched a pen for a whole year and I still only draw intermittently, even as the worst of the burnout receded. To this day, I haven't fully recovered the passion and zest I used to feel for drawing. I sometimes even question if I even like drawing, but when I do draw I generally feel a sense of elation and joy in the creative process. I just feel like I have to force myself to get there and if I do build a habit I quickly fall off again and there will go a long time till I pick the pen up again.

I've been recently thinking that I should take a break "officially" now. I have never at any point since I made that portfolio consciously decided to take a break. I just berated myself for not practicing my art, which hasn't been great for my mood either. I kind of made drawing a part of my identity, which is probably why I'm struggling so much with this and I'm scared that I actually hate drawing. 

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Perhaps ask yourself what would be really fun and enjoyable next? Is there anything that inspires a sensation of play and lightness around creating for you? Ideas: take a class, create some limitations (draw with only one color), re-mix two favorites, read some Rick Rubin, go see your favorite artist, drastically change your environment in a pleasurable way. In my experience burnout comes from taking things too seriously without enjoying it much- so unnecessary. ♥️ 

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15 hours ago, Karla said:

Perhaps ask yourself what would be really fun and enjoyable next? Is there anything that inspires a sensation of play and lightness around creating for you? Ideas: take a class, create some limitations (draw with only one color), re-mix two favorites, read some Rick Rubin, go see your favorite artist, drastically change your environment in a pleasurable way. In my experience burnout comes from taking things too seriously without enjoying it much- so unnecessary. ♥️ 

It is true that I took art very seriously. I haven't considered that angle.

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Keep art seperate from society. The first thing I did before even attempting to learn art was, purging all societal influences, and find out what "I" really wanted to create. It's very difficult, but worth it. 

Burnouts from physical exhaustion is one thing. But don't sell your soul, little by little. I can't assure you it's recoverable. 

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11 hours ago, ryoko said:

Keep art seperate from society. The first thing I did before even attempting to learn art was, purging all societal influences, and find out what "I" really wanted to create. It's very difficult, but worth it. 

Burnouts from physical exhaustion is one thing. But don't sell your soul, little by little. I can't assure you it's recoverable. 

True.

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I don't know if I understood correctly, but you tried to enter an art school and they asked you a portfolio to aply, before teaching you skills? 

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On 9/7/2025 at 3:54 PM, Human Mint said:

I don't know if I understood correctly, but you tried to enter an art school and they asked you a portfolio to aply, before teaching you skills? 

Yeah I know. It's a little backwards considering it is a "school".

You have to be so skilled as to not necessarily need it. It's more for refining skills already present/networking. It's kind of absurd in a sense. It is due to be a public education as opposed to a private one. Since it is tax funded, they only want the best, and it is really competitive due to being very few spots (about 25). About 150 applied the same time as me. And you can only apply every odd year. Steep.

The silver-lining is that you don't really need it if your goal is draw for a living. Just draw, which is why I am not that mad. Having gone to that school would've meant that I had to live up to other people's standard and I might have been restricted in drawing the kund of filthy shit I'm into. The benefit would be that I could fully focus on art as opposed to being something I cram inbetween obligations, which can feel grindy as you have to multi-task responsibilities. That is the main reason why I applied.

 

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On 9/8/2025 at 3:23 PM, Basman said:

It is due to be a public education as opposed to a private one. Since it is tax funded, they only want the best, and it is really competitive due to being very few spots (about 25).

I thought so... an idealistic public education should be just that: public. Probably that particular institution is not even worth it, it gives the feeling of having toxic competition and dramatic administration. I would advise people to put some money into their education, since it will be more serious from the begining. I study music in a private school and found no other way of making progress, but the basics still holds: you need consistency. People that work along with their studies make less progress.

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19 hours ago, Human Mint said:

I thought so... an idealistic public education should be just that: public. Probably that particular institution is not even worth it, it gives the feeling of having toxic competition and dramatic administration. I would advise people to put some money into their education, since it will be more serious from the begining. I study music in a private school and found no other way of making progress, but the basics still holds: you need consistency. People that work along with their studies make less progress.

What do you think of about 1.5 hours of art a day? 

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I can not know that for you. You may understand a lot in one hour or you may need another five extra hours of deep work. Realistically it will be much more, for examples babies are exposed a lot of hours a day to their native language so they're able to pick it very quickly. But also most of it is not active learning like adults, just the constant exposure so you understand something from different angles. I'm sure if you replicate that you'll see a lot of progress. 

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Burnout is due to lack of meaningful activities or return. 

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On 9/13/2025 at 4:44 AM, hyruga said:

Burnout is due to lack of meaningful activities or return. 

I agree. In essence what matters the most and what has the most impact is quality. I do a lot of hours just to have more moments of quality.

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Your post already proves you never gave up.

Also, ART is an extremely difficult accomplishment, and with ’Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ it is considered the highest accomplishment and in a sense CANNOT even happen without the ENTIRE pyramid being acknowledged, thoroughly.

If you’re not satisfied with the amount of art you produce, then you must produce more of what produces art.

When you can breathe, eat, sleep somewhere, etc. it’s fairly easy to stay healthy, maintain employment, basic relationships, etc.

When you can maintain basic relationships, a job, health, etc. it’s fairly easy to go into deeper relationships, more aligned jobs, a sense of community, etc.

At this point, most people level out.

If you don’t maintain all of this like a clock, you’ll never maintain/keep/become used to stability, confidence, respect, intimacy, etc. (the next ‘step’ on the pyramid.)

And you need all of those things for ART, the ability to properly question morality, experience meaning, etc.

All other instances are flukes, miracles, one hit wonders, chance, freak natural talent, genetics, etc.

You have to make yourself want to draw. That’s not force, it’s grace. Grace by taking care of yourself and realizing every time you’ve wanted to draw it was a privilege. The ultimate privilege.

And if you’re doing everything you think you can and still don’t want to draw but have the time, supplies, etc.— you just have to face that head on. Improve at your pace, learn technique at your pace, decide if you want to draw for fun or a living, etc. There is not one song, painting, drawing, poem, person, etc. that everybody single person enjoys.

And you should recognize if something can or can’t be profitable and how long it should take to be— while still testing, trying, etc.

But there’s no words that will make you draw haha. It’s all the other stuff.

However, narrative can have a positive or negative effect at any point.

 

 

 

 

Edited by yetineti

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@yetineti

Thanks for the input. I haven't considered how the hierarchy of needs shapes our relationship to our art. I think if I was more financial secure it would be more simple to me, especially in regards to available time. 

I realized that I tend to procrastinate because it is hard and I haven't mastered the fundamentals yet. But I have so many ideas I want to bring to life, it is almost more painful to let that potential remain. There's something fun and exciting about working with an idea you've had for a long time. 

I ultimately do have to force myself to draw. I'm almost always happy I did when I do but there's that hump to get over each time. It doesn't help that I need privacy to draw because I draw NSFW.

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