out of the groove

scifi420 wrote:

for the past several months, I've been really out of it. I haven't even so much as picked up the exacto knife.   Any one else ever have a dry spell? What do you do to get out of it?

Yes, I have them on occasion. Some times the juices just aren't flowing. 

scifi420 lamented:

Any one else ever have a dry spell? What do you do to get out of it?

Yes, quite frequently. Two years ago, we moved into a new home, one chosen specifically because it had a room I could us as a workshop. First nine months we were here, it sat totally unused.

I'm back into it now, but for awhile there, I was afraid I'd lost my mojo...

I read books on modeling. Sheppard Paine's " How to build Dioramas". The "Applied Modeling Encyclopaedias" by Euro Modelismo: 'Aircraft', 'Armor' and 'Vignettes @ Sceneries'. The Osprey Modeling Manuals for any model I intend to build (the 'F4U Corsair' book was very helpful). FSM's 'Great Scale Modeling' annuals.

I enter modeling contests. I get to see what other people are doing, and I'm not only inspired by the work of others, but motivated to do better myself. Very few things feel as good as a contest judge rewarding you with a 'Gold' or 'Best of Show' award.

Sometimes I just go out and look at stuff. Old buildings. Construction equipment. Gnarly old trees. Rusty, beat up old redneck trucks. If I find something particularly interesting, I take a picture of it, to try and model it later.

I probably shouldn't say this, but I avoid internet forums. I might find something inspirational or helpful, but more likely I just get sucked into all the fun-but-ultimately-distracting stuff that usually goes on in such places. It's amazing how much time the computer can take from your life if you let it.

Mostly, I just don't try to force it. Worst case scenario, I pack everything away in the closet. After awhile, I miss it, and that's when I am most creative.

Good Luck.-JC

I got burned out building a scratch built Lunar Orbiter (real space , oh my!) for our fall local show.  That pretty much did me in until this month, when I actually cut a little styrene this week.

Sort of a modeling vacation!  No palm trees though. 

Rob

Go out in the fresh air and stretch, walk, run etc. This improves your overall mood.

Be shut of domestic chores, strife and worry. This prepares you for the coming task.

Then get to work and have fun.

I get over a dry spell by doing a simple project from begining to end.