Usually when I’m getting a little frustrated with drawing, or when it feels like pulling teeth getting a job done, it’s most likely due to a lack of sketching.
It’s hard to just sit and sketch when there are deadlines on the horizon, but sometimes that’s exactly what I need to get motivated. The freedom and spontaneity of sketching loosens my imagination up and helps me push myself more than I would when doing work-for-hire jobs. I’m more likely to play it safe and keep within my comfort zone with a piece that someone has paid me to do.
After spending a little time experimenting I can then take the techniques and styles that I’ve been playing with in my sketchbook and apply them to “real” work.