How do you break out of a rut?

[bif]

I seem to be doing a lot of the same types of paintings lately. Mainly watercolors of landscapes and mountainscapes I've gotten from images from books and the internet. Not that they're bad, but I like new challenges and exploring new themes.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Blues Heron]

1. Stop painting for a week or two. Not only will you break out of the rut, your overall painting will improve.

[drray23]

2. go plein air painting

or paint a model from life. Try other subjects that may be challenging like portraits.

Plein air painting in particular (my favorite) is exciting. You get to discover a place, look at it for a few hours, and try to capture it. It's even more fun if you do it with fellow painters who become friends. No doubt, there is a plein air painting group near where you live.

[fierywoman]

3. On youtube, check out Ian Roberts (for landscapes, composition --- he wrote a very useful book

on composition although I don't find him terribly useful for watercolor), Paul Wang, Louise Fletcher (very abstract but many thoughts about getting out of a rut), Gabriella Buckingham (still lifes and abstracted landscapes), Nicholas Wilton (especially for getting out of ruts plus abstraction) , many others (once you get the algorithm going more will pop up.)

[Goonch]

4. Magic Mushrooms? ;-{)

[ret5hd]

5. my ruts get so deep...

i use ropes and pitons

ymmv

[fierywoman]

6. Also -- Tom Hoffmann (who wrote a watercolor book)

has his class assignments for 12 years on blogspot (https://hoffmannwatercolors.blogspot.com/) --- I took some of those classes over a few years -- he ALWAYS gives challenging stuff, and his energy was so kind ...)

[underpants]

7. Paint with your other hand?

I know canvasses cost money but it would alter your brain patterns a bit.

I’m not in anyway an artist so…

[justaprogressive]

8. Change to a different medium

You paint in oil go watercolor pen and ink or charcoal!

You do still-lifes do a landscape etc. Heck paint a sports contest

Ruts are a normal part of an artist's progression !

[bif]

9. Thanks all!

Some great suggestions here.

[Ocelot II]

10. Try a new medium.

I got to being uninspired and hating my oil paintings, started fooling around with gouache. It's enough of a challenge that I look forward to painting instead of discouraged or bored.