Can't get motivated

I have a party on saturday that at first I was pumped for. But now I just can't seem to get motivated in the last week. I desperately need to practise some of the designs that I have never done before but I can't find the time nor effort to practise. What to do ?!

Remind yourself of how much you enjoy doing this, and how lucky you are to have a gig to look forward to!! Some of us would love to have a gig waiting for us, just knowing that anything we do will make the kids happy....and if we've practiced our designs...those will really blow them away!! If you dont have time to practice the actual designs, at least take out your brush and night, while watching TV or whatever, and practice your strokes....lines, drops, swirls, tiger strips on your arms.... that way you don't go to the party "cold", if you know what I mean. Cheer up!! And remember, you're gonna have a great time and the kids will love you!
(End of pep-talk..)

Remember, just because you sit down to paint doesn't mean you have to be there for an hour. Paint one face and forget about it until you find another fifteen minute window. Right before you shower is a great time to practice. And don't forget to have fun.

Challenge yourself to do a 3 minute design, standing at the kitchen sink and you only get one color (not black or white). Cleanup will be a breeze!

Or look through 5 minute TAG, you're it! The challenge is to create a 5 minute or less design, there are about 15 new designs on that thread and they are great for inspiration, motivation and just to have in your bag of tricks. Good luck at your event.

I find that once I actually begin painting, I remember how fun it is and end up being busy with it for a while. Sometimes we gotta make ourselves start, and let inspiration and motivation follow behind! LOL.

I get the same way... I think if I had a spot where I could keep kindof a working station set up and ready I'd paint almost every day. Unfortunately my cats are VERY curious and tend to steal my unattended sponges whenever they can. (which are now marked so I know not to use them!) So any time I feel like painting I have to unpack everything to set up, then pack it all back up again. It's just a bit of a pain if I want to try something out for 30 minutes or so. Hopefully someday I'll have my own art/work room again where I can keep my stuff set up without having to worry about it.

Oh and I keep my kit on the top of my refrigerator so it's out of the way, but readily available and in my sights. It makes it seem like less of a hassle to paint.

Another way to practice wothout having to set out a whole load of stuff is to have a little palette like one of the paradise 8 colour palettes and a couple of brushes and sponges handy(maybe on the vanity by the mirror), or as sort of a travel kit, I even throw them in my purse and then if someone else is driving I can practice on the road.

The thing is I love painting, it's just so hard to fit it in. Like I would be more then happy to do a longgg design and spend ages playing, but quick designs is what I need to practise and I don't want to keep washing my face lol.

Also balancing this and school and schoolwork and excercise and piano and spending enough time to complete my art projects ( I do two subjects of art at school) is so hard. Especially this year being my final year, :S

I guess somewhere I just have to MAKE myself do it. Thankyou for all the support

When I want to practice something I use the small snaz mini sets that you can get at hobby lobby. It is super quick and fast to clean up. It is great to practice things like cheek art and swirls. Then I don't have to worry with my "investment" make up. This is really cheap and quick for fast little things and washes off super easy!

Hmmmm... I get like this off and on.... and MAKING myself do it is very rarely the answer... for me.
I think you might need to find inspiration... and not the intimidating kind, like when you see someones work that is so awesome you couldn't replicate it... I mean inspiring like a style or color combo you have never seen before... or a new twist on a tired design, or new body placement. It's easy to look at all the designs you could try and get turned off just by the pure amount of them.
There's also the cleaning up after painting thing.... I hate washing out all my brushes... it takes forever... so I really don't want to get everything out and then paint and have to put it all away... because of this it is easy for me to go a week with out painting ( unless at a gig). If this is what maybe putting you off consider putting together a small pallet for at home practice use and a couple of brushes you don't use for gigs so that you don't have to wash them out straight away.
Paint you thigh so you don't have to keep washing it off... in fact paint both thighs and put jeans on... you can wash it off later.
Paint your arms - easier to wash off quick.
A pracitice head is a good idea - but I haven't got one.... just figure it's another thing to clean.... I'm very aware I'm comming across ultra lazy atm, but it's the truth, Just thought it may help you if you are anything like me.
Then again sometimes I just have to kick my lazy self in the butt and paint... so you know.. whatever works for you.
But stay happy- painting should be fun and make you happy... it's ok to take a break so your 'happiness' doesn't turn into 'work'.
.... think I better go clean my brushes now...

Wow so much great advice After reading all of this I have finally gone and just practised, only for the last two nights (and the party is tomorrow) but at least I got quite a bit of practise in and more tonight. Thankyou everyone so much, hopefully somehow later on I can help everyone just as much as they have been helping me

Good luck with the job tomorrow. Seeing the delight on the kids faces when you pretty them up should hopefully help re-spark the passion. Sometimes it can be daunting being at the beginning of the face painting journey - well that is my current experience - there is so much to learn and such a high standard set by the amazing artists here that it can be hard to get the ball rolling. Also yr 12 is killer so good on you for pursuing this in amongst that craziness. Hope tomorrow is fun.