Ah, I’ve taken on pieces I’ve had no drive for more times than I wish I did. But bills and family at the time pushing their own financial troubles onto me kinda left me with no say without feeling like complete shit.

When you start off and you’re following isn’t very big. You kinda HAVE to take what’s given to you at the time. It’s just how it is for almost everyone especially those with a small paying audience or just starting. So I did not exactly have the luxury of picking & choosing like I do now.

Not sure how to help with the inspiration bit, since I’ve recently just complained about art not too long ago but got back the inspiration. I’m a commission artist. I draw more for work than I do myself.  (It does fall under what you said though, psyching myself up!)

What helped me get inspired/get back to drawing was just actually taking the time out / setting a day to just draw things I always REALLY wanted to draw but have been avoiding to do because of obligations. Even if it wasn’t every idea. just some were enough! I’m already a messy artist, being even more messy/scribbly wouldn’t hurt.

Like, straight up drawing the ideas out regardless if they were messy/incorrect/dumb. Getting them out got me most pumped to keep on drawing.