Does Listening to Music Enhance Your Mood for Cartoon and Artistic Drawing?

Listening to music can definitely enhance creativity and put you in the right mindset to draw, including cartoons and various other forms of art. Music has the power to influence our emotions and help create an atmosphere conducive to artistic expression. Whether you're drawing anime, manga, or even realistic portraits, the right kind of music can elevate your drawing experience significantly.

The Impact of Music on Your Artistic Mood

The type of music that resonates best often depends on personal preference and the specific mood you want to evoke through your artwork. Here are some genre-specific suggestions:

Instrumental Music

Genres like classical jazz or ambient music can provide a calming background that allows for focus without distracting lyrics. This kind of music is ideal for when you need a tranquil and undistracted environment to draw.

Upbeat Pop or Indie Music

Catchy tunes can energize and inspire creativity, making them perfect for drawing lively and fun cartoons. These genres tend to have a vibrant and lively vibe that can get your creative juices flowing.

Lo-fi Hip Hop

Chill beats in the lo-fi hip hop genre are popular for their laid-back and relaxing atmosphere. This type of music is perfect for a relaxed and creative drawing session where you can just let your imagination run wild.

Soundtracks

Film or video game soundtracks can evoke strong emotions and set a specific mood, helping to inspire your drawings. These tracks often have emotive themes that can align with the characters and scenes you're drawing.

Nature Sounds

If you prefer something more soothing, nature sounds or white noise can create a peaceful and nurturing environment for creativity. These sounds can help you focus and feel more relaxed, which is beneficial for artistic endeavors.

Music and Drawing: A Personal Connection

The type of music you listen to while drawing can depend on the artwork you're creating. For example, if you draw semi-realistic and semi-cartoony characters, you might choose music that fits the aesthetic or personality of the characters. Some artists even illustrate songs themselves, blending their art with music in a unique way.

I, for instance, draw in a semi-realistic and semi-cartoony style where most of my work is character and figure-based, with a person often at the center of it all. When I draw, I listen to music that fits the aesthetic or personality of the characters I'm drawing, or sometimes I'll illustrate a song. Here are a few examples:

For instance, the drawing I made while listening to the Funk LeBlanc remix of Just So Right by Alex Lewis.

![Drawing of Funk LeBlanc and Alex Lewis' Just So Right]()

I also drew this illustration of Electric Love by Britt Nicole, while listening to the song itself.

![Illustration of Britt Nicole's Electric Love]()

Similarly, I created this illustration of Feeder's Field, a made-up cursed forest land featured in some of my stories, while listening to the song Feeder by Adam Young.

![Feeder's Field illustration]()

These examples highlight how the music you choose can influence your drawing style and the mood of your artwork. If you listen to 80s Synthwave or Disco music, it can get you in the mood to draw something Disco-inspired or super 1980s. If you listen to slow instrumental music with a lot of violin, it can help you draw something that matches that sound. In essence, the type of music you listen to can indeed influence the type of artwork you produce.

The key takeaway is that the best music is the one that resonates with you and helps you tap into your creative flow. Whether it's a calming instrumental track, an energetic pop tune, or a lo-fi beat, find the music that inspires and motivates you to bring your artistic visions to life.