[EllisR]

I've always thought that I was a decent artist and had a good future in the field. However, after reading the Sijun forums and being exposed to the sort of talent here, I now realize just how much work I really need. I mean, most people here are amazing. I've never realized how much hard work is necessary to be an artist, working digitally or otherwise. I now know that I need plenty of practice and that I should keep striving to improve. My problem is, I'm just not motivated (I'm lazy). Maybe I'm not cut out for this stuff. Help.

[Loki]

AMNGRY PART:

I'm gonna be brutal here:

If you have the desire, but you're not doing anything, then, you're right, you're lazy. And you probably won't get any further.

What's the point of your post? That somebody says "Oh, I had the same problem, but I took three of those ..." [holds up a bottle of "Spoogytan" pills] " ... and now I'm one of the best artists here, without doing anything!"

Sorry - but I've seen talented people that kind of rested on their talent, did something here and there, hardly finished anything - they never got anywhere!

I'm curious how good you are? How did you measure your skill before? You've got to measure yourself with the best - and then, once you're better, there'll still be a ton of people that are lightyears ahead - at least that's how I feel - but that keeps me going - and there's no top to reach either.

So, what to do about your lazyness - very simple:

If you have the desire to paint - DO IT! Every day - get into it.

If you've ever finished an artwork til it's really done - you know how satisfying it is to look at it and go "Wow ... where did that come from? Sheeiit! [yells] MOOOOOM, COME LOOOK! I DID SOMETHING COOL!" That's how it was in my case, hehe.

How can you ask for help when you state yourself "My problem is, I'm just not motivated (I'm lazy). Maybe I'm not cut out for this stuff. Help." ?????
Do you want somebody to come over to your place pointing a gun at you? Questions like that upset me a little bit - hence the rant.

FRIENDLY PART:

Dude - please - do yourself a favour and just jump over it. If you have any motivation to paint - sit down, paint a little bit. If you get distracted, pick it up again next day. Also - subject wise - pick something you always wanted to paint. Helps too. But, you're completely on your own. Nobody can really help you with that one - you have to do it over and over again.
Look at Craig Mullins - he LIVES painting. That's why he's soooo good. He paints nearly every day, I dare to say - that's what probably makes him so awesome - and his foundation is an incredible talent too, but that's to build upon.

So, sit down and paint. Have discipline, don't give up and I dare you - if you keep at it for a few months, you'll have a 500% improvement.

And then post it here - I'm curious what you come up with!

Best of luck,

Loki

[Lunatique]

Yeah, What Loki said.

I think I fall into a category that Loki didn't mention: I started out a fanatic, drawing/painting non-stop from pre-teen till mid-twenties, doing mostly illustration and comic books. During that time, I also dabbled in writing, photography, film, and music. Eventually, I discovered that my emotions resonated more with some of my other creative endeavors than with static visual arts. Writing and film were far more emotional for me, and music touched me in ways paintings never could. I still love art, and I do it for a living in the game biz, but I had stopped seeing myself as just an "artist." I think of myself more as just a creative person, who loves and does many creative things. But, that also means I don't spend 1/10 of the time I used to on drawing/painting as I did when I was younger.
It doesn't mean I'm lazy, it just means there are other creative things that competes for my attention.

[Icannon]

i like what both luna and loki said.

[AoD]

I liked what those guys said...but, I'm leaning more towards a Tyler Durden approach to this one.

EllisR, you could be drawing right now and getting better. Or, you could be dead. Would you rather build up your skills or feed a host of worms? That's what I thought.

=D

Anyway, if you're lazy (like me) just do what I do. Find something that you have to do but you REALLY don't wanna do it. While you're doing it, consider that you could be drawing right at that very moment. Miraculously, you'll throw down whatever crap assignment you were given, and you'll draw. Sure, your grades may shoot straight to hell, but hey, we're ART students. We're not supposed to be smart =D

Or, I guess, doodle in class. I like to draw my teachers and classmates. They get a real kick out of it. At first I sucked at it, but then, gradually, over this very SEMESTER, I got to the point where I could stand back from something I did and say, hey, that looks exactly like that kid over there picking his nose. Of course, I get detention all the time (for standing up and backing away from my desk) and I never take any notes. BUT, like I said, I'm not smart. I'm just an artist =D

[ May 13, 2001: Message edited by: AoD ]

[EllisR]

quote

Quote:

Or, I guess, doodle in class. I like to draw my teachers and classmates. They get a real kick out of it. At first I sucked at it, but then, gradually, over this very SEMESTER, I got to the point where I could stand back from something I did and say, hey, that looks exactly like that kid over there picking his nose. Of course, I get detention all the time (for standing up and backing away from my desk) and I never take any notes. BUT, like I said, I'm not smart. I'm just an artist =D

Hehe. Thanks for sharing your story. I always doodle in class since I need to keep myself entertained. Last year, my health teacher didn't care that I never paid attention to whatever he was saying so long as, at the end of class, he gets to see what cartoons I made. It's great to look around the room and imagine each person as a cartoon and what makes them funny and unique. Every once in a while, a doodle spawns a great idea for my next piece of work. Keep on Doodling.

[proximo]

ahh i know the feeling, i had it when i first found the forum a year or so ago, i was like how in the hell can they do that ! .. i was just out of HS and stuff like that, and had never really been exposed to many other artist. I got that same feeling you discribed in your post and i was like F*ck ! ,, how the hell am i going to get anyware ! but then i just said funk it and kept on going. Somthing that drives me to draw is to be able to post on this forum. It might sound stupid but nothing feels better then having people say " man thats awsome " stuff like that keeps me trying. Somtimes i lack inspiration and things like that and we all do at times, like loki said get over it and keep going. At times like this i usualy grab a mag that was my moms and look at all the cool pictures and start to draw thats all you can do, also look back at old skectch books and see how much better you are compaired to then that will show you how much you have progressed and how much you still can !.. ohh yah and loki the part about MooooooooM .. you are so right ehehe .. cya later..

(Ohh yah i dont spell check these post as im sure you can tell )

[pixualize]

I don't know where I fall in all this myself but here's a bit of background too, for those of you in/just-out-of high school.

When I was in HS I screwed off and thought I wanted to do stuff in music or film but never really persued it seriously. I did a couple of years at community college and never continued due to personal obligations (rent, food, etc.).

After working for 10 years in retail and now tec support I regret all the lost years I could have spent persuing and art education and would probably be way further along in my art career by this point. The best part of it though, in the last few months, since posting stuff on the forum here I've been getting great feedback from everyone and have seen improvment in my work.

There are NO other digital artists I know of locally that I can get together and hang out with/talk shop and generally get comments about my work except on the internet. As suggested, post stuff, take the critiques as they come and see your stuff in a whole new light.

Having done a few comic cons over the last couple of years, there's nothing like having fans tell you "Your stuff rocks!" to give you a charge and get you wanting to paint more (as well as being a great ego boost).

[edible snowman]

i never finish anything because i look at it and hate it halfway through, it pisses me off. if you can finish stuff, you're already a lot better off.

[NukleoN]

You have to work through those times when a piece is challenging, and you feel like you are getting your arse kicked. Work through it, conquer it, let nothing stop you, and next time you will have peace of mind in knowing that you CAN do it.

Also, the next time you do it, after conquering it, you'll be that much faster and better.

[EllisR]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, everyone. Glad to know I'm not alone in my struggles.

[Svanur]

What AoD says really rings true, when I am at work I can't think of anything else but to get home and draw, too improve and do something cool. Same was when I was 17, that was the time bug hit me, every class I drew something, especially during icelandicsaga classes as they were about icelandic legends (people who could go out in a -10c� frost and still kick butt, swim a few laps around the island just to get home to sing about his wife and then bang her .)

I know how you feel EllisR, when I get her and look at the talent I feel small and it really can get to you. But like Loki said, they didn't get this far by moping around, it was hard work all the way.

[Svanur]

I can't imagine anyone hating to be an artist but rather hating one aspect of it. Like some people hate inking and others don't like to use digital mediums, it all depends on the person.

[Spiritwolf]

Personally, I think that to be a professional artist art has not only to be a passion but an addiction. If you aren't expressing yourself on pad, canvas, or computer paint program (or whatever) then you will go through withdrawal after a while. That is the way it is for me at least. I like the admiration and respect of other artists when I (rarely get it, but even without that I would continue to create and express myself visually. I am 'semi-professional' I guess. I have done the graphics for several commercial websites, but as an art that is subjective at best. If my professional art career doesn't pan out the way I hope it does then I will still continue to draw and paint, and fool around with the latest graphics packages, because if I didn't I know I would just become very depressed, as I would realize that something is missing. It is a part of me almost as much as breathing air or drinking water. I think if you can look at it that way you will take a lot of pressure off of yourself and will enjoy what you do more so than if you have the mind frame 'I MUST be a PROFESSIONAL artist!’ If you are thinking that way about it then it is easy to become discourage, or disillusioned.

Being an artist isn’t a profession in my opinion, but some of us just get paid to do what we love to do

Anyone here hate being an artist?

-Spiritwolf