smART goals

[neopatogen]

Goals update time! (well past time, but better now than later)
I've been put off my stride for a while because of that unexpected month of trips, although I started well. Figured out that big breaks are not for me. Got to take some drawing+painting material with me during trips and use it, whether it's +40C or -40C outside
I've been in some undecisive mood this week, thinking about "the right way to learn further" and surfing the Internet much more than doing stuff. Goal setting is the best way to deal with it, write a plan and just follow it until evaluation time without fruitless contemplations. Amit's post has been extremely helpful for me today.

Evaluation+Comments (I'm not making major changes in goals this time):

Spoiler

 -         Continue taking part in Crucibles.  I tend to do too much studies without application and Crucibles make me apply everything I know. Working within deadlines helps to concentrate and study faster. I will produce one CC illustration every month. If there’s no Crucible, I’ll work on my own stuff, see below. I may skip some of the challenges if I need extra time to improve my pieces, but think twice if it's a smart decision. - Well done, except CC5 which is not over but I currently have nothing. Keep up participating. If it looks like shit, just do studies and try again. I tried this approach and it helps :)

-         Work on my personal projects – not only between the Crucibles as before. It's going to be creature design: sketches at least every other day, 3d at least every week, 1 finished concept or illustration a month. - Started sketching and sculpting, but totally off schedule. Deadline for the next creature concept - 15th of August. 
-         Finally, finish my environment piece (within one week after CC3). - Failed it. Got to finish it anyway. I liked that Toad city project of mine. Perhaps shoot another comp in 3d if this seems too boring. 1 week between CCs must really be enough.
-         Spend an hour weekly researching art, both old and contemporary, other artists’ portfolios, especially creature designers, learning about the industry, after that spend several minutes to think how to apply this new information for my goals. - Done, even more time spent than planned which means less time for practice. Keep it up within same timeframe, unless it's a research for my projects.
-         Do art at least 5 hours a day (a rather random amount of time for now, Iáve never really tried to control it). Write down the number of hours spent every evening sleep, analyze, if I have done my best today? What could I improve? I may take some days off occasionally, but control it and write down. - Much less done, try it again. At least 4 hours but of really focused practice (no Internet, except searching for reference of hanging out).
-         Keep up planning every day - Done, except 2 weeks. 
-  Write a 5-year plan today (idea from @smrr's Deathline thread) - Done, but I almost forgot about it. Re-read today.

Studies (at least every other day): - Do them very day
-         Perspective – finish studying “How to draw” by the end of June, do excercises from drawabox.com - Have been doing it all, but haven't finished it yet. Let's try middle of August.
-         Rendering (values, color) – “How to render” by  S. Robertson, still lives, master studies, materials and effects group studies - Did some still lives
-         Creature design – gesture, anatomy, tutorials - Not much done, but I found some resources. Try to really focus on it
-         Figure/face drawing (Loomis, Hampton, tutorials, portraits, photo studies, drawing statues) - Done, do more
-         3d – Sculptris, Blender, Zbrush if Sculptris won’t be enough - Currently creating my 2nd model in Sculptris.
 
-         Be mindful while doing studies, analyze stuff that I focus on. - ~90% success, keep it up
-         Apply all my studies by doing at least quick sketches from memory and/or imagination. - Not all studies have been applied, but that's ok, just try to do more studies for projects and challenges
-         Observe real world whenever possible (lighting, value, color, perspective, form, etc.) -  Well done, keep it up
-         Train visualizing simple forms and moving/rotating them in mind (idea from Bobby Chiu’s book) - Quite a bit, go on
-         Take breaks (do some quick excercises for eyes and body, household chores) - Yes, keep it up
-         Have fun! - Not quite sure, do more fun stuff, it's a priviledge of being self-taught!

I'm going to re-read this post weekly, update goals if necessary and check back in the end of June. - Better late update than no update. Same appoach.
 Waking up at 6.30 at least 4 times a week - Started it again recently.  If I feel not too sleepy, stretch in the morning because it provides energy for the whole day.