04-25-2014, 10:30 PM
Nice fresh & lively colors in the last sketch!
I am working with a somewhat flexible schedule, which gives me a framework I can adjust to my need. So I will always start out with gestures (what exactly that means can vary - something like 15 and 30 sec figures, heads, hands), then something anatomy-drawing related and/or "special subject study" until lunch break. The anatomy part is geared towards what "bigger" project I am working on, like dynamic poses for a bloodsport challenge, or focused on what I think is my weakest part at the moment; while the "special subject study" is something like working through scott robertson, gurney, or another mid-term goal. afternoon is for working on finished pieces, if there's time left, application or what I feel I didn't get done in the morning. Evening is for social media, catch up on paperwork or painting whatever for fun. So in short, I do "categories" similar to you, but less detailed, because I work better if I do what feels most interesting or relevant at the moment. I do however spend a couple of minutes every evening thinking about what to study next day, i.e. throw photos in my 'to do' folder so I won't waste time the next morning on googling references. From time to time I get lazy or unorganized working like this, then it's time to be more strict with scheduling again... and loosen up when I am back on track. That said, everybody learns different - I personally like to focus on no more than 3 areas of study (right now: sketching, color, and whatever material/visual library I need at the moment) at a given time, and change those building blocks every couple of weeks... while others might want to mix it up constantly.
No matter which schedule, the most important thing I think is constantly revising it, and asking yourself if you are just doing stuff because your schedule tells you to, or if it really helps you improve. While you're at it, also ask yourself if you are covering all important areas, or if you are leaving something important out.. in that case, make place for it in the schedule, or write it down for later, when you get bored of your current study topics. Since you do change your schedule constantly, you are doing it right I think :)
If you feel to restricted, maybe keep your basic schedule but allow for some spontaneity within those?
Sorry for the wall of text, that certainly wasn't planned when I started typing D: Could probably have reduced it to the last sentence :P
I am working with a somewhat flexible schedule, which gives me a framework I can adjust to my need. So I will always start out with gestures (what exactly that means can vary - something like 15 and 30 sec figures, heads, hands), then something anatomy-drawing related and/or "special subject study" until lunch break. The anatomy part is geared towards what "bigger" project I am working on, like dynamic poses for a bloodsport challenge, or focused on what I think is my weakest part at the moment; while the "special subject study" is something like working through scott robertson, gurney, or another mid-term goal. afternoon is for working on finished pieces, if there's time left, application or what I feel I didn't get done in the morning. Evening is for social media, catch up on paperwork or painting whatever for fun. So in short, I do "categories" similar to you, but less detailed, because I work better if I do what feels most interesting or relevant at the moment. I do however spend a couple of minutes every evening thinking about what to study next day, i.e. throw photos in my 'to do' folder so I won't waste time the next morning on googling references. From time to time I get lazy or unorganized working like this, then it's time to be more strict with scheduling again... and loosen up when I am back on track. That said, everybody learns different - I personally like to focus on no more than 3 areas of study (right now: sketching, color, and whatever material/visual library I need at the moment) at a given time, and change those building blocks every couple of weeks... while others might want to mix it up constantly.
No matter which schedule, the most important thing I think is constantly revising it, and asking yourself if you are just doing stuff because your schedule tells you to, or if it really helps you improve. While you're at it, also ask yourself if you are covering all important areas, or if you are leaving something important out.. in that case, make place for it in the schedule, or write it down for later, when you get bored of your current study topics. Since you do change your schedule constantly, you are doing it right I think :)
If you feel to restricted, maybe keep your basic schedule but allow for some spontaneity within those?
Sorry for the wall of text, that certainly wasn't planned when I started typing D: Could probably have reduced it to the last sentence :P