Ambi's Sketchbook

[John]

I still feel like even things I've done over and over aren't getting any better with brute force(i.e. mileage)

I gotcha. I can totally relate. The worse scenario is that feeling of not progressing. And on top of that, feeling like you're slipping back. There are times I draw a torso from memory. Even though I think I've drawn enough torsos, during that instance, it looks as if I never had drawn one rib cage in my life. I end up nuking everything, study and start over. It's brutal! It happened to me more times than I would ever expect!

It was difficult to be in that mess because there's that nagging feeling that all the work, studies, and past pieces were for nothing. Maybe it's true. But often than not, it isn't. It's our way of reassessing our knowledge of the fundamentals, seal in the cracks while adding on more information to it. The progress might not be apparent with the output we're churning out, but that honestly of saying: 'maybe I'm being complacent with such and such', is enough to put our hands into action and work out the kinks. Even though it's a venture to familiar territory, it never cease to amaze me that there are times I can still find new discoveries and ways of doing things.

All I'm saying. You are doing alright. If you need crits, or second opinions, you know where the paint over section is. I'm sure a lot of people here are more than willing to help and you don't have to deal with it alone.

(But let's be honest, most of the time you *will* be dealing with it by yourself. We can't paint what's in your head! Haha!)

I guess all I can do is try for another 5 years and hope for the best

Hope I'm not being too nosy, but why do I get the feeling you're going to turn on the art kill switch in 5 years?