Craig's Sketchbook

[JakeB]

There's some awesome comments in here already, thought I'd add some stuff though. I think part of the problem (for me anyway) is that we get so saturated with art... Here, on facebook, cghub, deviantart, wherever. You see so much ridiculously good art, but without any of the journey that went into it. Going back and looking at some of the old old CA thread sometimes helps put it in perspective (Always good to see that some of your favourite artists sucked in the beginning lol).


The other thing is that people don't tend to post the things that they get wrong. If someone posts a new image somewhere, it's because they're proud of it. I don't know who said this, but looking at facebook or DA is like comparing the worst bits of your life, to everyone else's highlight reel. It just makes everything seem so much harder in comparison.


As for getting back to it, I don't really have a fix for it. I've been through a few periods where I've abandoned piece after piece halfway through because it's not MTG standard or whatever. Which is stupid, and I know it's stupid, but at the time, it's just frustrating. Maybe just saying that you're going to finish something, by a deadline, might help. Do something super comfort zone-y and just noodle away at it? I dunno.


Also, I've found recently I get more inspired by other disciplines than by great art (goes back to being saturated with it I guess). I'm a big fan of Tim Minchin, and I remember watching his orchestra show on tv the other day, and just getting so pumped to work on art. Think it's something about seeing someone who's in such control, and has got so good in their own field, that makes me want to try and achieve that in mine. And maybe it's removed from art just enough that I'm not also competing/comparing myself to them. There's a few things that have the same kinda effect on me, I've been listening to a lot of 'This American Life' as a podcast (I think you're in the UK, but disregard the name, it's not super America patriotic whatever) and they seem to have totally nailed it. Great storytelling, interviewing, awesome writers. David Rakoff and David Sedaris are two humour writers I've been listening to/reading a ton of. Reading those really well crafted sentences that just make you smile always gets me pumped for some reason. Stand up as well, I guess for the same sorts of reasons. Watching a great stand up set is just super inspiring.

I dunno... I think about halfway through this I got a bit rambly. Maybe their's something in there somewhere though? Take it easy man :)

Oh and as an aside - that zombie painting kicks ass. Love it :D

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Ooo, I had an idea. You said you're frustrated with not seeing improvement? Maybe it'd help to do the complete opposite of comfort zone work. Change your workflow completely, and try and learn a new way of working. So if you start with linework atm, just paint everything. If you normally keep stuff kinda brushy, try doing soft brushes, really realistic, and using textures.

Just because when you do something new, you kinda suck in the beginning (on purpose) but because it's so new, you improve crazy fast. The learning curve at the beginning of a skill is always so much easier, and you improve so fast :).

I don't know if that's practical or not, but hey, might be worth a shot? You can always come back to your current workflow after a short period, but you'll have all these new bonus skills lol.