Back to the basics

[calebartist]

It honestly took a lot for me to just get back into it at all, since no one has ever really appreciated my work, and I've never had faith in myself. But I'll keep it in mind. I did those sorts of things for years, think of this sketchbook as every little drawing I do even the bad ones you'd do on lined paper or throw away. Maybe one day they'll mean something.

I have almost zero attachment to anything I make, I see each drawing or painting as a stepping stone and am willing to discard it. 

To know me , as an artist more is to know my past self not just the current me. The foster kid with big dreams who had to deal with the cruel hand life gave me, and pursued excellence relentlessly, in art, school and everything else. Only to overdo it in every sense of the word, struggle with health issues and come back from depression., all while having to struggle just to reach the starting point in life, with no one to truly guide me but myself.

Art is beautiful in that way though, it gave me a purpose even back then, who knows where I'd be now without it, It kept me going. You can share a little of your soul with one another, and it gives you other worlds to visit. 

I love art, it's like breathing, but I also have a difficult relationship with it because frankly I'm not talented at all. Sometimes it's easier not to care, than to care so much and feel like you'll never be enough, as long as you live. I'll keep pressing forward, but the old me who only saw a bright beautiful future, well he's older now and just taking it one day at a time.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways here's a rough sketch from this afternoon- nothing special just trying to make sure I draw a bit each day.

[darktiste]

Care for it show you are alive. Care for it warm your hearth. At least care if no body will. Because caring is selflove.

Apathy lead to more apathy. There is no color in that world.

It is important to care about what you do because it directly impacts your well-being, relationships, and ability to contribute positively to the world. Caring about your work, for example, can lead to greater fulfillment, improved performance, and a sense of purpose, while also fostering stronger connections with others.
That notion of not being talented as to take the door. Nothing come easy. ''Not being good at something'' doesn't discard it value. 

Just because you have this experience of being discarded doesn't mean you shouldn't see value in what you do. We are born in circumstance beyond were own control and often will not be able to influence event until much later in life.
You can be always looking back which freeze the ability to move or you can reframe the way you think.


Here a post i wrote that can help operate a mental shift toward less apathy.
https://crimsondaggers.com/forum/thread-6483.html

[RicardoDio]

Sua arte é como sua historia! Persista não desista! Ótimos trabalhos espero ver mais futuramente!

[cgmythology]

Nice updates with your two latest, very well drawn and professional looking. Are you planning on coloring them or are you strictly focusing on drawing for now?

[dkdelicious]

There are really fun shapes in these, especially the second one.  There's a lot of potential here!!!

I love art, it's like breathing, but I also have a difficult relationship with it because frankly I'm not talented at all.

"Talent" is an interesting thing - colloquially, it describes some perceived innate ability.  But I always stress that in actuality, talent is the time spent on one's craft - the mileage you put in to get better.  Yes, someone could have more of an affinity, positive reinforcement, fire, or inspiration for something, but that just fuels how much you put into it.  It all kinda boils down to your mindset about everything.

-One film that really inspired me as a kid, that really showed that talent is training was King Gimp (1999).  It's a documentary about artist Dan Keplinger, who has severe cerebral palsy.  He paints pretty incredible painting with a brush attached to a helmet - he paints with his head.
-Another inspiration is Francis Tsai (April 14, 1967 – April 23, 2015), who was an accomplished comic book, and concept artist.  When he got ALS and lost the ability to use his whole body, he was still able to make amazing digital illustrations with just his eyes.
-One person I follow that continues to inspire is The Mouth Ninja, Henry Salas, who is a 90% paralyzed paraplegic artist that creates incredible pieces with just his mouth.
-Chuck Close is another artist that's thrived despite his circumstances.

Now you can see these examples of incredible feats of artistry, and be inspired or just chalk it up to something innate that we don't have.  It's a choice.  Choose to stay curious.

A lot of great art comes from interesting lives lived.  You seem to have a lot to offer from your experiences.  Maybe that can fuel your creativity.  If not, create new ones!  Seek out the stuff that keeps your fire burning.

Back to talent, Greg Manchess has a good post about it on Muddy Colors.  I've talked to him in person about it at the first Spectrum Fantastic Art Live convention back in 2012.  He really stressed not just training/practicing your craft, but informed practice.