aw shucks
Well, if anyone has any input that would be cool. I think I'm going to email them though, because why not? For 5 minutes of emailing I might get to make some more plushies for $$!
What do you guys do when you run out of steam and hit a block in regards to creativity? I'm scraping bottom now and need to recharge somehow.
Set yourself a problem you don't know how to solve, and then work to solve it. Trying to think of 'creativity' as something you just sit down for X amount of hours and "do" is generally pointless, as creativity is just problem solving, problem solving creativity. Trying to do one without the other doesn't work- it's like trying to jump without moving your legs and feet.
The trick is figuring out what sort of problem can be successfully solved in the time given. Too ambitious, like, "start oil painting for the first time on Monday and start busting out real sweet-ass shit by Friday", or "I want to learn human anatomy today" and you'll end up frustrated because you can't, realistically, get anywhere near that goal. But if you're not ambitious enough, and do something like, "doodle a character I've been doodling everyday in my notebooks for the last 4 years", and you get bored, because it's not challenging, and it seems that the problem has already been solved before you even try to accomplish it.
Finding the balance is key- you may not be able to learn all you need to know about human anatomy in 3 hours, but you can figure out how the flexors and extensors of the forearm work, and figure out how to draw them better. You can't learn how to paint in 3 hours, but you can figure out how to apply a complimentary color scheme. Conversely, you may not gain anything from doodling a character, but you can gain something by redesigning them to another artist's style, or figuring out how to effectively pose them to tell a set story. (Given, most people without already extensive experience are going to have a difficult time gauging where the balance is- this is one of the benefits of a class scenario with experienced teachers, so it becomes clear what's realistically possible in the class timeframe versus what is not.)
No artist is so good that they lack for problems of this type, (and those who think they do not have problems of this time are never as good as they believe they are) and thus the only thing to do is to pick one and solve it. It's not a matter of waiting for inspiration to strike, nor is it a matter of forcing yourself into a routine, both of which lead, ultimately, to stagnation. Set a challenge that will increase your skill- even if it feels like just a minute fraction- and that increase of skill allows you to take on tougher challenges. Keep at it, and eventually you'll reach a point where the problems you are working out are so subtle that no one except you will be able to see them as problems. Thus you get the appearance of the creative type that can just sit down and work creatively in an effortless and tireless fashion, with no apparent flaws or stumbles along the way- the mythical viewpoint with which most people view the creative person. The outside person sees it and feel it must be some muse or genetics or some other shit that is at the root of their work and accomplishments, and sit and lament their own lack of inspiration, and thus accomplish nothing for themselves.
If you mind lacks for problems when you pull out your sketchpad (blanking at this point is the reason that most artists will admit that they find a blank page to be incredibly intimidating), pull out your old work, and write down what bugs you about them, or pull out art you like, and write down what you like about them. Put that list of bullet points on the wall, throw a dart, see what it lands on, use the day to improve that point about your work. Don't work the point up in your mind, and make it a grandiose challenge, nor shrink away from the task and fall into complacency- it just remains to you to solve the problem in front of you, no less, no more.
Thank you for the well thought out response, I appreciate you taking the time to craft such an answer. I'll definitely take some of this to heart tonight after I get home from work.
Here is the painting. Though it's not the best picture and I had a couple of changes for him to make before he varnishes it. It's Asha from Song of Ice and Fire.
What do you guys do when you run out of steam and hit a block in regards to creativity? I'm scraping bottom now and need to recharge somehow.
Set yourself a problem you don't know how to solve, and then work to solve it. Trying to think of 'creativity' as something you just sit down for X amount of hours and "do" is generally pointless, as creativity is just problem solving, problem solving creativity. Trying to do one without the other doesn't work- it's like trying to jump without moving your legs and feet.
The trick is figuring out what sort of problem can be successfully solved in the time given. Too ambitious, like, "start oil painting for the first time on Monday and start busting out real sweet-ass shit by Friday", or "I want to learn human anatomy today" and you'll end up frustrated because you can't, realistically, get anywhere near that goal. But if you're not ambitious enough, and do something like, "doodle a character I've been doodling everyday in my notebooks for the last 4 years", and you get bored, because it's not challenging, and it seems that the problem has already been solved before you even try to accomplish it.
Finding the balance is key- you may not be able to learn all you need to know about human anatomy in 3 hours, but you can figure out how the flexors and extensors of the forearm work, and figure out how to draw them better. You can't learn how to paint in 3 hours, but you can figure out how to apply a complimentary color scheme. Conversely, you may not gain anything from doodling a character, but you can gain something by redesigning them to another artist's style, or figuring out how to effectively pose them to tell a set story. (Given, most people without already extensive experience are going to have a difficult time gauging where the balance is- this is one of the benefits of a class scenario with experienced teachers, so it becomes clear what's realistically possible in the class timeframe versus what is not.)
No artist is so good that they lack for problems of this type, (and those who think they do not have problems of this time are never as good as they believe they are) and thus the only thing to do is to pick one and solve it. It's not a matter of waiting for inspiration to strike, nor is it a matter of forcing yourself into a routine, both of which lead, ultimately, to stagnation. Set a challenge that will increase your skill- even if it feels like just a minute fraction- and that increase of skill allows you to take on tougher challenges. Keep at it, and eventually you'll reach a point where the problems you are working out are so subtle that no one except you will be able to see them as problems. Thus you get the appearance of the creative type that can just sit down and work creatively in an effortless and tireless fashion, with no apparent flaws or stumbles along the way- the mythical viewpoint with which most people view the creative person. The outside person sees it and feel it must be some muse or genetics or some other shit that is at the root of their work and accomplishments, and sit and lament their own lack of inspiration, and thus accomplish nothing for themselves.
If you mind lacks for problems when you pull out your sketchpad (blanking at this point is the reason that most artists will admit that they find a blank page to be incredibly intimidating), pull out your old work, and write down what bugs you about them, or pull out art you like, and write down what you like about them. Put that list of bullet points on the wall, throw a dart, see what it lands on, use the day to improve that point about your work. Don't work the point up in your mind, and make it a grandiose challenge, nor shrink away from the task and fall into complacency- it just remains to you to solve the problem in front of you, no less, no more.
Very nicely put AoB, I couldn't agree more with regards to creativity & design = problem solving.
Jesus christ. Apparently our landlady got caught in a dogfight somehow over our spring break...got one of her hands mangled up, and lost a finger on the other.
Jesus christ. Apparently our landlady got caught in a dogfight somehow over our spring break...got one of her hands mangled up, and lost a finger on the other.
Wow, that's horrible! Do you know more about the situation?
Jesus christ. Apparently our landlady got caught in a dogfight somehow over our spring break...got one of her hands mangled up, and lost a finger on the other.
Totally insensitive comment follows:
Well I hope at least she finally managed to shoot down that horrible Red Baron!
Jesus christ. Apparently our landlady got caught in a dogfight somehow over our spring break...got one of her hands mangled up, and lost a finger on the other.
Totally insensitive comment follows:
Well I hope at least she finally managed to shoot down that horrible Red Baron!
goddammit I don't get the joke and wikipedia isn't working.
Jesus christ. Apparently our landlady got caught in a dogfight somehow over our spring break...got one of her hands mangled up, and lost a finger on the other.
Totally insensitive comment follows:
Well I hope at least she finally managed to shoot down that horrible Red Baron!
goddammit I don't get the joke and wikipedia isn't working.
Jesus christ. Apparently our landlady got caught in a dogfight somehow over our spring break...got one of her hands mangled up, and lost a finger on the other.
Totally insensitive comment follows:
Well I hope at least she finally managed to shoot down that horrible Red Baron!
goddammit I don't get the joke and wikipedia isn't working.
You've never heard the term "dogfight" in reference to fighter plane combat?
Jesus christ. Apparently our landlady got caught in a dogfight somehow over our spring break...got one of her hands mangled up, and lost a finger on the other.
Totally insensitive comment follows:
Well I hope at least she finally managed to shoot down that horrible Red Baron!
goddammit I don't get the joke and wikipedia isn't working.
You've never heard the term "dogfight" in reference to fighter plane combat?
You were in the Air Force!
I was wondering how shooting down the red baron coincided with losing a finger.
Jesus christ. Apparently our landlady got caught in a dogfight somehow over our spring break...got one of her hands mangled up, and lost a finger on the other.
Totally insensitive comment follows:
Well I hope at least she finally managed to shoot down that horrible Red Baron!
goddammit I don't get the joke and wikipedia isn't working.
You've never heard the term "dogfight" in reference to fighter plane combat?
You were in the Air Force!
I was wondering how shooting down the red baron coincided with losing a finger.
I got confused as well and thought you were trying to reference Snoopy or something.
How so? There are a shitton of Peanuts comics featuring Snoopy vs Red Baron. Admittedly, my initial though was of Snoopy as well, but intelligence won over shortly after.
I think if I get sent to Hell after I die, my ironic punishment is going to be having to explain all the mediocre throwaway jokes I've made throughout my life to dull-witted, finicky morons for all eternity.
What do fighter pilots have to do with dogfights, class? Anyone? Just raise your hand if you think you've got it.
Posts
aw shucks
Well, if anyone has any input that would be cool. I think I'm going to email them though, because why not? For 5 minutes of emailing I might get to make some more plushies for $$!
Can we see the painting, Cake?
facebook.com/LauraCatherwoodArt
guys
E: You know what. I am a doofus.
artistjeffc.tumblr.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/artistjeffc
well I didn't do the shooping, but I did nearly shit my pants laughing, so there's that
Set yourself a problem you don't know how to solve, and then work to solve it. Trying to think of 'creativity' as something you just sit down for X amount of hours and "do" is generally pointless, as creativity is just problem solving, problem solving creativity. Trying to do one without the other doesn't work- it's like trying to jump without moving your legs and feet.
The trick is figuring out what sort of problem can be successfully solved in the time given. Too ambitious, like, "start oil painting for the first time on Monday and start busting out real sweet-ass shit by Friday", or "I want to learn human anatomy today" and you'll end up frustrated because you can't, realistically, get anywhere near that goal. But if you're not ambitious enough, and do something like, "doodle a character I've been doodling everyday in my notebooks for the last 4 years", and you get bored, because it's not challenging, and it seems that the problem has already been solved before you even try to accomplish it.
Finding the balance is key- you may not be able to learn all you need to know about human anatomy in 3 hours, but you can figure out how the flexors and extensors of the forearm work, and figure out how to draw them better. You can't learn how to paint in 3 hours, but you can figure out how to apply a complimentary color scheme. Conversely, you may not gain anything from doodling a character, but you can gain something by redesigning them to another artist's style, or figuring out how to effectively pose them to tell a set story. (Given, most people without already extensive experience are going to have a difficult time gauging where the balance is- this is one of the benefits of a class scenario with experienced teachers, so it becomes clear what's realistically possible in the class timeframe versus what is not.)
No artist is so good that they lack for problems of this type, (and those who think they do not have problems of this time are never as good as they believe they are) and thus the only thing to do is to pick one and solve it. It's not a matter of waiting for inspiration to strike, nor is it a matter of forcing yourself into a routine, both of which lead, ultimately, to stagnation. Set a challenge that will increase your skill- even if it feels like just a minute fraction- and that increase of skill allows you to take on tougher challenges. Keep at it, and eventually you'll reach a point where the problems you are working out are so subtle that no one except you will be able to see them as problems. Thus you get the appearance of the creative type that can just sit down and work creatively in an effortless and tireless fashion, with no apparent flaws or stumbles along the way- the mythical viewpoint with which most people view the creative person. The outside person sees it and feel it must be some muse or genetics or some other shit that is at the root of their work and accomplishments, and sit and lament their own lack of inspiration, and thus accomplish nothing for themselves.
If you mind lacks for problems when you pull out your sketchpad (blanking at this point is the reason that most artists will admit that they find a blank page to be incredibly intimidating), pull out your old work, and write down what bugs you about them, or pull out art you like, and write down what you like about them. Put that list of bullet points on the wall, throw a dart, see what it lands on, use the day to improve that point about your work. Don't work the point up in your mind, and make it a grandiose challenge, nor shrink away from the task and fall into complacency- it just remains to you to solve the problem in front of you, no less, no more.
EDIT:
Pics, dammit!
Twitter
Twitter
to put it mildly
Also BEST SHARKS. BEST.
Very nicely put AoB, I couldn't agree more with regards to creativity & design = problem solving.
I hate it when people say shit like this because it makes me want to start drawing again.
What, WTF. Why do those actually exist? (spoilered for ewwww)
artistjeffc.tumblr.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/artistjeffc
E: ND that is fucked. I don't even know what else to say.
Wow, that's horrible! Do you know more about the situation?
artistjeffc.tumblr.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/artistjeffc
Neither did we.
And no, Prox, she didn't really go into detail.
Totally insensitive comment follows:
Twitter
I suggested The Red Baron.
Apparantly it was a sensitive issue and she was not amused by this.
goddammit I don't get the joke and wikipedia isn't working.
Also, never GIS dogfight. Arrrgh yuck.
You've never heard the term "dogfight" in reference to fighter plane combat?
You were in the Air Force!
Twitter
I was wondering how shooting down the red baron coincided with losing a finger.
I got confused as well and thought you were trying to reference Snoopy or something.
artistjeffc.tumblr.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/artistjeffc
I'm sorry my dumb comment isn't the deep, layered joke you were hoping for.
Twitter
It's a really stretchy reference.
The Red Baron was a real person, as well.
I really hope that we two aren't the only people on here that knew that.
Twitter
You realize that one of snoopy's catchphrases is, "curse you, red baron," right?
Hell, there was an entire video game centered around snoopy shooting down the red baron
artistjeffc.tumblr.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/artistjeffc
How so? There are a shitton of Peanuts comics featuring Snoopy vs Red Baron. Admittedly, my initial though was of Snoopy as well, but intelligence won over shortly after.
edit: Metal got there first.
e: In the context in which it was delivered.
Sorry everyone. Sorry.
What do fighter pilots have to do with dogfights, class? Anyone? Just raise your hand if you think you've got it.
Twitter