- Joined
- Feb 1, 2023
Counting your efforts won't do you any good to you or your art.
It only deepens your sense of inadequacy, and turns your honest efforts into wasted ones.
The time you spend working, when you're doing it right, becomes uncountable.
You're looking at the gap (what you lack) instead of the gain (what you've learned).
As a way to help you streamline your efforts, stick to basic figures (circles, squares, triangles, deliberate lines).
If you can draw them from any angle you can draw anything.
You will have to master them anyway so no harm done.
There is an additional benefit to this, which is you getting access to the full extent of your mind's visual library.
It only deepens your sense of inadequacy, and turns your honest efforts into wasted ones.
The time you spend working, when you're doing it right, becomes uncountable.
You're looking at the gap (what you lack) instead of the gain (what you've learned).
As a way to help you streamline your efforts, stick to basic figures (circles, squares, triangles, deliberate lines).
If you can draw them from any angle you can draw anything.
You will have to master them anyway so no harm done.
There is an additional benefit to this, which is you getting access to the full extent of your mind's visual library.
You can always use some duct tape to put a paper over your tablet
(I've been working like this for eight years now).
Your mind will "realize" -or rather, reconnect- the things you are trying to do.
The sound of the stylus over paper is not much different than the one
you got accustomed to when drawing traditionally for years and years.
The mind does not see, but it remembers.
The only drawback of this is that it will eat your nibs about 35% faster than usual,
so make them count.
This is something you can do with a standard tablet only.
Cintiqs and similar (in this context) are for posers.
Bring me any Cintiq work and I'll crush it with my Intuos.
Don't even think for a second you need one of these to upgrade your skillset.
Also, for the setup: you have already admitted that switching to digital is unavoidable.
Might as well look for a way to have it set up beforehand if you are going to do this in the long term, and you will.
Also, perhaps a stupid non-advice: there is nothing wrong with setting things up to work comfortably.
(I've been working like this for eight years now).
Your mind will "realize" -or rather, reconnect- the things you are trying to do.
The sound of the stylus over paper is not much different than the one
you got accustomed to when drawing traditionally for years and years.
The mind does not see, but it remembers.
The only drawback of this is that it will eat your nibs about 35% faster than usual,
so make them count.
This is something you can do with a standard tablet only.
Cintiqs and similar (in this context) are for posers.
Bring me any Cintiq work and I'll crush it with my Intuos.
Don't even think for a second you need one of these to upgrade your skillset.
Also, for the setup: you have already admitted that switching to digital is unavoidable.
Might as well look for a way to have it set up beforehand if you are going to do this in the long term, and you will.
Also, perhaps a stupid non-advice: there is nothing wrong with setting things up to work comfortably.
Regardless of what the world decides to do, you are you.
Take every unnecessary pressure off your back as you can afford.
Be strict with yourself, without being unreasonably harsh.
Fill those now pressure-free moments with tutorials, daily practice and weekly projects (aka "good drawings").
1 good drawing a week are 4 good drawings a month and 48 good drawings a year.
There's your portfolio, your identity capital and the countable proof of your uncountable efforts.
You are an inking-oriented person, as I am.
Focus on shading and toning values. Make the color an afterthought.
Get the gist first, then use your inking knowledge to refine the results.
Iterate.
The only thing you need to make your time valuable is to turn it into deep work.
The only way to enter into deep work territory is to achieve flow states.
Flow states are achieved by focusing on what you are doing, without distractions of any kind.
Get familiar with the Pomodoro Technique. You will enter 'bullet-time' really fast.
If you can't accomodate time for flow states, you will never be able to reach your desired art goals.
The easiest way to achieve a flow state while drawing is getting your fucking phone off of your sight.
Don't draw while using your phone. Even using it for references is a trap.
Turn off internet from your PC if you have to.
I cannot stress enough how important this is.
Drawing will always take time. You have to make it count and nowadays
you have more tools at your disposal than never before.
That is your gain and your chance to create work you can be always proud of.
And once you're proud, you become a pro.
The only way to enter into deep work territory is to achieve flow states.
Flow states are achieved by focusing on what you are doing, without distractions of any kind.
Get familiar with the Pomodoro Technique. You will enter 'bullet-time' really fast.
If you can't accomodate time for flow states, you will never be able to reach your desired art goals.
The easiest way to achieve a flow state while drawing is getting your fucking phone off of your sight.
Don't draw while using your phone. Even using it for references is a trap.
Turn off internet from your PC if you have to.
I cannot stress enough how important this is.
Drawing will always take time. You have to make it count and nowadays
you have more tools at your disposal than never before.
That is your gain and your chance to create work you can be always proud of.
And once you're proud, you become a pro.
I hope any of this can be of use to you.
Don't stop drawing. If you never give up, you never lose.-
