TV Playing in the Background. GOOD or EVIL?

[tn100]

When I draw, I usually have the TV playing in the background. Would you consider this a good or bad thing? I know a lot of people say they like listening to music while they draw but for some reason, it doesn't work out so well for me. It is better than pure silence but it doesn't keep me going for long hours. I'll get tired and stop very quickly while TV playing in the background let me sit at my drawing table 6 hours straight yesterday. Now... I'm not even sure if this is good or bad because on one hand, it lets me enjoy sitting there all day but I'm not very sure whether it's slowing down my mind absorbing the drawing I'm doing because of a visual distraction.

[Mirana]

It's a huge distraction to me--I don't even like it playing in another room. Either I constantly stop working to look up and watch it, or I can't concentrate. The only time I can use it during art is when I'm sculpting.

[Elwell]

When I draw, I usually have the TV playing in the background. Would you consider this a good or bad thing?

If it works for you, it's a good thing for you.

[Carl Dobsky]

I personally hate it. And I mean HATE it. I distracts the f*ck outta me.
But I know cats like Coro and Kemp don't mind it at all. Probably even enjoy it.
Elwell's right. Ultimately it's whatever works for you.

[Lastro]

I hate it as well. Like Mirana, I have to stop and watch what's going on. I don't mind that it's on at the other side of the house, though.
Personally, I love listening to classical music while drawing. Loud music distracts me.

[Wooly ESS]

A TV playing in the FOREGROUND is evil. In the background - well, words just escape me!

Still, the first thing many folks do when entering a room is turn on the TV, and then go about their business. Personally, I can't stand it, but if it works for you - go for it!

I don't have cable - can you tell?

[PuppyKitten]

I always have it on in the bg. (Well, sometimes I just listen to music).

I really like being able to dart my eyes back and forth between the TV and computer. Takes longer to draw something, but I find I am MUCH less frustrated with the process itself when I have bg noise.

[Max Challie]

I cannot work with the TV on. But if you were to take one reply from this thread and forget about it, take what Elwell said.

EDIT: Not that I ever watch TV anyway. I simply can't find anything interesting on it.

[Slaskia]

I often sketch while watching a DVD (don't have cable either), which can get a bit interesting when the show I am watching is in a foreign language and I have to read subtitles .

Other times, especially if I'm working on digital work, I may play music. I really all depends on the mood I'm in...

[Boolean]

I prefer to listen to music, it helps get me in the moment. TV just distracts me. On the other hand I know people have said that a movie that relates to what they are working on play in the background really help get them in the right mindset and I can understand that.

[watermonster]

I don't have a TV where I draw, but I sit in front of the computer, turn on a DVD and watch it. It really helps me with its background noise. However, it must be something I watched before, or else it's a major distraction.

I watched "What Women Want" over 4 times this way, while drawing.

[tn100]

It definitely looks like lovable music is totally whooping the negative response to the background TV so I'm going to give music some more tries. Maybe I just wasn't listening to the right type of music. I'm not sure why a movie in the background does it for me but I still worry about it slowing me down. I do take short breaks during good parts of a film so that may or may not be good... I do agree with the post above me about the film being a movie I have already watched before though. It's a lot better because you don't become curious about what's happening since you already seen it. It just becomes background noise that puts you into an artistic mode.

[Aniboomer]

I like to work with tv on the background, but only with something that doesn't distract me too much - video clips, bad soap operas etc.
otherwise I wouldn't concentrate.

[Dave_]

There is no Good or Bad, k maybe terrible anime.. but, if you prefer to draw like this, and it keeps you drawing for 6 hours straight, it would be your preference, its a personal thing.

[TheComicFilmBoy]

Funny that someone asks about this because last night, I was drawing while watching Jurassic Park. I think I did okay, but I kept saying things like, "You didn't say the magic word, We got Dodgson here, and clever girl."

Most of the time though I'll either draw in silence or while listening to music.

[B u r l]

People are just different. Some like it, others don't. It's only bad if it's hindering your outcome of work.

I like to listen to music (classical or soft music) as it effects me emotionally, and in return that emotion effects the paint stroke to some degree. I also paint better when i'm wrapped up in some mental cocoon where I feel i'm the only person in the world, and having that calming music pumped into my ears helps to create that isolated effect.

[reversenorm]

I tend to watch DVD's, and I only put on DVD's that I've watched a couple of times. This let's me feel okay ignoring the movie most of the time, because I don't need to follow the plot.

However; I try to avoid putting on anything visual when I'm starting a piece. It's one thing if you're spending hours shading but quite another if you are trying to conceptualize.

In terms of music, I like it a lot but sometimes it doesn't satisfy the part of my brain that's not in use when I'm drawing (or whatever). Often in this case I listen to the news, books on tape or radio dramas.

[Chaoz]

I watch super sentai while drawing... It is probably bad

[Whirly]

Its always going to personal but if you do them both a few times and really concentrate on what difference it actually makes you will get the best answer. I used to do it all the time and have found it is very very distracting when I am trying to do things in a certain way.

For example I am currently working on Loomis head construction and with the TV on I ended up just copying shapes and not thinking about the actual 3D construction or learning very much. I can be more 'turned off" doing the former but the latter needs more concentration and it definitely had a major effect.

[nofu]

Well if it works for you, good. I have no problem with a TV in the background, unlike music, especially when there's no one home. If I don't have a TV, some random series playing minimized works too.

[ConnyNordlund]

Works for me sometimes. I usually listen to things on the computer though because headphones cancels out other sounds that bothers me.

Whatever works for you.

[Black Spot]

Evil - I watch TV if I want to watch something. Don't understand people who use it as moving wallpaper.

[Heyriel]

TV is 'evil' for me whatever I do at any time of the day. But watching YouTube vids (Let's Plays or the occassional Movie) usually works well; They distract a bit from painting, which is why I prefer music for that type of work, but sketching is great with something to watch on the side c:

[Tugelbend]

I often have some tv show or movie, which I've seen already, running in the background when I'm doing something relatively mindless like rendering or sketching. Because I know the plot already I can allow myself to not really listen.. it just becomes some kind of advanced background noise. I wouldn't recommend doing that for more important things like figuring out compositions, designs, color schemes etc. because that stuff should require your full attention.

[sknawt]

Sometimes, I'll have it on just to kill the loneliness ;_;

[bcarman]

I don't understand questions like this. If this is working for you and an awesome artist says it doesn't work will you stop?

[Lady Medusa]

Yeah, do what works for you.

Personally I prefer to have either the TV or some music on. I find concentrating in silence to be a rather tense experience and get distracted when noises appear (Car alarms, dogs barking, people walking by, and so forth).

[Candra H]

I don't understand questions like this.

Me neither.

It's just such an odd thing to ask. Why would someone care whether people think it's a good or bad thing to have a television on while drawing?