Kick Me!

[Alucid]

I have been away for a long while and I want to start picking things up again. I know there are many threads like this, but I am finding it hard to settle down into getting things done. I find I start sketching for 5 mins at a time then stop. Not getting anywhere. Me and my girlfriend broke up a month ago from an 8 year run...it plays on my mind a little...maybe this is playing a part in my inability to get back into the swing of things. I find myself switching from pencil and paper to photoshop to alchemy with no feeling of initial direction. I really like characters, enviros, creatures and mechs. Where can I start? My last sketchbook on here didn't start out or last to well. But I would really like to start working up a portfolio. I really want to do this but feel I cant, it's hard to explain. Any suggestions?

[Xeon_OND]

I have been away for a long while and I want to start picking things up again. I know there are many threads like this, but I am finding it hard to settle down into getting things done. I find I start sketching for 5 mins at a time then stop. Not getting anywhere. Me and my girlfriend broke up a month ago from an 8 year run...it plays on my mind a little...maybe this is playing a part in my inability to get back into the swing of things. I find myself switching from pencil and paper to photoshop to alchemy with no feeling of initial direction. I really like characters, enviros, creatures and mechs. Where can I start? My last sketchbook on here didn't start out or last to well. But I would really like to start working up a portfolio. I really want to do this but feel I cant, it's hard to explain. Any suggestions?

Some folks here will have 2 words for you upon reading your post: GO DRAW. :p

Anyway, I checked out your sketchbook and I think it's pretty good. I mean, you're already at the stage of drawing figures and not learning the basics of drawing. That's considered a pretty intermediate - lower advanced stage.

You gotta really cherish whatever you have and stop feeling so EMO about it. I can't draw as well as you and I don't feel like what you're feeling now.

1) Lock yourself in a room. If there are any distracting items in the room, such as gf's poster / photos, porn videos, xBox 360, radio, iPod, fleshlight, dildo, PSP or any possible objects of distraction, chuck them out of the room before you lock it.

2) Chuck away your watch / mobile phone. Set the alarm clock to ring 3 hours later from the time you lock your room.

3) Set up a table, a chair, a few pencils and some erasers and some papers. Start drawing till the alarm clock rings in 3 hours time.

4) Don't think of anything during this time. If gf's image pops to your mind, fuck it. Keep on drawing your figures non-stop regardless of whether you can concentrate or not. Keep doing this for 2 weeks straight and then post here to see if your mindset has changed.

5) Repeat this routine 2 times in a day (meaning 6 hours of drawing) if possible.

6) You're still young and you gotta man up. God didn't give you balls so that they sag down and shrink. God gave you them so that you can be a real man who is able to fully control his life.

I used to be really emo, living an aimless life and now I realized what a total waste of time that was. Imagine: the past 6 years when I was an emo bastard living a life with no direction, I could have fucking use the past 6 years to learn drawing and I would be drawing pretty well by now. Maybe even able to draw realistic figures and heads. Same goes for you.

7) Find some role models here to inspire you. This Finnish guy, Taneli, is hardworking as fuck. See his sketchbook:
http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=126492
He draws and draws, makes studies, draw from life, draw self portraits, draw anything.

4 years down the road, guys like him will be working as an artist doing characters, enviros, creatures and mechs in some hot shot company with hot chicks craving for him.

4 years down the road, if you still don't man up now, you won't be doing characters, enviros, creatures and mechs. You'll be spending most of your time drinking beer at some pub and eating chips at night while watching TV on the couch.

That's all I gotta say. For the gf part, a pick-up artist once told me never to give your all to any one girl until she has married you. Girls ain't angels and they change.

[Alucid]

Xeon >>>>>> Thanks you made me smile. Just for the record, I am by no means Emo, lol.

[DeadlyFreeze]

You aren't self motivated don't bother.

I'm sure some other forum members will coddle you but that's the bottom line.

[Pezz]

3) Set up a table, a chair, a few pencils and some erasers and some papers. Start drawing till the alarm clock rings in 3 hours time.

4) Don't think of anything during this time. If gf's image pops to your mind, fuck it. Keep on drawing your figures non-stop regardless of whether you can concentrate or not. Keep doing this for 2 weeks straight and then post here to see if your mindset has changed.

5) Repeat this routine 2 times in a day (meaning 6 hours of drawing) if possible.

Man, I wish I lived on this planet of 36 hour days where people can do that! I guess my 2 hour life drawing class counts though

[Noah Bradley]

*kick*

[Alucid]

You aren't self motivated don't bother.

I'm sure some other forum members will coddle you but that's the bottom line.

Reverse Psychology. Thanks

[bjoern3000]

Hey Xeon - don´t scare him off - hehe

Actually I can not serve with any useful hint since all what Xeon posted was unconcious for me. I did all that without forcing me. When I was young I copied the Spider-Man figures out of the McFarlane comics (I loved his art) just because of the fun it made. The hours went by and I did not notice.

That you started this thread shows me that you have enough desire to make it.

Got to go back to my Bargue plate .........

[Alucid]

Xeon hit the nail right on the head and McFarlane kicks ass

[Kan Muftić]

1. Simplify your tasks and forget about fantasy images
2. Learn the craft, inspirational art will follow
3. Quit forums for a while
4. Get laid, it really takes nostalgia away

[Xeon_OND]

Man, I wish I lived on this planet of 36 hour days where people can do that! I guess my 2 hour life drawing class counts though

Yeah, I've been wondering about this too. I see some guys working 9+ hour days and still have plenty of hours left to draw, play video games, exercise, hang out at pubs and still have plenty of time left to go out with gfs / wives.
These must be the same guys who sleep 2 hours a day. Or maybe for them, they're entitled to 56-hours per day.

1. Simplify your tasks and forget about fantasy images
2. Learn the craft, inspirational art will follow
3. Quit forums for a while
4. Get laid, it really takes nostalgia away

Best damn advice ever, except that I don't quite agree with 3.
Joining forums like CA will get you in the mood for art. It's like, you hang around here, see others' art, learn new things about the craft, get to know that you're not alone etc., and you'll be inspired to draw more.

4. is very good advice too, but make sure you use rubber protection.

[Pezz]

Yeah, I've been wondering about this too. I see some guys working 9+ hour days and still have plenty of hours left to draw, play video games, exercise, hang out at pubs and still have plenty of time left to go out with gfs / wives.
These must be the same guys who sleep 2 hours a day. Or maybe for them, they're entitled to 56-hours per day.

I really don't understand how they do it either. I'm working two jobs ...was around 40 hours a week, got them down to 28... and going to school full time (4 classes, 3 are studio art classes). The 2nd job is just for discounts at Michael's, but also to shovel away money for college. My days are filled with PT and exercise, team hockey practice on Saturday mornings, games on Sundays, riding my bike for an 1.5 hours at least 3x week since I am trying to lose weight.

Many days are either full 12 hour days of work, or 14 hour days of school and work. I get up extra early (4-6 AM) to work on painting homework (you can't cram an oil painting can you?), make a hearty breakfast etc. In the end I really only sleep from 11:30 PM - 4:30 AM on most nights. I'm actually home sick today because I beat my body up.

I cram some me-time in for drawing on saturdays after hockey but before work. On mondays and wednesdays, if I can see straight and don't pass out on the bed in the life drawing room between classes (2 hr break), I draw whatever pops into my head. I wish I had time to just be alone, by myself with no other obligations or work for 3-6 hours a day and let my pencil move but there's always something to do. In fact, I'm only on here because I'm taking a break from laundry and generally feeling like lethargic shit.

[Taneli]

I live in a country where unemployed are mercifully given enough money for rent and food. Considering that, and that I have zero other responsibilities than getting good at drawing, I think I'm not drawing nearly enough even at 8 hours a day.

Pezzle: That sounds really hard. I don't know how you manage it. My deepest respect for you. I'm so weak I burnt out with drawing for a couple of months straight when I was working 27,5 hour weeks. Man, my grit level is zero... Sigh.

[Pezz]

I don't know how you manage it.

I don't. I feel like utter crap right now. I hope I haven't re-awakened the mono beast.

[Sebastard]

I live in a country where unemployed are mercifully given enough money for rent and food. Considering that, and that I have zero other responsibilities than getting good at drawing, I think I'm not drawing nearly enough even at 8 hours a day.

Yup, same here. I actually own the house i live in as well, lowering my monthly costs even more. I think 10-12 hours is pretty reasonable in such a situation, straight practicing, drawing or reading about drawing/painting. I try to push it to 12 a day, getting up at 8 AM and drawing til 10-11 PM with a few breaks .

Still, reading some of the things here...i'm happy i live in Sweden .

As for starting to draw...there's no secret to it, as i see it. You decide to do something, and you do it. Simple as that. It's about will, self-discipline and ignoring distractions. Day after day.

[Xeon_OND]

I really don't understand how they do it either. I'm working two jobs ...was around 40 hours a week, got them down to 28... and going to school full time (4 classes, 3 are studio art classes). The 2nd job is just for discounts at Michael's, but also to shovel away money for college. My days are filled with PT and exercise, team hockey practice on Saturday mornings, games on Sundays, riding my bike for an 1.5 hours at least 3x week since I am trying to lose weight.

Many days are either full 12 hour days of work, or 14 hour days of school and work. I get up extra early (4-6 AM) to work on painting homework (you can't cram an oil painting can you?), make a hearty breakfast etc. In the end I really only sleep from 11:30 PM - 4:30 AM on most nights. I'm actually home sick today because I beat my body up.

I cram some me-time in for drawing on saturdays after hockey but before work. On mondays and wednesdays, if I can see straight and don't pass out on the bed in the life drawing room between classes (2 hr break), I draw whatever pops into my head. I wish I had time to just be alone, by myself with no other obligations or work for 3-6 hours a day and let my pencil move but there's always something to do. In fact, I'm only on here because I'm taking a break from laundry and generally feeling like lethargic shit.

For a start, drop the exercise and use the time instead to draw. Seriously, for a lot of people, as long as they don't touch cakes, ice-cream or chocolates and eat only healthy food, it's not easy to get fat.

Btw, your avatar looks like Mona Lisa.

[Pezz]

For a start, drop the exercise and use the time instead to draw. Seriously, for a lot of people, as long as they don't touch cakes, ice-cream or chocolates and eat only healthy food, it's not easy to get fat.

Btw, your avatar looks like Mona Lisa.

I'm just gonna drop one of my jobs. That's the time-eater. I'm literally just holding out until I can get guaranteed hours at my other job.

I definitely dont want to give up the cardiovascular long term health benefits of exercise. I play in a competitive women's hockey league and love chinese martial arts. I've already lost 62 lbs, and I've got another 60 to go. Exercise stays.

Comparing me to La Gioconda? You shouldn't have! He he. I guess I do have that smirk in my av eh?