Letter From a Frustrated Artist - Draftsmen S1E11 - Proko
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Date: 2022-03-14
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Comments and reviews: 10
AkashB
Okay - so this is me posting after I 'heard' the letter.
Gosh, I know how Rafael feels! I am currently on my third Instagram account because I too had deleted my previous two - and I haven't even been studying for as long as Rafael here (Rafael started taking classes from 2014, so I am guessing he started to learn or tinker with it by himself from somewhere around 2013 or so - so, a total of 7 years until now)
This is only my second year I think. So here's me hoping that this episode will be an insightful one: D
Edit - After I have watched it: It was a good one! As always! But yeah, cannot put down any encouraging art stories for Rafael (because like I told earlier, this is only my second year of drawing and I cannot draw half as good as him yet. But, Rafael, if you are reading this - let me share a mathematics story with you.
Do you remember those trigonometric problems you had to solve for height and distance back in high school? If not, the problems used to be sentenced like this: -Two inclined wooden planks are at ABC and DEF degrees with respect to the ground - find distance between them on the horizontal level (basically ground) if the point where they are touching is forming XYZ degrees where G and H are the lengths of those planks. - I never got those right.
For two years - every single problem I had to solve in the exams for this topic - be it a class test, or a mock test or mid-term, I never managed to get it right except one time - during the final exam of high school - the only time where it actually mattered(actually one problem did not matter at all but you probably get the idea. So, I guess what you can think of is -It is not over unless it is over. -: )
Be strong, stay positive and maybe instead of 2-3 hours at a stretch if it is burning you out, study in smaller stretches with small tiny tiny breaks in between (don't use all of those breaks for smoking though! :P Maybe a cup of coffee, some peaceful music, some cartoons, anything which puts your mind at ease) before jumping back to it.
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Okay - so this is me posting after I 'heard' the letter.
Gosh, I know how Rafael feels! I am currently on my third Instagram account because I too had deleted my previous two - and I haven't even been studying for as long as Rafael here (Rafael started taking classes from 2014, so I am guessing he started to learn or tinker with it by himself from somewhere around 2013 or so - so, a total of 7 years until now)
This is only my second year I think. So here's me hoping that this episode will be an insightful one: D
Edit - After I have watched it: It was a good one! As always! But yeah, cannot put down any encouraging art stories for Rafael (because like I told earlier, this is only my second year of drawing and I cannot draw half as good as him yet. But, Rafael, if you are reading this - let me share a mathematics story with you.
Do you remember those trigonometric problems you had to solve for height and distance back in high school? If not, the problems used to be sentenced like this: -Two inclined wooden planks are at ABC and DEF degrees with respect to the ground - find distance between them on the horizontal level (basically ground) if the point where they are touching is forming XYZ degrees where G and H are the lengths of those planks. - I never got those right.
For two years - every single problem I had to solve in the exams for this topic - be it a class test, or a mock test or mid-term, I never managed to get it right except one time - during the final exam of high school - the only time where it actually mattered(actually one problem did not matter at all but you probably get the idea. So, I guess what you can think of is -It is not over unless it is over. -: )
Be strong, stay positive and maybe instead of 2-3 hours at a stretch if it is burning you out, study in smaller stretches with small tiny tiny breaks in between (don't use all of those breaks for smoking though! :P Maybe a cup of coffee, some peaceful music, some cartoons, anything which puts your mind at ease) before jumping back to it.
reply
Yobeeno
On perfectionism: With my commercial art and game dev work, deadlines helped. High standards are great but complete the work as best as possible within a time frame. Best advice I ever had was from a producer who talked about aiming for 80% of your 'best work'. A complete project at 80% of your personal standard of 'perfection' is going to be amazing to most clients. If we have time, you can go back and tweak this or that, but at least the product is complete and can ship. It's NOT to accept for less, definitely want for more, but don't expect to perfect it in any one design. Skill develops with each work. I've seen younger artists work for months on one personal design, refining and frustrating over small details. A solution would be to 'just get it done' and save those learned fixes for solving in the NEXT work, and your finished work will improve naturally.
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On perfectionism: With my commercial art and game dev work, deadlines helped. High standards are great but complete the work as best as possible within a time frame. Best advice I ever had was from a producer who talked about aiming for 80% of your 'best work'. A complete project at 80% of your personal standard of 'perfection' is going to be amazing to most clients. If we have time, you can go back and tweak this or that, but at least the product is complete and can ship. It's NOT to accept for less, definitely want for more, but don't expect to perfect it in any one design. Skill develops with each work. I've seen younger artists work for months on one personal design, refining and frustrating over small details. A solution would be to 'just get it done' and save those learned fixes for solving in the NEXT work, and your finished work will improve naturally.
reply
Storn
On enjoying the plateau. here is my take.
Enjoy the plateau, keep working, because around the corner is a breakthrough. Learn to recognize the plateau as the revving up period to the breakthrough. If you can do this, then when you hit the plateau (and oh my god, I've hit so many in my work, it becomes a thing to savoir, encourage and look forward to. because it is leading up to the really fun stuff. I know the good stuff is right around the corner and if I keep on keepin' on. it is goign to happen.
Its like doing a gentle stretch, not a tendon ripping splits. but gentle, invigorating, before getting on the tennis court or pickle ball court or MMA mat (or whatever exercise you do.
reply
On enjoying the plateau. here is my take.
Enjoy the plateau, keep working, because around the corner is a breakthrough. Learn to recognize the plateau as the revving up period to the breakthrough. If you can do this, then when you hit the plateau (and oh my god, I've hit so many in my work, it becomes a thing to savoir, encourage and look forward to. because it is leading up to the really fun stuff. I know the good stuff is right around the corner and if I keep on keepin' on. it is goign to happen.
Its like doing a gentle stretch, not a tendon ripping splits. but gentle, invigorating, before getting on the tennis court or pickle ball court or MMA mat (or whatever exercise you do.
reply
Hi
Damn I think I'm pregnant because I see full-on animations going on in my head and stories most of the time and those are the things I wish to bring to life with art and while pursuing those goals and setting little goals and not spreading myself thin I've been improving quickly I don't think I'm talented even if he would consider someone like me talented but I view my self as someone who has a goal and drive along with a clear vision and the want to put in the work to get there I view my self as a hard worker going against as many odds so I can make the things I want to express them to the world
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Damn I think I'm pregnant because I see full-on animations going on in my head and stories most of the time and those are the things I wish to bring to life with art and while pursuing those goals and setting little goals and not spreading myself thin I've been improving quickly I don't think I'm talented even if he would consider someone like me talented but I view my self as someone who has a goal and drive along with a clear vision and the want to put in the work to get there I view my self as a hard worker going against as many odds so I can make the things I want to express them to the world
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Mr
Im just starting art at 40, every drawing I make brings satisfaction because there is an effort to draw it better than the last one, I know it has mistakes but fewer than the last one. this mindset makes me enjoy each practice greatly. Sometimes those -aha! - moments come when something clicks and you can suddenly draw a new feature from any angle LEVEL UP! Look at it as an RPG game, enjoy the journey from the beginning to the end, when you reach level 99 and finish the game, start a new one, learn new techniques and enjoy again. You will be a master without knowing that you are.
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Im just starting art at 40, every drawing I make brings satisfaction because there is an effort to draw it better than the last one, I know it has mistakes but fewer than the last one. this mindset makes me enjoy each practice greatly. Sometimes those -aha! - moments come when something clicks and you can suddenly draw a new feature from any angle LEVEL UP! Look at it as an RPG game, enjoy the journey from the beginning to the end, when you reach level 99 and finish the game, start a new one, learn new techniques and enjoy again. You will be a master without knowing that you are.
reply
Old
glen keane doesn't get images, aphantasia is real. I also cant visualize. i think it helps, my drawing in some ways because I never had trouble drawing with symbols, drawing the line / what I can actually see was natural. I have a scratchy drawing style if I am not using references, I play on the page and judge what it looks like. after making it. (idk how to say it better, i work it out on the page ) Or I photoshop / collage a bunch of references and go from there.
I think I started drawing as a replacement for my lack of visualization
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glen keane doesn't get images, aphantasia is real. I also cant visualize. i think it helps, my drawing in some ways because I never had trouble drawing with symbols, drawing the line / what I can actually see was natural. I have a scratchy drawing style if I am not using references, I play on the page and judge what it looks like. after making it. (idk how to say it better, i work it out on the page ) Or I photoshop / collage a bunch of references and go from there.
I think I started drawing as a replacement for my lack of visualization
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Yotrymp
Raphael should fill sketchbooks as fast as practically possible. Start out with garbage. Just scribble. Try quick figure drawings and don't worry about the results. Cause mistakes and move on from them. Learn to live with mistakes. You're always going to have them, and you're always going to see them. You already have a critical mind, so that's not something you should be focusing on at the moment. Don't worry about social media much, just post your best stuff once your head is cleared up from filling sketchbooks.
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Raphael should fill sketchbooks as fast as practically possible. Start out with garbage. Just scribble. Try quick figure drawings and don't worry about the results. Cause mistakes and move on from them. Learn to live with mistakes. You're always going to have them, and you're always going to see them. You already have a critical mind, so that's not something you should be focusing on at the moment. Don't worry about social media much, just post your best stuff once your head is cleared up from filling sketchbooks.
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Exhortations
You could use a rock hounding analogy for this too. Sometimes you have to dig through a lot of dirt before you find you find a gem. I've been a dabbler in drawing since grade school and only in the last few years have I started taking it more seriously. Progress has been slow, but I can see in my sketch books where I am improving and what still needs work. I would like to sell my work someday, but for now I am just enjoying the process. :)
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You could use a rock hounding analogy for this too. Sometimes you have to dig through a lot of dirt before you find you find a gem. I've been a dabbler in drawing since grade school and only in the last few years have I started taking it more seriously. Progress has been slow, but I can see in my sketch books where I am improving and what still needs work. I would like to sell my work someday, but for now I am just enjoying the process. :)
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Rachel
If the day ever came that I said to myself that I have no drawing ability and never will, I would probably (and I don't mean to alarm you when I say this) take my own life. I'm not a singer; my cerebral palsy means I'll never be an accomplished musician; I'm in a wheelchair so I can't dance. Drawing is the one avenue I have in which I can make a name for myself. The prospect of being mediocre, of being dull, is terrifying.
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If the day ever came that I said to myself that I have no drawing ability and never will, I would probably (and I don't mean to alarm you when I say this) take my own life. I'm not a singer; my cerebral palsy means I'll never be an accomplished musician; I'm in a wheelchair so I can't dance. Drawing is the one avenue I have in which I can make a name for myself. The prospect of being mediocre, of being dull, is terrifying.
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Daniel
Personally best thing to deal with frustration is don't look at those 10 years or whatever timeframe you have. Don't rush and feel that you're out of time. just do it. you will progress naturally. Looking back at your old work will show you how much you progressed.
reply
Personally best thing to deal with frustration is don't look at those 10 years or whatever timeframe you have. Don't rush and feel that you're out of time. just do it. you will progress naturally. Looking back at your old work will show you how much you progressed.
reply
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