My biggest art-related issue at the moment is that each piece takes me way too long to complete. I don't think it's a question of skill, though. I have many bad habits that I need to curb in order to address this issue. Primarily, I procrastinate working on my art. If I spent more time at the desk, I'd get more progress. I also stop often to just look at the art and contemplate my next move. Problem is that it kills the momentum and once I slow down, it gets harder and harder to start up again. At present, my priority is being able to open the canvas and work for 30 minutes unabated. It is a small goal but no journey is completed without taking a first step.
Artist, creativity enthusiast, content creator and other things that are probably irrelevant.
Age 33, Male
Digital Artist
Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
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Comments
Hmm, interesting. Is there are particular reason for the fear of getting started? Is it because of not wanting to go through slowing down or stopping midway, losing that groove, so you kinda procrastinate starting on the canvas? Usually when it comes to not starting on drawing in the first place, there're distractions and external issues affecting your mood overall so it's just demotivating or tiresome. Though like do you have an idea on what you wanna draw before starting or are you spending the time unsure of what exactly to draw before you start?
Well, I already have several pieces that I need to work on. I'm not starting anything new recently. Part of the fear would have to be making mistakes and having wasted effort or time. Which (from a logical point of view) is dumb because putting in the effort and failing is still better than doing nothing. But emotions don't play according to logic so the fear is there regardless.
Logical or no, it's still something to consider! Art is not entirely based around logic or skill, your mental health and mindset is a major factor to consider that's sometimes overlooked. It's important to self-reflect on these habits and ask yourself if this is something you really want to deal with every single day. Sometimes the fear itself is enough to stop someone from doing anything. Only focusing on the negative thoughts will only lead to more negative thoughts if you let it get to you. Negativity is very contagious, and sometimes it even clouds your perspective from reality. It'll steal the joy right out of you, and it's definitely something a lot of artists deal with, so you're not on your own with this!
Sometimes it's better to just let go of the thoughts and just see where it goes. Play it out and if it's a bust, it's a bust. Scrap and keep going. You learn more about your process each time you draw, refining how you approach your works and how you understand it, resulting in an easier attempt on the next. However, believing that things will not work out or getting a bit too stuck up on the thought will might aswell make it happen. It'll feel like that thought will only happen over and over and over, it'll make things a bit hard to really get past this obstacle. However, it's still something you can get over!
Doing some doodles or quick sketches everyday, something quick and easy, atleast starting on something then seeing it to the end also applies to this. You've gotta get some wins on your belt, and scrape off that rust! With those atleast you're doing something, and when you feel up to it, you can even get working on those other works you've put to the side. Warm ups are just godly for it, something to get the ball rolling. It might even help with getting a little focused on art in general, preparing your mind for it. There's nothing to lose when the doodle or warmup you're doing is pretty much disposable. If it doesn't work out, scrap and start anew. Doesn't need to be anything complexed or mind-blowing. x)
As long as you've done something, your time has been worthwhile. (but also if like, these other pieces have a deadline and kinda rely on the art for like money, then man at some point you gotta just bite the bullet and commit LOL.)
Piilsud
Hey! You're 100% correct on the whole no journey is completed without taking a first step, especially when it comes to art due to how you'll never learn anything or improve if you don't put in the effort in the first place. Identifying the issues that may be hindering your performance is one thing, but actually putting your foot down and working at changing things up is another! Glad to see you've not only identified what's been going on, but also decided to take the step to get better!
So to get to the nitty gritty, what exactly is making you procrastinate? Is this an issue of not necessarily knowing the direction you want to take this artwork and going on a blank, spending too much time on a single aspect of the piece that is pretty hard to figure out, or what? It's always hard to lose the groove in the middle of the artwork considering it's sometimes difficult to get it back, especially if you're unsure of what you're doing in the first place. Without a direction or general idea of what you wanna go for, it's gonna be pretty difficult to get the ball rolling! :o
MaAlGon3
Thank you for your reply! As I mentioned, my hindrance is the fear of getting started. Meaning opening the art software and putting down the first few brushstrokes. After that, the biggest issue is slowing down or stopping, which makes it hard to start making progress again. What makes me slow down or stop is hard to say. It's difficult to stay focused on drawing for a long period of time.