As someone also on their art journey, finding and unlocking creativity is hard. I want to draw from imagination and when an idea comes I am constrained by skills and execution. But it motivates me to improve. I loved your reflections! I love that you are not discouraged by things such as inconsistency or lack of growth.
Oh man I have a lot of thoughts. First and foremost, your dog is so expressive! I see why you chose them as your primary subject. Before I get introspective, I have one tip I've picked up on the internet recently that may help you out. Using watercolor pencils as a preliminary sketch tool for going under water-based paint is apparently more in line with what pros do. Since it's more water soluble, it's less likely to still be visible through the paint afterward like graphite pencils. And finally, though I'm relatively new to following you, I have been so proud of you for sticking with this and coming back even when it's been hard. Now for my own thoughts and nonsense. I really struggle with persistence. I'll always talk about how I wish I could draw, how I want to practice, etc. but then when I actually have time and the drive at the same time? Mental block--creative crickets. I don't have kids at home, just a very needy elderly cat. But I'm 31 and starting from a place of "took one drawing class in college ten years ago", so I really vibe with your goals here. I recently signed up for a "learn classical drawing" class on weekends through January, but I'm getting antsy in the meantime. ...however, I noticed something fun yesterday. All I did art-wise was some warm up exercises and practicing some cubes. And somehow, a little while later, I felt the creative shift in my brain. I was actually able to think outside of my usual box, and I know it's because I *did* something that the creativity got unlocked, not the other way around. I actually had a spontaneous, silly idea for a drawing! I so rarely have silly ideas anymore, so that was huge. I wrote it down and I'm intending to give it a shot today. Maybe it'll inspire me to do something even sillier! It's been interesting realizing that part of the reason I was so creative and flexible as a kid and in college wasn't because of my young age or my lack of working a 9 to 5, but likely because I was doodling all the time to stay focused in lectures. Somewhere along the way, I forgot that my brain LIKES drawing and uses it to process all kinds of information and instead started treating art like a Big Important Event that needs to have meaning. So, I'm the opposite of you I guess. I need to create, but I know I can't be a professional artist because that would take away the total subject freedom that I need to be able to enjoy the process.
@MaiseNow thank you so much for the tip! I actually have watercolor pencils and have never known to use them that way, and definitely will in the future. And thank you for the encouraging words! I really appreciate you sharing about getting creatively unblocked (and also I feel like your very needy elderly cat would be a great subject of a drawing :) Just that description alone sounds like they have a lot of character!) Creativity really does feel like something that you have to wake up and keep away, so I hope you draw all of the silly things that come to your mind for years to come!
As someone also on their art journey, finding and unlocking creativity is hard. I want to draw from imagination and when an idea comes I am constrained by skills and execution. But it motivates me to improve. I loved your reflections! I love that you are not discouraged by things such as inconsistency or lack of growth.
Oh man I have a lot of thoughts. First and foremost, your dog is so expressive! I see why you chose them as your primary subject.
Before I get introspective, I have one tip I've picked up on the internet recently that may help you out. Using watercolor pencils as a preliminary sketch tool for going under water-based paint is apparently more in line with what pros do. Since it's more water soluble, it's less likely to still be visible through the paint afterward like graphite pencils.
And finally, though I'm relatively new to following you, I have been so proud of you for sticking with this and coming back even when it's been hard.
Now for my own thoughts and nonsense.
I really struggle with persistence. I'll always talk about how I wish I could draw, how I want to practice, etc. but then when I actually have time and the drive at the same time? Mental block--creative crickets. I don't have kids at home, just a very needy elderly cat. But I'm 31 and starting from a place of "took one drawing class in college ten years ago", so I really vibe with your goals here. I recently signed up for a "learn classical drawing" class on weekends through January, but I'm getting antsy in the meantime.
...however, I noticed something fun yesterday. All I did art-wise was some warm up exercises and practicing some cubes. And somehow, a little while later, I felt the creative shift in my brain. I was actually able to think outside of my usual box, and I know it's because I *did* something that the creativity got unlocked, not the other way around. I actually had a spontaneous, silly idea for a drawing! I so rarely have silly ideas anymore, so that was huge. I wrote it down and I'm intending to give it a shot today. Maybe it'll inspire me to do something even sillier!
It's been interesting realizing that part of the reason I was so creative and flexible as a kid and in college wasn't because of my young age or my lack of working a 9 to 5, but likely because I was doodling all the time to stay focused in lectures. Somewhere along the way, I forgot that my brain LIKES drawing and uses it to process all kinds of information and instead started treating art like a Big Important Event that needs to have meaning. So, I'm the opposite of you I guess. I need to create, but I know I can't be a professional artist because that would take away the total subject freedom that I need to be able to enjoy the process.
@MaiseNow thank you so much for the tip! I actually have watercolor pencils and have never known to use them that way, and definitely will in the future.
And thank you for the encouraging words!
I really appreciate you sharing about getting creatively unblocked (and also I feel like your very needy elderly cat would be a great subject of a drawing :) Just that description alone sounds like they have a lot of character!) Creativity really does feel like something that you have to wake up and keep away, so I hope you draw all of the silly things that come to your mind for years to come!
Im with you bro, same life situation, just starting my art journey.. Much love to you and to all who you inspire.
Thanks, man!
Amazing video 👏 just got this on my feed and didn't not regret clicking on it
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!