meds-sketchbook

[meds]

Okay, at least I got the lighting mostly right.  Now I just need to focus on making it more effective.

And, I didn't use a photo, or any reference for that matter.  Shame on me I guess.

[Patrick Lawrence]

Well just ment you probably have in the past so got used to that lighting.

[meds]

Actually, I think I just got confused because my intention was diagonal lighting, but clearly I didn't do that.  hahaha! So, technically, I guess I did screw up the lighting.  And yes, it probably is because I'm use to photographs.  Hopefully master studies will help wipe that from my brain.

[Patrick Lawrence]

Ya they will help and doing simple objects. And doing things constructivly will help since you see the head in its basic shapes.

[meds]

I'm not so good at doing simple things.  But, I will make an effort to try.  Sometimes I wish I was more like Krel or Michelle and would be able to do the studies more often.  I really have to force myself.

[Patrick Lawrence]

Well one of the things you have to learn is to be able to do things that need done that are not always fun. Both for learning and later for work if you choose to say do illustration work. One thing is to figure out how to approach each thing in a positive frame of mind and have fun with it.

[michellega]

Aw, Meds :;:hugs:::  I ain`t no angel at these things, you know.  I just have too much free time on my hands three days out of the week.  You just need to find your own unique routine that fits your time, your personality, and your goals.  What that video of Robert Beverly Hale, or Scott Robertson gnomon if you can. I  find those inspirational.   I also try to browse through the art works on DA/CA and Kitchen to keep me inspired.

You can do it!! ^_^

[Patrick Lawrence]

Good advice it helps to find things that inspire you:)

[michellega]

I like to look at pretty things XD  If I feel like I am not progressing or I want to quit, I look at pretty stuff and think--I WANT to do that!  I CAN do that!  Then I get all revved up and try again.  But different strokes for different folks--meds might need different motivation. ^_^

[meds]

This is great advice, except for me it isn't about not having inspiration or motivation.  It's kind of the opposite. I'm have too much inspiration.  I'm always drawing.  But, if you go through my sketchbook (not something I recommend hahaha) you'll notice that there are very little studies.  It is full of pictures.  Now of course, I do have my art course thread, but I don't really do studies outside of the art course.

If I have an idea that wants to be drawn, then I have to do it.  And, normally all studies get put on the back burner.  Of course, I do have those ideas that I know are too complicated, but most of the time, once it wants to be drawn, it's drawn.  I don't always think about whether or not it will look good.  A perfect example is the Curly Q girl I just did, and that started out as just a doodle.  I didn't do any studying this week, and yesterday I was so involved in the painting that it finally dawned on me that I didn't even know what day it was.  I had to ask.  I thought it was Sunday, but it was Saturday.  So much for time management. 

What I'd like to be able to do is reach into my brain and turn down that drive a little bit, so that I don't feel like I have to draw.  I'd like to learn to be a little more balanced, to keep doing the creative stuff, but not at the expense of studying.  Of course, I imagine this will only get harder the better I get because once I can actually draw the ideas in my head, then I think the creativity can really take off.  I better learn to balance myself now.

[michellega]

I do understand what you mean---I have a million pictures that keep popping into my head.  I somehow am able to hold back on drawing them, though.  I think that is because I know that what I want to accomplish is above me at the moment ,and as soon as I get some more skill I can do them justice.  I want to match what I see in my head, so I wait...go figure ^_^;  But I, too, sometimes get the images that haunt my dreams and won`t let me sleep.  Those get drawn no matter what lol

[meds]

This is just the quick sketch I did while bored with anatomy studies.  I thought it was kind of cute.

[Patrick Lawrence]

Haha slacking of while doing your anatomy homework  

[meds]

It's true, it's true! hahaha!  I just can't help myself.  I have such a hard time studying.  I guess I'd get a bad grade on that homework assignment.  I'm starting to realize that if I ever want to get to a professional level, I'll have to work twice as hard because I'll spend most of my studying time goofing off.  hahaha!  Any advice?

And, this is totally random, but is a little fun fact. I read that Mucha's mom noticed that he liked drawing before he was walking.  So, she made him a necklace of crayons so that he could draw whenever he pleased.  (I'll try to find the source).  I don't know how she managed to keep a toddler from coloring over everything in sight, but I'm glad she noticed her child's abilities. 

[Patrick Lawrence]

Well how you study and your amount of concentration etc can and are all shaped by habits. So try and concentrate for a set time that is a little bit longer than you normally would do. Than add to that over time. Keeping in mind to get up and walk about every hour or so. Any way over time if you put your mind to it you will get better at forcing yourself to study. And always keep your long term goal in mind to help motivate you.

Neat fact about Mucha.