Action vs knowledge and ?

[Madman!]

I've been visiting the boards for sometime and have been drawing for a good couple years. I've noticed a lot of talk about the importance of anatomy and I do see it's importance. Spending time learning it has helped my drawing skills and I have improved a lot of the last couple years.

The problem is I can't seem to draw and study at the same time. If I'm drawing it's like I can't concentrate on the book and vice versa. I would like to know if you guys read and draw at the same time or do you do it separately? Do you think its better to do it at the same time or separately?

There is also the time spent on the internet. I feel bad cause at the moment I have no job so I have all day to draw. Yet I can't seem to get myself to spend the whole time drawing. I've tried to make a schedule and goals and I can't stick to it. I didn't have this problem 2 years ago in school. I would spend all day drawing then come home and draw as well. How do you guys get yourself to keep yourself at your desk? and I know you have to want to and that isnt a problem. It's in my mind all day that I want to and that I know I should be.

I think I could being doing a lot better and could be very good. This is my last drawing attempt to see maybe I'm wrong.

http://www.joemadfan.com/mytempartfile/sketch05.jpg

One more question maybe Andriod or someone else could answer. Andriod mentioned in another thread a book called Color Atlas of Anatomy: A photographic study of the Human Body and it was the 5th edition. I want to get this book, but I've only see it for like 60$ and if I look on Ebay I can find the 4th Edition for like 10$. Does any body have the 4th edition and do you think its as good as the newer one?

thanks for your time

[Sammy]

Your heart is in the right place, so your skills should follow...

as far as an art book goes... I have a hard time sitting down with one as well... sometimes you just gotta get out and draw naked people!

You can read about how to drive a car all you want.. but you don't learn how to drive a car until you get behind the wheel...

[Madman!]

well I know what you mean by figure drawing is important and I'm trying to get involved again with that. I've finally found a session in my area. What I want to learn is how everything works. So if I can't get to the model that I can just remember it from the book and draw it.

Your car example is good what if you never have driven before you can't just get in the car and drive. You'd have to at least read something first. I would think that just drawing from the figure only gets you so far.

When I was a school we drew from the figure. I still had no idea why the anatomy was doing what it does to make that pose. Do you read the book while your doing life drawing or at home later? When your drawing the firgure are you trying to see what it's doing or just drawing it for like keeping your pencil moving? In the classes I took it was like some of the pose times you didn't really have time to think about anything. Then when I'd return home its like it did really no good, cause when I sit down it would be like starting over trying to construct a pose.

I know that I should be doing it all and maybe it's just that I'm in a slump, but I don't know maybe I'm really doing something wrong and can't push forward. Maybe there is a more efficient way I could go about learning. This is what I do mostly I get up check out my e-mail and the internet mostly art boards and see what everyone is doing. Then watch tv/etc then about anywhere after dinner I start drawing. That only seems to last about 2hrs(this is probably every other day). Then it's like I'm magically sitting back at internet or at least reading a book on something art related. If I open like Painter or Photoshop it still feels like I should be drawing at the desk drawing, yet I want to be good at those programs as well. How do you guys balance everything that you want to be studying? and still make progress.

[Sammy]

when I have a hard time drawing.. when I'm in a rutt.. or a slump..

I get a project started.. that usually helps me.. if there's a contest you could join.. or help with someone...

it best to find a 3d modeler who's thinking of ideas for his 'folio and help him conceptualize / draw some nice designs and orthos.. get into it..

if that can't be done play the line game - get a pal to draw a random line then make a form from it

[nil]

those are some good tips Sammy, im in a similair position to Madman and while I cant offer any advice I can certainly sympathize.

N.B. The Internet is bad. bad bad bad. it will steal your time and slowly consume your soul...oh yes...your soul.....
*ahem* plus, looking at how awesome everyone else is all the time can really get to you if youre not where you want to be skill-wise.