Agh! I feel so insufficient...

[Abigail the Strong]

This is silly, and I really do feel lame for feeling this way. I went to a highschool art thing at the fair the other day, and I was feeling really good,but I sat in front of a canvas and painted with oils (for the second time) the next day.... I realize just how much work I need. I really want to paint with oils, but if it is depressing me is it worth it? Should I just focus on pencils/pastel for right now, and come back when I feel better? Or should I work hard now and feel a little bad about my skills for awhile.
I just need some help.

Thanks.
Abbie.

[Randis]

i tend not to give up on something once i started.
Sometimes when u learn something new and it does not work out right away, your head feels heavy and u are about to give up... don't give in, practice and work on it harder till it makes click.

[Ellingsworth]

I realize just how much work I need

I'm right there with you on that one, I feel like crap sometimes and I even question if I will ever even get good, try to find a steady pace that works for you, if you are stressing out relax watch some movies, then come back to it, works for me. Just try to do at least one thing a day. Even if it's small. Good luck! :)

[Runman]

I'm really hard on myself as well and what you really need is to take a break. Read or look at some amazing artist's work that'll inspire you to move on. :D

[el coro]

oils are ALL about mileage in my opinion. don't expect to have a masterpiece the first 100 times you sit down to paint. but if you figure out how it works, believe me, it will get easy as shit to make it do what you want it to do after a while. don't get too frustrated as its a great medium and will teach you tons about edges, temperatures, and all kinds of other important art thingz...good luck, and keep your head in the game :P-c36

[DavePalumbo]

Coro said it all. Frustration is just part of the learning process

[tomwaits4noman]

just a suggestion set yourself one goal in a picture,


break the picture down into sections work on the parts individually hone each
one then tackle the larger picture once you've honed your skills

[love Rx]

just a suggestion set yourself one goal in a picture,


break the picture down into sections work on the parts individually hone each
one then tackle the larger picture once you've honed your skills

good advice.

[BadGeometry]

I'm really hard on myself as well and what you really need is to take a break. Read or look at some amazing artist's work that'll inspire you to move on. :D

I can't tell you how good this piece of advice is.

I downloaded a pack of images by Marko Djurdjevic and spent a little time just looking at them. Once I finished looking at all of them, I just felt like I HAD to draw.

Sure, I'm miles behind this guy, but when I see his images, it makes me think of what I could become. That gives me such a huge drive to draw.
---
Abigail

I'm not sure how far you want to pursue oils, but if you ever want some visual inspiration, take a look at oils from many of the great masters. If you want a few images from someone more recent, check this guy (http://www.annnathangallery.com/pages/bruno_surdo.htm) out. He's one of my teachers at school and he's damn good with oils.

[ReCreate]

One of the worst things you can do is spend SOOO MUCH TIME on a piece of art... and in the end it turns out to be crap.

[wickeddiana]

Start painting portraits. Lots and lots of portraits. Your family, friends, self, photos of random people. Don't get stuck on any one painting for too long. Just keep cranking them out. Eventually you will simply get used to the oils and it won't be so scary to you anymore.