Afraid to draw for fear of failure?

[Jason Rainville]

The reason I put a question mark is that I'm not sure if this is really the case.

The problem is (on the surface at least) I can't drag myself to create/study because I feel like I have to finish it NOW as in before the day is out or else it will become something that steals my time. I also feel that the longer it takes, the more I realise that I wasted my time because it's not coming out right.

I feel that I'm really drawing and studying to put things into my sketchbook rather than really working towards something. I find myself passing up certain reference subjects because I think "it won't turn out right and I won't put it in my sketchbook" or I find myself creating/finishing something quickly because I want MORE in my sketchbook to feel like I'm working hard.

It's a huge problem that's been inserting itself into my ass ever since summer. The last time I really did a lot and didn't have a hard time getting through it was when I set out a number of things for me to do like copy all of the muscles in my anatomy book or do studies of cloth, themed based stuff like that. Now that I've burned through my anatomy book I don't know what else to do. I try to start things up but stop quickly because of frustration.

Is there a real problem with a real solution or am I just being a pussy? (or is that the problem...)

[kev ferrara]

Just a thought: Go re-read Harvey Dunn's lecture notes and The Art Spirit by Robert Henri.

A further thought: Just what do you want to do with your life young man! :)

[enrigo]

Just a thought: Go re-read Harvey Dunn's lecture notes and The Art Spirit by Robert Henri.

A further thought: Just what do you want to do with your life young man! :)

Is The Art Spirit a free thing I can get online like the lecture note ? It sounds interesting if it helps with this issue. :drinkup:

[Dave Kendall]

Put the anatomy sessions to good use by taking sports, dance and energetic human photography and start drawing them as anatomically flayed figures. a really useful exercise. You should be able to fill up at least a couple of sketchbooks that way.

[Flake]

I find myself passing up certain reference subjects because I think "it won't turn out right and I won't put it in my sketchbook"

So don't put it in your sketchbook. Take half an hour to draw it, then throw it in the bin or delete the file. Trashing crappy drawings is very therapeutic and you still did the practice. Do this lots.

The last time I really did a lot and didn't have a hard time getting through it was when I set out a number of things for me to do like copy all of the muscles in my anatomy book or do studies of cloth, themed based stuff like that. Now that I've burned through my anatomy book I don't know what else to do

Sounds like you work better with clearly defined goals so set yourself more of them depending on your interests?

-Illustrate 5 scenes from your favourite book
-Re-imagine that disappointing film, if it hadn't sucked. Paint what you see.
-Paint your favourite subject in 5 different styles
-Join in with one or more of the community activities
-Burn through a different anatomy book
-Master copies
-Take your favourite dvd, pause it at cool bits and paint it
-Make a comic book, if you're not a writer take your favourite book and do a few pages from that
-10'000 self portraits
-read a shitload of art books and watch lots of movies, just for inspiration.
-Learn basic 3d
-Take a week off and hang out, you may have burnt yourself out.

These are all entirely of the top of my head and you'll have different goals but I'm sure you get the idea- set goal, try for goal, fail, learn.

Definitely read the Dunn notes though.

You might want to read "Art and Fear" as well.

[kev ferrara]

The most you can do online, as far as I know, is read portions of The Art Spirit through google: books...

http://books.google.com/books?id=s-ChHfAIZGIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+art+spirit&ei=-8mfR5CiB4SkiQGyzYCsCg&sig=-QVffqr398pFQRsrGpZz6b0RLgg

But the books is cheap enough used, and good enough, that it is well worth buying.

kev

[dose]

There's always this sort of meta-stuff about making art that we have to deal with- fear of failure, delusions of grandeur, ideas about how it's supposed to happen or how you're supposed to be, etc. It's a good idea to include that under the umbrella of your art study. Go into those problems rather than away from them- they can provide a lot of interesting answers that really enrich your life as an artist.

Sounds like you've got some baggage about the sketchbook. Maybe a good idea to examine that. Here are some questions you can ask yourself that might shed some light on the problem:

- What are your expectations about your sketchbook?
- What are your expectations about how you should be acting differently?
- What assumptions are you bringing to the table about your sketchbook?
- What assumptions are you bringing to the table about your progression as an artist?
- Where should you be that is different from where you are now?
- Could you switch up how you approach your sketchbook (multiple sketchbooks, private sketchbook, loose sheets that you throw away no matter what)?

Whatever hangup you have about this stuff is probably going to hang around. Try to find the cause, not just treat the symptoms. Easier said than done, of course, but a good thing nonetheless.

Hope this helps

Tim

[kool-ka-lang]

The most you can do online, as far as I know, is read portions of The Art Spirit through google: books...

http://books.google.com/books?id=s-ChHfAIZGIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+art+spirit&ei=-8mfR5CiB4SkiQGyzYCsCg&sig=-QVffqr398pFQRsrGpZz6b0RLgg

But the books is cheap enough used, and good enough, that it is well worth buying.

kev

Okay that book preview is seriously a teaser.I actually got into reading it, and then it says that page 19 was omitted. :( Need this one.

[Jason Rainville]

You guys are great. All of that was what I needed (material and words)

I'm making a list of things to do, with at least ten for each section. If it turns something out, I know my method.

[Ilaekae]

Deadlines are both the greatest boon and worst obstruction to creativity. Use 'em when you have to.

And...here it comes...heresy...get the fuckin' pitchforks...

IF you're not ashamed to show your sketchbook publicly, you're doing it wrong. The worst of anything you've ever done should be in there. How else are you gonna learn to do good stuff unless you get through the shit first...


...idiot... :P

[dusty imp]

Ilaekae brought up a good point about certain expectation of quality from the sketchbook work. Call me crazy, but I think the misconception about the ideal sketchbook being this artistic tour de force comes in no small part from the stuff we, ironically, see on this site. We see all the cool shit people post in their sketch-threads (any of the pros being a good example), and may start to think that gee, maybe that's what all their work looks like. We all make crappy drawings, pros just make good ones too.

[Earendil]

IF you're not ashamed to show your sketchbook publicly, you're doing it wrong. The worst of anything you've ever done should be in there. How else are you gonna learn to do good stuff unless you get through the shit first...

So post more or less shit? I've got a lot to wade through. :)