Can't Draw, Won't Draw?

[phoenicorn]

basically i have been on CA for about 1 month and have been inspired to ditch the excuses of why i did not take the opportunity to draw.
I know the excuses i made to myself of why I did not draw but I would like to hear some of yours so this is what this thread is for.
simply post your old (or new) excuses. you may find them pathetic enough to make you want to draw and stop the excuses.
:yayca:

[FlameDragon]

My excuses usually were that I was tired from school, although I really wasn't that tired, or that I wasn't in a drawing mood at the moment. But those were really codewords for "I'd rather go online for 4 hours right now". All these hours I spend online, if I spent them drawing instead I'd have made alot of progress by now.

[phoenicorn]

My excuses usually were that I was tired from school, although I really wasn't that tired, or that I wasn't in a drawing mood at the moment. But those were really codewords for "I'd rather go online for 4 hours right now". All these hours I spend online, if I spent them drawing instead I'd have made alot of progress by now.
same sorta thing here but we can allways change

[jt4470]

Too lazy..
And here's a good one: "I'll never be good enough"
Which is my main deterrent.

[Dave Kendall]

I can't speak for any other artist here but me finding an excuse not to draw or paint would be like making an excuse not to take a dump with a full bowel. In fact drawing would be an excuse for the latter.

It's really not a chore, and if you find it is then give up any idea of doing it as a job, cause you're going to be doing a lot of it in your lifetime.

[TheComicFilmBoy]

I pretty much share Flamedragon's excuses, although I've also been depressed on other things and still feel like this often.

[resonanteye]

"I just drew for work all day, I am tired and my hands hurt, and I used up all my creativity at work. "

this is my excuse for not drawing to further my skills, after work hours.

[Nquyet]

Being too tired, not enough time, being in love...you name it. They are all equally stupid.

The thing is, drawing wasn't always a chore to me.
In fact, until a couple of years ago I used to spend most, if not all, of my free time drawing. Now my pencil feels so heavy, I tend to get tired just thinking about it.

Its probably the fact that back then I didn't sweat much over drawing's technical aspects like anatomy and stuff. Ever since I started taking myself seriously, I can't help feeling stressed over my lack of skill and stress kills the enjoyment.
I keep telling myself I need to loosen up, but then I'll open my 'favorite illustrations' file or take a look at my college entrance portfolio submission deadline and it all goes to hell.

I have yet to find a solution to this problem. I consider cut down on caffeine and start smoking pot instead.

[Favila]

tired, school "sucked" my art energy for the day, etc. All I did was lose time in internet

It's really not a chore, and if you find it is then give up any idea of doing it as a job, cause you're going to be doing a lot of it in your lifetime.

Obviously you have never had this problem, congratulations! But as you have never had it, you don't understand the problem. It's not that drawing is boring, or a chore. It's about procrastination. I sometimes procrastinate going out with my friends or the cinema, or watching a movie. I watch Lost and it took me 3 days to finally watch the latest episode.

[Farvus]

Well. I'm having remorse that I don't commit enough to my daily obligations. The main excuse is that drawing would distract me from doing them.
The thing is, if I could take away most of my internet time, I could sketch some stuff and manage to do all important work. Recently I reached really high level of procrastination. It destroys every carefully planned day and I loose most of the battles :/

[Coinpurse]

I think theres a difference between posting (showing) your work, and drawing altogether. I'm picky about the work I show, and never satisfied with anything I come up with. I only show about 10% of the artwork I create.

As for not drawing... It's as difficult as picking up a pad and running with your pencils. If your like me, one thing I noticed that does help: Draw whats on your mind, and don't "Plan" drawings out. I used to hold ideas in because of older ideas I wanted to work on first. Bullocks, draw/paint whats on your mind at the time.
Works wonders...

[phoenicorn]

i am really proud of what is happening here. this started out as an experiment to see how many people felt the same way i do but i can see some great advice filtering through. thanks every1. when ever i don't feel like drawing i look at this and i feel rejuvenated

[Mendics]

im always inspired somehow to draw and of course i also don't think its a chore but the problem starts when you actually draw.. i cant seem to draw whats inside my brain and get pissed off for not doing it right.. i guess thats my excuse..

[Thujon]

To be honest I feel guilty when I dont draw....drawing is what makes my day, the problem is that I have so much other stuff that I must do...and when its done I feel tired....

[Whitevillage]

I feel the same way, feeling guilty for not drawing. But on the other side, If you don't feel like drawing at the moment, then just don't do the serious stuff. You sketch or scribble nonsense that no one will ever see. And sometimes you'll get back in to the drawing mood after it shortly.

I don't mind surfing or doing something else after a day of work, you have sometimes to relax, free your mind or else it will become a burden if you 'MUST, MUST DO IT!!'. It ain't going to make your work look better either... ;)

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Most of the time, my main excuse is "Blah..."

I just dont want to do ANYTHING some days, like today (im sick and only 3 hours sleep) But I was still able to finish up some weapons for a client. Most of the time, you just have to push through the spell, and do something. But you can take breaks from your art of course, so dont listen to the people who say "You must draw NOW! You draw anatomy! Fuck sleep and food! You draw!"

[frostcrystal]

My problem is actually too much to draw, no time to draw it. xD I'm pretty much self-taught all the way and a lot of the time I find myself wanting to draw something really badly or feeling really inspired... but oh no, my programming assignment is due tomorrow! Does anyone here have problems like that?

It's times like this I kind of wonder if I picked the wrong major. :P

[Orunitier]

Too lazy..
And here's a good one: "I'll never be good enough"
Which is my main deterrent.

I pretty much share Flamedragon's excuses, although I've also been depressed on other things and still feel like this often.

pretty much...:[

[•Lindsay•]

I've never had trouble drawing a lot, except during the short time when I was on adderall. However I've always had trouble producing work for class. In the past they would let me get away with not finishing things and passing things in late. That doesn't work in college. Any assignment makes me anxious, it's hard for me to avoid procrastinating.

I don't like putting my work up when I know it's bad. It's painful to have my worst stuff seen by everyone. I usually don't mind the critiques, but sometimes people say things that are unhelpful. Like "you need to learn how to paint better" and when you ask for elaboration they say "just paint more." One problem is that a lot of my identity and sense of self worth comes from art. I bet none of you can come up with an excuse more pathetic than that. I need to get some other skills so I won't be so dependent.

[Favila]

I've never had trouble drawing a lot, except during the short time when I was on adderall. However I've always had trouble producing work for class. In the past they would let me get away with not finishing things and passing things in late. That doesn't work in college. Any assignment makes me anxious, it's hard for me to avoid procrastinating.

I don't like putting my work up when I know it's bad. It's painful to have my worst stuff seen by everyone. I usually don't mind the critiques, but sometimes people say things that are unhelpful. Like "you need to learn how to paint better" and when you ask for elaboration they say "just paint more." One problem is that a lot of my identity and sense of self worth comes from art. I bet none of you can come up with an excuse more pathetic than that. I need to get some other skills so I won't be so dependent.

Not pathethic at all for me, the class assignments issue you describe... I am very familiar with that. It happens to me all the time. Anxietiy, procrastinating, that feeling of "I made this piece of garbage because of some odd reason I can't explain, and I'd wish that no one would see it, ever", and getting the harsh and unhelpful criticism from some people. Some people don't help, just put you down. That has made me very reluctant to show 95% of my sketches, scribbles, and digital color sketches, because I am very unsure of myself for everything, but specially when it comes to art, and just one comment from that kind of people and it strikes me. I need to receive the exact ammount of praise and criticism, either way I break down or "rest on my laurels". That's why I prefer not to show most of my work...

[phoenicorn]

I've never had trouble drawing a lot, except during the short time when I was on adderall. However I've always had trouble producing work for class. In the past they would let me get away with not finishing things and passing things in late. That doesn't work in college. Any assignment makes me anxious, it's hard for me to avoid procrastinating.

I don't like putting my work up when I know it's bad. It's painful to have my worst stuff seen by everyone. I usually don't mind the critiques, but sometimes people say things that are unhelpful. Like "you need to learn how to paint better" and when you ask for elaboration they say "just paint more." One problem is that a lot of my identity and sense of self worth comes from art. I bet none of you can come up with an excuse more pathetic than that. I need to get some other skills so I won't be so dependent.
i think people give the "you need to learn how to paint better" when they can see something wrong but lack the knowledge to give constructive criticism. with regards to helping i have looked at your work and the way you can improve is by shading just try start off with a sketch of the scene you want and shade it first then apply colour. Once you have dont that when it comes to painting the scene use a light colour for the light areas and a darker shade for the shaded arras