Frustration through study?

[Twelve]

Hi, I am just wondering if you did or still do get frustrated with studying. Last night I started up with some posemaniacs in hope to move onto Bridgman after a half hour warm up with 45 sec sketches. I found myself falling further into frustration in learning some anatomy. So I moved onto copying some artist I like just to cheer myself up and feel better about things. I find everytime I go to sit down and do some anatomy it happens all over again.

I feel ok with drawing from reference pictures of people, but when it comes to the likes of bridgman (drawing drawings as it is) i get increasingly frustrated. You have all been here, im sure. Well...at least some of us. How did you get through until you became super awesome at figure/character drawing?

[Hyskoa]

If you're frustrated while drawing or painting, it means you're actively thinking and learning.
If you're learning, it usually means you're getting better.
So you're getting frustrated at getting better.

[Kroevyn]

Well I'm by no means a pro, but from experience, I find that it helps if you don't think about making it "super awesome". If you go into it thinking "okay I'm going to make this amazing, and everything has to be perfect", it rarely comes out that way.

Discipline is obviously important, but studying should never be a chore, think about why you do it - eg, you want to be amazing at art, you like drawing etc, keep these things in mind and concentrate on what you're learning, rather than the outcome... if that makes sense. For example, if you're learning about the muscles of the arm, and you drew an arm that wasn't quite perfect, but you got the general gist of how the muscles are laid out, that's great, keep practicing with that information and you'll get there eventually.

Not sure how you are studying Bridgeman, are you reading the text along with doing the sketches? It helps if you read (some of) what he says so that you get a better understanding, rather than just copying the sketches line for line... but of course everyone learns differently, so I guess you have to find what works for you.

Good luck :)

[Farvus]

Frustration is natural side effect of learning. Without it you stay in your comfort zone and not challange yourself enough. You need to get used to it.

[Twelve]

Thanks for the encouragement :) I appreciate it and it has helped. So thanks.