how do you deal with frustration?

[Saving_the_World]

I have this problem that I've been suffering through for the past couple years. After I've been drawing something for awhile, and the mistakes start mounting, I start getting frustrated. Trying to fix something a dozen times and it still comes out wrong, redoing proportions that still don't look right, or any other thing like that is when it starts to happen, then I just start rushing things and make more mistakes.

I'm still very much a beginner so I'm not expecting to be doing grand masterpieces or anything, but being frustrated at myself is damaging me I think. Even when I consciously force myself to slow down while fixing things, I will reach a point where I just give up. It's a huge wall that I just can't seem to get through, even though alot of people just tell me to keep going and I'll eventually get over the hump. It's been wearing me down mentally and lately I've been thinking of just giving up art all together and pursue something else. In fact, the last time I drew something was in march.

Anyone have any advice or a step by step tutorial on adjusting ones own attitude? Kind of at the end of my rope.... :[

[dfacto]

Drown your sorrows in hard liquor man. Vodka will straighten you up. Either that or lay you out flat, but you won't know the difference.

:vodkamachine: :vodka2: :vodka1: :vodka2: :vodkamachine:


But seriously, the only thing I do is just step away for a bit and then draw again. I always get an upper after a downer, in the form of a surprisingly good piece which I didn't think I could churn out. I then feel good, and have enough juice to keep going until the next batch of mistakes takes me down a notch.

[peterhurman]

funny you should post this because i have felt the same way today. trying to draw felt like a retard trying to do astrophysics.

since you havent drawn anything since march you cant expect anything to change unless you draw more. i suppose it just takes blind faith that as long as you put in the hours one day you will be amazing. the best advice i think i can give to you would be dont give up. just imagine how much you would regret it in a few years.

[el coro]

i usually just rub one out and everything is fine :)-c36

[gasmask]

i agree with D, alcohol and women are a good gettaway, other than that, know that frustration comes from learning, if you arent getting frustrated, that means you arent getting better so ur on the right track, stick with it, i know it sucks but do it

[0kelvin]

Always keep in mind, it's okay to make mistakes. Not every piece is going to be great, or even good. Mistakes are good. They teach you what doesn't work. You're never going to stop making mistakes (and if you have, you need to get the hell out of that comfort zone you're sitting in), so learn to use them to your advantage.



0kelvin

[N D Hill]

I count to 10, sit quietly in my favorite chair, turn on Mortal Kombat and beat the shit out of Subzero.

I also recomend any game that arms you with a mini gatling gun.

[darth massacre]

Pretty much what everyone here says is to get away from it and go back to your stuff with a clearer mind (after venting someplace else).

Or join an art class.

[SJ Bennighof]

Just sit down in a comfortable chair, crank up some tunes, relax, and just draw whatever the hell comes out of your brain. Don't try to control the pencil, just let it all fall out. Some of my favorite drawings have come from that.

[-sideshowbob-]

DONT pay attention to ur THOUGHTS when they distract yu...

when u feel furstration coming up in ur body.. tell urself that furstration dun helps u learning how to draw.. and tell ur frustration to piss off :tihi:

the drawing process is a long road dude.. i do tons of studies evryday and all of them are WRONG because i still cant draw like a pro means i do mistakes like other guys do... but we need these mistakes to improve.. no mistakes no imrovement

i dun think iam wrong when i say that we may need 1000000000000 wrong drawings to get 10 good
and u need 90000000000000 to become a pro at drawing.. i know this is much .. but its worth it and while u draw u dont pay attention to that number but to thast stuff u draw.. and thats where ur attention should focused on : DRAWING

ever asked urself why getting frustrated ?

when i see me doing tons of mistakes.. i just tell myself -> ok u don like it that way but u need it to improve..

i focus on drawing and when my mind tells me iam frustrated i just ask him : why : and then ma mind just shuts up because i know i caan incent tons of excuses to appologize this interpretation of my emotion s.. but its still just an illusion..

dunno how to explain.. but logicaly frustration dont helps learning how to draw.. but why we may keep being frustration ? is it fun ? ^_^ its more like a trap because we identifiy us with these emotions and our thoughts? no matter how illusionary they are ? ... dont pay attention to ur thoughtr or emotions but to that one spot inside ur heart*body thats telling u : draw


pay attention to drawing instead to ur frustration or ur distracting thoughts...its not helpfull !



with a clear mind and open heart learning how to draw becomes lotsa fun



(((..try to find that source of ur frustration and kill it..or it will come back again and again.. ..kill the source!!! :perv: iv done that too.. its really worth it !)))


:yayca:

[Carnifex]

i usually just rub one out and everything is fine :)-c36
ditto. :teeth:
edit: also try doing some tiny thumbnails first. do these until you feel you're ready to take on something bigger. don't think about details first. they will come along when you keep thumbnailing.

[NoUseFrAName]

frustration comes from over-inflated desires. You can go down a level and get all depressed and not draw, or you can go up a notch and light a fire under your rear and get angry about it.
Drawing slower isn't always the key...you might need to draw faster and more violently to break through whatever barrier it is that you're facing.
If you can't master perfection, try to master imperfection. Scribble like crazy....make mistakes on purpose....and eventually you'll stop making them by accident.
Scribbling is to drawing as crawling is to walking. A lot of artists try to get into hardcore drawing straight off the bat, and they end up falling on their faces metaphorically speaking.
When you scribble well, you get a sense of when it's appropriate to draw loosely and when you need to be slow and precise....you learn to compose art rather than merely how to reconstruct ideas.

Also, frustration is clearly a mental issue, and not an art issue...so it probably isn't some technique that you haven't heard of that's keeping you from making leaps and bounds in ability....it's all in your head. Laugh about it.

-Rob

[look]

When that comes, I usually will find some referrence photo and do a few quick paint practices off the referrence. It would help me to forget about the old picture, and also help me to learn something new. Even a few random doodles would help, if you are't in the mood of doing paint practices.

Either that, or start to release all my frustration on someone else, like my bf. :tihi:

[corky13]

I smahs in the "loudest" band i find in a few secs and hammer my ears off my head...and i DONT draw anything during this process....oh jeah !!!

[nicolas]

i usually just rub one out and everything is fine :)-c36


sound advice. listen to the man.

[bRyaN]

i usually just rub one out and everything is fine :)-c36

HAHA!!..

And don't forget magic mushrooms and just go with the flow... :^^:

But what kind of mistakes are you talking about specifically??
Perhaps post something...

[dogfood]

I understand that a brisk walk will also do wonders to clear out the ill humors (I wouldn't know, though, as the outside is evil).

Or just rub one out.

[thirdeye]

I also recomend any game that arms you with a mini gatling gun.

I usually do that - the bloodier, the better.

Some heavy music with double bass pedal cannonades, lot of screams and some heavy guitar+bass meat takes it outa me. I recommend polish band - "Vader" on that one :devil:. I usually just pick up sticks and play on whatever I come across (my legs usually).

When I feel relaxed again - I can easily go back to work :)

[Steph Laberis]

i agree with D, alcohol and women are a good gettaway,

From a woman's persepective, I like having guys around better when you're not drunk and frustrated. :P

For me, a long drive and a day or two far, far away from my sketchbook/drafting table work well for me. It is good though to keep doodling while you're pissed at the world, because for me, once I look back at the piece that bugged me or my angry doodles, I realize they weren't ALL craptastic, only most of them.

If I really need to act out physically (bloody shoot 'em ups don't do it for me) I actually hurl ice cubes into my bathtub, just to watch something break and smash. Lame, I know.

[acuna_read]

Ive layed into walls a few times, broke a finger once though! :$

But it does help to releive frustration, then just go and relax, I find riding my motorbike helps me now though, but also find it more enjoyable/exciting than drawing anyway!

[look]

From a woman's persepective, I like having guys around better when you're not drunk and frustrated. :P

on the other hand, if the guy is so drunk, you can abuse him when you are frustrated and he probably won't remember a thing. ;)

[Elwell]

Ive layed into walls a few times, broke a finger once though! :$

Time for anger management!
Breaking your hands = NOT a good strategy for making art.

[dogfood]

on the other hand, if the guy is so drunk, you can abuse him when you are frustrated and he probably won't remember a thing. ;)
I thought that was you!

[fukifino]

If I really need to act out physically (bloody shoot 'em ups don't do it for me) I actually hurl ice cubes into my bathtub, just to watch something break and smash. Lame, I know.

Haha, I dunno why, but I can actually picture you doing that...it's a funny image. :D

[glikster]

Time for anger management!
Breaking your hands = NOT a good strategy for making art.
that's why you should only punch dry-wall (sheet-rock). Unless you live in an apartment like me... and will lose your security deposit.... like I will....

Oh, and always have a strut-finder handy before you lay into the wall.

[Steph Laberis]

Haha, I dunno why, but I can actually picture you doing that...it's a funny image. :D

You are far from the first to laugh at my anger management skillz. ^_^

I also forgot to mention the old screaming into a pillow and of course voodoo. I had this lil voodoo doll in my studio space in college and any time I was feeling bitter, be it at a person or at an aggrivating art project, I'd focus my anger and rearrange the pins in it. It got to a point where anyone who saw it would stop, get wide-eyed and ask, "Er, is that s'posed to be me?"

Mwahaha!

[talbot]

Have you tried working out or exercising? When I get pissed (quite often) I just head to the gym and take out my agression on some free weights. Do something like a bench press or curls. After forty five minutes of mindless exercise, you'll be amazed at how suddenly clam and relaxed your body feels.

If you don't have a gym membership, try some yoga or just do push-ups.
I have to say, if you do this, watch your form so you don't screw up anything.

/messed up my left knee

If all else fails, get a Giordonno's deep dish and put on some Ren & Stimpy.
"Happy, happy. Joy, joy, joy!"

[LaPalida]

Hi,

I don't know how good advice this is but... this is more technique on how to get better.

1. Draw something and note what you did wrong.

2. Instead of rubbing it out and drawing over it try this: take a piece of tracing paper and trace over the good parts then adjust the parts you feel are wrong. Analyze that. See if anything else is wrong. If you find a new problem repeat step 2 (but this time working off of the new copy). Keep doing this until you are satisfied with the drawing.

3. Look at your progress and see if you can make less steps next time until you can do it on the first try, but keep all your progress (review it at a later time again, say in a few months, this should show you that you got better and encourage you to draw more because you can actually see your progress at work). This is practice after all. Basically learn from your mistakes. If you keep erasing them you will never remember what you did wrong.

[Gloominati]

Have you tried working out or exercising? When I get pissed (quite often) I just head to the gym and take out my agression on some free weights. Do something like a bench press or curls. After forty five minutes of mindless exercise, you'll be amazed at how suddenly clam and relaxed your body feels.

If you don't have a gym membership, try some yoga or just do push-ups.
I have to say, if you do this, watch your form so you don't screw up anything.



Yeah, I prefere another but similar method. When I get frustrated I just take on some shitty clothes go out and run the shit out of me. When I´m nearly dead ( that happens quite early, 'cause I am really really unathletic ) I can feel how all the anger and frustration is gone. Frustration is some kind of imaginary shelf in front of your mind, it kinda 'blocks' one in form of anger that comes out from nowhere, so mostly it helps to go out and run like crazy, to scream the shit out of you or to put in the loudest music you have there.
If that doesn´t help then play some inspiring videogames ( I prefer final fantasy) seeing all those designs and beautiful environments always inspires me very much, of course that doesn´t take away the mistakes that you make but it motivates and makes you drawing, consequently this will take away your mistakes.

[maxetormer]

I just wanted to say that this tread has cheered me up TONS :D
lately I keep falling in this self hate cycle were nothing that I do
seems to look rigth, wich leads to depression, anger and so
on and on, its like the Yoda´s teachings in Star Wars:

"Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger;
anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering"

but you see this night I just realized of one thing, I think I found one of the
main resons for my discofort, and that is having expectations of what I sould
become and having expectations of what other peoples might think I sould
become; fear of not achiving my goals, fear of disapointing others, think of
terms of cero expectations, put each brush stroke you make behind you, this
does not means that you sould not try your best, actually what I mean is try
YOUR best no strings attached, you see the best thing you can do, is beening
as good as you can be, and hopefully that should be enougth for you to have
a happy life, let go of the expectations you have for the future, and just
draw your best, all artists have low days and high days, one of the things I
like to do when I feel down, is to look up for posts and comments of
profesional artists and read their own stories of how they have been beaten
down by some problem and how they got up and kept on fighting, read this
post by Jon Foster, I guarantee you it will cheer you up:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=749

I like to read and re read the thoughts of Brian Despain (Imp Head Studio) :

http://www.imphead.com/port/ar/a_c9.html

http://www.imphead.com/port/ar/index.html

and John Howe has sum pretty cool stuff in his
site regarding his process:

http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=1017

You see if you expect to do all right in the first try you are in for a life of
disapoinment so if instead of that you dont expect anything all becomes
a journey of endless discovery; but hey! Im not saying its easy to get this
type of zen detachment hell I am frustrated half of the day about this or
that drawings that does not came up the way I evisioned but if you stop
been so worried about the outcome you probably will draw with a happier
actitude and IMO when Im happier things turn out better :^^:

Thanks for starting this thread I really need to hear that
Im not alone on this depressing fases, good luck to you all!! :yayca:

[Crash]

when i get frustrated i walk down to my garage, put on my gear, and rip the shit out of my compound with my dirtbike.


then i dont go back to drawing for a while because riding i so much more fun hehe

hitting a jump 4th gear pinned is fun =D

[glikster]

its like the Yoda´s teachings in Star Wars:
"Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger;
anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering"

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. - Dune

[bizarre]

i usually just shoot myself. in the hand.

nah, i'm feeling the frustration right now, i think it just means i'm expecting too much right here right now.

baby steps are happy steps, as they say in Uraguay. or wherever.

[Rkhon]

I became frustrated and unmotivated post-workshop. I have been playing video games, partying, working out and fighting at the gym since. And now I'm ready to rock in the summer. Looking for inspiration in other aspects of life at the moment. That is important, I think.

[Steph Laberis]

I became frustrated and unmotivated post-workshop. I have been playing video games, partying, working out and fighting at the gym since. And now I'm ready to rock in the summer. Looking for inspiration in other aspects of life at the moment. That is important, I think.


RRRGH! HULK MAD! ^_~ We gotta sketch in Boston still. I hope other Masshole CA folks come outta the woodwork to make this a neato sketch outing... *cough cough crossposting cough*

[Trismus]

I was having some pretty serious issues with stress a couple of years back and a friend of mine turned me onto the "Tao of Zen". Ever since I've been practicing my own form and it's helped tremendously. May be something to consider.


Although, booze, masturbation, and women would probably have the same affect.

[oracrest]

Haha, I just read the thread "How do you deal with Frustration" by "Saving_the_World". Heh, I don't think any of us know the kind of personal resposibility that you must be taking on in your life. I myself am only slightly past the "Food_on_the_table" page myself.....

[oracrest]

i usually just rub one out and everything is fine :)-c36

And true that.... When in doubt, rub one out!

[Rkhon]

RRRGH! HULK MAD! ^_~ We gotta sketch in Boston still. I hope other Masshole CA folks come outta the woodwork to make this a neato sketch outing... *cough cough crossposting cough*

Hahaha! I know where are they all?! We should get Muttonhead to join us, he's doing concept art for Turbine...sure we could learn some things from him. But if no one else wants to join, it will you and I!

Speaking of frustration, the last half hour in this cubicle of wonderous joy is right up there with artistic brain farts.

[Mitze]

Have a wank its quick and you can get back to drawing straight away nice and relaxed.

[flatliner]

Im doing my ICT coursework which is driving me up the wall, take a break to check out CA.org and what do I find a thread talking about how do deal with frustration. Its like I summended the Concept Art Genie out of no-where. Man you can find everything here.

:yayca:

anyway, its already been suggested, but I put on some loud (but not nessicarly angry) music and just play a game as franticly as possbile to get it all out of my system.


..or visit CA.org :P

[Tetsuo]

wow what a great thread. I would have to say frustration can rip your balls off if you let it. But i look to inspiring quotes and the people here to motivate me to be better. Remember everything you draw is good, and it can only get better. If you set yourself up for failure you will go that path.

there is a great quote that I got on my wall that I would like to share:

"Making art is an act of faith. You must believe in yourself. Trust in the universe, trust in the forces that guide you."

another one of my favs happens to be the nike slogan: "Just Do It."

[RobHughes]

Dealing with it?!

I've no idear what you'er talking about.

The Uk has some of the finest mental health facilities in the world. A dose of the Electro shok therapy normally sorts me out unless I've breached my parole again then its back to thorazine.

Best of luck

Rob