I don't want to use the term "struggling" artist. I prefer the term "battling" artist. Whats the difference? Struggling implies a last ditch effort to resist and desperation. Battling however means facing all opposition so that nothing stands in your way of victory. Here are five instances where artists will experience those battles:
1. Keeping Tidy and Getting Your Llamas in a Row
I've had a pretty lazy day today, especially where art and animation is concerned. The closest thing I did related to anything artistic was check out my DeviantArt page and see that I was awarded a few llama badges for my work from some fellow Deviants.
2. Not Finding the Time but Finding Excuses
As a freelance animator working form home, you will deal with a lot of distractions. If you're a dad like me, your child might add to the noise level around the house with his crying and require frequent attention thus pulling you away from your work. You might sleep-in late and not leave enough time during the day to fulfill your other duties around the house by the time you finish your work quota, i.e laundry, dinner, parenthood, etc. This all comes down to time management, but a general rule of thumb is that you are less likely to be interrupted during your work hours if everyone else is still asleep. Get a routine and be sure to start your work early morning so you can leave time for house work or downtime later in the day.
3. Criticism
We all do it. We criticize bad artwork, we criticize our own artwork, and we criticize artwork by unbelievably good artists and hate them for it. When it comes to criticizing things and people, we have thoughts like "I try so hard, why can't I be THAT good?" Or "What was he thinking when he held that pencil ? Did he electrocute himself by accident and forget to erase?" Or maybe even thoughts like "I draw like a juvenile I may, as well retake arts and crafts!" As artists, we're even criticized for being who we are - different, expressive, impractical, hipsters, among other things. The trick is not to rely on criticism too heavily because in the end, it is your confidence and not someone else confidence or doubt that will get you where you want to be.
4. Getting Serious
You might think you're serious as an artist but chances are you could do more. Instead of picking up that PS4 controller, pick up a pencil or stylus. Your good but your not THAT good because you haven't taken the extra mile.You could always fit more daily practice and sketch more. You could try out some new techniques. You can try new mediums and paint instead of draw all the time. You could learn some art history or read up and composition and brush technique and find out exactly why the Mona Lisa is the mother of all paintings. We are living at an age where information is literally a few clicks out of reach. There's no reason why you can't be a master, it all depends on how much time and passion you are willing to invest in your art. The best way to find out if you're serious is to find out how much time out the week you dedicate to your craft.
5. Rejection
As an artist, you must learn to deal with rejection. Your drawings will suck some days and you will know it. You will send resumes and countless links to your portfolio and not hear a single word back from most of those job applications.You will hear multiple success stories and wait for yours. All this rejection will make you doubt yourself, why put yourself through this and continue? When will you be given a chance to work doing what it is you love to do? Why do you still continue? Well, I'll tell you why I do it. Do you know what keeps me going despite the constant no's and you're not qualified? If my art is good enough for me, doesn't have to be good enough for anybody else.
1. Keeping Tidy and Getting Your Llamas in a Row
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I've had a pretty lazy day today, especially where art and animation is concerned. The closest thing I did related to anything artistic was check out my DeviantArt page and see that I was awarded a few llama badges for my work from some fellow Deviants.
If you don't have an account on this site now you have no excuse.
But on the other hand, I was able to get the bedroom clean. This might not seem too important when it comes to improving your craft, but let me explain something. For some of you freelancers out there, this is the place you sleep, work, brainstorm, draw, and spend a lot of your time in. Its condition will determines the type of work day you have when working on a project. If there are clothes on the chair, you might not be so eager to sit down and get to work on your computer. If you can't seem to find your sketchbook, you might just abandon the search for another day and skip drawing practice for the day. A good clean work environment is conducive for productivity. Whoever says a messy desk is a sign of a busy worker is absolutely right - because they're busy trying to figure out where their work files went! A messy work station is not a sign of a creative mind, its the by product of creativity and must be dealt with accordingly. So in short, get your llamas in a row so you can get straight to work!2. Not Finding the Time but Finding Excuses
As a freelance animator working form home, you will deal with a lot of distractions. If you're a dad like me, your child might add to the noise level around the house with his crying and require frequent attention thus pulling you away from your work. You might sleep-in late and not leave enough time during the day to fulfill your other duties around the house by the time you finish your work quota, i.e laundry, dinner, parenthood, etc. This all comes down to time management, but a general rule of thumb is that you are less likely to be interrupted during your work hours if everyone else is still asleep. Get a routine and be sure to start your work early morning so you can leave time for house work or downtime later in the day.
3. Criticism
We all do it. We criticize bad artwork, we criticize our own artwork, and we criticize artwork by unbelievably good artists and hate them for it. When it comes to criticizing things and people, we have thoughts like "I try so hard, why can't I be THAT good?" Or "What was he thinking when he held that pencil ? Did he electrocute himself by accident and forget to erase?" Or maybe even thoughts like "I draw like a juvenile I may, as well retake arts and crafts!" As artists, we're even criticized for being who we are - different, expressive, impractical, hipsters, among other things. The trick is not to rely on criticism too heavily because in the end, it is your confidence and not someone else confidence or doubt that will get you where you want to be.
4. Getting Serious
You might think you're serious as an artist but chances are you could do more. Instead of picking up that PS4 controller, pick up a pencil or stylus. Your good but your not THAT good because you haven't taken the extra mile.You could always fit more daily practice and sketch more. You could try out some new techniques. You can try new mediums and paint instead of draw all the time. You could learn some art history or read up and composition and brush technique and find out exactly why the Mona Lisa is the mother of all paintings. We are living at an age where information is literally a few clicks out of reach. There's no reason why you can't be a master, it all depends on how much time and passion you are willing to invest in your art. The best way to find out if you're serious is to find out how much time out the week you dedicate to your craft.
5. Rejection
As an artist, you must learn to deal with rejection. Your drawings will suck some days and you will know it. You will send resumes and countless links to your portfolio and not hear a single word back from most of those job applications.You will hear multiple success stories and wait for yours. All this rejection will make you doubt yourself, why put yourself through this and continue? When will you be given a chance to work doing what it is you love to do? Why do you still continue? Well, I'll tell you why I do it. Do you know what keeps me going despite the constant no's and you're not qualified? If my art is good enough for me, doesn't have to be good enough for anybody else.
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