Sunday, October 31, 2010

How Time Does Fly

Holy crapola, I can't believe it's the end of October already.  I have a list of all the things I want to get done between now and December, and the list is looking incredibly long now.  Sheesh!

I spent the last few weeks poring myself into my portfolio.  I completed one new digital sketch and I started two more.  It took me more then 50h to complete but I'm glad it's done.  I really love spending long hours meticulously creating my images, but it can be hard to be objective when your exited about a picture you've created.  It's like my baby!  Alas, sometimes you just have to let it go and hope for the best.


Happy Halloween everyone out there!!

Monday, October 18, 2010

The Stuff Dance Parties Are For.

After pulling out a bunch of my abandoned work, I took a few of the illustrations with a lot of potential and decided to complete them.  I think some of them I may have abandoned because they were to difficult to finish, but I have a lot more experience now, so things that may have been an issue when I started drawing them, such as colour and perspective, are not issues now.  This one is pretty cool, I completed the face, now I just need to render the rest of the image.

I think the thing I have learned over the last few years is how to appreciate my art.  I'm a big time perfectionist, and virtually every time I finish a picture I'd disappointed with the results.  I tend to focus on all the little details and loose sight of what's really important.  Even if it's not exactly what you want, take pride in what you create.  Enjoy the creative process from start to finish, and don't loose sight of your vision.  The act of creating is more important then the final project!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

My Thoughts on Unfinished Projects

I was listening to Chris Oatley's Podcast today.  It was episode # 49: Projects That Pitch & The Fine Art of Finishing.  ( www.chrisoatley.com ).  It was about being able to complete a project from start to finish.  While listening to the podcast, a long lost folder named "unsorted" magically appeared on my computer.  Of course, it just so happened contained a huge pile of unfinished projects and forgotten illustrations.  I think either the universe and/or my computer may be trying to tell me something...

I'm not always good at completing a projects.  I have learned a few tricks though.  These apply to art as well as a lot of other things, such as going to the gym on a regular basis.

1) Plan it from Start to Finish  
This is not always the most fun part.  Well, at least not for me.  If I'm super juiced about an art project the last thing I want to do is start making lists and deciding how many weeks/months I want to spend on something.  Screw getting my feet wet, I want to dive in head first.  Err, this never seems to work long term.  As soon as something goes wrong, I want to give-up, start fresh, and throw my work out the window.  No.  Make a list, plan how long you want to take, and work out the details of what you have to get done and when.  This may include a list on things you want to get done in a day/week/month/year.  Just make sure to be realistic.  Do expect to much out of yourself, especially if your just starting something big.  If you bite off more you can chew you'll never complete anything.  Don't hold yourself up to anyone else's standards.  Just do what you can, and plan well ahead of time.


2) Write a Journal
I think making a journal is a great idea for completing projects.  Write about your work.  Write about what you want to accomplish and what you hope to do with your project.  Writing a journal really helps me to stay focused.  If I start to fall off the wagon I re-read my entries about what I want want to accomplish, and the effort I've already put into it.  I love making journals.  They keep me focused.  I read in a book a while ago, I can't remember the name of the book for the life of me, that people who keep a journal of what they want to achieve are 80% more likely to be successful in achieving what is was they set out to accomplish.  I don't know if 80% is accurate, but it really does help.


3) Tell People About Your Project
Telling people about what you're doing keeps you accountable!  If you tell people your making a life sized smurf out cotton balls, you're more likely to complete it.  It will get you juiced about a project, and help you to complete it.  It really works.


Really truly we all just learn as we go along.  It's time to tie-up loose ends and finish what I've started.