[Irulann]

..keep it up?

I mean, I skip from one project to another, one failed attempt, one unfinished work, and it just seems to me sometimes that it's all for naught-what will I DO with it all? When you get down, when you feel like your work sucks, how do you get yourself back up? I dont think I've EVER made anything I'm proud of-and I've realized that there must be something wrong here-I see everyone on the forum posting work as good as/better than/worse than mine, but the difference is always there--they have pride in their work. They feel good about creating something..How do you keep yourself thinking positively? How do I achieve this pride? Seems impossible to me--

sorry to have ranted, I feel a bit better I suppose

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All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.
**********************
I Imagined an Image
My Image Imagined Me
and I became It's puppet
just a Child of It's Imagery

[FaithInChaos]

ok heres my advice...


you cant let yourself think like that, remain positive. if you start to feel sorry for yourself, go take a look at a bunch of gore gallery newsgroups. the self pitty will vanish the instant those pics load up in your browser window, trust me.
dont think in terms of im not good enough, or i cant do this. just tell your self: i will be able to do this, i know i will be able to do this. realise it might take a lot of time and effort to achieve your goals but if you work at it you will get there at some point or another. dont sit down and expect to shitout a masterpiece in 10 seconds, and then become depressed because you just spent the last two hours picking your nose staring off into space.

i look throught the forum and am completely amazed at the level of talent these people have. but when i look at my work, its not talent i see; its a pile of shit in psd format. i see having pride as more of a character flaw, than a positive attribute. but, i would agree that constantly telling yourself you suck might not be the healthiest of things. i draw as a hobby so there is really no presure when it comes to art, well besides the ones i create.

the following should apply to art as well... in my trying to function like a normal human being, heres what i have found to help keep me sane: if you havnt been treated for your A.D.D, go to the doctor and get medicated (i pop more pills than a narcoleptic), a little caffine will help you focus, a punching bag on call to relieve stress, tai chi 3 times a day to help fatigue, eat right (cut sugar, more protein), and 2 hours of lifting or aerobic exercise in the morning. oh...and heavy metal for good health in general.

i guess it sounds stupid, but i have gotten the impression that your body and mind are conected. anyways, thats what i do...and it seems to help.

[billyjay]

Faithinchaos I loved your response. It just cracked me up for some reason. And it made sense too.

Irulann, are you generally a depressed unhappy person? Do you like art at all? Do you like yourself? You sound like a depressed person.

My advice is to figure out exactly what would make you happy, as far art, or maybe if art isn't exactly what will make you happy than figure what will make you happy. I've known people with talent, that just don't care for what they produce, but because people tell them they are good they continue without joy in the subject. They end up unhappy until they find somethig they enjoy and are motivated to do.

Do what you enjoy.

If art is not making you happy find something else that does. I know I'm not great, or even all that good, which I am kinda glad because I learn that much more in each art class I take. I think of new ideas along the road, as I learn things. And it is that process that I love. Even if I may not be the best I still have a great time doing it, and if I wasn't I would find something else I loved to do.

Or maybe just draw for 30 straight, then sleep for 20 hours straight and repeat! LOL, you'll quickly learn if it is for you or not!

Later
BJ

[Irulann]

I'm not generally a depressed person...I was just thinking on the fact that I create art because I've been told I should.

From the time I was a kid, my Mother and Father, heck..anyone who knew me-told me I should be an artist-JUST because I could draw a little, they all said I was supposed to be an artist.

I went to college for three years in Graphic design, Illustration, and Studio respectively. I was miserable most of the time. I mean, I enjoyed the classes, but I never really fit--so I just sometimes wonder whether I draw/paint...all that stuff, because I want to, or because all my life I've been trained to

hehe-ok NOW I'm starting to sound like a depressed person--I'm not really!


------------------
All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.
**********************
I Imagined an Image
My Image Imagined Me
and I became It's puppet
just a Child of It's Imagery

[PandaX52]

I'm questioning my motivation to create art as well, I think talking about it like this makes it seem more coomplicated than it really is. I've noticed that when you start mentally separating the art that you believe is better than yours from your own, it only makes you feel worse and more artistically separated, which is the problem in the first place....

I mean really, what is art? an arrangement of charcoal particles, pixels, paint smearing? quite simple really, find something special about what you do, or find something up in your head that you think is different from anything anyone could possibly do and try to communicate it! make that your motivation!

One of the best ways to become better at creating art (i belive) is to lock yourself in a room and draw draw draw draw draw...it takes some discipline, that's were the motivation part comes into play...

It all boils down to motivating yourself...Dont look "out there" at what other people are doing...what really matters is what's in your head and how you are going to communicate it!

Instrospection isn't unhealthy! Despite what you observe in the movies or society in general! It only leads to a stronger inner-self!

[edible snowman]

i didnt really read your post but ill bet its different than mine. i am a generally negative person, or so i've been told, and i actually motivate myself by looking at how much i suck at everything and how much i want to be better. his is usually depressing because in the end i still suck, but just a little bit less.