Does anyone else feel a major stiffness when they draw? Like your hand feels all rigid and everything you draw seems so bland, stiff and lifeless?
I'm still learning, as all artists do, but unless I'm drawing porn for myself (no, I won't post anything) or make a rare good practice sketch, I have trouble with even simple doodles.
I want to feel the same "freedom" and "freedom of spirit" I had when I was a kid and that I see all of my art friends and many other great artists have. I just get so hesitant and so intimidated. I can't even color for god's sake. Is it because I think of art as a career or a job, now?
Maybe I have depression? Maybe I have OCD? I do have legit diagnosed autism, though, and am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to work.
maybe it's just not for you
you sound more fascinated with being an artist rather than doing what artists do
As you allready figured it out by yourself, this is more or less mental problem which have (probably) nothing to do with drawing itself.
Even if you would get Jaime Jones' skills over the night, you would feel the same because skill is not problem in your case.
So... spend some time for yourself, ask yourself what do you like, what would you like to become,...
The difference between your problem and problem of someone who feels the same, but because of lack of skill is that eventualy the other guy will get confidence and selfrespect. You wont solve this problems by gaining drawing skills, but mental. Which is 100 times harder.
Good luck man.
>>2561177
Get sheets of paper and marker and beat it up with strokes and circles till you no longer feel stiff. Show that piece of paper who wears the pants.
>>2561183
I've been drawing since I was three. I'm definitely not some naive yuppie who got into art because it's some "novel pursuit of the free and simple-minded" or whatever.
Problem is, ever since I started art school six years ago, though I practice, I never feel the passion anymore, unless I'm making something dirty, and even then those don't go beyond pencil sketches. It's just not fun anymore.
>>2561194
Good idea, thanks.
Then draw porn until you feel better, Anon. There are plenty of draw threads overflowing with lewd requests you could pick up or just draw what ever is your fancy. The point is to do whatever you need to keep you drawing everyday while you improve your skills.
Not everything you do has to be perfectly polished and hung on a wall; I think that may be your problem. You're focusing too much on the "one good sketch"; Bring things back into perspective. Everyone you admire, everyone you know or will ever know has had to go through the same trials an tribulations, and this goes for ANY skill. Each of them had an inspirational idol and each of them had to work through their down times.
Everyone has had to realize that they blow. It those who chose to do everything it takes to get better that you see prominently. no one is ever done learning, but they've given their dues to the harsh mistress of drawing.
Art is difficult because its a slow, tiresome and monotonous career. Improvement comes in microscopic increments and is absolutely maddening, but you just can't give up.
You should go draw right now, Anon.
>>2561185
I'm with this guy.
Getting gud will not solve your current problems, you're just placing your hopes for salvation on some far-away milestone of skill. You have a problem with self-actualization here. I would suggest reading some books or taking a vacation, basically give yourself time to question why you do what you do and reassess your goals.
that's normal
it's usually when you hit the wall, the limit of your skill
you can think of certain image, but you just don't have the skills - lack of fundamentals perhaps
even if you are actually skilled above what you can often draw, you've fallen into a routine of doing the same shit everytime
my advice, stop drawing for some time, a couple of days, don't think about it
and then start reading comics or manga, watching movies and such
then go to sleep
wake up almost in an semi-concious state, and pick up your sketchbook and pencil
or, get tired and drowsy, ready for bed, mind all fuzzy to think straight
start drawing, you'll notice you're drawing better when you're not thinking much about it
ever had a moment in your art life, when you've suddenly drawn something good, above your usual level, and thought "wait i can do that" ?
>>2561177
Give me your facebook and we will talk a little. I had (and tons of other people) exact same problem
>>2563115
That's it. Fucktons of others has the same problem.
The last time it happened to me, I was so frustrated I left drawing for a complete year.
And then I started getting into binge-reading the whole JLA comics, and it sparked again.
One night I was getting ready for bed, laying down.
Not thinking much, just letting my mind go free and wild.
Picked up the pencil for the first time in many months and suddenly I was able to draw BETTER than what I used to USUALLY do then.
It was a the magic combination of previous knowledge on fundamentals, and new inspiration from reading those comics.
That, and the flow - the mind just keeps going and for the first time my hand was actually rendering exactly how my mind envisioned it.
