motivation

[aboyandhisrobot]

how do you guys stay motivated to draw? i work full time and have recently gone through a divorce. sometimes i draw at work when i am bored with some good and also not so good results. i just cant get myself to draw regularly like i know i should and when i try to force myself to draw it is all crap. what do you guys do to keep it going?

i should also note that i travel a lot.

[blackink]

Draw whenever and whereever you can.
You travel alot? explore the new locations with a sketchbook.
Set goals, fill a sketchbook a month. fill two.
don't worry about making pretty pictures just draw.

[woodchuck3d]

If you travel by plane then bust out the sketchpad!
If you travel by driving, then... not so much.

Keep a sketchbook or notebook full of paper handy whenever possible. Keep drawing tools handy and try to pick the most convenient/efficient ones possible. For example if you are using a standard pencil that needs to be sharpened, then replace it with a mechanical pencil. I keep a three ring notebook with blank printer page with me almost all of the time. I have a small plastic box with mechanical pencils, mechanical erasers and a few pens. It usually also contains USB drives, a camera and some other items. So convenient! Instead of a plastic box you can easily add one of those 3-ring zipper pouches inside your notebook.

Hope that helps.

Michael

[HellboyOne]

Look at art books. Go to museums and galleries. Watch movies. Talk to other artists. Listen to great music. These are the things that motivate me.

[mokad]

i stay motivated by constantly striving to improve.

i look at other artists and try to find tutorials or tips on how to get better, and i try different things all the time.

I also keep a blog, so when i look back on my past drawings and see how far i've come, it pushes me to upgrade my skills.

[ecofugal]

my advice would be

1. keep a sketchbook with you at all times (a moleskine is great)

2. rather than put a finished piece in a portfolio hang it up at home - you need to be surrounded by your art.

3. keep a sketch blog

4. draw knowing that some of your drawings will be absolute rubbish. dont stress out on trying to create a masterpiece.

5. post to forums

6. listen to podcasts
like big illustration party time
art and story
chris oatleys artcast
escape from illustration island

[aboyandhisrobot]

Thanks everyone, sorry it took me so long to reply. I didn't get a notification email so I thought I had only gotten the first reply. I picked up a brand new sketchbook today with the intentions of filling it up before the months end and dating each page as I go along to try to hit every day with some drawing.

I had never thought of podcasts. I'll have to check those out.

Thanks

[aboyandhisrobot]

New question, what is the best tablet pc for sketching under 1000$ ?

looking for something i can travel with easy and maybe do some light photoshop work

[ecofugal]

here are some illustration podcasts i can recommend

http://ecofugal.blogspot.com/2009/06/illustration-podcasts.html

http://ecofugal.blogspot.com/2008/02/comic-and-illustration-podcast-sites.html

[taurobolium]

buy a lot of paper and pencils and you'll feel obligated to fill it up... draw whatever appeals to your senses... try to bring out a texture or shape you want to play around with.

[thorkster]

I teach art and work professionally, but I still have to make an effort to not gel at the end of a long day teaching. Deadlines seem to spur me on. Set a date and a reason to draw or finish a drawing. (gift for a bday present or something). Plan ahead and set aside time. That being said, I do get burnt out sometimes... I've just gotta relax and watch a good movie or hang with the family.

Good luck

[outerdrake]

Try going to a convention. I met old friends who are artist and ppl who are all aspiring to make it. I got to talk to famous comic book artist. they gave me good advice. reading slice of life novels are good too.

I got motivated yesterday watching LOTR fellowship.

Bilbo showed Frodo his book "a Baggin's tale " , I wondered how Bilbo could draw so well for a writer(I assume), but he's around 130-150 years old. He could have easily picked up drawing around 100 years of age. And it made me see that drawing has no limits of handicaps. Any man could probably pick up drawing by simply acquiring it by necessity through another hobby like writing. For me it was 3d animation/modeling. finding an alternate hobby that can fit into your "drawing pipeline" is a good way for motivation.