I get summers off at BYU, which sounds awesome and laid-back, but in reality I'm spending that time working on freelance character design, illustration, preparation for my classes, and various tasks around the house. I get to set my own schedule, but it's always full no matter what order I put things into. What I thought would be a great break where I could do a lot of my own work has been just as busy as the semesters when I'm teaching.
So I've been thinking a lot about an answer Marcelo Vignali gave in a great interview with Bobby Chiu a while back. Answering a question about how he finds time for figure drawing, he said he makes figure drawing non-negotiable. In other words, he schedules time for it, and when that time comes, no other task takes priority, no matter how urgent (of course this doesn't apply to the house burning down scenario. Or maybe it does: guess I don't know Marcelo well enough to say for sure).
I've taken that "non-negotiable" mindset with my personal art these last few months, and I'm so glad I did. I have a block of time scheduled for it every morning---not much, just an hour---but it's enough for me to chip away at stuff that comes out of my own head. I can't say I've gotten to the point where it's non-negotiable yet; there have been days when I've skipped it for a big deadline, but I'm getting pretty consistent. And amazingly, even slowly chipping away at it is deeply satisfying, and I find more energy for the jobs I have to do afterward. For me personally, it works best to not overthink what I use that time to paint on---sometimes an idea works out and sometimes it doesn't. That's not the part that matters.
One of the paintings I've been slowly chipping away at. Not because it's worth painting, but because it's good for me to sometimes paint stuff just for fun. |
And while you're at it, go read this article.
Thanks for this Sam, this is something I've been thinking about for a long time. I chip away at stuff when I feel like it. Recently I've been setting time in the morning for freelance work and it would be absolutely nothing to just turn that into time for my own art, especially when freelance work is slow. Also the link to Bobby Chiu's interview with Marcelo Vignali is such a great resource. I watched this way back but its great to get a refresher and definitely worth the hour to watch again. Thanks again for the inspiration. Take Care.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear it's working for you, Dan!
DeleteFantastic article Sam! really makes me review my working days. The article that you refer also reminds me the importance of removing the artist designer from the painting to achieve the purest execution (An idea that I also read from Alan Moore). Detached from any idea of "success" or "failure", It will let just space for the joy of its process. Thanks for the article Sam.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteGreat post Sam. This is my approach as well. I still haven't figured out how to "chip away" at bigger projects, and that's a source of great frustration, but I gain satisfaction from just creating on my own. Little by little I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI'm having just the opposite problem---lots of chipping little finishing. I wish I could just do something real quick that was good every once in a while.
DeleteThank you, Sam. This is a very useful article. One could never finish all the projects and catch the dreams without a schedule these days. Strict and non-negotiable times for everything that matters: work, personal projects, family, learning, health and rest.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Luis!
DeleteGreat piece of advice Sam! Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Rani!
DeleteI appreciate this. As a student, I feel a heavy burden to only spend my time doing fundamentals. I think it's probably important to find time for more relaxing, personal art too! Sometimes, that seems to be where all the fundamentals you've been working on come together and click.
ReplyDeleteI think this time could be anything, but I do think it has to be productive. If you're working on fundamentals, be doing so with a final piece in mind. It keeps the fundamentals from being too monotonous.
DeleteHey, Sam. I was just reading over some new stuff and noticed your response. Thanks for taking the time to shoot some advice my way. Hope things are well!
DeleteI really liked this part of the article... with a nice and interesting topics have helped a lot of people who do not challenge things people should know... You need more publicize this so many people who know about it are rare for people to know this. Success for you...!!!
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree to some points that you have discussed on this post. I appreciate that you have shared some reliable tips on this review.
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving posts and articles were very amazing. I really liked as a part of the article. With a nice and interesting topics. Has helped a lot of people who do not challenge things people should know. You need more publicize this because many people. Who know about it very few people know this. Success for you....!!!
ReplyDelete