tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322229821749182210.post6255053350332466003..comments2023-10-02T07:05:32.612-07:00Comments on Rob's Art Lessons: Goofing Off is Good Sometimesrobertsloan2arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02598847116529877475noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322229821749182210.post-13461908396565461332012-02-06T18:48:05.927-08:002012-02-06T18:48:05.927-08:00Hey Robert
(another fan, here). Go with the cartoo...Hey Robert<br />(another fan, here). Go with the cartoons. I know part of the brain says they're not 'real' art, but they are. My long-sleeping interest in art got revived 6 months ago when I started drawing cartoons in a sketchbook. I also bought some books on how to do it. They got me going. They are fun, yet I learned a lot about drawing from doing them. The cartoons led to the 'serious' stuff, Coloured Pencil, Watercolour and Pastels.<br /><br />There are definitely days like yours; days where I have all these goals and not enough time and, more importantly, energy. It's worse because it's a race against time: I've rekindled a childhood interest in art at the age of 45. If it takes 30 years to get any good..well...I'd better get hoofing, then! You can see where the pressure comes from, how we do this to ourselves. I too, even at this early stage, find myself at times baulking and backing away from something I'm doing because all of a sudden it's turned too much into work, and it feels heavy and dispiriting. <br /><br />Although I have a day job, I eat, breathe and sleep art, now that I have re-discovered it. So much to learn, so little time and energy! What's being left out is the mental health days, as I call them. I have these DVDS I never watch because in the small amount of time that I have, it's them or the art. I've noticed myself becoming stressed that I've not watched any of them yet. <br />Last night I was feeling unwell, and pushed myself to draw anyway. I tried 2 different projects, but didn't spend much time on them. I was angry with myself. Did as you did, called myself lazy. It took a lot to finally remind myself that I was feeling unwell, I would be well again soon, and would have the energy again to do them. Today is the second day unwell. <br />I watched an art history DVD. Fascinating. Enjoyable. I came away not feeling guilty for not doing my art instead. This afternoon, if I feel like it, I might draw a cartoon or two. Leave the 'serious' art alone until I'm better. Or I may watch another DVD. <br />I think the hardest part is to recognise what's going on, and intervene. Catch it before it does real damage. Recognise that down time is essential. Let yourself have it.<br />Your piece eloquently demonstrates that. <br />Glad things are on the up for you. Well done.<br />cheers<br />Donna (Australia)Mettaphoricahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06692731895320167891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322229821749182210.post-4546580317088925172012-02-03T09:48:00.598-08:002012-02-03T09:48:00.598-08:00Wow, thank you! Yes, it's possible to overcome...Wow, thank you! Yes, it's possible to overcome burn out. There are a lot of tricks to help overcome it. One of the best is just to take time off and goof off a bit.<br /><br />You're right too. My enthusiasm makes it hard to say "No" to things I want to do and then I get overbooked. Especially if I misjudge the amount of time and effort involved. Usually I can tell "Uh oh, I'm not going to have time to do this one too." But not when my health takes a sudden downturn. I need to plan as if that downturn could happen at any time for any reason and be very clear on the "No deadline" aspect of commissions.<br /><br />Every time one gets delayed it comes out better than if I'd done it at the time I planned anyway.<br /><br />Robertrobertsloan2arthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02598847116529877475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322229821749182210.post-73810437729691468602012-02-03T07:04:46.050-08:002012-02-03T07:04:46.050-08:00Robert,
I am so happy to hear things are turning ...Robert, <br />I am so happy to hear things are turning around for you. You certainly had jumped into a number of demanding projects - I completely understand how the weight of commitments begins the downward spiral. Your enthusiasm interferes with your ability to say "No".<br /><br />I appreciate you sharing your experience. It is heartening to know burn out can be surpassed. <br />Blessings and better days,<br />LeeLee Piercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10886282158897514759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322229821749182210.post-80909382640953991182012-02-01T14:14:16.493-08:002012-02-01T14:14:16.493-08:00Thank you so much!
One thing that helped me back ...Thank you so much!<br /><br />One thing that helped me back when I could work was to approach Job Search like it was a job. I'd schedule it on Monday through Friday. I'd schedule hours as if I was already working and schedule myself a lunch and breaks during the day. Then get it all done at once.<br /><br />That concentrated my efforts. I know it's a lot harder than it used to be in the current economy. The thing is, effectiveness goes down with too much stressing about it.<br /><br />I'd get my resume ready, then cold call all the businesses I wanted to work at doing what I wanted to do, whether that was mat cutting or typesetting or whatever. I decided what kind of work I wanted and called them alphabetically till one of them had an opening. I'd line up some interviews and go to them. It got intensive - I'd cold call all the days I wasn't writing my resume or going to interviews.<br /><br />But it got me a job a lot faster than just putting in my resume and waiting for them to call me. I kept track of the leads too, if they wanted my resume I'd call back every week to see if they were interested or had an opening.<br /><br />By the end of the first day or two I had it down to a "Script" and half the places I called thought I was an employment agency instead of an individual looking for a job. That turned out to be a compliment. Because it worked so fast I was able to be a bit choosy about where to work, working conditions, type of work. In fact that's a good thing all around, the more specific you are in what you want, the easier it is to make that match instead of getting stuck in a lousy job with months of "Is it worth going through all that again to get to spend my workday somewhere I can stand going?"<br /><br />That and of course, all time that you spend on Art and Writing is investment in a future where you made your own job and hired yourself in a heartbeat. <br /><br />I should do some articles on pricing and marketing art soon too. Going to try to pick up this blog to weekly again, build it up, I missed writing it. Thank you for commenting!<br /><br />LOL - yesterday I completely Goofed Off and now all the things I have to do in February are starting to look like fun again. :Drobertsloan2arthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02598847116529877475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322229821749182210.post-80358356960850198402012-02-01T12:35:42.217-08:002012-02-01T12:35:42.217-08:00It's wonderful to hear you've recovered so...It's wonderful to hear you've recovered some from a bad month, Robert. I loved reading this article, and I look forward to your future posts!<br /><br />I needed to read this. Goofing off is great. I'm not in a position to goof off much; I graduated seven months ago and still have no job. But if I allow myself a bit of personal time for art or writing, I feel so much better. I have not sketched or written regularly since November, and it was wearing me down. At one point, I felt so stressed and panicked about finding a job that I thought I would abandon <i>Brainsick</i>, it was that bad. Rest assured, I will never abandon it. I just need to keep searching and applying.<br /><br />That's why reading this cheered me up so much. I know countless friends and fellow grads who burned themselves out during college and no longer want to work degree-related jobs. I will work up to a degree-related job when I can, and hopefully I will be able to support myself on my art before too long.<br /><br />Brilliant post! Thank you for writing it.Jillian Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04990560678650366480noreply@blogger.com