Letting art be fun again.

[logansrogue]

Hey dooods.

So, I was talking with my clin psych today about my 'blocks' as I call them. I tend to start projects, and then stop, and stop for months. For a long time I thought I was bored of the projects, but I realised lately that I wasn't bored at all - I was terrified of doing badly.

I then realised I had been putting HUGE pressure on myself to basically be perfect. I have an idea in my head of how good I want to be and if I don't do something that's that good, I don't finish it. My psych said that this was an unrealistic expectation to put on myself, that everyone does a bad job sometimes.

And it also has meant that I tend to take a long time with my commissions because I'm terrified of doing a bad job and being paid for that bad job. She asked me if I'd ever had anyone say they didn't like what they got from me and the answer was "Well... no. I've never had a complaint."

She said that "They don't expect a masterpiece, they expect what they asked for."

I won't stop putting my heart and soul into my art, but I'm taking my neck off the spiritual chopping block and I'm not going to punish myself for not being Stephanie Lostimolo or whatever anymore. It's time for me to start loving my artistic self, warts and all. I'm getting the fun from art back again.

So! I'm going to start doing sketches. Lots and lots of sketches. Some are going to be great. Some are going to suck. I'm not allowed to wallow on them. I'm not allowed to stress about them. I'm not allowed to take more than a day on them. These are my fun sketches, my free sketches, my "Go ahead and SUCK" sketches. I'll do shit but I'm doing it and sharing it with you so you can see my crappiest art and so the pressure is no longer on me to be perfect ALL THE TIME.

Join me on this journey. You'll have fun cause you'll see how often I fuck things up, and I'll feel better because then I don't have the pressure to be brilliant all the time.






This is a playful computer sketch of nobody in particular. She's not photographically accurate, her colouring is loose and shithouse and I didn't bother to neaten much up.

I had a thoroughly wonderful time drawing her.

Comments

[kateshort.livejournal.com]

*love* the eyes!

Thanks for sharing. :)

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D *hugs*

[coell.livejournal.com]

OMG that might be my problem ... I am a classic no-finisher. 90% of what I do seems to get sropped at 90%. WTF, right?

UGH. *will do better*

*you too!*

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Once the psych explained it, I started feeling better about things. It's going to take some work to make it translate into results but nothing's easy. Good luck!

[ryttu3k.livejournal.com]

That's so pretty! I really want to play with her hair... *tousles*

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It sat in curlers for hours to look like that.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

I have pretty bad perfectionism issues with creative projects, which is why I finish virtually none of them. So I sympathise. Its dumb.

The way to get to be nearly perfect is to do, do, and do some more. Be critical, but only so you know what you want to do better next time. The more you finish, the better you get at producing finished work.

[riverstar.livejournal.com]

after seeing this one i would like to commision a potrait of me:)
no hurry
when ever you feel up to it:)

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Sure! Do you know my email? Find a bunch of photos you really like and send 'em to me. Also think about what kind of medium you'd like it in.

nacey(a)iinet.net.au

[melalucci.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I'm going over my list of commissions. Did you still want the amazon picture, cause I'm cool with drawing it.

[melalucci.livejournal.com]

I do, but I can't afford to pay for it right now. Maybe you could move me down on the list? :)

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Oh no no, don't worry about the money, darling. I'll be busy with a big commission for a while anyway. I just need to know what exactly I'm drawing for you, cause it's been a while since we hashed that out.

[melalucci.livejournal.com]

Oh, okay! :) Me in an Amazon outfit, basically...and yeah, why not put Dave in there, too.

[ausizoro.livejournal.com]

looks rather good, well done.

[sir-devans.livejournal.com]

She is beautiful. One of my best friends has a thing for chicks with green eyes. He would DIG her.
I'm not going to punish myself for not being Stephanie Lostimolo or whatever
I didn't commission a Stephanie Lostimolo (whoever that is) I commissioned a Nancy Lorenz and that is what I want.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

That's good, cause it's what you're gonna get. LOLOL!

You call that "not perfect"?

[dark-joxer.livejournal.com]

Hey Nancy.

I'm glad you are doing so well with your sessions at the psych... but I have one small complaint. That artwork is not a flawed piece, it is a genuine work of artistic talent. I couldn't even BEGIN to draw anything one-thousandth as good on my best day. That is an amazing piece of art. I hope that your sessions continue to provide you with whatever assistance you need, and I hope that you know that you can always call me, or email me, or whatever, if you want to talk to me.

On a side note, I was wondering what you wanted for xmas? I know we aren't together now, but we are still friends, yes? Friends are allowed to get each other presents if they so wish, right? I've had a few thoughts, but I was curious if there was anything you wanted... for example something for your laptop. Let me know, OK?

Look forward to hearing from you when or if you want to.