Saturday:
8am:
I really want to do some sketching today. I’m definitely going to do it…
9am
Ooh… the book I ordered on sketching has arrived. Yay! I must read it before I start. Then I’ll do some sketching…
11am
I’m feeling really inspired now. I really want to try some of those techniques out. I must just quickly look up the author online first to see if I can find a video demo… Then I’ll do some sketching…
11.30am
Ooh… This YouTube Video looks really interesting. I’ll quickly just watch that… Then I’ll do some sketching…
11.45am
Wait a minute… this artist has loads of videos… A whole channel! These are really going to help me. I’ll just watch a few more… Then I’ll do some sketching…
12.30pm
Ooh… That pen he’s using looks really cool. Maybe I should order one. Maybe if I have that very same pen, my drawings will look like that! I’ll just quickly go on Amazon and order one… Then I’ll do some sketching…
12.45pm
Actually, there’s no point in starting now. I need that ‘special pen’! I’ll just wait until I get that… then I’m definitely going to do some sketching…
1pm
Ooh, look. Another art book…!
Is this you?
If you recognise yourself in the above, then you might be someone who thinks that they’ve spent half of their day ‘researching’. After all, you read a book about art, you’ve watched a ton of art videos and you’ve even ordered some fancy new art materials. All of this is going to make you a much better artist, right? WRONG!
What you have actually been doing is procrastinating; convincing yourself that by consuming as much art as you can from external sources, it’s going to turn you into the artist you want to be. Again… WRONG!
This is not uncommon, but it’s a bad habit and one you will need to break if you want to get better, faster.
By procrastinating like this, you are denying yourself hours of real practice. These are hours you will never get back. And I guarantee that the ‘fancy pen’ you just ordered will NOT make you a better artist! All you need is a pen. Any old pen. Just a Bic will do, some paper and a little time… You know? The time you just wasted?
So. The next time you get some time to sketch… SKETCH!! Even if the result is bad, you will have learned a lot more from actively doing it, than you would have learned by watching that video!
There is, of course, a place for videos and art books. They are a fantastic way of picking up new ideas and techniques… but only AFTER you have spent the time actually doing it yourself.
Remember. The quickest way to learn is in this order:
- Sketch
- Sketch
- Sketch
- Read art books and watch art tutorials
Sandra x
Ohmygoodness this is me right now. I have been holding off practicing sketching (as opposed to my usual abstract zentangle art) for when I get that toned tan notebook i ordered a few days ago…or when I’m able to buy a couple books on sketching next month… But I have perfectly good paper and pens, I just need to jump in! (after I catch some sleep 😂)
Sarah I apologise if I have replied twice… My first reply seemed to disappear in to thin air!
Procrastination is not uncommon and is often down to the fear of the result. But no great artist started off great and all of them have a lot of drawings they really weren’t happy with behind them.
But that’s the secret… getting them behind you. And each drawing you aren’t happy with, brings with it a lesson you will have learned to help move you forward.
So, if you recognise this as you, then don’t wait. Every day you wait is a day less practice!
I don’t know why exactly I procrastinate. I do so with everything, not just art. I do know that I am an “information gatherer” but actually doing the things I learn about just doesn’t happen often. ((shrugs)) regardless this blog post has had the desired effect. I’ll be sketching more now.