Drawing Through Idiot Traps (Repost)
Drawing Through Idiot Traps
from Drawing Tutorials Online Blog by Matt
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I recently watched a documentary titled “It might Get Loud”. A documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three significant rock musicians, the Edge, Jimmy Page and Jack White. It really had a profound affect on me. I have always considered visual artists and musical artists to be one in the same. When I hear the great guitarist from Pink Floyd David Gilmour singing about his favorite axe, I associate that with us artists having our favorite pencil and sketchbook.
There was one specific part of the documentary when the Edge from U2 explained his creative process. He spoke to certain times when he would go into his studio to write. He would want to create something new and nothing new would come out. To quote his words he said he felt like a complete idiot. He said he felt like he knew nothing about writing at all. I was floored when I heard him say this. It truly resonated deep inside of me.
How could somebody so accomplished, so talented, feel like an idiot? Isn’t creating art, whether it be music or visual art supposed to get easier as you gain experience? Yes some things do get easier. However the process of creating a new illustration or even a new storyboard from nothing can be so daunting.
Speaking for myself there have been times just recently when I felt like a complete idiot so to speak with my art. Just one month a ago I hired two models to come out to my studio so I could practice drawing. I simply couldn’t believe the crap I saw on the paper. I felt like I never completed a life drawing before. That is why when I heard the Edge in this documentary I shook my head in disbelief.
There is some connection artists must keep with their favorite axe or pencil for that matter. This connection comes from being present with your sketchbook everyday, playing your guitar everyday, whatever the vehicle may be. Having this connection is about being highly focused. Few people can stay focused with their art for long periods of time. When we are not we find ourselves in the position of feeling like an idiot when we simply cannot create.
I find that when I am not present with my pencil and sketchbook on a daily basis my drawings suffer. I’m not connected.
The solution? There is no cure to prevent those periods in your life when you loose your creative mojo. But there is a solution for making those periods shorter in duration. The solution is sticking with a consistent daily regimen no matter how short in time to practicing your craft. The other profound item I took away from the documentary is to never doubt your ability in those moments of complete self disgust. Plowing through the disgust in yourself and your work is the only way to break through to the next level.
Understand that these idiot traps will always be there, but we have to power to side step them if we stay connected to our craft.
You can find out more about this very interesting documentary by clicking on It Might Get Loud.
Thanks for reading!
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This hit home for me!
Posted via email from Kam's Posterous