ArtCast #58: Artistic Growth Is NOT A Goal & How To Become An Early Riser
December 19, 2011
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
IN THIS EPISODE ::
- 5 Tips to make the new year productive and creatively fulfilling.
- New Year’s resolutions I DON’T recommend.
- What art & religion have in common.
- How to learn to love early mornings.
PLUS: Music by Good Old War!
AWESOME LINKS:
My Daily Routine: Comics, Podcasts and Visual Development at Disney
BUY Screenwriting Tips… You Hack by Xander Bennett
Related posts:
- ArtCast #48 :: Avoiding Artistic Burnout
- ArtCast #50 :: Digital Comics, Ergonomics & How To Deliver Every Time
- ArtCast #56: Interview With ‘Three Shadows’ Author, Comics Artist Cyril Pedrosa
- ArtCast #51 :: Photoshop Custom Brush Tutorial :: Stylized Scatter & Texture Brushes
- ArtCast #37 :: Digital Painting Tutorial :: Hulk Vs. Wolverine (part 6)
Really enjoyed this episode! I felt in many ways you were talking directly to me. So guilty of so many of those faults! Also hoping to continue getting small goals completed. Have a Merry Christmas, and can’t wait to hear from you (on both podcasts, as well as the webcomic) in the new year!
Cheers, Chris. You are the source of awesome.
Thanks, Paul. I really appreciate it.
I’m so going to try getting up at 7:30 tomorrow. We see how that goes. And I’d really love to learn more about character design. Especially things like how to start, how to know when your done, and how to keep your character consistent. Which I’m sure are very easily explained and very cut and dry and that you have a surefire method that works for everyone…(ha ha)
Ha! …unfortunately,you’re right, there’s no formula but I have learned a million little tips and tricks along the way.
I have a lot of character design content in the works. It will probably be a much larger product since I’ve been working on it for a few years but when I do release it, it’s going to be awesome.
Subscribe to my email newsletter to be kept up to date.
Thanks, Manelle!
Great thoughts. I’ve been doing sort of a sketch a day for this month and it has certainly had pros and cons. The big pro is that it is a goal with focus. As my goal is to generate new animation and begin a storyboarding portfolio, this Character-a-day Marathon has generated quite a pool of material to pull from. It has also stretched me far and had I done it for more than a month, I might not make it. As of now, I’ve doubled my efforts to two characters a day so I can take days of for the holidays. Another con is that I’ve been concerned that the ideas are a bit shabby.
I’ve been waking up at 5:00 in the morning for quite some time and it has been AWESOME for my creative growth (with has come through PROJECTS, not vague goals). So I back you up on the mornings theory. They are the best time.
And of course, meeting up with you throughout CTNX was a huge highlight for me. You’re really making a difference and I can tell this is only lifting you higher. This character design content and everything you else have in development sounds exciting. Keep it up!
That’s a great feeling, huh? I work well when I’m just a *little* bit in over my head. It can very easily turn into WAY over my head and then I might freak out a little but when it’s just barely over my head, it keeps me feeling challenged. It keeps me growing.
Thanks for another great art cast..! You made some great points about resolutions that I’d never really given thought to, but now I can make a conscious effort not to make those mistakes
I also went and downloaded that program you mentioned, Wunderlist. It’s already left me feeling more confident in my plans and the work load I’ve set up for myself.
Til then, I’ll probably go back to catch up on what I’ve missed. So much to learn or re-learn..!
I did try waking up early, and I did well for about.. a good two weeks, before I just lost it again. I think it’s because my work schedule varies in time sooo much that it’s hard for me to keep any kind of sensible schedule outside of work..
Can’t wait for the next podcast
Yeah, I go through phases where I get off course with projects or sleep schedule.
But we all do.
The key is just keeping our eyes on the prize and course-correcting when we realize that we are off-course.
Thanks for sharing!
Love your podcasts and this one in particular as I am a night owl. I’ll have to see how I can achieve an early morning routine as I have little boys that are up early, so my night time is my quite time.
On a side note, I am a newbie to the digital art world (used to draw all my life but put that aside to pursue what I thought was a “real career” and didn’t think of my art as a way to make a living). Currently, as in the last couple of years, I am seeing my artistic side yearning to get out. Your podcasts are great to keep me motivated. You provide some great insight and inspiration. I look forward to many more of the podcasts!
Thanks Chris!
Hi Chris! I’m new to the podcast, found you through the Paper Wings one (which I just discovered three days ago). Given me quite a bit of motivation in my time of laziness (vacation + holiday + skyrim = noooo work done).
I can totally empathize with you on getting more of a comic out quicker. I did so for my own webcomic, switching to twice weekly too soon and burnt out after a month. It’s a learning experience alright!
I do know of a neat motivational trick for when you are working, though. Ever heard of working in pomodoros? It’s a time system of 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of break, focusing on one task at a time. I find it to be very efficient.
Anyway, I’m going to try and give a shot at the “waking up early” thing. I’m a notorious night owl in my circle (staying up till three will do that), but I figure I’ll give it a go for a month or two.
I do the pomodoro technique often. I LOVE IT!
Excellent episode Chris! It was good to know that I am on the right track for each new year for setting goals rather than resolutions. Keep up the great work! I will help promote your podcast.
Best
Russ
PS I get up at 5:30 to begin the day. Pretty insane, right?
5:30 is hard core! Awesome! And thanks for your support!
OK So I’m late!!! Gotta say you are So right about the early AM. I am so much fresher then. Places that I’m stuck on in my work get unstuck right after a good nights rest. The Day job has me out the door at 5:45am so if I can get up by 3:30 I can get quite a bit done. But that does mean early to bed. Once that internal clock is set it gets much easier, you just gotta keep it set.
We gotta get your numbers back up buddy! Don’t worry, We’ll get right on it!
I really enjoyed this podcast, it came at the perfect time too. Thank you for sharing your insights, so helpful and now I just need to set that project so I don’t fall into the never ending goal. I’m going to listen to this podcast again. Thanks again! Niki
Thanks, Niki! Sweet! Keep us posted on how the project goes!
chris-
happy /healthy new year to you and yours….another great inspirational podcast-thank you
quick question-when i watched you stream one night, how do you have your cintiq set up?-is it your primary monitor?im hooked up to an imac, and i keep photoshop on the imac screen but my canvas, brushes, colors on the cintiq-seems to stop my flow toggling back n fourth if that makes any sense…
thanks again
Thanks, Joey!
For over a year, I’ve been meaning to make a video that explains this because a lot of people ask about it. Hang in there and I’ll get around to it asap.
Ok, so first off I first learned about your podcast from Big Illustration Party time…and after listening to the latest pod cast, I was definitely psyched and inspired. I tried to get up an hour earlier today and failed. However it sounds like it is the kind of thing that takes a while for your body to keep used to. I will keep at it, and keep working (and keep listening to your pod cast) Cheers!
Thanks, Moe!
Yeah, it’s definitely a process.
I just saw Josh from BIPT recently but I can’t wait to hang w Kevin again. I just love those guys.
[...] and articles about why people stop working on their resolutions. Another great resource is the lastest artcast of Chris Oatley. His ideas and practical advice motivated me a [...]
Just now found the time to listen to the podcast. Awesome stuff. I’d been avoiding making resolutions because I’ve been so busy the last two months that things have been falling through the cracks, but now I’m starting to get things reorganized.
I’ll be putting many your tips and suggestions to good use over the next month, particularly picking a single well-defined project and gracefully quitting other things or at least putting them on hiatus.
Thanks for the incredible resources you provide for us, and I hope 2012 is a stellar year.
Great to hear, Matt. Keep us posted!
I know I’m a little late, I’ve been distracted by the summer weather since returning from CTN, and needed this new years resolution advice, real booster and motivator, so thanks! I hope to put your CTN feedback into practice in 2012! And good luck getting 2 pages of your web comic done a week!
I had to reply and say thank you, really thank you so much. I’ve started my own film portfolio and am determined to get there from this internal calling…and its a big mental battlefield. This really helps, and please never leave out the small details that get you through the day as those are the ones I gleamed from this podcast and really relish.
Great stuff, I’m going to continue scouring your blog now