hakepe

About evolving and frustration.

The 4 stages of learning:
1. Not knowing that you don't know how to do something.
2. Knowing that you don't know how to do something.
3. Knowing that you know how to do something, even if it takes a lot of effort to apply it.
4. Unconscious knowledge - you can apply what you've learned without thinking about it.
5. Mastering a skill.

The distance between these steps can go fast or take a really long time. It is not unusual to feel extremely frustrated just when we are about to take the next step forward.

SO FRUSTRATION IS A SIGN OF PROGRESS.
Therefore frustration is your friend.

When browsing on DA I find a lot of people worrying about the same things I do, somedays a little more and somedays a little less. You see great art from people who have been to art school, drawn for years, maybe decades and you think "Man.... I am never going to be this good, why even try." And then you can go sitt on a couch and stuff your face with chocolate bars and dwell in a pool of selfpity and depression. You see your own work and all you see are the things that are just not good enough. I think that's my least favourite words in any language "not good enough". And sometimes that is true, your work just is not good enough.... today, but it could be tomorrow.... if you work at it.

With these thoughts in mind, last fall I started my own journey to become a better artists and what have I learned so far? Well I have learned just how crappy my old figure drawings were, how complex the human figure really is and how little I actually know about anything when it comes to art and just how long my journey ahead is going to be. I have also learned how to think about art, paintings and composition in a whole new way and a lot of this I ow to the Master Crafstman and artist Glenn Vilppu. Most importantly I have realized that it takes some talent, a lot of burning pashion and even more determination to learn and to practice. It takes a pile of used up pencils and papers, countless hours of drawing and studying anatomy and art theory, looking at video lectures and above all drawing, drawing and drawing. Even more it takes a lot of patience and determination and an iron will to push trough selfdoubt, lack of motivation and the occational "I am never going to be good enough days" or "what the hell is wrong with this arm??? drawings". In short, it takes time, it takes years. Yep, the learning curve is a bitch for sure. But here's the thing. The artists that we admire today who's work we stare and think "I am never going to be able to draw like that." Those are the people who worked the hardest at it, the most determined, the most motivated, the most positive people, not necessarily the most talented but the tuffest SOBs out there. In short those who did not quit.

I have also realized that when it comes to being an artist there is no such thing as finished or ready, but there is "good enough". Somewhere on the distant horizon there is a line called "good enough" and once you have worked hard and long enough, you will one day reach that line and then your work will be presentable or good enough to make a living on. The thing is though that the line keeps moving, the better you get the more you want to learn and your standards keep groving. That's why there is no such thing as a finished or a ready artist, the great one's keep groving and learning and I am always surprised how humble the truly great artists are about their work and even at the ages of 60 or 70 they still run into challenges when it comes to art. But that's the beuty of it, that's what keeps life interesting. If the day ever comes when I am ready or finished It'll be the day when I burn my pencils and find something else to do.

So what has this burst of writing been all about, what's the bottom line then? It is this formula:
Passion + Hard Work + Iron Will + Determination + Years and years of drawing and practicing = An artist who is good enough for now but wants to be even better

I you can dream it, you can do it. So don't quit, ever!

I just came back from a holiday in Rome and I have to tell you it was spectacular. The Vatican museums wich I was told is the 5th largest museum in the world and the St. Peters Basilica which is the largest church in the world (I am talking huuuugee here people!) it just blows your mind away. Also the city itself is full of art history. When walking in the center of Rome anything can come around the corner, the Colosseo, the Forum Romanum, Fontana di Trevi etc. I saw so many amazing sculpture and paintings by Bernini, Michelangelo, Caravaggio etc. and of course the famous Sisteen Chapel. I ate a lot of delicious italian gelato (ice cream) and possibly the best chocolate ice cream I have ever tasted.

If you ever get a chance to go to Rome then take it, make a list of things you want to see and if you have only time to see one thing then go to St. Peter's Basilica, the que may be long but I promise you it will be worth it!

I have finally finished the Vilppu Online Academy courses Figure I and II and the head drawing class. I started the classes last autumn and I have learned so much since then. Now it is time to revisit everything and enhance what I've learned. In short it is time for round II, so I've enrolled for the figure I class again. It is the same class but students often take the classes over and over again and propobly should do so. It's like Glenn says there is no advanced class, the basics are the advanced and in order to develop high level of skill, you need to repeat and draw, draw, draw... Also you better be walking around with a scetch book at all times. It has been very challenging but also a lot of fun. It is also interesting to see students from all over the world during our weekly chats.

I am also trying to figure out the best way to start earning some coin with my art. Basically I would love to take a year of just to draw and paint and recharge my batteries and try to figure out what I really want to do and what makes me happy. Maybe I am just having a crisis of the thirdies...

Is anyone else thinking about these things? What solutions did you make in your life?

...I wanna draw it. Yep. First week of Glenn Vilppu's head drawing online class and 9 more to go. I am so excited about this. I want to learn some more anatomy and proportions!!!