Trial and Error

Learning a craft is all about trial and error. It is by making mistakes and hopefully learning from them, we become better at what we do. The goal is to get certain actions, methods and principles in our long term memory. This can only be achieved —at least in my case— by repetition. A master has all this knowledge stored in his (or her) long term memory.

I used to think I was a slow learner. Maybe I am, but as I grew older and more experienced, I've stopped comparing myself or my work to others. I’ve come to learn that it simply takes me a lot of time to get something in my long term memory. It’s like the connection between the short term memory and the long term memory in my brain are unstable. It’s not an issue really. It just means I need to be patient. And practice a lot by trial and error.

With the above design for that sketchbook's cover, I have a few problems to resolve. First of all, the spacing is unbalanced. The word Error is too close to the ampersand. Then there is the way the letters of the word Trial are not as evenly ordered horizontally as the letters from Error. 

Fatigue is my best friend

Ever since our children were born, my wife and I cannot recall not ever feeling tired. Now that isn't completely true. What we mean by that is that we generally feel tired. When we wake up, during the less busy moments of the day, when taking a break from what we are doing and so on.

How to deal with ever lasting fatigue

So the fatigue is there and it doesn't seem like it will be gone any time soon.Yet, there is so much work to be done. I've got several projects I'm working on, life painting sessions twice a week with now even a minor sculpting class this year. I have to study for an examn that I'll take in december (sorry, can't tell you more right now). Work is very busy too. Then there's my lovely family. They deserve some attention too.

Acceptance

The first thing to do is to accept the fact that I'm tired, and that it will last forever. The only thing I can do about that is to sleep as much as I can. In reality, this means maximum 7 hours of sleep and more often than not with 1 or more interruptions per night, thanks to our youngest toddler. It's said that people need less sleep when they get older. That is untrue. People just learn to deal better with fatigue as they grow older.

I've learned to accept the fact that I'll always be tired. Accepting this has made it possible for me to deal with it in such a manner that it doesn't overtake my life and stops me from being creative or from doing the tasks that must be done, even though I don't like to do them. I've embraced the fatigue and made it my friend.

Time Management

Efficient time management is key to avoid that fatigue will take over. There are only 24hrs a day and I need 7hrs of sleep so that leaves me 17hrs per day to do everything I must or want to do. Planning my activities is great because the time allocated for these activities is scheduled. I share my calendar with my wife, so she is aware of the things I'm doing.

There are 3 types of activities that I generally do: 

• things I like doing, 
• things I don't like doing (but must be done), and 
• places or people to visit.

For most people, it will be obvious that the places and people to visit are put in a calendar. This way, our electronic tools can remind us in time to make the visit. We don't forget about them while we don't need to keep them in our mind and there is more room in our head for other things.

The things that must be done are less likely to be postponed when scheduled. Say you need to clean your terrace with the high pressure cleaner, but you really hate doing it (meh = check!). You know that it takes you about 90 minutes. You will less likely stall and do it on the day and moment you've planned it if you've scheduled for it in your agenda.

The things I like doing must be scheduled in my agenda or there is a high risk that they will not happen at all. Every monday and tuesday evening, I've scheduled life painting class. It's been like that for the last 6 years and while the days of occurrence may differ from year to year, I keep scheduling 2 evenings a week for this, because it's extremely important to me. Our youngest daughter still has to come to learn this, but the other members of the family are used to it. Drawing or painting time on other days simply does not occur if I don't plan it. There is always something else to do around the house: watching the youngest kids, cleaning, making food, helping with homework, and what not.

Fatigue is my best friend

 

So when I'm tired or not, I plan my activities because they have more chance of being done and more chance of being done at the time I want them to be done, then when I don't plan. Weariness is always there, but it doesn't stop me from being creative. My creative time is planned and when inspiration occurs, it steals time from the less pleasant things I have to do, rather than the other way around. I am in control and I deal with my fatigue efficiently.

Yet another lovely day

I was 2 minutes in my lunchbreak today at work when my boss came in. The lunch break was over.
I bought these Pilot parallel pens and I'm practicing with them during my lunch breaks. It's great fun and I hope to be able to show some stuff soon. In the mean time, here's an inked version of the one I posted the other day.

Today is a perfect day to create

In fact, every day is a perfect day, but what I wanted to emphasize is the fact that today, we have. Tomorrow, we don't know. So it's better not to delay until tomorrow. Especially if you are struck by inspiration. I've learned to always write down ideas when they pop up. If I'm at work and can't immediately write down my idea because I'm in a meeting or whatever, I send myself an email that always starts with the same word in the email title.

"Concept: Today is a perfect day to create - lettering"

This makes it easy to find all my concepts in outlook just by searching for "concept".
If it's for a painting or an illustration, I add further details or useful info in the email.

Momentum is the highest achievable state of mind

It's true. When I'm creating, and I'm able to get into the zone, I am completely cut off anything or anyone that doesn't relate to the work I'm doing. There's no fatigue, no pain. There is warmth and coldness though, and a whole scala of emotions, particularly when painting. It's an intense experience. I can recommend anyone who is asking himself (or herself) what to do to start creating. It doesn't matter what, as long as it comes from,within you. The reward is great.

Perseverance is mandatory

I've been drawing and painting for over 10 years now and while I am quite confident at the easel, I am still fully aware of the fact that being an artist is lifetime commitment. Some of the work I do turns out really well, other things seem like a disaster. Over the years, I've overcome the urge to bring myself down whenever I see errors or flaws. They are just lessons to be learned and things to remember the next time I resolve similar problems. Mastery doesn't come over night. It takes years and years of practice.

In other fields like design and lettering, it's no different. I'm fairly new at lettering so there's a long path to be followed towards mastery. Here's a drawing to remind myself. I'm putting this in a category called artists advice, because it is mainly advice I try to give the artist in me, while other artists may find it useful too.

(Click the image for a large view)

Digital version of "Procrastination leads to failure..."

Here's the digital version of "Procrastination leads to failure, so pick up your tools and get things done". It's vectorizzzzed. :)

Save your Brushes!

Here's another "note to self". If you're a painter, you may benefit from this one as well. When you use gesso to prepare your carrier -be it canvas, paper, board or whatever- sanding is very important. Especially if you prefer to have a rather smooth surface to paint on. A smooth surface is nice because it gives you the most control. You decide how much texture is on your surface and where it is to be found. No unpleasant surprizes when painting a portrait, etc. Another reason why sanding your canvas is good, is that due to the smoothness, your brushes will last a lot longer. 

Procrastination leads to Failure

I started writing down some things that I have to keep reminding the artist in me. When painting, when not painting, I tend to wonder off, becoming unfocussed, and it's mainly due to procrastination.
Having a very busy schedule with a daytime job, 5 children and a wife, painting academy, cycling 4 to 8hrs a week, groceries and other chores, it's quite easy to be unproductive when it comes to drawing and painting.

So I thought I'd make myself some posters to remind me of the important things an artist should be aware of at all times.

The first one is advise I should be putting as a wallpaper on my laptop (when I wonder off to the www for too long), and in other places I am to be found when I'm not creating.

Procrastination leads to Failure so pick up your tools and get things done!