this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2023
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It's frustrating to be limited to mostly sedentary hobbies (that are still a fair amount of physical and mental work).
I decided to take it down to the very basics and speedrun a 'draw manga' book with the cheap sketchbook and supplies, beginning with drawing head proportions and they looked terrible at first... when I draw by instinct it looks kind of okay, but these looked drawn with my left hand. But I then took some advice I'd heard about many small sketches and filled a few pages with heads about the size of 20c and 50c pieces... and as I went I started to make adjustments and learn what made them look off. Then while away from it and looking at someone's real face during a conversation I realised another change that was needed etc.
So, annoyingly, grinding skill points... works. You can't just be a quick study by looking or reading, it seems you really do need to physically do it to learn. It's just so hard to stick with. It's discouraging and boring, and learning is hard work. Sometimes rarely I can focus on it really well but other times it's hard to focus on boring basics. And sitting up for long periods is tough. You're meant to draw sitting upright with good posture for your health and to make it easier/mark correctly but it is so tiring. I'd have to do the wrist stretches too if I actually did manage to grind practice drawings. :( My wrist hurts even just from using a mouse.
Maybe I can buy a portable tabletop easel to go on my lap/lap desk and work out a way to prop myself up for more support. And maybe if I had movies or music or even those dumb snippet cartoon compilations going in the background that could help me concentrate. (Sometimes it does.)
I'm thinking of Melbcat still. It's kind of good she's still being looked after because I'm still feeling pretty ordinary, but I feel guilt about leaving her there. I hope she's adjusting and coping well with the fear free techniques. She's got her favourite heated bed, her toys, and her own food... but I couldn't explain to her what was happening and tell her I would be coming back.
It's a great feeling to achieve a skill after hours of practice 😊
You need to be aware of your posture
art is a physical activity that takes hours at a time, you need to have a posture that reduces muscle strain. Pivot from your shoulder.
Look at videos on YT by artists about how to work and how to set up your work area. Mark Carder has some good videos.
and the stamina required isn't just physical, it's also mental.
I tend to work in 4 hour blocks, work for 1.45 then I take a rest, walk, stretch, have a cup of tea, then work for another couple of hours. More than that and I am wrecked
There is a reason my favourite statue is of Watteau, a friend depicted him at work in his studio, you can see his stance is one of relaxing as much of his body as possible, he can look at both his subject and his canvas without much effort but you can see the concentration in his face, his shoulders are relaxed, he stands like someone who stands all day, shifting his weight from one leg to the other , resting an arm on his hip
https://api.art.rmngp.fr/v1/images/17/211803?t=cziuTfdlJ0G4CxdKApn7VA
Yeah, that's the posture I need to have. It's a bit hard to achieve because I'm physically disabled (which I don't talk about much) and tire so quickly. I can still do some things but sitting up for long periods is hard and standing for too long could make me pass out.
A lot of the time I'm lying on my side drawing digital on my phone which while more supported is pretty bad for my posture and wrist. But you know.
Traditional is apparently better for learning though. At some point I may be able to get a recliner and a swing over desk or something
Edit: Ahahaha... It looks like he's standing contrapposto
😊 yes, it's a good pose for standing for long periods, like models do.
Try to get a chair that allows you to use your shoulders. Also learn to support your working hand.
I rest my working hand on my other wrist. ( I work on a desk ) My daughter who is a make up artist rests/steadies her hand with her pinky finger resting on her subject's face
a painter rests/steadies his hand using a dowel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWFDQqu75iA
Thanks, I saved the video.
I'm not really able to use a normal desk right now but I'll see about good chairs
hugs, just keep looking and researching art equipment, there is so much out there to help artists 😘