Notes on art to my former self

I got a lovely email in response to yesterday's comparison post, and it made me think about art, and how I feel about it.

I literally have no idea what I'm doing. In our family, I was not considered the creative, artistic one. And it's true! I'm very literal and technically minded. I'm also aphantasic and really struggle with being creative. I always found that a failing until I realised it was just the way I am, and that's OK.

I never considered my sketches or paintings Art. They're just doodles, a learning journey to get me to Art. And, while I deep-down still believe that to be true, this is changing in response to AI generated images. What humans make are works of art, and I do work really hard on my stuff. Even though it rarely pleases me, I hope one day to reach a skill level where it consistently does.

So to baby 73% Geek, and for future 73% Geek to reread when she inevitably forgets.

My best tips to myself:

1. Figure out what you actually want to be good at. Practice that. Don’t take 4 months to realise that practising hands, while good for general skill improvement, doesn’t magically make you better at faces.
2. You do not have to draw perfectly to paint well. So if you don’t want to draw, don’t.
3. Keep old work, especially when you hate it. If nothing else it shows how far you’ve come.
4. Art is a moving target. The better you become, the more discerning your eye becomes. Thus, you never achieve the desired skill level even when you’ve actually attained and surpassed a previously desired skill level.
5. Actually draw. You have so many courses, and books. They can really help with learning technical skills, but you’ll only ever get better by actually making the marks. Also, choose a single course or book and finish it 😬
6. Draw every day. Post it publicly for accountability. You'll get good at doing a thing consistently, even if that thing isn't drawing.
7. Practise smart. Once you figure out what that looks like, let me know.
8. Try really hard not to compare yourself to other artists. Know that even those who are amazing in your eyes have their off days and frustrations too.
9. Look more, see more, enjoy more. Surround yourself with as much art as you can. Indulge in fangirling over beautiful works of art. Find something to admire in all genres and disciplines.
10. The Art is in the working.