Drawing for work and/or pleasure?
Friday January 19, 2007
For a while there drawing was more work than fun - taking on too much, as always, and I had to force myself to do it. But now I'm really enjoying it again. I can't wait to get my new ideas down on paper. I'm just uploading some images for a tutorial on drawing brick and stone, and they were so much fun to do! I'm going to finish off that horse tutorial too, since everyone was so kind about it - I'll have to see if I can make it work. Maybe I'll go with the flow and push the color thing a little further...
I found myself wondering where the line is between work and pleasure. It often isn't 'easy' doing a challenging drawing - that's not what defines 'fun' - and even if you're getting paid for it, it can still be enjoyable. But I know many artists get somewhat disillusioned when they are working in high-pressure fields like advertising or design, and find that the thing they once loved is now an onerous chore. In movies and books, people always want to leave their 'boring office jobs' to become an artist or writer. I wonder if artists or writers ever dream of a regular desk job?
Comments
It is often the case that I can only enjoy drawing on a deeper level at certain times and for me late at night or early morning seem to suit. Then, the cares and distractions of the day are lost as I study an object or still life in peace and I can observe things better. I have worked in a large department store but though the work provided income it was mostly an uncreative environment where at times I felt trapped, wasting the hours that went by, and wishing I could have been drawing or painting.
I actually have one of those “boring office desk jobs” you spoke of. But that is only during the day. At night I utilize my time as an artist, doing commissioned pieces as well as my own ideas. I can honestly say I enjoy the break between the two. The desk-job gives me a sense of accomplishment on the financial level, and the art on the creative level. I do love both jobs, and the small break between the two each day keeps me from getting “burn-out” on both.
I draw purely for “pleasure.” I do not get paid, yet I too sometimes view drawing as a chore.I procrastinate terribly in betwwen projects but once I’ve actually started a project I’m fine.Nothing matches the delight I get for a good & challenging drawing well done.And it’s this that usually keeps me enthused & motivated.
Pete, I work best late at night too - when everyone else, is asleep.
I imagine a boring job like the one Pete describes would have you wishing to be elsewhere, but I don’t think all desk jobs have to be boring, Chrissy. I expect many are (actually, I’d find them stressful. I’m allergic to paperwork!) but I often envy the regular hours and predictable paypacket of a 9-to-5 job. Also the sociable office environment - all my colleagues are online!
I like that feeling of accomplishment too, Victor. Especially when you surprise yourself!
I am reminded of Dylan’s comment about “this writing job, where one needs to use all one’s brains all the time.”
With surgery on my rotator cuff being just around the corner, and knowing that I won’t be able to use my drawing arm for about 3 months, I find myself being distant from any drawing. But, viewing other artist’s work is beginning to give me the urge to keep on, even if I have to use my left hand…boy is that a challenge!
It almost seems to be more work than fun, but I believe an artist should have fun no matter what he/she is working on. Right or wrong?
Some pictures are’nt easy, but it should motivate us towards a finishing point, and being watchful not to over-work the picture.
I think that whether you are creating a work of art for your private collection, or you commission it, it should still be an enjoyable process, and you should have fun doing it!
I just find myself lately feeling that the thing I once loved to do is trying to overcome me as an enormous chore!
Thanks to the Word of God and all you artists on my friend list for helping me overcome this seemingly large, but actually rather small obstical!
Sometimes when you try to make money out of a passion it just dies. It happened to me, I enjoyed computer programming as a hobby but now when I work as a programmer it’s less atractive… Even if I wish to make some program at home for personal use, I can’t seem to enjoy it at the same level as before for some reason… Maybe I’m overfed?
I understand where everyone is coming from. I mostly can relate to Pete, with the only difference is that I am “still” at that department job. I work for a major retailer and being on my feet all day long, I’m nearly always exhausted. I so love to draw. It’s one of the things I actually think I am good at. My son is better than I am but I think that my problem(s) could be a result of not enough quality time and when I do sit down to do a drawing I try to get too “technical” about it. I’m a perfectionist to a very good degree and I get frustrated with myself if I see I can’t seem to get that shade right or especially facial/hair features right. I guess you could say that that is my achilles heel. I would love to devote a lot more time to drawing, if I could find the time. If I only have an hour or two, to me that’s not enough. When I get into a drawing, I can’t put it down. It’s an addiction, but one that I love and can live with.
I have one of those “boring office jobs” that u talk about. I have always dreamt of having an office job. Ideally i don’t want to work as an artist because it is my passion and i would hate to lose the joy that i feel doing my own thing. i also don’t wish to become a sell out. My art is my art and it adjurns my studio walls and my friends and families walls and i quickly run out of space to do it. So yes we do dream of office jobs For some intellectual Stimulation as well
Its good that you’re happy with your office job, Nae. I have a friend, a writer, who works part-time in customer service, and she enjoys it - she values the brief interations with her customers, and I think it takes some of the pressure off her writing career.
I think with working in our creative field (and computer programming is creative in its own way) we are usually working on other people’s projects and ideas, while with a hobby we are totally free to ‘do our own thing’ and pursue our own interests. Fine Artists who pursue their own artistic interests, and whose creations happen to fit with current trends in art, are fortunate to have the best of both worlds.
I have come to liken my art work for a gallery and teaching art to be almost the same as being an actor or comedian. If what I do doesn’t touch the “audience” to applaud (buy the painting) or laughter (understand and enjoy what I am teaching). Sometimes, more often than not, I even get a bit of stage fright or butterflies before a “performance”. I certainly do enjoy working with the various materials and working out a picture with studies to see what I like the best, the “rehersals”. May sound odd, but that is how it seems to me!!