Is this artist's block?

Question

I've been drawing and been fond of the arts since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Now I'm attending art school in to become a character artist in the game industry. Since games are gearing towards realism now knowing the human anatomy is very important.

I've taken a life drawing class but I feel like didn't get enough feed back from my professor. I still don't get sighting and measuring and I have a vague idea of proportions.

This is a very competitive industry. I've even looked up sites like www.conceptart.org and looked at people demo reels for character artist. Looking at those works I've come to realize that my work is really bellow par.

Some days I can't even bring myself to draw or model because of the fear of the things being out of proportion. Some days I feel like I've feel like I've fallen out of love with art because my work isn't good enough. Because of this at times I feel like I've wasted my life perusing art.

What should I do?

Answer 1

It really does sound like your desperate, and yes it really is a competetive market. In mathematics if you have the right formulas you can solve the problem. There is a site that can help you and will get rid of the problem of that "block". Many people don't like William Hogarth because they say his views are more in the area of experimental thinking. He's dead anyway so that doesn't matter. Click on this site and you will find exactly what you are looking for. There are 19 free lessons just to give you an idea of what is offered.

http://www.alienthink.com

Have fun!

Answer 2

It sounds like you are losing your confidence. Don't get bogged down in second guessing and negative comparisons. Try to use that energy to hone your skills. Maybe you can talk to a friend in your life drawing class that isn't arrogant and seems to grasp the concepts. See if they can help you with proportions and sighting. Don't give up yet. They wouldn't let you in the program if you didn't have the potential. Draw every day and draw from real life. Really put your focus on the drawing, and not the doubting. Good luck!

Answer 3

I wouldn't say it's artist's block, more of a frustration point. I appreciate the principles that you learn in art school, but looking back, they are building blocks, not hard-and-set guidelines.

Don't let one class/professor stress you out -- skill sets, especially knowledge of anatomy, take a while to sharpen. Take the summer to practice random people you see in everyday life. BUT, don't forget that, while a lot of games involve human characters, there are non-human characters. And the concept of the game may be stylized to the point where the character is human-oid, not dead on human.

Also realize that character artists/animators should be a package deal, and not just a person who can draw a figure and make it walk. I would recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Illusion-Life-Disney-Animation/dp/0786860707/ref=pd_sim_b_2/105-5760832-6462812
Character development is more than realism, especially for animation. A lot of it has to do with weight, balance, movement. Think of the older Disney cartoons...dancing sacks of flour and brooms. I would also suggest that you work on a character that is NOT human, but an animal, instead. This works out great if you have a cat, as they tend to stay put for bits of time (moreso than dogs, anyway). Or check out the local zoo/aquarium, there are a host of figures you can work on there.

Your artwork is a creative expression of yourself; embrace that and find out what you like to create, and let it take shape naturally. Be aware of commercial expectations and required skills for your industry, but don't let it change your artwork, and don't abandon your instincts to clone the marketplace. If you would be like someone else, who would be like you?

Answer 4

NO! You're just in a place where you're trying to restrict yourself and conform to a specific style right now... and it may not be YOUR style. That can be discouraging.... like a square peg in a round hole:). In your free time........ do your own stuff. If you love art, just do it and try to keep your perspective about the work you're doing in school. Art is a process... trial and error... no one piece is who you are. Someone said,"The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable!" Go to a bookstore and look at "The Artist's Date Book: A Companion Volume to The Artist's Way," it's wonderful. And....... don't give up!!! I wish you good luck:)

Answer 5

try adapting to different ways (but don't completely lose your original) look at deviantart.com to try and get a few pointers by chatting with people their or just look at the artwork........uhhhhhhhhhhhhh dont plagiarize their work though