4 responses to “I wrestle with creative questions through comics”

1. Get thee to some good classes with a quality teacher.

   Seriously. If it bothers you, I really think a good teacher would help. I have an idea for you too.

   Glen Kessler teaches at the Yellow Barn at Glen Echo. He teaches a Drawing and Painting class where you can work independently and he’ll give you the direction you want. Kinda like private lessons for less money and in a class setting. He knows way more than I do and has a real energetic positive vibe. Full Disclosure: he’s a good friend of mine. We shared a studio back at MICA. And he came to talk to my students for career day last week.

   http://www.glenkessler.com/Site/Classes.html

2. also, re: your comic some more…

   I think these are some candid thoughts that you’re willing to share. Honestly, I’ve seen many students jump to what they can do, before building a strong foundation of skills.

   Not sure that “polishing” is the right term? Would it help you to practice on artwork that is entirely separate than the kind of illustration that you enjoy? And why do you “hate” polishing? Do you hate practicing drawing skills?

3. Connie, these are good suggestions, and I would love to take a class. (I’ll probably talk to Casey about this.)

   But I think, more specifically, I mean that I completely lose interest when it comes to the stage of a creative project past getting the initial idea down on paper.

   If it’s sketched or outlined or summarized, or if “the idea is out there” somehow, I just have zero interest in refining it further.

   I seem to be much more concerned with the transmitting of the core concept than with the “polished” delivery of said concept — even though, as an artist, I know that I’m not really delivering my whole idea until it’s polished, I can’t shake that feeling that every second spent working on an idea after it’s “out” is a waste of time, and that I should be moving on to the next idea.

   That, I think, is the core of the problem. When I set out to draw something realistically, I greatly enjoy it, since the “idea” is realistic rendering … but for any kind of creative-generative endeavor, since the “idea” isn’t how it looks but what it is, I always feel frustrated by the second stage of the project.

4. ah, ok. that sounds like a bit of a different issue than i originally understood.

   A couple thoughts…
   Maybe you enjoy more of the art direction role? Or Creative Director? Or even the writing? Storyboarding?

   Or maybe you’d do better collaborating in any role?

   Maybe you could ask a fellow illustrator to work on a small project together to gain a new experience.

   There’s no shame in having preferences or knowing your strengths and weaknesses.

   As far as the polished part… I’m not sure that’s the right term…but maybe looking for how every aspect of the “polishing” – the color choices, every drawing skill and design decision – they all contribute to the success or weakness of the final idea.

   And I can relate. On the old Na team I was great at brainstorming but didn’t have the skills to execute any of the graphic, industrial, or film design ideas. So I was a professional opinion giver. Late I got the Creative Director title.