You got this absolutely right. I'm that kid whose parents put a lot of pressure on them to succeed. My mom got mad at me for getting a 92% on a midterm in math for the grade above me, no joke. (An 8th grader, taking a math midterm for 9th graders) I've always had this pressure to do well in school, having two older sisters who both did incredibly academically, who my mom has compared me to before. I set my expectations low because I've always felt my parents set them too high. I have low self-esteem often. I feel that if I don't do well in school or if I make a mistake, my parents will punish me and take away everything that makes me happy. I don't feel unconditional love from them. sorry, back to the thing about burnout and giving up. One day during quarantine, all of a sudden I couldn't do any of my schoolwork. I'd try to convince myself to do it for hours, but I just couldn't. It was easy work, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't bring myself to start it. I don't know exactly how long this lasted. I tried, I really did, nothing worked. At some point I started crying about all the stress of knowing my grade would drop and trying to hard, but not being able to make any impact. I felt like I was going insane and I hated myself. Eventually I managed to get back into the swing of things. I find myself not trying nearly as hard with school though. I've felt that way with piano as well because my mom and myself put so much pressure, so I quit. I've never felt that way with art. My parents don't control my art whatsoever because in my house it's seen as a hobby and nothing more. There's no way I could get a job as an artists is something that was never directly said, but implied by my parents, so it's a double-edged sword I guess. Sorry for such a long comment. I don't think I've ever talked about this before.
It's all good Indi, I can completely relate to what you're going through but don't stress out about it too much. Just remember to trust yourself and your instincts (and knowledge), but make a point of not rejecting good advice for the sake of it. It's when too much advice can derail you or cause you to loose your confidence or grounding that you might want to be more vocal about it - but usually it's just about standing your ground about what works best for you.
I watched an interview featuring the artist Gerald Brom known more commonly as just ''brom'', he mentioned he regretted spending 7 days a week on his work, he said he wished he took 2 days off every week to do other things without feeling guilt. As 23 year old I think I might take on his advice the best I can, I feel like I just wake up and obsess about getting things done maybe I need that but maybe I should just feel okay with taking just 2 days off.
Dude, I'm 32 and have ADHD. Never in my life have I got as much done as I'd liked to. Had to learn to accept that not only time, but also psychological and biological resources are finite. And I've become way more productive after accepting that I'm not as productive as I could be in some utopic perfectionist fantasy. Just can't be done. Life got better after that. But I needed nearly 30 years to get there. Don't beat yourself up!
Just turned 30, myself. Like July, I also have ADHD. I went back to school a few years ago because I felt like I lost most of my 20's to a bad relationship and several false start careers. I'm about to graduate, but I'm realizing that I've been putting constant pressure on myself, never letting myself have days off, because I feel like I need to catch up for all the time I lost and all the people that are younger than me who are better. When I burn out, I just put more pressure on myself to keep going. In my experience, you eventually get to a point where putting that pressure on yourself to always be productive actually makes you less productive. Most of my time and energy gets spent worrying rather than actually doing anything. Work hard, but make sure to take the time off. You'll get there eventually if you don't give up, so destroy yourself trying to get there. Good luck!
"Artists Crippling Guilt" is me right now. I booted up a game instead of putting together my portfolio. Also, feel like what I produce is not very good...
Only 7 minutes in and I basically feel like you're talking about me. Guilt is what I was brought up with. It's the kind of guilt about what I'm NOT doing, rather than what I've done. I feel paralyzed by too much choice with art, I just like so many things about it. Just to name a few: environments, figure drawing, comics, landscape paintings, portraiture, concept art. Committment is a heavy word for me for sure. It doesn't feel like a lifetime, but definitely several years. Hard work is a big part of it too, even though I don't think of it as "hard work". I only feel like I'm working hard when I don't want to do something. I think part of the struggle about learning art as a 24 year old is that I have no concrete goals to even commit to in the first place. I focus on the fundamentals, but that alone lacks direction. I just want to be free on the paper, I want my process to be intuitive where I can draw everything that interests me. I guess I do have a goal in the end... It just doesn't feel like it sometimes Edit: The bit about a "transitional period"... This feels like exactly what I've been goong through right now, but for far too long. Procrastination is exactly like you say, and it feels like I'm not committing as much as I'd like (i.e . At least half of my day, which is stupid). Knowing that, I now focus on what is fun and interesting to me, like Kim Jung Gi always says. Whatever FEELS good to draw, I draw. I find myself drawing much more when I don't think about what I *truly* want to draw.
@@artofdaviii @John Dave Lim it's funny that you mention this, because I used to be better at figuring out on the go when I first started. It's something I want to get back to, because it feels like that's when I learn the most. I also draw far more with that approach, because it's simply more fun. Getting into a flow used to be much easier, even though I'm more knowledgable now.
I feel I basically AM talking about you - all of us - imagine how therapeutic it was for me to realize that I wasn't the only black sheep out there. I made it my ambition to let every other artist realize that as well, otherwise it's very easy to feel utterly alone
@@artofdaviii I do look at pinterest or Instagram for that, but sometimes I feel like I'm sticking too closely to my references. I've been learning how to use references lately, as in, taking only what I like and leaving out the rest. It's like I'm constantly fighting that urge to repeat what another artist put down, unless it's a study of some sort. In that case I copy, but only to understand the process more.
My parents never bother me about being more productive, but I feel so much pressure anyways. Maybe it's because they are both so hard-working. I don't know how to earn a living with my art (illustration degree doesn't really help with that), so instead I got a full-time job in a Walmart distribution center. It would make me feel very guilty to quit that job and try to earn money with art, because I would probably end up having to rely on my parents for much longer. I just want to be independent and free and be able to do my thing.
I can very much relate to your position, although I'm unemployed. Do you have your art up on Instagram or anything? I'd love to be able to check it out
I can completely understand how you feel about that. Of course, there are two sides to the story - parents that want to help share their experience and wisdom, which is entirely crucial to your own well-being. There's the other side where at one point, you have to show faith and trust in someone and see where it goes. Many of my greatest life and professional lessons came from screwing things up (or surprising myself by realizing I could create something on my own and actually succeed with it)
keep going with the art regardless. you dont have to make money from it now. theres so much oppurtunity with art, and it takes time. you have my support :)
Same here. I've been taken the pressure and uncertainty of my financial situation to my art, and so i have huge resistance to do anything artistic and the inspiration just doesn't flow. When unemployed i am dependent on parents and government and with that comes of course their pressure as well to get a job. If i would get a job i would very likely be too tired to commit and continue my artistic pursuits as much as i would like to. And that would lead me to just playing video games all of my free time. Plus i feel extremely overwhelmed trying to establish routines. Damned if you, damned if you don't.
im on that boat, im going to something safe, a safer career as a doctor hopefully, because i cant rely on my art right now, and i dont want to keep worrying and relying on my parents for so long until my art be good enough to make a living, or at least good enough for me be proud to show and want to show and sell it, i do think i need a lot of practice yet, but im much better at commitment, so im practicing much more, having a routine, and definitely Adam's videos have being fundamental for this improvement in my production. So my plan is while i work with something else, keep working on my art, create stuff, make a portfolio that i can like, im not just visual artist, i like to create stuff, music, stories, and art, and i have many worlds and projects i wanna develop, but i really need time to work on them and if they give me something it is fine, if not i need to have something else so i can stop worrying me about money and my parents too
Eh. Finding ur channel was feeling like im listening to someone who knows how i it hurts inside. Its so... forgotten feeling. Thank u so much for talking about all this themes!
your words about the fear of commitment have made me realize that this is my problem. i am just turning 19 next month but have finished highschool at 18. since 10th grade i know that i want to pursue art as a career path for the rest of my life yet still, surroundings are trying to influence me to study for a 'real' job. i am in fear of committing and signing up for university. and so there i am, half a year has passed and i feel like im just wasting time. yes i am drawing and learning a bit every day but i dont feel like it is taking me anywhere. any day i dont study or draw but instead spend with my partner or family feels wasted despite me knowing that i want to be there for them aswell. thank you so much for making these types of videos, they mean so much to me and surely to others too. you keep motivating me and make me realize that the thoughts and actions we have and make are normal and can change. grateful for the mental input which your videos have. thank you.
I am at a point in my life right now where life is getting very real. I have been watching your videos for quite some time, and every time I watch one of these it was at a time that I needed it most. I find myself relating to a lot of what you say, and it has made me imagine you as an older version of myself, which makes it really reassuring. It feels like these are audio logs that I would send to a younger version of myself to comfort me. Thank you so much for everything.
22:55 "theres a reason why overpressured people burn themselves out" thats my life actually. i came from a very poor family. all my aunts and uncles are successful. i was the one who got burnt out even though i did really well in school. the truth is my parents arent successful like their siblings for the same reason they put so much pressure on me. its the mindset, that if failure happens, we will all die.. or something stupid like that. its extremely toxic and its actually the pressure to succeed at all costs, even peoples happiness that causes people to fail. and yes, EVEN those who succeed. they still fail. they might not be penniless, but theyre definitely not normal. and they might be very healthy or have healthy relationships or mindsets. thats failure on a whole nother level. you have to go easy on yourself. and people, believe it or not, really need to go easy on you XD also i didnt know i needed this lesson on finding a significant other but it seems im getting more life advice from art and hobbies than i did from my experiences in college school and "career" also also a note about ps5. im glad i didnt try too hard to get it. they are ALL sold out now good god lol
4:16 "By limiting your options, you are allowing yourself to invest more of your energy into being creative within the options that you have" I'll Take notes So now I have to set myself specific goals so I don't go everywhere. I'll be better faster. Thank you again Adam :)
it's strange right? Lately at 24 years old I wake up every day after about 6 hours of sleep knowing that something must be done and that every day that goes away I just feel more and more guilty of not knowing how long an art would take before setting the date and not be able to fulfill it. Feeling that although you know that you are improving little by little, you would like to know when it is your time to sit down and learn for yourself and not for a client or someone else, when you do not mess up the process of what to do with what you want and when it is okay give you that time. And when it is good to enjoy that moment that you give yourself to not do the work because you get saturated ... Thanks Adam, for giving me a bit of peace of mind knowing that this is more normal and that it can be remedied over time ... Because guilt in an artist does not disappear quickly but as long as it can heal, it can be overcome.
25:10 This part! This part, got me to pause everything I'm doing, put my headphone on, cover my ears, close my eyes, so that, this talk is the only thing burn in my brain, like, Adam is talking to me, directly
Thanks for sharing, Adam. Taking ownership, allowing the soul to be fluid in committing, and embracing "distractiions" are nuggets of wisdom. Cheers for nuggets, m8!
I've only recently discovered your channel but in the time of listening and painting along with them, my painting just seems to be so much more relaxed and not so, tense. I feel as if I can accept my paintings more for what they are and lose myself within them. Thank you for your content!
Man, I feel this. I'm in a huge transition from paleontology to art. And I still don't know where I'll end up. I'm terrified. I've wanted to be a paleontologist since I could talk, it feels like the biggest betrayal to change to ART. Especially after 7 years in college struggling to just get the damn undergraduate degree. My love for paleontology will never die, but its crossed my mind that it may not be my career. So thank you. I don't have answer, but thank you for helping me untangle my emotions just a little bit more. I'm going to save this talk and return to it. Thank you again 💓
I feel you. I'm currently in my third (and last) year of my Biodiversity & Ecology undergraduate. I've gotten so deep into art in the last few months, that I finally believe in my capabilities. It's hard to choose. I love both. I don't know what to do. Pursuing an art career both scares me and inspires me. For now, I'm working on my skills and slowly building a portfolio while I finish my bachelor. I hope things are going great for you. Changing career is a hard decision!
So true, my parents always tried to make everything like my sport and hobbies into some kind of job that I had to take seriously and that just took all joy out of it and I gave up, I'm rediscovering those joys again these days tho luckily :)
Thank you for this video. I've been feeling this kind of guilt lately, especially since I 'betrayed' most of my family's expectation and decided to pursue animation. Each day I realize I'm still nowhere near those professionals, the guilt started eating from inside asking "what are you even doing?" and when I learn something not related to animation it just goes "if you have time to study that, why don't you churn out more drawings? Do you even love animation?" and ended up hating myself even more. I love learning about lots of things, and I love expressing them through different media not just animation, so sometimes I couldn't help blaming myself for being inconsistent jack-of-all-trades with no single remarkable feature. But since I found your channel I'm starting to remind myself that this is a journey to find myself and my own expression of arts. So thank you for creating these videos... And sorry for the long rant, I don't normally comment but seems like I got a bit emotional haha
This is exactly how I'm currently feeling - being trapped in a vicious cycle because the more I feel guilty about not being productive the less I am able to create art and find my path. Somehow your videos always reach out to the right people at the right time. Thank you very much for your encouraging words Adam!
Beatiful. I can not thank you enought Adam. Your beatiful and wise toughts are not just about art but whole meaning of life and how to deal with it. I think most of artists are very sensitive people. We are experiencing all little things much deeper. What helped in my darkest year of my life was start working on my own project - illustrated book. That really helped me with my menthal health and with no jokes, prevented me from suicide. I think doing art is some kind of therapy. Art is make your ideas and toughts real. Biggest problem is separate your world with real one. To find balance between productivity, doing daily duties and just relaxing. I have found out art block is made by too much distraction. We nead to learn how to relax and doing literally nothing. Let brain get bored. Go for walk alone. Then you come back with clear mind and power to be creative. I really needed to hear all your thoughts. Thx again Adam.
art is my connection to everything in life, too. art.. IS my life. without art, i wouldn't want to exist. it's so validating to hear you talk about how many different side-interests you dabble in as well as art, i've always felt shameful about my process because i thought it was only my mental illness and noncommittal attention span. but.. the truth under it is that i've been in relative control of it; "self-learner" is a term i haven't heard before, but goddamn do i relate to that. i've instinctually followed my passions and interests by learning from all sorts of random things which all can relate back to making more of my art, and better. you're absolutely right.. "stay curious" is such an important sentiment. curiosity is what drives us to learn and grow. i've been so embarassed about how unfocused my interests can be, even though i always come back to the same things, in cycles. it's taken so long for my mind to coalesce into these understandings. being isolated from the world and over-controlled like you described.. killed my passion for life, for a long time. things were too dull to want to participate and i sunk into 2 decades of depression and identity-less-ness. i just got used to the feeling so early on that i didn't know life could be better until last year. i'm 33. the immense pressure and panic of picking up a pencil.. nail on the head, there. ownership of myself and my own things is something i rarely get to feel. god, so much of what you're saying speaks directly to my fears. others telling me how to do things and not listening to me only ever compels me, reflexively, to give up on even trying to live my life. i lost myself a long time ago, and only last year did i wake back up. thank you kindly, sir, for your words of wisdom. your voice is exactly what i need to hear at this point in my life, and i am so grateful for finding your channel. your videos are helping me think about what it is i want to do, what it is i have to work with.. and where to go from this point.
Thank you for talking about the whole bit about "committing to the distraction". I honestly need to remember more about this. That creates a guilt trip so bad that is hard to leave. Specially when you are freelancer and you feel like every time is work time. also, ayyyy floor gang! lol
Mary Poppins and Leslie Knope agree with you. Thanks so much for being vulnerable in your videos it's just so helpful and I resonated with everything. Your talk about owning your process, being committed without being catastrophic, taking life less seriously, everything. Thank you for this. I'm gonna send this to my friends :)
I am only 14 (Turning 15...) But I already feel insecure with the overwhelming expectations of people in the art community. I have been conflicted, thus leading to me procrastinating, distracting myself-- and basically everything you just said. I know this isn't healthy, so I feel like it is a miracle that I found your video. I'm so thankful, and I'm slowly learning that I should just do things my own way, without comparing myself to others. It is very, very hard. I shouldn't even be saying these things for my age, but I can't help but spit it out. I will remain strong, and I hope I can reach my goal.
24:30 I feel like I am or at least was very sensitive to that. I used to learn songs on my keyboard and some people would go "you have to do something with that" and it just made me feel like I hadn't accomplished anything yet, it took the fun right out of it
That moment when I realize that I have been super strict with myself and I have not been giving myself the space to be properly distracted. Thank you Adam!
Finally took time off to watch this. HOLY SHIT ADAM, THANK YOU. I needed to hear this so much. Its so true. Whenever somebody pesters me to do something, or whenever I say I'll do something - I'll NEVER do it. I internalized this stress and seriousness so much that I'll just be stuck. On one hand I should do it. But I dont wanna. I should do something else but then guilt will paralyze me. Thank you for showing me way out of this nightmare and also thank you for easing my mind on the art path - been stuck between few things and now I know that commiting to one, doesnt mean abandoning the other forever.
I was contemplating for almost the entire year of trying to post more landscape and backgrounds on social media (along with other interests, like 3ds environments and concept art) but I couldn't do it because I always posts portraits & I felt like maybe my followers won't like it because they are here for the portraits 😅 This video gives me the boost to actually do it, idk how my followers will react but I don't want to force myself to do 1 thing for the next few years because I'm afraid of change 😤 Thanks for the video 💜
I always watch this video whenever i feel guilty cuz i can't draw/can't enjoy drawing something while distracting myself. and i'm gonna say thank you for this wonderful art talks 💙
Everytime I come back to one of your videos its like a warm cookie for my soul. I always come watch one of your videos at really pivotal times in my life and every time I leave feeling like the way I was thinking or the things I was wanting to do have been totally explained. Maybe its just because you, like me, really are a real artist of the soul. Never stop making encouraging videos Adam.
I watch most art RUclipsrs so I can learn new things about art and become a better artist. But I watch you to learn new things about life and become a better person. Without your lessons in these videos I dont think my art career would survive cuz I just take it so seriously. Learning passion is as important as learning fundamentals, so thank you so much for these talks man, much love
Every time you put out a video I add it to my watchlist, and then when I have the time to listen, somehow...it's always exactly the right time. It's like you spoke to every single anxious thought and existentialist meltdown I had this past week. Thank you for these videos, Adam. I can't begin to express how many times they've helped to recenter me and reignite my creative passions. Sending lots of love to you and your family.
I can't tell you how relevant your video was to my headspace today, it's like you're watching me from the window or something. These videos mean so much to me, thank you for making them, Adam.
Every time i watch your videos you remind me something that i tent to forget. We are not here only to make production production production non stop otherwise we are useless. We have a greater responsibility, we are here to explore, to find new aethetic solutions, we are here to answer questions and ask new ones, and that takes time. Thanks for your time making videos Adam :)
Your statement about coding is absolutely correct. There’s a lot of constant change and it’s quite normal to do something you never have seen before. Coding is really more creative than most people do actually except to be! Nothing the less amazing video like always....
This hits too close to home. I am always that kid who is pressured by his parents to be the best he could possibly. And when day started doing that, I slowly lost my art passion. There is a point in life where I only draw for money, and not because I want to. Listening to this particular video helped me a little to realize a lot of things. You may not be able to read this, but Thank you, I appreciate this so much.
When you listed the things that you enjoy I thought "Damn, this dude is even cooler than I thought." You're already damn cool and you really put out some of the most meaningful content that youtube has to offer.
Identifying my niche has always been a difficult thing for me as a person and as an artist. I struggled a lot with addiction through my late teens and 20’s, and while I never gave up on drawing, I felt that the chance of success through art was impossible. In a way, that helped me in a sense, as I felt freed up to experiment and to make mistakes as I thought of my sketchbooks as visual journals that no one would ever see. Once I got my mental health under control I wanted to become a tattoo artist, so I started an apprenticeship-unfortunately cut short by covid. I now find myself completely obsessed with learning to draw, and I have decided to just go whichever way my drawings pull me, whether that’s illustration, or getting back into tattooing, I don’t know. But I do feel assured that I’m an artist finally.
So much of what you teach in your videos are things that I've always secretly suspected of being true, but I never let myself believe. Hearing someone of your experience talk about all the roadblocks that pop up along this journey is very affirming. I've spent so much time agonizing over my direction. Now I'm learning to identify with the best choice available to me as I go- I learn and grow and take pleasure in making no matter what. Thank you so much for your videos!!
It was not an easy vido to listen to, because in the last few weeks I have been going through such a period, feeling at a crossroads, trying to find the strength to give myself a chance to be happy and end a nearly ten-year relationship taht is drainging me and making me unhappy. Thank you for the message Adam.
The music adds so well with your videos, and it really helps me calm down while listening to your advice. So thank you for making this, it really helped!
I love your videos. I love the fact that you are talking about similar things, but not the same things, more like deconstructing parts of one huge topic. I've been listening to your videos for over a year and listening to your speeches about artists' mental health over and over made me feel much better about myself, art community and process of creating. Thank you for your hard work❤
You have bassically explained to what am going through right now. You have changed my mindset to something better, everytime i would go to play a game or hang out with friends i would think about that i should be really doing something productive instead, otherwise im going to get nowhere. But that mindset only hurt my productivity and my mental health, i thank you very much for this video. Before the guilt would ruin the experience i would have playing games or hanging out with friends, then after i would feel emotionally drained and it would drain the courage for me to even pick up the paint brush. Again thank you.
As a young man (20) these video's are very helpfull when i felt lost and didn't even realise it. I hope to see more of these because every time they end i feel i have changed a little.
4 года назад
I believe this is the third time I listen to this video. It’s everything I need to hear from now and then. Thank you for this. Thank you for sharing all this wisdom, I love your channel!
I haven't even finished the video yet but I need to thank you !! Just a few words were able to help. I realized I got so much into being scared of commiting to anything that I got to the point of thinking that maybe I don't really want to do anything related to art, I got sad that I would have to ditch a thing I've been doing since my first years. Maybe it just turns out I overthink too much. I probably shouldn't even worry so much over these things since I'm still just a teenager but I keep thinking I'm obliged to be decided right at this moment or else I will end up being unhappy with my career and life.
This part about ownership hit me like a truck. I used to spend day and night drawing and loving it but when I became a tattoo artist that love began to fade and I have barely touched art since. I'm slowly trying to find my way back because I'm still not at a point where I can express what I want and maybe even inspire someone
i dont know whats more incredible every video you make or the fact that after every video, one person just doesnt get it and your dislike is literally 1. i like every time :)
holy shit, this video came around when I had relationship commitment issue where I didn't think it was worth it and it's just helped my mindset a little
Today I thought a lot about how I need some wise words from Adam after I uploaded a music video and was stressed all day about how it's gonna do. Great timing on this one!
I'm a musician. And every word you say. Is so much needed and appreciated. Thank u. So much. So so much. My mind has been a mess and your words are... Well, I have no words
Adam, thank you for speaking about these topics. Your videos are some of the most relevant pieces of mental support that I have ever come across while studying animation and not having enough time or mental strength to seek professional help. What you do is very much needed, and I cannot appreciate the effort enough.
Happy painting to you too. It’s always soothing listening to your videos. I always fo while I’m doing 30/40 min of stationary bicycle. Its my moment of the day :).
I'm only part way through this talk, as I stopped for a momentary break, but I just want to say, your videos really help me get into the flow and focus when I'm working on my art - it feels like getting to listen to an artist talk from home. And I come away with new information to think about later!
Such a great video. I love to take a little notepad with me, everywhere I go. Even if I end up being too busy to draw anything in it. The thought of having this thing that I can draw in and write down my ideas in a feat of inspiration really comforts me and relieves that anxious feeling of not working on my craft
The way you redefine indecisiveness and frame it as a quality that is good makes me see my decisions as being valid. I was told to have a back up plan like any other artist, and its funny you open with coding and programming; because its what I chose as that. And tbh, programming especially web programming, has a lot of similarities with art. But thats another tangent. I often times find myself stuck because im always thinking what should I do and I haven’t been able to actually hone in on what I want to do. My goal is to be a freelance web artist, but I also want to be a comic artist, learn to be a good script writer. Adding in a desk job has made it a bit hard, my energy is often spent there more-so than on myself. I feel bad that most of the time, i just go home and game (try and beat the seikiro gauntlets or snipe people on CoD) or watch anime.
Great Video. I enjoyed your relatability on seemingly very obscure things. I specifically felt this way when you mentioned that you look towards Pewdiepie or Bill Burr for entertainment and I felt like you were actually human in some odd way. Keep up the great work.
Thank you Adam. You're generous as always ! Your channel is a great cure to negatives emotions, can't thank you enough for calming my anxiety and not having to feel it so much for 30 min in my day. Wish you the best, you truly deserve it :)
Adam, I always appreciate your thought. And today I agree so much again. I always want to understand why my younger brother needs playing games or watching some funny videos. Now I understand each people has different routine to relax.
I love what you have to say, it helps me, ´cause i have many "Pushers" in my Psyche, but even more i like your voice, which is like a kind dad´s voice; a tender teachers voice; a know-live voive and last but not least an arist´s voice. Sounds very Compassionate!
Fantastic to see your take on this, Adam! You're addressing parts of this topic that I wasn't conscious of. Artistic guilt is something I spoke about in the past and I think more of us need to talk about this openly with each other. Thank you :)
Hey Adam, thank you for bringing out your insights in such a warm and human manner. this resonated heavily and i am thankful to hear those thoughts clear and direct, because in my own thinking they are too often distracted by doubt and second guessing. i learn so much through your reflections but most importantly i feel understood and valued for how i chose to do the things i do. thank you again, this means a lot to me.
Holy crap... yeah, not a solution but it definitely helped me. I'm definitely someone who takes life way too seriously and puts enormous pressure on myself, so I'm at that insecure point where I don't know what kind of art I want to pursue and then, ya know, feeling guilty because I'm not being productive. Especially since I recently graduated high school so.... idk thank you. I wish I could take one of your classes, hopefully I will one day.
I just noticed that your creative process is very similar to the way you talk; steady and thoughtful. I aim to be that in tune with myself in the future. Thanks again for sharing thisv
I just keep telling myself that I'm going to draw until I can't anymore and that I have time. And that I'm not wasting time, that my brain is retaining information as I go, that by learning different things I'm going to bring unique things to the table, etc. Sometimes the shame and guilt wins and I collapse, especially during covid times, but somedays I win.
This video came at the perfect moment for me. I've been struggling with university for a while now, I find it almost impossible to pick up the pen to work for anything class related. I can focus all my attention on drawing stuff that are unrelated like fan art for videogames I love, yet when I need to do something for school I just kinda freeze up in a creative sense. For the most part I think it's because I feel that I committed to something that doesn't resonate with me and it's sucking the passion out of creation. I wish sometimes I could give up but I invested too much into it to just drop it now.
Thankyou Ada. For making using a big part your life to help other artists. The perspective you offer has personally been life changing. I can’t thank you enough for the way you put things and the humour you inject. I’m afraid I’ve started using the phrase douche bag a bit too much though🤣. This has had a curious effect when I’m annoyed enough to call someone it, I laugh as I do when you say it and I don’t feel so annoyed anymore😀. You are helping us in more way than you probably know✊🤩🌸
I don't have confidence, and I feel like that impacts the way people see what I'm capable of. I can do things with the right mind set. But too many people don't believe in me, or say that I have to work harder or better to do something if I'm not sure about it, when I'm already in crippling burnout, already good at or willing to do the thing, but showing that I might not be able to because Im always unsure or I have no confidence in anything I do, or I cant fend for myself or think for myself. idk that last part kinda hit me hard, because I have good friends, but that are like this. Who tell me that I have to work harder, who don't really believe in my skills because I lack confidence or I'm timid. I just dont know how to tell them this without either them or me getting upset, so I close off the subject entirely, or stop talking to them, even though I secretly want their showed admiration for what I'm trying to do. Even if I simply want a word of encouragement, that's too much to ask for. sorry if this sounded like a load of nothing- idk I sound like I fucking child, Who do I have to rely on others for motivation? that's just very counter productive. T^T haha thats the curse of being me!
lately i've been question myself where would i go with my art journey and question the values on my art practices. i would love to thank you for this. have a bless journey.
Adam thank you from the bottom of my heart: I stumbled on your channel a few months ago and you’re a guiding voice for so many artists. Thank you for shining light where other teachers don’t always explore. You’re changing my life and so many others for the better.
Your videos help me so much, too bad my english is not good enough to show you how thankful i am listening to this life lesson. And yes, really hard to explain but everything in the world just has a mysterious way connecting with each other, i think we all can feel it, just forget about it. I guess that why we should "enjoy our life more" :))). Again, thank you for the lessons.
Its insane. For the last several years, almost every video you come up with has been totally relevant to my situation, thanks for being on the same wavelength for so long. truly
im no longer chasing a career, when the opportunity presents itself i'll take it but right now art is just fun, i will follow MY path, and that's the best option for me, so far my art style is just me drawing, my painting style is just me painting, and the subject i choose to paint is the subject i want to paint, now sure i have to get something to sustain myself and i will, but it won't be art from the get go and in that, i find ultimate peace in my art
Hey Adam! Thank you so much for this video, you have seriously taken me out of a rut where I was taking things too seriously. I'm now painting again and enjoying it :)
Thank you for this Adam! Something about someone putting to words my current problem, when I didn't have the words myself, made it a little relieving. Now I've a basis to start problem solving it!
I swear, your videos always pops up at my recommendations at most profound times in my life where I needed it the most, if this is not the sign or answer from the universe, I don't know what else is. Thank you sir!
Your videos are like therapy sessions I didn't realize I needed
Yeah that just about covers it
Aww, well thank you, I love hearing that you're enjoying them Vania :)
“I can say today with absolute confidence that I am a dark fantasy artist”
Sir, this is a Wendy’s....
Lol just messin with you. Great video sir 🤍
Lmao that’s just awesome!
You got this absolutely right. I'm that kid whose parents put a lot of pressure on them to succeed. My mom got mad at me for getting a 92% on a midterm in math for the grade above me, no joke. (An 8th grader, taking a math midterm for 9th graders)
I've always had this pressure to do well in school, having two older sisters who both did incredibly academically, who my mom has compared me to before.
I set my expectations low because I've always felt my parents set them too high. I have low self-esteem often. I feel that if I don't do well in school or if I make a mistake, my parents will punish me and take away everything that makes me happy. I don't feel unconditional love from them.
sorry, back to the thing about burnout and giving up.
One day during quarantine, all of a sudden I couldn't do any of my schoolwork. I'd try to convince myself to do it for hours, but I just couldn't. It was easy work, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't bring myself to start it.
I don't know exactly how long this lasted. I tried, I really did, nothing worked. At some point I started crying about all the stress of knowing my grade would drop and trying to hard, but not being able to make any impact. I felt like I was going insane and I hated myself.
Eventually I managed to get back into the swing of things. I find myself not trying nearly as hard with school though.
I've felt that way with piano as well because my mom and myself put so much pressure, so I quit.
I've never felt that way with art. My parents don't control my art whatsoever because in my house it's seen as a hobby and nothing more. There's no way I could get a job as an artists is something that was never directly said, but implied by my parents, so it's a double-edged sword I guess.
Sorry for such a long comment. I don't think I've ever talked about this before.
It's all good Indi, I can completely relate to what you're going through but don't stress out about it too much. Just remember to trust yourself and your instincts (and knowledge), but make a point of not rejecting good advice for the sake of it.
It's when too much advice can derail you or cause you to loose your confidence or grounding that you might want to be more vocal about it - but usually it's just about standing your ground about what works best for you.
Man I felt this... thank you for sharing.
I watched an interview featuring the artist Gerald Brom known more commonly as just ''brom'', he mentioned he regretted spending 7 days a week on his work, he said he wished he took 2 days off every week to do other things without feeling guilt. As 23 year old I think I might take on his advice the best I can, I feel like I just wake up and obsess about getting things done maybe I need that but maybe I should just feel okay with taking just 2 days off.
Dude, I'm 32 and have ADHD. Never in my life have I got as much done as I'd liked to. Had to learn to accept that not only time, but also psychological and biological resources are finite. And I've become way more productive after accepting that I'm not as productive as I could be in some utopic perfectionist fantasy. Just can't be done.
Life got better after that.
But I needed nearly 30 years to get there.
Don't beat yourself up!
Just turned 30, myself. Like July, I also have ADHD. I went back to school a few years ago because I felt like I lost most of my 20's to a bad relationship and several false start careers. I'm about to graduate, but I'm realizing that I've been putting constant pressure on myself, never letting myself have days off, because I feel like I need to catch up for all the time I lost and all the people that are younger than me who are better. When I burn out, I just put more pressure on myself to keep going. In my experience, you eventually get to a point where putting that pressure on yourself to always be productive actually makes you less productive. Most of my time and energy gets spent worrying rather than actually doing anything. Work hard, but make sure to take the time off. You'll get there eventually if you don't give up, so destroy yourself trying to get there. Good luck!
"Artists Crippling Guilt" is me right now. I booted up a game instead of putting together my portfolio. Also, feel like what I produce is not very good...
Me too.... I feel that man.
Do you have an insta? :) i feel the same way (that's why i clicked this video..)
Only 7 minutes in and I basically feel like you're talking about me.
Guilt is what I was brought up with. It's the kind of guilt about what I'm NOT doing, rather than what I've done.
I feel paralyzed by too much choice with art, I just like so many things about it. Just to name a few: environments, figure drawing, comics, landscape paintings, portraiture, concept art.
Committment is a heavy word for me for sure. It doesn't feel like a lifetime, but definitely several years. Hard work is a big part of it too, even though I don't think of it as "hard work". I only feel like I'm working hard when I don't want to do something.
I think part of the struggle about learning art as a 24 year old is that I have no concrete goals to even commit to in the first place. I focus on the fundamentals, but that alone lacks direction. I just want to be free on the paper, I want my process to be intuitive where I can draw everything that interests me. I guess I do have a goal in the end... It just doesn't feel like it sometimes
Edit: The bit about a "transitional period"... This feels like exactly what I've been goong through right now, but for far too long. Procrastination is exactly like you say, and it feels like I'm not committing as much as I'd like (i.e . At least half of my day, which is stupid).
Knowing that, I now focus on what is fun and interesting to me, like Kim Jung Gi always says. Whatever FEELS good to draw, I draw. I find myself drawing much more when I don't think about what I *truly* want to draw.
@@artofdaviii @John Dave Lim it's funny that you mention this, because I used to be better at figuring out on the go when I first started. It's something I want to get back to, because it feels like that's when I learn the most. I also draw far more with that approach, because it's simply more fun. Getting into a flow used to be much easier, even though I'm more knowledgable now.
I feel I basically AM talking about you - all of us - imagine how therapeutic it was for me to realize that I wasn't the only black sheep out there. I made it my ambition to let every other artist realize that as well, otherwise it's very easy to feel utterly alone
@@AdamDuffArt Well, you've done exactly that. It's also easier to be good to myself lately, just another thing that I've learned here.
@@artofdaviii I do look at pinterest or Instagram for that, but sometimes I feel like I'm sticking too closely to my references. I've been learning how to use references lately, as in, taking only what I like and leaving out the rest. It's like I'm constantly fighting that urge to repeat what another artist put down, unless it's a study of some sort. In that case I copy, but only to understand the process more.
My parents never bother me about being more productive, but I feel so much pressure anyways. Maybe it's because they are both so hard-working.
I don't know how to earn a living with my art (illustration degree doesn't really help with that), so instead I got a full-time job in a Walmart distribution center.
It would make me feel very guilty to quit that job and try to earn money with art, because I would probably end up having to rely on my parents for much longer.
I just want to be independent and free and be able to do my thing.
I can very much relate to your position, although I'm unemployed. Do you have your art up on Instagram or anything? I'd love to be able to check it out
I can completely understand how you feel about that. Of course, there are two sides to the story - parents that want to help share their experience and wisdom, which is entirely crucial to your own well-being. There's the other side where at one point, you have to show faith and trust in someone and see where it goes. Many of my greatest life and professional lessons came from screwing things up (or surprising myself by realizing I could create something on my own and actually succeed with it)
keep going with the art regardless. you dont have to make money from it now. theres so much oppurtunity with art, and it takes time. you have my support :)
Same here. I've been taken the pressure and uncertainty of my financial situation to my art, and so i have huge resistance to do anything artistic and the inspiration just doesn't flow. When unemployed i am dependent on parents and government and with that comes of course their pressure as well to get a job. If i would get a job i would very likely be too tired to commit and continue my artistic pursuits as much as i would like to. And that would lead me to just playing video games all of my free time. Plus i feel extremely overwhelmed trying to establish routines.
Damned if you, damned if you don't.
im on that boat, im going to something safe, a safer career as a doctor hopefully, because i cant rely on my art right now, and i dont want to keep worrying and relying on my parents for so long until my art be good enough to make a living, or at least good enough for me be proud to show and want to show and sell it, i do think i need a lot of practice yet, but im much better at commitment, so im practicing much more, having a routine, and definitely Adam's videos have being fundamental for this improvement in my production. So my plan is while i work with something else, keep working on my art, create stuff, make a portfolio that i can like, im not just visual artist, i like to create stuff, music, stories, and art, and i have many worlds and projects i wanna develop, but i really need time to work on them and if they give me something it is fine, if not i need to have something else so i can stop worrying me about money and my parents too
Eh. Finding ur channel was feeling like im listening to someone who knows how i it hurts inside. Its so... forgotten feeling. Thank u so much for talking about all this themes!
I strongly believe that the reason is because deep down inside, we artists are all forged from the same volcano :)
your words about the fear of commitment have made me realize that this is my problem. i am just turning 19 next month but have finished highschool at 18. since 10th grade i know that i want to pursue art as a career path for the rest of my life yet still, surroundings are trying to influence me to study for a 'real' job. i am in fear of committing and signing up for university. and so there i am, half a year has passed and i feel like im just wasting time. yes i am drawing and learning a bit every day but i dont feel like it is taking me anywhere. any day i dont study or draw but instead spend with my partner or family feels wasted despite me knowing that i want to be there for them aswell. thank you so much for making these types of videos, they mean so much to me and surely to others too. you keep motivating me and make me realize that the thoughts and actions we have and make are normal and can change. grateful for the mental input which your videos have. thank you.
I am at a point in my life right now where life is getting very real. I have been watching your videos for quite some time, and every time I watch one of these it was at a time that I needed it most. I find myself relating to a lot of what you say, and it has made me imagine you as an older version of myself, which makes it really reassuring. It feels like these are audio logs that I would send to a younger version of myself to comfort me. Thank you so much for everything.
The pleasure is all mine Phoq, and it warms my heart to know that I might be offering you a small glimpse into your own future.
22:55
"theres a reason why overpressured people burn themselves out"
thats my life actually. i came from a very poor family. all my aunts and uncles are successful. i was the one who got burnt out even though i did really well in school. the truth is my parents arent successful like their siblings for the same reason they put so much pressure on me. its the mindset, that if failure happens, we will all die.. or something stupid like that. its extremely toxic and its actually the pressure to succeed at all costs, even peoples happiness that causes people to fail. and yes, EVEN those who succeed. they still fail. they might not be penniless, but theyre definitely not normal. and they might be very healthy or have healthy relationships or mindsets. thats failure on a whole nother level.
you have to go easy on yourself. and people, believe it or not, really need to go easy on you XD
also i didnt know i needed this lesson on finding a significant other but it seems im getting more life advice from art and hobbies than i did from my experiences in college school and "career"
also also a note about ps5. im glad i didnt try too hard to get it. they are ALL sold out now good god lol
You know, you're a wonderful human being, Adam. We really don't deserve you. Thanks.
If you didn't deserve it then I wouldn't be here :)
4:16 "By limiting your options, you are allowing yourself to invest more of your energy into being creative within the options that you have"
I'll Take notes
So now I have to set myself specific goals so I don't go everywhere. I'll be better faster.
Thank you again Adam :)
19:45 HAHAHA OMG THAT COUGHT ME OFF GAURD
*floor gang*
it's strange right? Lately at 24 years old I wake up every day after about 6 hours of sleep knowing that something must be done and that every day that goes away I just feel more and more guilty of not knowing how long an art would take before setting the date and not be able to fulfill it. Feeling that although you know that you are improving little by little, you would like to know when it is your time to sit down and learn for yourself and not for a client or someone else, when you do not mess up the process of what to do with what you want and when it is okay give you that time.
And when it is good to enjoy that moment that you give yourself to not do the work because you get saturated ...
Thanks Adam, for giving me a bit of peace of mind knowing that this is more normal and that it can be remedied over time ... Because guilt in an artist does not disappear quickly but as long as it can heal, it can be overcome.
24 too. Everything you said hit hard back home.
Hope your mind is more at peace now.
25:10 This part! This part, got me to pause everything I'm doing, put my headphone on, cover my ears, close my eyes, so that, this talk is the only thing burn in my brain, like, Adam is talking to me, directly
Thanks for sharing, Adam.
Taking ownership, allowing the soul to be fluid in committing, and embracing "distractiions" are nuggets of wisdom.
Cheers for nuggets, m8!
My pleasure Robert.
I've only recently discovered your channel but in the time of listening and painting along with them, my painting just seems to be so much more relaxed and not so, tense. I feel as if I can accept my paintings more for what they are and lose myself within them. Thank you for your content!
Man, I feel this. I'm in a huge transition from paleontology to art. And I still don't know where I'll end up. I'm terrified. I've wanted to be a paleontologist since I could talk, it feels like the biggest betrayal to change to ART. Especially after 7 years in college struggling to just get the damn undergraduate degree. My love for paleontology will never die, but its crossed my mind that it may not be my career. So thank you. I don't have answer, but thank you for helping me untangle my emotions just a little bit more. I'm going to save this talk and return to it. Thank you again 💓
I feel you. I'm currently in my third (and last) year of my Biodiversity & Ecology undergraduate. I've gotten so deep into art in the last few months, that I finally believe in my capabilities. It's hard to choose. I love both. I don't know what to do. Pursuing an art career both scares me and inspires me. For now, I'm working on my skills and slowly building a portfolio while I finish my bachelor.
I hope things are going great for you. Changing career is a hard decision!
So true, my parents always tried to make everything like my sport and hobbies into some kind of job that I had to take seriously and that just took all joy out of it and I gave up, I'm rediscovering those joys again these days tho luckily :)
Thank you for this video. I've been feeling this kind of guilt lately, especially since I 'betrayed' most of my family's expectation and decided to pursue animation. Each day I realize I'm still nowhere near those professionals, the guilt started eating from inside asking "what are you even doing?" and when I learn something not related to animation it just goes "if you have time to study that, why don't you churn out more drawings? Do you even love animation?" and ended up hating myself even more.
I love learning about lots of things, and I love expressing them through different media not just animation, so sometimes I couldn't help blaming myself for being inconsistent jack-of-all-trades with no single remarkable feature.
But since I found your channel I'm starting to remind myself that this is a journey to find myself and my own expression of arts. So thank you for creating these videos...
And sorry for the long rant, I don't normally comment but seems like I got a bit emotional haha
This is exactly how I'm currently feeling - being trapped in a vicious cycle because the more I feel guilty about not being productive the less I am able to create art and find my path. Somehow your videos always reach out to the right people at the right time. Thank you very much for your encouraging words Adam!
Beatiful. I can not thank you enought Adam.
Your beatiful and wise toughts are not just about art but whole meaning of life and how to deal with it. I think most of artists are very sensitive people. We are experiencing all little things much deeper.
What helped in my darkest year of my life was start working on my own project - illustrated book. That really helped me with my menthal health and with no jokes, prevented me from suicide.
I think doing art is some kind of therapy. Art is make your ideas and toughts real. Biggest problem is separate your world with real one. To find balance between productivity, doing daily duties and just relaxing.
I have found out art block is made by too much distraction. We nead to learn how to relax and doing literally nothing. Let brain get bored. Go for walk alone. Then you come back with clear mind and power to be creative.
I really needed to hear all your thoughts. Thx again Adam.
art is my connection to everything in life, too. art.. IS my life. without art, i wouldn't want to exist.
it's so validating to hear you talk about how many different side-interests you dabble in as well as art, i've always felt shameful about my process because i thought it was only my mental illness and noncommittal attention span. but.. the truth under it is that i've been in relative control of it; "self-learner" is a term i haven't heard before, but goddamn do i relate to that. i've instinctually followed my passions and interests by learning from all sorts of random things which all can relate back to making more of my art, and better. you're absolutely right.. "stay curious" is such an important sentiment. curiosity is what drives us to learn and grow. i've been so embarassed about how unfocused my interests can be, even though i always come back to the same things, in cycles.
it's taken so long for my mind to coalesce into these understandings. being isolated from the world and over-controlled like you described.. killed my passion for life, for a long time. things were too dull to want to participate and i sunk into 2 decades of depression and identity-less-ness. i just got used to the feeling so early on that i didn't know life could be better until last year. i'm 33. the immense pressure and panic of picking up a pencil.. nail on the head, there. ownership of myself and my own things is something i rarely get to feel. god, so much of what you're saying speaks directly to my fears. others telling me how to do things and not listening to me only ever compels me, reflexively, to give up on even trying to live my life. i lost myself a long time ago, and only last year did i wake back up.
thank you kindly, sir, for your words of wisdom. your voice is exactly what i need to hear at this point in my life, and i am so grateful for finding your channel. your videos are helping me think about what it is i want to do, what it is i have to work with.. and where to go from this point.
Thank you for talking about the whole bit about "committing to the distraction".
I honestly need to remember more about this. That creates a guilt trip so bad that is hard to leave.
Specially when you are freelancer and you feel like every time is work time.
also, ayyyy floor gang! lol
Mary Poppins and Leslie Knope agree with you. Thanks so much for being vulnerable in your videos it's just so helpful and I resonated with everything. Your talk about owning your process, being committed without being catastrophic, taking life less seriously, everything. Thank you for this. I'm gonna send this to my friends :)
I am only 14 (Turning 15...) But I already feel insecure with the overwhelming expectations of people in the art community. I have been conflicted, thus leading to me procrastinating, distracting myself-- and basically everything you just said. I know this isn't healthy, so I feel like it is a miracle that I found your video. I'm so thankful, and I'm slowly learning that I should just do things my own way, without comparing myself to others. It is very, very hard. I shouldn't even be saying these things for my age, but I can't help but spit it out. I will remain strong, and I hope I can reach my goal.
24:30 I feel like I am or at least was very sensitive to that. I used to learn songs on my keyboard and some people would go "you have to do something with that" and it just made me feel like I hadn't accomplished anything yet, it took the fun right out of it
That moment when I realize that I have been super strict with myself and I have not been giving myself the space to be properly distracted. Thank you Adam!
Finally took time off to watch this.
HOLY SHIT ADAM, THANK YOU.
I needed to hear this so much. Its so true. Whenever somebody pesters me to do something, or whenever I say I'll do something - I'll NEVER do it. I internalized this stress and seriousness so much that I'll just be stuck. On one hand I should do it. But I dont wanna. I should do something else but then guilt will paralyze me. Thank you for showing me way out of this nightmare and also thank you for easing my mind on the art path - been stuck between few things and now I know that commiting to one, doesnt mean abandoning the other forever.
I was contemplating for almost the entire year of trying to post more landscape and backgrounds on social media (along with other interests, like 3ds environments and concept art) but I couldn't do it because I always posts portraits & I felt like maybe my followers won't like it because they are here for the portraits 😅
This video gives me the boost to actually do it, idk how my followers will react but I don't want to force myself to do 1 thing for the next few years because I'm afraid of change 😤
Thanks for the video 💜
I always watch this video whenever i feel guilty cuz i can't draw/can't enjoy drawing something while distracting myself. and i'm gonna say thank you for this wonderful art talks 💙
Everytime I come back to one of your videos its like a warm cookie for my soul. I always come watch one of your videos at really pivotal times in my life and every time I leave feeling like the way I was thinking or the things I was wanting to do have been totally explained. Maybe its just because you, like me, really are a real artist of the soul. Never stop making encouraging videos Adam.
I watch most art RUclipsrs so I can learn new things about art and become a better artist.
But I watch you to learn new things about life and become a better person. Without your lessons in these videos I dont think my art career would survive cuz I just take it so seriously. Learning passion is as important as learning fundamentals, so thank you so much for these talks man, much love
Every time you put out a video I add it to my watchlist, and then when I have the time to listen, somehow...it's always exactly the right time. It's like you spoke to every single anxious thought and existentialist meltdown I had this past week. Thank you for these videos, Adam. I can't begin to express how many times they've helped to recenter me and reignite my creative passions. Sending lots of love to you and your family.
I can't tell you how relevant your video was to my headspace today, it's like you're watching me from the window or something. These videos mean so much to me, thank you for making them, Adam.
Every time i watch your videos you remind me something that i tent to forget. We are not here only to make production production production non stop otherwise we are useless. We have a greater responsibility, we are here to explore, to find new aethetic solutions, we are here to answer questions and ask new ones, and that takes time. Thanks for your time making videos Adam :)
Your statement about coding is absolutely correct. There’s a lot of constant change and it’s quite normal to do something you never have seen before. Coding is really more creative than most people do actually except to be!
Nothing the less amazing video like always....
This hits too close to home. I am always that kid who is pressured by his parents to be the best he could possibly. And when day started doing that, I slowly lost my art passion. There is a point in life where I only draw for money, and not because I want to. Listening to this particular video helped me a little to realize a lot of things. You may not be able to read this, but Thank you, I appreciate this so much.
When you listed the things that you enjoy I thought "Damn, this dude is even cooler than I thought." You're already damn cool and you really put out some of the most meaningful content that youtube has to offer.
hehe, I see we share similar tastes!
Identifying my niche has always been a difficult thing for me as a person and as an artist. I struggled a lot with addiction through my late teens and 20’s, and while I never gave up on drawing, I felt that the chance of success through art was impossible. In a way, that helped me in a sense, as I felt freed up to experiment and to make mistakes as I thought of my sketchbooks as visual journals that no one would ever see. Once I got my mental health under control I wanted to become a tattoo artist, so I started an apprenticeship-unfortunately cut short by covid.
I now find myself completely obsessed with learning to draw, and I have decided to just go whichever way my drawings pull me, whether that’s illustration, or getting back into tattooing, I don’t know. But I do feel assured that I’m an artist finally.
So much of what you teach in your videos are things that I've always secretly suspected of being true, but I never let myself believe. Hearing someone of your experience talk about all the roadblocks that pop up along this journey is very affirming. I've spent so much time agonizing over my direction. Now I'm learning to identify with the best choice available to me as I go- I learn and grow and take pleasure in making no matter what. Thank you so much for your videos!!
I swear, you always post these things the exact moment I need them. Thank you.
It was not an easy vido to listen to, because in the last few weeks I have been going through such a period, feeling at a crossroads, trying to find the strength to give myself a chance to be happy and end a nearly ten-year relationship taht is drainging me and making me unhappy. Thank you for the message Adam.
The music adds so well with your videos, and it really helps me calm down while listening to your advice. So thank you for making this, it really helped!
I love your videos. I love the fact that you are talking about similar things, but not the same things, more like deconstructing parts of one huge topic. I've been listening to your videos for over a year and listening to your speeches about artists' mental health over and over made me feel much better about myself, art community and process of creating. Thank you for your hard work❤
You have bassically explained to what am going through right now. You have changed my mindset to something better, everytime i would go to play a game or hang out with friends i would think about that i should be really doing something productive instead, otherwise im going to get nowhere. But that mindset only hurt my productivity and my mental health, i thank you very much for this video. Before the guilt would ruin the experience i would have playing games or hanging out with friends, then after i would feel emotionally drained and it would drain the courage for me to even pick up the paint brush. Again thank you.
As a young man (20) these video's are very helpfull when i felt lost and didn't even realise it.
I hope to see more of these because every time they end i feel i have changed a little.
I believe this is the third time I listen to this video. It’s everything I need to hear from now and then. Thank you for this. Thank you for sharing all this wisdom, I love your channel!
I haven't even finished the video yet but I need to thank you !! Just a few words were able to help. I realized I got so much into being scared of commiting to anything that I got to the point of thinking that maybe I don't really want to do anything related to art, I got sad that I would have to ditch a thing I've been doing since my first years. Maybe it just turns out I overthink too much. I probably shouldn't even worry so much over these things since I'm still just a teenager but I keep thinking I'm obliged to be decided right at this moment or else I will end up being unhappy with my career and life.
This part about ownership hit me like a truck.
I used to spend day and night drawing and loving it
but when I became a tattoo artist that love began to fade and I have barely touched art since. I'm slowly trying to find my way back because I'm still not at a point where I can express what I want and maybe even inspire someone
i dont know whats more incredible
every video you make
or the fact that after every video, one person just doesnt get it and your dislike is literally 1.
i like every time :)
holy shit, this video came around when I had relationship commitment issue where I didn't think it was worth it and it's just helped my mindset a little
Today I thought a lot about how I need some wise words from Adam after I uploaded a music video and was stressed all day about how it's gonna do. Great timing on this one!
I'm a musician. And every word you say. Is so much needed and appreciated. Thank u. So much. So so much. My mind has been a mess and your words are... Well, I have no words
Adam, thank you for speaking about these topics. Your videos are some of the most relevant pieces of mental support that I have ever come across while studying animation and not having enough time or mental strength to seek professional help. What you do is very much needed, and I cannot appreciate the effort enough.
Happy painting to you too. It’s always soothing listening to your videos. I always fo while I’m doing 30/40 min of stationary bicycle. Its my moment of the day :).
I'm only part way through this talk, as I stopped for a momentary break, but I just want to say, your videos really help me get into the flow and focus when I'm working on my art - it feels like getting to listen to an artist talk from home. And I come away with new information to think about later!
Such a great video.
I love to take a little notepad with me, everywhere I go. Even if I end up being too busy to draw anything in it. The thought of having this thing that I can draw in and write down my ideas in a feat of inspiration really comforts me and relieves that anxious feeling of not working on my craft
These videos really are healing to the soul. Really appreciate what you make
i did a painting with yellow, blue,black and white while listening to you, and i'm satisfied with it.
Thank you
The way you redefine indecisiveness and frame it as a quality that is good makes me see my decisions as being valid. I was told to have a back up plan like any other artist, and its funny you open with coding and programming; because its what I chose as that. And tbh, programming especially web programming, has a lot of similarities with art. But thats another tangent. I often times find myself stuck because im always thinking what should I do and I haven’t been able to actually hone in on what I want to do. My goal is to be a freelance web artist, but I also want to be a comic artist, learn to be a good script writer. Adding in a desk job has made it a bit hard, my energy is often spent there more-so than on myself. I feel bad that most of the time, i just go home and game (try and beat the seikiro gauntlets or snipe people on CoD) or watch anime.
Great Video. I enjoyed your relatability on seemingly very obscure things. I specifically felt this way when you mentioned that you look towards Pewdiepie or Bill Burr for entertainment and I felt like you were actually human in some odd way. Keep up the great work.
It's so true so many paths and so many decisions that are not easy it all
19:35 FELT THAT
Thank you Adam. You're generous as always ! Your channel is a great cure to negatives emotions, can't thank you enough for calming my anxiety and not having to feel it so much for 30 min in my day. Wish you the best, you truly deserve it :)
Adam, I always appreciate your thought. And today I agree so much again. I always want to understand why my younger brother needs playing games or watching some funny videos. Now I understand each people has different routine to relax.
I'm not good with words but... Love you, man! Keep being who you are!
Your channel is all I need. Your voice eases everything
I love what you have to say, it helps me, ´cause i have many "Pushers" in my Psyche, but even more i like your voice, which is like a kind dad´s voice; a tender teachers voice; a know-live voive and last but not least an arist´s voice. Sounds very Compassionate!
Man, just finding this a year later. I really needed this. Thanks!
Fantastic to see your take on this, Adam! You're addressing parts of this topic that I wasn't conscious of. Artistic guilt is something I spoke about in the past and I think more of us need to talk about this openly with each other. Thank you :)
What a beautiful mindset. Makes me feel at peace in a very nostalgic way. Thank you for another great video
Hey Adam, thank you for bringing out your insights in such a warm and human manner. this resonated heavily and i am thankful to hear those thoughts clear and direct, because in my own thinking they are too often distracted by doubt and second guessing.
i learn so much through your reflections but most importantly i feel understood and valued for how i chose to do the things i do. thank you again, this means a lot to me.
Holy crap... yeah, not a solution but it definitely helped me. I'm definitely someone who takes life way too seriously and puts enormous pressure on myself, so I'm at that insecure point where I don't know what kind of art I want to pursue and then, ya know, feeling guilty because I'm not being productive. Especially since I recently graduated high school so.... idk thank you. I wish I could take one of your classes, hopefully I will one day.
I just noticed that your creative process is very similar to the way you talk; steady and thoughtful.
I aim to be that in tune with myself in the future. Thanks again for sharing thisv
I just keep telling myself that I'm going to draw until I can't anymore and that I have time. And that I'm not wasting time, that my brain is retaining information as I go, that by learning different things I'm going to bring unique things to the table, etc. Sometimes the shame and guilt wins and I collapse, especially during covid times, but somedays I win.
I know this was uploaded 3 weeks ago and I'm just watching it now but man...
I really needed this, thank you so much
This is one of my favorite characters I've seen you paint. Not too sure why but I really like this one :)
This video came at the perfect moment for me. I've been struggling with university for a while now, I find it almost impossible to pick up the pen to work for anything class related. I can focus all my attention on drawing stuff that are unrelated like fan art for videogames I love, yet when I need to do something for school I just kinda freeze up in a creative sense. For the most part I think it's because I feel that I committed to something that doesn't resonate with me and it's sucking the passion out of creation. I wish sometimes I could give up but I invested too much into it to just drop it now.
This couldnt come on a more dire time.
Wonderfully said Adam.
As always much love
Thankyou Ada. For making using a big part your life to help other artists. The perspective you offer has personally been life changing. I can’t thank you enough for the way you put things and the humour you inject. I’m afraid I’ve started using the phrase douche bag a bit too much though🤣. This has had a curious effect when I’m annoyed enough to call someone it, I laugh as I do when you say it and I don’t feel so annoyed anymore😀. You are helping us in more way than you probably know✊🤩🌸
For interested - The First song is
Angel Song - Martin Langh
Only 7 minutes in and I already feel like you understand me better as an artist than all my friends combined
Love the music you have chosen, and listening to you speak. Thank you from an artist in London
I’m in this space right now and dealing with it. Thanks for the videos. I look forward to them every week 🙏🏻
I don't have confidence, and I feel like that impacts the way people see what I'm capable of. I can do things with the right mind set. But too many people don't believe in me, or say that I have to work harder or better to do something if I'm not sure about it, when I'm already in crippling burnout, already good at or willing to do the thing, but showing that I might not be able to because Im always unsure or I have no confidence in anything I do, or I cant fend for myself or think for myself.
idk that last part kinda hit me hard, because I have good friends, but that are like this. Who tell me that I have to work harder, who don't really believe in my skills because I lack confidence or I'm timid. I just dont know how to tell them this without either them or me getting upset, so I close off the subject entirely, or stop talking to them, even though I secretly want their showed admiration for what I'm trying to do. Even if I simply want a word of encouragement, that's too much to ask for.
sorry if this sounded like a load of nothing-
idk I sound like I fucking child, Who do I have to rely on others for motivation? that's just very counter productive. T^T haha thats the curse of being me!
lately i've been question myself where would i go with my art journey and question the values on my art practices. i would love to thank you for this. have a bless journey.
Adam thank you from the bottom of my heart: I stumbled on your channel a few months ago and you’re a guiding voice for so many artists. Thank you for shining light where other teachers don’t always explore. You’re changing my life and so many others for the better.
Excellent. I continue to appreciate and look forward to your talks.
It’s often that I am struggling with something in my art and one of your video’s pops up and it’s just exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you!
Your videos help me so much, too bad my english is not good enough to show you how thankful i am listening to this life lesson. And yes, really hard to explain but everything in the world just has a mysterious way connecting with each other, i think we all can feel it, just forget about it. I guess that why we should "enjoy our life more" :))). Again, thank you for the lessons.
Its insane. For the last several years, almost every video you come up with has been totally relevant to my situation, thanks for being on the same wavelength for so long. truly
I swear to god, seriously Adam, you return the sunshine and living days to me, thanks you so much for putting these out there!!
signs of kelani!!!! adams a wow nerd?? LOVE IT
I would love to hear you talk about your thoughts on the connections between color and sound!
im no longer chasing a career, when the opportunity presents itself i'll take it but right now art is just fun, i will follow MY path, and that's the best option for me, so far my art style is just me drawing, my painting style is just me painting, and the subject i choose to paint is the subject i want to paint, now sure i have to get something to sustain myself and i will, but it won't be art from the get go
and in that, i find ultimate peace in my art
Hey Adam! Thank you so much for this video, you have seriously taken me out of a rut where I was taking things too seriously. I'm now painting again and enjoying it :)
Thank you for this Adam! Something about someone putting to words my current problem, when I didn't have the words myself, made it a little relieving. Now I've a basis to start problem solving it!
I swear, your videos always pops up at my recommendations at most profound times in my life where I needed it the most, if this is not the sign or answer from the universe, I don't know what else is. Thank you sir!