When I WAS a working artist; meaning that I sold my work, I tried to give every piece its "own life". I was essentially reproducing my own work, so I tried different things. I started making one of a kind pieces and that was my way of trying new techniques, color palettes etc. Now I just play. I sample an online free class and practice that technique. I follow some people and always sign up for Karen Abend's Sketchbook Revival which introduces me to many different artists and ways of art making. I enjoy the creative process. I am not looking for any kind of "finished product"-except in the pages of my Altered Books. I work on them as inspiration hits. I have several going at once. I'm not into all the pockets and that kind of stuff. I just like finding a book to "change". I cut out pages ; I glue pages together ; I collages stuff on the page ; I love incorporating text and when I find an inspiring headline in the paper I feel like I have struck gold. The process part is a combination of mark making, pattern making, doodling, etc. I need the time to put my brain in "making art mode" to calm down and if I don't get it I FEEL it.
I'm still working on time and structure but it's along the same idea as what you described. Downtime is critical for me. I need normal, everyone type activities to recharge and get inspiration. Some of my best art ideas come from non art related experiences. Thanks for this video. I love your art and this topic is on my mind lately.
Thank you Kelly! I've made the same experience - downtime is essential and often I have the best ideas when I'm doing something completely unrelated. 💚
Thank you Julia for answering my question! Yay!!! Your video is full of insights as per usual :) It was so nice seeing you paint a detailed and delicate piece as well ❤ Adding fun activities in my schedule has also been a really good strategy for me. I try to include at least one 30 minute sketching/doodling session each day. I use it as a warm-up for the rest of my work day or as a creative break. I really related to your thoughts on productivity and hustle culture. I feel especially when being self-employed, it's easy to fall into a toxic productivity state of mind. I really like your idea of having a learning and fun to-do lists! I think I'll adopt that too :) I hope your health issues will get better ❤❤❤ Take care Julia!
I’ve been keeping a very simple bullet journal for the past couple of months, and have found it very helpful when it comes to productivity. I really like your idea of adding breaks to your task list, and will try that. Also, your views on hustle culture are refreshing.
Thank you Amanda! I think my basic do lists in my work journal are very similar to bullet journaling, and for me adding these breaks was so helpful. I'm tired with about every aspect of hustle culture.
You seem more structured than you claim to be, or maybe more of what my idea of structure is like. I find listening to your videos helps me in many ways or on many different levels even though I am painfully undisciplined in my practice or structure of art making. Yes you do have a very nice speaking voice so it is not hard for me to listen to your videos. Your messages are important to me because of your awareness of your own well-being and this is what makes me think your structure is more premeditated and stronger than you are claiming.
Appreciate your thoughts on time management for artists! It was helpful and encouraging. I find myself the most creative at night so I can get other work done or get exercise during the day. The hours can be odd for other people but it usually works for me. Enjoyed watching you paint as well❤
Thank you so much! I find that's the most important aspect - finding a rhythm that works for you. I would be absolutely miserable if I worked at night, but I've heard from quite a few people the silence helps them with focusing. I love the early morning hours for that too. 💚
You are a wonderful teacher with a lovely calm voice. I look forward to your videos. I'm not a working artist. Just a procrastinating, tutorial watching wannabe. :) I found it interesting that such a talented artist as yourself still watches tutorials to learn new skills or methods. I must say I find it confusing when I watch tutorials from different artists that have different drawing methods. In my head I understand that there is not only 1 way to draw and that much practice is required, but I spend so much time watching and when I set out to practice drawing I don't know which way to practice! I am currently watching your Skillshare class sketching fundamentals which is a great in-depth class. Do you think it is good for every budding artist to learn the fundamentals of realistic drawing even if they end up morphing into a more casual or relaxed (for lack of the proper term) art style?
Thank you so much Ronna, I really appreciate your kind words! Watching tutorials is totally fine for learning. :-) Like all creative people I have artists I look up to. And so I study their work. In a way the learning process never stops. There are indeed different techniques for drawing, and the way I try to teach it in the class is to give a choice - you can try out all the techniques, and then choose the one (or a mix) that suits you best. You don't need to overdo it with this phase: give it a try, if you don't find it useful, move on. Above all, I find practice really will show you what you gravitate towards. I think learning realistic drawing is a skill that almost everyone can benefit from, even if you prefer a looser, relaxed art style - you will have learned where to put your lines so to speak. But in the end it really depends on what you want and how you want to express yourself - for example if you're happy with a quirky style that's not based on observed proportions, you don't need to study realism for years. Any style that touches realistic drawing benefits from knowing the basics (proportions, light + shadow, volumes). I find it always helps to have a good foundation, no matter what kind of art you make. I hope that helps a bit. Enjoy the class and let me know when questions come up! 💚
@@NatureSketchbook Thank you for your thoughtful response. It is helpful. I think much of my problem is that I admire so many artists and different styles and no clear idea of what direction I want to go so I skitter about like drops of water in a hot skillet. I just need to focus on something, internalize those lessons and then learn the next thing. Acck! My brain keeps looking for rules where there doesn't need to be any. I need my head examined. Is there a therapist/ artist in the house? Take good care, Ronna
@@ronnamoore8046 For what it's worth, I felt the same for a long time (still do when I see something that I want to try out immediately!). Often it takes a lot of pencil miles to find out what direction you want to go in with your art. There are so many fun techniques and styles! Focusing on one thing at a time can be a great help, and also figuring out what you like (to do + to look at) more than other things if there's no art style you like best. I think the most important thing is: enjoy the time you spend with your creativity. :-) All the best!
Hi Julia! Thanks for your thoughts and ideas☺️ Could you please share if you still manage to stay away from the social media, it’s been a while since you talked about this? I love your art a lot 😍 always inspiring✨
I sure appreciate your channel! Thank you for the encouraging words and advice.
I wish you the best!
Thank you Anita, I really appreciate it! :)
I love your videos so I hope your health gets better and you can keep doing what you love.
Many many thanks!
When I WAS a working artist; meaning that I sold my work, I tried to give every piece its "own life". I was essentially reproducing my own work, so I tried different things. I started making one of a kind pieces and that was my way of trying new techniques, color palettes etc. Now I just play. I sample an online free class and practice that technique. I follow some people and always sign up for Karen Abend's Sketchbook Revival which introduces me to many different artists and ways of art making. I enjoy the creative process. I am not looking for any kind of "finished product"-except in the pages of my Altered Books. I work on them as inspiration hits. I have several going at once. I'm not into all the pockets and that kind of stuff. I just like finding a book to "change". I cut out pages ; I glue pages together ; I collages stuff on the page ; I love incorporating text and when I find an inspiring headline in the paper I feel like I have struck gold. The process part is a combination of mark making, pattern making, doodling, etc. I need the time to put my brain in "making art mode" to calm down and if I don't get it I FEEL it.
That sounds like a great way to try out new techniques!
I'm still working on time and structure but it's along the same idea as what you described. Downtime is critical for me. I need normal, everyone type activities to recharge and get inspiration. Some of my best art ideas come from non art related experiences. Thanks for this video. I love your art and this topic is on my mind lately.
Thank you Kelly! I've made the same experience - downtime is essential and often I have the best ideas when I'm doing something completely unrelated. 💚
Thank you Julia for answering my question! Yay!!! Your video is full of insights as per usual :) It was so nice seeing you paint a detailed and delicate piece as well ❤ Adding fun activities in my schedule has also been a really good strategy for me. I try to include at least one 30 minute sketching/doodling session each day. I use it as a warm-up for the rest of my work day or as a creative break. I really related to your thoughts on productivity and hustle culture. I feel especially when being self-employed, it's easy to fall into a toxic productivity state of mind. I really like your idea of having a learning and fun to-do lists! I think I'll adopt that too :) I hope your health issues will get better ❤❤❤ Take care Julia!
That sounds great, dear Anne. ❤️
I’ve been keeping a very simple bullet journal for the past couple of months, and have found it very helpful when it comes to productivity. I really like your idea of adding breaks to your task list, and will try that. Also, your views on hustle culture are refreshing.
Thank you Amanda! I think my basic do lists in my work journal are very similar to bullet journaling, and for me adding these breaks was so helpful. I'm tired with about every aspect of hustle culture.
You seem more structured than you claim to be, or maybe more of what my idea of structure is like. I find listening to your videos helps me in many ways or on many different levels even though I am painfully undisciplined in my practice or structure of art making. Yes you do have a very nice speaking voice so it is not hard for me to listen to your videos. Your messages are important to me because of your awareness of your own well-being and this is what makes me think your structure is more premeditated and stronger than you are claiming.
Thank you so much!
Appreciate your thoughts on time management for artists! It was helpful and encouraging. I find myself the most creative at night so I can get other work done or get exercise during the day. The hours can be odd for other people but it usually works for me. Enjoyed watching you paint as well❤
Thank you so much! I find that's the most important aspect - finding a rhythm that works for you. I would be absolutely miserable if I worked at night, but I've heard from quite a few people the silence helps them with focusing. I love the early morning hours for that too. 💚
Hello Julia. The art piece is so lovely. Thanks for sharing your time frames for your art making, very informative and inspiring.
Thank you so much, Roksanna. I hope you are well!
You are a wonderful teacher with a lovely calm voice. I look forward to your videos. I'm not a working artist. Just a procrastinating, tutorial watching wannabe. :) I found it interesting that such a talented artist as yourself still watches tutorials to learn new skills or methods. I must say I find it confusing when I watch tutorials from different artists that have different drawing methods. In my head I understand that there is not only 1 way to draw and that much practice is required, but I spend so much time watching and when I set out to practice drawing I don't know which way to practice! I am currently watching your Skillshare class sketching fundamentals which is a great in-depth class. Do you think it is good for every budding artist to learn the fundamentals of realistic drawing even if they end up morphing into a more casual or relaxed (for lack of the proper term) art style?
Thank you so much Ronna, I really appreciate your kind words! Watching tutorials is totally fine for learning. :-)
Like all creative people I have artists I look up to. And so I study their work. In a way the learning process never stops.
There are indeed different techniques for drawing, and the way I try to teach it in the class is to give a choice - you can try out all the techniques, and then choose the one (or a mix) that suits you best. You don't need to overdo it with this phase: give it a try, if you don't find it useful, move on. Above all, I find practice really will show you what you gravitate towards.
I think learning realistic drawing is a skill that almost everyone can benefit from, even if you prefer a looser, relaxed art style - you will have learned where to put your lines so to speak. But in the end it really depends on what you want and how you want to express yourself - for example if you're happy with a quirky style that's not based on observed proportions, you don't need to study realism for years. Any style that touches realistic drawing benefits from knowing the basics (proportions, light + shadow, volumes). I find it always helps to have a good foundation, no matter what kind of art you make. I hope that helps a bit. Enjoy the class and let me know when questions come up! 💚
@@NatureSketchbook Thank you for your thoughtful response. It is helpful. I think much of my problem is that I admire so many artists and different styles and no clear idea of what direction I want to go so I skitter about like drops of water in a hot skillet. I just need to focus on something, internalize those lessons and then learn the next thing. Acck! My brain keeps looking for rules where there doesn't need to be any. I need my head examined. Is there a therapist/ artist in the house? Take good care, Ronna
@@ronnamoore8046 For what it's worth, I felt the same for a long time (still do when I see something that I want to try out immediately!). Often it takes a lot of pencil miles to find out what direction you want to go in with your art. There are so many fun techniques and styles! Focusing on one thing at a time can be a great help, and also figuring out what you like (to do + to look at) more than other things if there's no art style you like best. I think the most important thing is: enjoy the time you spend with your creativity. :-) All the best!
Hi Julia!
Thanks for your thoughts and ideas☺️
Could you please share if you still manage to stay away from the social media, it’s been a while since you talked about this? I love your art a lot 😍 always inspiring✨
Oh dear, I thought I could ignore the topic for the rest of my life. 😄 Just kidding! I've made a note for a future video. 🌺
i dont balance time very well...ok not at all lol I know i have a horrible work life balance, im a workaholic lol😝
:)