Avoiding, procrastinating, putting off art + finding art motivation!

[@edz_drawz]

The "leaving a legacy for the loved ones to remember in case something goes wrong" motivation hits hard. Almost made me teared up.

[@TheArtMentor]

Wow I can't believe you had that reaction, and thanks so much for sharing that sentiment. Honestly, can I say that's also how I feel thinking about it? Do you have a "why" that taps into that emotion for you as well?

[@richbailey819]

"Procrastination is a mask for insecurity." Sean dropping truth bombs up in here.

[@TheArtMentor]

Haha I'm glad that one hit just right for you! I come armed and dangerous every week lol

[@WedgyBlue]

I don't procrastinating, I have this unhealthy habit of not resting. Its nice to watch new video!

[@TheArtMentor]

Interesting, what do you experience with that one as well? Should I make a video on that topic as well?

[@Uhhhhnope]

@@TheArtMentor Please do! I also struggle with overworking myself instead of procrastinating.

[@SajiriArt]

The best way I have found to beat procrastination is to just start something. If I take an extended break from art for whatever reason, I find it harder to get back into it. I find that if I just start sketching something I enjoy, even if it's not what I 'should' be working on, it gets me back into the right headspace, and then Im more motivated to draw. Otherwise, I find that just keeping myself on a schedule- dedicating specific days/hours to art, and trying to do a quick daily sketch if I can, stops me from procrastinating in the first place

[@TheArtMentor]

bullet-proof strategy! It's amazing how quickly our doubts and anxieties dissipate once we just commit to even the smallest efforts, isn't it?

[@ali32bit42]

4:29 friendly warning to my fellow ADHD people. making lists can become a chore by itself and get out of hand. so put limits on how far you break something down and dont try to force it on yourself. the act of breaking down can also act like procrastination by itself. so if youre already motivated as is, just take the first step that comes to mind. dont wait till youre in the mood to break down a project. if you can start at all youre in the right track. and if youre struggling to start any project at all. give yourself a standard set of triggers that always lead to productivity. for me its waking up , making coffee and setting my PC up. the idea is getting your mind in the productivity mood by giving it specific sensory triggers like notifications on your phone.

[@toothycookie]

Great piggyback advice here mate

[@TheArtMentor]

always appreciate your helpful tips down here in my comments!

[@hungrysquirrelll]

thank you for this video, very good advice, and procrastination is not a topic I think people give due importance. You need to be ready to be dissapointed, and then work to fix it. one of the worst habits I've had is feeling like i need to be my 'optimum' self for a project. whether its to be in the right mood so it turns out even better, or not to work when I'm ill. And I don't mean overworking myself when I'm really ill, but you know, doing a bit of work that I could have managed. At some point you realise there's never a right moment. I think perfectionism and procrastination go hand in hand. I've also had another thought. There was this animator I used to follow, very talented guy, not gonna name any names, being vague. he was a self admitted perfectonist. so he made these great animations, many, many years back, maybe releasing one or two a month. And then his momentum stopped to one video a year, or one every two years. And when asked why he uploads so infrequently, he said that he had improved the quality, and 'he couldn't go back'. But here's the thing, if you cannot do it at a better quality, in the same timeframe and pace that you used to, is it really an improvement? Time is also a factor. I think that also changed my perception.

[@TheArtMentor]

So well said! The perfect time to make art is the time you have available, isn't it?

[@hungrysquirrelll]

@@TheArtMentor thank you, and absolutely!

[@almond4887]

I know I grew as I person because me from 2 years ago would get mad at you saying it's my fault for being where I am art-wise, but now I agree and every day I try to make it easier for myself to get further on my journey. It's hard to break a habit I build over a decade where I just play games and avoid art because "I'm not good enough and it makes me anxiously sick". Even tho the anxiety is still there, thinking about learning new things in art gets me excited :D

[@TheArtMentor]

It's interesting to experience how avoidance of art is far more anxiety-inducing than actually creating art, isn't it?

[@a.l.dowdall1097]

Great prep talk. 👍 I just want to say, as someone whose father died way too young, that's a damn good goal.

[@TheArtMentor]

Oh my, I'm so sorry to hear! You can never replace a lost loved one, can you? That's why I agree that doing something for a legacy, no matter how small or grand it may become, can be a powerful motivator. What do you think of that?

[@a.l.dowdall1097]

@TheArtMentor Thank you. It was a long time ago, but there's always a hole. I agree about legacy, and your video really got me thinking about it. I've always wanted to create art that would create emotion and a sense of wonder. If it keeps doing that when I'm gone, that'll be a pretty good legacy. 🙂

[@gokuwrightattorneyatlaw5227]

Where have you been all my life?! Finally an artist that tells it like it is. Im glad I found you videos but man I needed you in my early twenties

[@TheArtMentor]

Well I can't account for your whole life, but just the last 4 years here on KZbin lol. I'm so happy you found me and this helped you! Do you struggle with these concerns as well?

[@gokuwrightattorneyatlaw5227]

@TheArtMentor i did. Over the rest of my 20s and since I'm 29 now over the past five days I've been working on my skills as an artist without stopping. I made 5 art pieces before Friday which is today. Felt good and I plan to keep doing it that why I don't fall into the same bad habits

[@mix-up9003]

I normally push myself into doing art using frustration, but it burns me out very quickly if I let go for a moment.

[@TheArtMentor]

Have you considered that happens because there's an element in your process that's the root issue of that?

[@mix-up9003]

@@TheArtMentor ​ I did consider it, and for what I have observed about myself it's a rooted in performance anxiety, like just actually start the first stroke of the day which can take me hours wasted in procrastination, either just staring at my drawing program, or my mind just latching on the first distraction it can fine, with a mounting pressure in my mind that I can physically feel mounting in my mind. But once I finally sits down and draw for about 30 minutes it just seems to got away and the more I draw the more it becomes easier to get a good groove, all I need is just need is just a slight jolt of focus to just start. and I can spend most of the day just drawing with no issues. When I reach a low point in my productivity due to this anxiety it helps me to just get angry to just get things and focus it just long enough to overcome the anxiety in that moment in time; But I have to do it almost every day otherwise it just comes back in full force if I miss out on a day or more of art. But the problem compounds itself with a constant unstable sleeping schedule which is delayed form the mounting anxiety and the lack of activity to mentally wear myself out, which creates a self feeding vicious cycle that eat at at me and holding me back from properly investing myself into my work, lowering my productivity. For a time I had managed to completely overcome that anxiety it was for me by doing one a 100 minute art piece a day and managed to follow it for over 200 days and when I stopped doing it it persisted for the following year which was my best art period I had. Unfortunately this perfect of being didn't last, and I couldn't manage to gather enough focus to do more then two or three weeks of my 100 minutes drawing at a time before my my mind got exhausted and pausing it, or get too wrapped up in the process to work on it way too long. For what I have talked to some social worker friends it sounds like I am suffering a form of panic attack, but I don't have the recourse to get proper assistance.

[@joshmckean4951]

I feel completely attacked with this video because it is every thing I'm doing wrong. You have hit every reason why my art has failed over the last month and half. You are completely right, it is because I have become too comfortable where I am and loosing my "WHY." I schedule in plenty of time to work on my art, but many of the times I purposefully allow myself to become distracted. I have to rediscover my purpose for putting pencil to paper. THANK YOU for this video.

[@TheArtMentor]

Not sure if I should say sorry or you're welcome 😂but overall, thanks for enjoying and connecting to this so much! So what changes do you want to make to challenge your current habits?

[@joshmckean4951]

@@TheArtMentor Your videos have been an inspiration to me. Over the past 2-3 months, I have set a side my passion for art. After this video, I have started some hand lettering concepts and re-learning that process. The hardest part is staying disciplined when I have a comfortable non-art job. Goal fro the new year: put pencil to paper at least twice a week.

[@angelcandelaria6728]

This speaks to my soul being someone with no kids

[@TheArtMentor]

Oh really? Tell me about that

[@ArcadeNexus]

I have a folder full of unfinished projects. I start off strong, but then I lose energy or get nervous that the outcome won’t be good. It’s something I wish I could overcome.

[@ali32bit42]

this happens to me alot. my advise is have other people look at them for feedback. you will find that your perspective gets skewed overtime because you have been looking at it for hours on end so all the mystique and beauty is numb to you. i have had alot of projects that i Deemed Garbage get praised to heaven and back once i showed them to people.

[@TheArtMentor]

Have you considered what you need to do to overcome that? I made a video about it a little while ago. Would you like a link to it?

[@NoZeroGG]

You can always start small and then build your confidence where you can learn that even if the outcome wont be good, you'll learn from it and can fix it. Not every project has to be finished you can just choose which project remains. Even professionals abandon a lot of projects, a lot of sketches and concept too.

[@ArcadeNexus]

@@TheArtMentor That would be great, thank you.

[@MariaDiaz-zq5ke]

Thanks again for all the great advice you give us!

[@TheArtMentor]

My pleasure! What new strategies do you want to try from this?

[@fakecore9811]

came for art advice, stayed and started working out because the video motivated me to

[@fakecore9811]

On a real note, you have been a genuinely reliable art mentor and motivator when I need to find some videos to get me back into the flow. I know that in of itself is technically a form of procrastination that I have to stray away from, but when I find the one youtube video that hits the spot, I can turn it off for the rest of the day satisfied with what I gained from it

[@TheArtMentor]

Thanks so much for your kind words! I love how you took these words and immediately transformed them into action. That's a rockstar move, and I hope you keep coming back feeling the same way 😁

[@angelcandelaria6728]

“Anxietys office is the IMAGINATION” This explains why so many people have “anxiety” in this era. Its their imagination

[@TheArtMentor]

Partially, yes, but also because it's a habit they build and continuously fall victim too. Anxiety itself is not a bad thing, it's a survival mechanism. However, your imagination worsens your anxiety. How's that sound?

[@akaMonkeyBusiness]

Fantstic Video - Thank you very much.

[@TheArtMentor]

My pleasure, and thanks so much for watching! What's been your experiences with procrastination?

[@Snaaaaap]

My anxeity, fear, shame and depression has become too powerful. Seems like my only option is to just work more hours at a job even if it corrodes my spirit further since they decided to cut my hours so ive been on borrowed time. Wasted 6 months somehow. I was foolish to proritize my job and let it suck up so much of my life and enthusiasm in the first place to the point of crippling what remaining motivation i had or whatever damage was done to my brain with constant worry and stress.

[@TheArtMentor]

Hey sorry to hear about your experience with your job, and I've been there too and known many artists who have. Wanna know the good news? You can succeed in spite of or alongside that circumstance. I made a whole video on that topic in fact, would you like a link?

[@Snaaaaap]

@TheArtMentor sure. That would be helpful thanks.

[@Eldr1tchGl1tch]

I think my issue is burn out. I'm a university student, so i simply don't have enough hours or energy on weekdays to spend on my bigger projects. All the energy i do have goes to the commissions I get to save up for a better system. And my weekdays are studying. Sometimes you think you're procrastinating when You're just resting, let your mind and body rest, so you can recover. Not every hour needs to be productive. I say that as someone who hates resting, i feel guilty when i rest so I'm always tired. Its a habit I'm trying to kill, for my own physical and mental health.

[@TheArtMentor]

I know how tough that is, and as someone who's been there too, can I give you some wisdom? That pain you're feeling from being stretched thin is actually molding you into a stronger version of yourself for the future. Yeah definitely structure some time off, but also appreciate that ability to handle what you are bc those circumstances are literally constructing the better version of you for what comes after graduation, okay? Btw you're a beast for starting an art business in college!

[@Eldr1tchGl1tch]

@TheArtMentor haha thank you. It's more of a necessity than a choice, I don't have the best home life or country so I'm starting early on preparing for leaving. Probably after I get my bachelor's if not earlier. I have to get over my perfectionism and actually start my KZbin properly tho.

[@Eldr1tchGl1tch]

@TheArtMentor I am thankful for all the hardship I've experienced, for the most part they've made me a stronger and more resourceful person. But they've also hurt and stunted me in other departments.

[@Silver77cyn]

If I was a master of anything, procrastination would be it......

[@TheArtMentor]

Like so many of us here, right? So what strategies did you learn after watching this to help combat those habits?

[@xdevyartsx]

I think I have a hard time giving my art identity. I've been drawing for 15 years and never once have I found one niche. I'm also autistic so it's a struggle for me to remember the basics even if I'm using a reference picture. I tried contacting you with the 1on1 thing on your website but have not received any feedback.

[@TheArtMentor]

Can I instead suggest that your art identity isn't something you look for but rather organically discover through the search for it? It's like finding your true love when you don't expect versus trolling bars every night for them. Regarding my mentorship, have you checked your spam folder? I typically email every inquiry within 2 days