Here are some motivational quotes that I have up in my office to remind me to keep going as an artist: - "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - "Comparison is the thief of joy." - "Sucking at something is the first step toward being sorta good at something." - "Mistakes are proof that you are trying." - You can't hire someone to do the push-ups for you." - "Giving up on your goals because of one setback is like slashing your other 3 tires because you got a flat." - "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" - "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
"You don't really get to a point where you're done failing" Yup! I don't have a mantra. I just keep drawing. I know won't get out all the drawings and stories that I have in my head before I die so it's a race to see how many I can get out in the time I've got on earth.
"I know I won't get all the drawings and stories out of my head before I die" This hits SO HARD. I've been working (and reworking) on a comic for years. Don't have any out because I'm never satisfied. Always think I can do better so I rework everything from the top down. Maybe a bottom up pile of junk is better than another year or ten of scrapped papers.
With my music I have less of an issue putting that in practice. There's still some letting-go part but it's easier to let go there. Sure I know it's not "great" but I also listen to the radio sometimes and think… well, why not. With the visual stuff it's much harder for me because its "just a little bit more here, bit more there, aaand it's morning".
"Pressure is a priviledge." I've lived by it long enough that every time I start feeling the pressure of working as an artist, I say this to remind myself how lucky I am to even have a shot every day to be doing this. The pressure, the impostor syndrome, the fear of the blank page - it's all the reminder that this is what I want to be doing.
@@MALICEM12 That's totally normal to view it that way. Something that helps me is to think of exercise. In order to build muscle, exertion and effort must be made, which actually create little "micro tears" in the muscles. Through this pressure and pain, along with other healthy practices, muscle grows and health increases. Basically, "No pain, no gain." Another way to look at it is through gardening. Trimming and pruning actually helps the plants to grow stronger with more fruit.
One of my mantras for life in general, not just artistically, is I tell myself from time to time when im feeling down and overly focused on the negative is "What's the good news?" and usually i find myself saying "oh yeah!" and i remember something that's going good, and often its multiple things that i am greatful for.
I've had a piece of paper on my wallet for over 15 years at this point that says ''the only way to fail, is to stop''. It's been a mantra in a way. Also, you can only give your 100% either you like it or not, that's the hardest you can push it. If you're honest with yourself, and you know your'e pushing it, that's all you can do. Tomorrow will be better if you keep pushing, just a little bit every day, as long as you're really pushing.
"You there!! Why are you quitting!? It's 10 degrees and I'm out here all day catching clams! Just try harder and think of all the people cheering you on! Never give up!" - Shuzo Matzuoka
That's similar to my ADHD mantra. "Some days I walk the squirrels, some days the squirrels walk me." Because sometimes it shows up and makes my entire day chaos. I really liked yours though, it's much more thought out than mine. I just sort of left off at the squirrels being in control. Thanks for giving me the incentive to do better.
10 years ago, one of my teacher told me something after a competition I felt I failed, that got stuck with me since. It was about feeling like you failed, or not succeeding at something you tried, and it translated like this : "The first quality of anything is to exist". Ever since, when I feel scared to try something, or getting out of my confort zone, this mantra pop out in my head. Hope it can help !
Why are we talking about motivation when we could be discussing the BEST freehand straight line I have seen. My guy is a human ruler! Great video!! very inspirational!!
my mantra: Drive, Flow, Momentum. "Drive" because it's reminded me of my purpose or passion that I chase and I need to be hungry for it, "Flow" is because I wanted to remind myself that flow of work only arrive once you start making it, so it push me to do action first, "Momentum" because you only get the confidence and conformity of that work of yours after you get your first work done, Then repeat
My hubby and I really want to get into webtoons but I feel my art is just not good enough when I look at all these other toons and artists. I have a degree in animation but it’s been so long since I’ve sat down and really created something for a purpose other than doodling and creating surrealism…it’s hard for me to remember how to draw simplistic dwarves for my comic. I’ve got a killer story but the art part of it is escaping me and keeping me from really putting the pen to paper to try and get this story visually told. I think this mantra about the raptor is just what I needed…regardless of my drawing chops these days, at least getting a frame or two on the storyboard will help…at least I hope so…thanks for the advice. It indeed helped!
0:05 - Every time i sit down to draw, and it makes it pure suffering to draw, but im forced to do it, because if I don't draw it, nobody else will. - I guess you could say THAT is my mantra; "If I don't do it, it won't get made at all." and what makes me draw every day, through the desire to break down and scream at the paper.
I am a Illustrator / Designer for 20 years who does video editing / motion graphics. But A.I is crushing all my will to create. Many many many free software that makes my work as a Designer, as a video maker and graphic Design in a flash! And too many people are using. Last year i put my first children´s book on the marketing (i mostly draw for a insurance company and other big companies in the past). But man this A.I bullshit hit me hard. If you open amazon there is millions of "childrens book" made by cheap A.I. To the point i am not using my sketchbook like in many months. The struggle is REAL Jake... The creative mind is now reduced to press buttons and prompts.
Something I’ve seen a lot of people point out is that AI struggles with consistency in sequential art such as comics, animations, storybooks, and so on; it can create a single page of a children’s book, but not a whole cohesive with the same characters throughout all of the pages in different angles, lighting, etc. People are catching on to how to spot those ugly AI books full of mistakes, so I think that field is pretty safe right now. Graphic design that needs to be seamlessly integrated into a slick UI/UX also seems to be something AI can’t produce with high enough quality. The problem is if companies don’t care about producing quality at all. I believe consumers truly do want quality, but when the market is flooded with crap they can’t sift through it all to find the good stuff.
I hear you here. I didn't know it was that pervasive that now it's taking over Amazon. I'm going to say: as someone who is an artist and appreciates art, this can be discouraging. But you have something the AI art doesn't: imperfection, human nature, and you also have your own style but like. Your style can be fluid, or anything you want it to be! Even if your art gets stolen by AI, and even if the AI tries to take your position, there will be people who know what is what. It is easy to see what is AI; it typically looks unsettling and overly shaded or confusing. If you create even a tiny dent in the art world, there is still a need and hope for you to create. I am sorry you're facing this currently.
Also, I have analyzed the art generated by AI art. It is too perfect in my opinion. It lacks the life we give it. It lacks originality, too. It can only do so much we tell it to.
I've been a visual information specialist for 18 years. The problem with AI for production work is the same problem encountered by illustrators that rely on reference and designers who rely on stock imagery. Creation is a felt process. Even when AI learns to correct its current continuity errors, people will still be trying to translate feelings into text then text into art. The zeitgeist can only be processed and translated by humans. No computer can tell you how Paula Scher changed how typography is used. Why Nirvana and NWA tried to appeal to niche audiences and ended up getting everyone's attention. How the simplification of visual information for production changed the way we view figurative representation... My mentor (was a Disney animator) told me when I first started multimedia I should learn to paint instead of learning software because a year later the time I spent would be irrelevant. Everything that required only software knowledge will soon be obsolete. That said, being current in art requires a pulse and only artists have a stethoscope. AI is only able to copy us so think hard on what makes you unique and grind in that direction. There is already a rubber band effect occurring where people are appreciating real artists more than they did before AI you just have to make sure you're applying your skills to a niche market. Best of luck to you.
Jake, I recommend your videos to every artist I know. You have no idea how much you've changed my mindset in the beginning of my art career. That mindset has carried me to success. Thank you for all your thoughts!
I don’t know why but I think a lot about ‘art pieces are never finished just abandoned’ it seems a little dark at first glance but it’s helped me definitely put more effort into pieces but not spending too long on them but it also helped me realise that I can always keep working on a piece I could for years and years I can always ‘improve’ it even after I think it’s done and it’s definitely helped me a lot with drawing everyday can work on a new one everyday and when it’s done it is and can improve
Thank you!! I really needed this. I’ve been creating works that have really good potential, but I can’t seem to get them on the canvas quite right and it’s been frustrating me, so thank you!! My mantra is engrained into my mindset- “I am and I will.”
I like your montra, mine is a list I repeat to myself and yours fits right in. "Delayed gratification, self-discipline, and give." Also "you have a soul, protect and strengthen it." God bless
"Don't worry about others, worry about yourself" I always remind myself that I've gone so far because I chose to input little effort day by day, year by year, without stopping. Fueled by pure fuck it energy, I love drawing and creating. Easier said than done, i struggle tremendously because the world keeps shoving others' work into your face and constantly reminding you where you are. Just dont remember, that you are here today becaus eof a lot of small effort over time.
It really fills me with a warm strength to see all these artists out here doing whatever they can to nudge other burgeoning artist in the right direction for growth.
Thank you Jake! I needed this today. Love the mantra. I haven’t put mine into a specific sentence yet, but I think following that spark that gets you to draw is key. If something in a great drawing catches my eye (like how the pants go into the boots in your drawing just now) it gives me energy to draw and get just a little better every day. We’re all just paying it forward.
Many of us i am sure walk the same path of self improvement, whatever your inclinations it's a path that demands discipline, drive and more often then not it can be a cruel and sometimes lonely walk, but something i realised that Jake rightly pointed out is that sometimes it is just you. you'll have days where you feel like you can't do anything and you feel miserable because of it , but then you have days where you're just doin alright, and then that ONE day happens, a day where everything makes sense and all that tinkering you've been doing, those rejections, those frustrations, those painful moments are all made worth while. It's rare, but when it happens, that's when you truly begin to understand.
My mantra I've always lived by is "Life is not life without passion.", I need to start telling myself that more often as I fell off of it. It's been a struggle, a lot of what you covered and the way you explained it really helped. Not gonna be torturing myself anymore over the process due to fear of failure. When you said 1/3 of the time you should be seeing what you'd want, and the rest being what I fear the majority of the time, I felt the overbearing weight lift off my chest. Thank you.
My mantra is the latin phrase: Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam Which means: I will find a way, or make one It's on everything. My business cards, my website, my resume/portfolio. Basically sums up my approach to everything
My latest mantra, I came up with: “It was never about quantity vs quality; it’s about analyzing.” I’ve realized I’m very analytical and math-orientated when it comes to drawing. I learn best by memorizing formulas, breaking things down, and taking notes. I realized I level up so much faster from doing one in depth study than 20 sketches. My other mantra lately is “Commit thy way unto the LORD; Trust also in Him; And he shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5
Well said, brother. I like to say I fail forward. It’s not a set back, but a moment to learn and to take that information into the dialog with my material moving forward. Your work should be a constant feedback loop, and it’s on you to make the adjustments as you see fit. It’s not always going to be easy or smooth. That’s where I like your mantra about dressing for the hunt. Show up. Do the work. The more people hear this the better.
Thank you Jake. I always struggle with this mindset and being too perfectionist and trying to understand all the fundamentals all at once made it really hard for me to see any progress to the point where I stop for 2 months every 3 or 4 months. I really needed to hear this from an artist I really admire and I will start taking it easy and watch myself in the long run... I really appreciate your advice and mantra ❤❤
Listening while sketching, it's so healthy to be reminded that showing up is the goal, and we're creating something from nothing. And that's amazing. My mantra is "sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe sh*t" 😊
I'd love to see a post-mortem video about Skyheart, to see what you learned from the project, how it was received, and if you have plans for more stories in that world. It feels like it was a project that was such a big part of your life and I'm interested in finding out what it was like to have the comic come to fruition and live in the world.
That work of Art you did is perfect. It fits exactly how I see myself only difference is that its a fiery dragon, but only because I am 44 now and have decided to take on my true life back with purpose instead of living a sedentary life where I never had to work and everything was given to me. The difference was I was existing but I wasn't really living. Life in full of ups and downs, challenges and excitement, most of all it is life has things worth fighting for.
Excellent example how to make your work more creative, never judging too much but maintaining consistency whatever you re doin. Bound to be successful one day. I have been an artist for more than 12 years, and its fun to go through different things every day and be satisfied with the result, going through where I lack and getting a fire to get better.
Thank you for sharing! Every morning I jot down 3 things that I am grateful for and then remind myself to be aware of the judgement you place on yourself - it's not a race, allow your creativity to blossom step by step
I am a groundworker, and the only thing that geniunly kept me motivated and feel alive is art. My light at the end of the tunnel. I am practicing to be ready to change industries and finally sweat over something that I am actually caring/enjoying. Anyone out there who's in similar shoes just know that no matter what, always walk towards something that you passionate about as it is your identity and do so when the time is right but never give up!
I like your fox drawing. I did a similar drawing a while back of a tiny me flipping off this giant demon... It's on my RU-vid and IG. But for me, it represented sort of everything in my life that I feel like can just dismiss with the middle finger. Doubting my own artistic abilities is certainly one of those things.
the montra i commonly use is "I am speed" I usually repeat that several times. I can't remember where i first heard it but it'w stuck with me all my life
I heard this quote from another RU-vid art video but I've found it to be very profound " your progress as an Artist relies on a healthy dissatisfaction with everything you have done up until this point"
a quote that help me sometimes is "the only way of not being afraid is by not trying at all". everyone is "afraid" of something: failure, pression, being judged... but them do it, them try it even if it's frightening or terrifying. if you do not wish to feel that, you can always stay in your safe zone, but if you dont move, you're staying in the same place!!
AHHH I should have listened to this before our conversation! Fantastic! I share these feelings EXACTLY. The thing I have done to help cope through the days that were met with frustration upon frustration of not "producing" what I deemed visually (output wise) "succesful" at the end of the day is to say out loud "Today was a good day. I failed a lot. " If I am happy with everything I'm doing consistently, then I'm not pushing myself enough (like you said). The book I'm working on right now is completely out of my comfort zone compared to the few books done prior. And it is kicking. my. butt. So simple ...yet so complicated. And with that has come a ton of failing. A lot of days (even weeks) spent have passed with a sense of "How did I only come up with this tiniest bit of work or nothing after all this time spent?!?!" But I have to recognize that a ton of hidden work has been happening all along. And all of that hidden work makes itself known when you finally "crack it" and that exhilarating "YES!" leaps off your tongue. The other thing I do always is repeat my own version of Eddie Murphy's "keep it together keep it together keep it together" line from Bowfinger ;). I've adjusted it to "keep it simple keep it simple keep it simple". I use that constantly when I find myself over-thinking and over-working. It grounds me for sure, and I need to use this tool often.
I feel like thinking is a really important part of the process. Sometimes the first idea you have is the best but often if I get stuck with a piece, I’ll stop making and meditate on the project. Sometimes it just gets you over the obstacle and others it spurs a whole new idea that is way better than what you originally came up with.
I guess sometimes it really helps to find out the real problem, why ine is not successful. For me it wasn't the fear of the blank page, it wasn't my drawing skills, it wasn't the choice of words in my novels. It was the way how I addressed people and what I stated as normal. For an individual it is natural to assume that what you are is normal, because it is normal to you. I learnde that this is not necessarily the case. A video, where the guy said that an important rule of creating is to create something relatable, something you know. It flashed me completely. What is relatable to me, is not known to the others and what is something I know is not relatable for my audience. So I started to translate my ideas like I would tell them to a different species speaking my language so to speak. Works out better and better.
I love your videos so much. I have them in my rotation of art videos I watch in the morning before I study to get me motivated for the day. Keen for the next one! 😁
I love this video Jake! Thank you!! I have a little chat with myself each day, and I distill down my thoughts into feelings. I ask myself if what I am thinking is serving me or not? If I am not sure about where I am at, I know if I am excited about what I am doing. Some days are not easy. Usually it's those moments like you said, where I am really pushing myself and I happen to be in the murky middle there. I have to be careful not to get into comparison trap, looking for feedback, or consolation from social media, family, etc. I have to trust there is an internal navigation system built in, and it's a feeling place. Thoughts hold so much power. And feelings run in tandem with that. Both are signposts. And I've decided, to make that my gauge, daily. :)
my mantra latelly is 'where will straining and rushing get you? huh?', then i sit down and do the thing calmly works quite well also keeping a small stack of notes, observations on the process mostly, like some insights, mine and from other people, which i shuffle and read and ponder about casually at times
Spot on. I have developed a mental framework of viewing everything in categories of either erosion or tectonic shift. I approach a painting as a work of erosion. I don't worry about getting everything done all at once. I sit down and decide to erode the hands for a bit then I go for a walk. Then I come back and erode the hands some more or maybe some fabric. After a time, I get to a place where I feel good about it and post it online. Then I see the glaring mistake. I consider the revelation of the mistake as progress toward my improvement. Because I hadn't noticed the mistake before. Each mistake I notice after posting is evidence of my improvement.
Amazing video, some really good insight. I dont agree very much with the rule of thirds. I have seen many people including myself that break that rule. You cant always be winning and getting better. But you can always failing and getting better; that's called being a perfectionist. Trying to make something every day is good advice but can get tricky for longer projects. You can let yourself off the hook for fubing a drawing that you only planned to work on for one day. But spending a whole day painting only to realize you have to throw it all away for the 3rd day in a row after 30 days of work is a much harder thing to wrap your head around.
Jake, that was a really great reflexion. I kind os needed to listen to that. One in a while I get a little lost and until I find my way back to myself it feels like everything is gone. My personal mantra, well, one of them, is one I told my students a lot: "Any drawing is better than no drawing".
my mantra = "Get out of bed and do the thing you love before money makes you do something you hate." the fear of unwanted jobs e.g: digging holes, seems to work for me. Spent to much time in that money pit.
For anyone in a VERY low point, I strongly encourage you to look up Neil Gaiman's "Make Good Art" speech. Any time I get into a funk where I hate everything I make, I look this up and listen to it again. One of my favorite excerpts: "Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before...Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” Otherwise, I cycle between these depending on what I recognize I need that day: - "Being a good [craftsperson] isn't about never making mistakes. You will always make mistakes. It's about how well you fix, hide, or learn from those mistakes" (additional note that this came from a professional/competitive quilter known for her precision in her quilts) - "All experience is good experience, as long as it's experience" - "You can't build a city in a day." - "Remember--it's always trash CAN, never trash CANNOT" (usually said immediately after throwing a creation I hate into the bin or other points of low self-confidence)
This creative work is a privilege. Every time I overcome a roadblock or learn a new technique, I seriously thank God and remind myself how fortunate I am to have an opportunity at doing this.
I try to tell myself that "something is better than nothing," and "It doesn't need to be perfect. Just have fun." Especially when it comes to posting on social media.
My mantra are: “one day at a time”, “one thing at a time”, and “baby steps”. When you’re chronically ill, it’s hard to get around to basic chores on top of going to work/school. So it reminds me to slow down, focus on the immediate present, and just focus on one thing I can get done today without feeling like I ‘wasted’ the whole day. It’s really helped reframe my relationship with productivity and my negative self perception around laziness.
A quote that helps me take more action and stop trying to find the “right” answer or “perfect decision” is “There is no right or wrong choice, just do what you think is best”.
"A low possibility means it is not zero." this is not my mantra but something I believe in. Interesting and inspirational video. I saw it in the right time- before watching this I was once again sad that I am not selling my art. I started creating visual art in 2017. I have gifted away many of my pieces and sold only four. I still have about twenty unsold art pieces. Despite this I keep making art and hoping for the better tomorrow. But at times I get sad that I can't sell that mountain of art.
My mantra if you want to call it it is actually separate thought but think they kind of go hand in hand. Here they are the first thought is the journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step. By Lau Tzu the second thought goes like this: when the student is ready the teacher will come. That what I tried to think about each day. I hope this will help someone out there to put their creative skills to work each and everyday
Mantra for 2am when the costumes I'm sewing are due the next day: sings "We can do it, we can do it, we can do it Cinderelly, we can make the dress so pretty, do do do do do do" in the same voice as the mice from Cinderella
Not a motivational quote but something I learned this year is : "you don't like the result ? No prob, just re-do it when you have the energy." I used to tell myself "it's okay, at least it's done" and move on. But some projects are valuable enough to just... go back and do it again, better. And it's so much easier to just do another sketch, another lineart... Than trying to correct a mistake on a "finished" piece. I learned to be patient and often, the "redo" part is so much quicker and better because I already did it once, and I inconsciously learnt from the process.
Bullseye, Jake! Great video! Personal projects are a great way to measure progress. They often take a long time to complete, so being able to see them all in one folder allows you to easily track your improvement by looking at the entire project. In my case, this can be a challenge with comic book pages because the progress between pages can be significant. However, I also can't leave things inconsistent, haha! (One of the challenges I've faced is having to redraw parts of the comic to maintain consistency. Even as a veteran artist, sometimes I develop new techniques that can alter the style too much to ignore.)
Whenever I feel that I'm not enough for art career, or I failed at something related to it, I just ask myself "But do you really want to never draw again? Never touch pencil or tablet, never ever create something from scratch?". And the answer is always no, I don't want to stop drawing.
One thing ive been telling myself recently that has helped me level up is "raise your standards". Someone with no standards have no consistency, nor will they challenge themselves to improve. And how i do this is that ill look at my own drawing, then look at art from someone i look up to and find tangible differences i can make right now to improve my current piece, and what i can learn from them
"Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish." - Oikawa Tooru (Haikyuu) "Slow and steady wins the race." - Aesop Fables "Every journey has its final day. Don't rush." - Zhongli (Genshin Impact)
“I have become raptor hunter of worlds yet to be” - Sun Tzu probably No, but the day trading analogy is a great way to shift one’s perspective. When I look back I see that I have made a lot of progress, so thanks for the perspective shift. 😊
an artist must yogically create the subject in the mind and then it will create itself physically. Like, the process will flow very naturally. So you manifest it.
I remember meeting you years back at Lexington comic con. I think you had just put out your first art book. Was great meeting you then Jake, hopefully I'll see ya again some day at a con. Great videos!
I love your mantra! I'm being hunted a lot lately but I've been trying to improve and I'll continue to work on my project until I can finally hunt that raptor :]
