Hobbies for artist

Article by Willie Jimenez

I recently wrote an article about how taking photographs, along with travel, helped me with building a visual library. I feel it was a great way to learn composition and learn what makes a photo unique and interesting, by trail and error, without the time and effort it takes to do the same with a drawing and/or painting.

But there are a lot of instances where I can look back and noticed I learned something quicker or gained a deeper understanding by doing or learning something else. And some can be pretty obvious. Like learning 3d modeling helped my understand of form and anatomy on a different level than just sketching. Or how animation taught me about acting and loosing my character gestures and poses in my drawings.

I think choosing the right hobby can give you a mental break from the routine. While teaching you something new at the same time. It can add fuel to the fire saving you from burn out by keeping things interesting.

Steven Spielberg once said to a group of students “I think all directors should be animators.” Which I think is a great quote, and after learning animation I get what he meant. He also said, “Only a generation of readers will spawn a generation of writers.” I really think there’s a lot of overlap in visual mediums, and visual storytelling principles are almost universal. For example you have to study film to be great at storyboards, which is what I really want to get into.

I really got better at drawing from first inking and coloring comic books. Tracing over lines drawn by professionals was like doing a master study. You can really pick up things if you’re paying attention. It’s just like how everyone watches movies but to really sit there and study the shots and placement of the camera and the actors, you can get more out of it. When I wanted to get good at inking and I wanted to try the brush or crow quill. The way I got good at that was to try water color or some basic calligraphy. Not that I ever went deep into these things, not as much as I would like to anyway, but I feel you learn faster when theres novelty. Practice makes perfect but practice has to be new and challenging to get the best results.

When I started working with the drawing tablet, they give you these basic exercises. Same as when you first try any new tool like pen and ink. and I quickly gotten used to the tablet after some adjustment. But I can’t sketch or write as easily as I can traditionally and I feel it is holding me back when painting digitally. So Decided to start with writing on the tablet, writing has all the basic loops and shapes you need to put together into something more complicated. But writing on the tablet is simple enough to concentrate on one thing before trying to get better at sketching with it.

I would like to one day leave the tablet and computer behind for while and try traditional oil painting. Just disconnect and challenge myself. I don’t wanna get to comfortable and it not like I wanna become the worlds next Picasso. but it’ll just be something to try on the side.

I think about it how many artist have sloppy hand writing. It a cliche but I know my hand writing is terrible. I’m sure working more on my calligraphy would help my line work in my sketches, which are also scratchy. It a real shame to think that today even hand writing is becoming a thing of the past thanks to texting and I know too many graphic artist or guys working in 3D how don’t know how to draw.

Too many people maybe some of these skills are dying and are not necessary. But I’ve seen to many artist complain about getting artist block or about hitting a plateau. I seen too many students ask about how to lean faster. How to cut the one thousand hours. or older seasoned artist worry about their work getting stale. Or people who just get bored when things become routine.

As an artist you never really stop learning, it one of my favorite things about art. and even hobbies that one might affect and improve your art. I along with a few other artist I know for example am really into music and tried playing an instrument. Music is great for style and inspiration yes, But also a great way to study patten and rhythm. and any sport and teach you about collaboration. So as much as you might think becoming the best at something means an almost obsessive level of dedication, finding a few hobbies out side of art can really help you improve to.

Check out my art and photos at @williejimenezart.

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