Thursday, April 3, 2014

The road less traveled- why failure is so important?


“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” Johnny Cash

Why are creatives so scared of failure? You have to deal with it, success comes only to the select few that have fought with their constraints (only you make your constraints no one else does, if someone came up to you on the street and said "only animate this certain way, would you?". No of course not). Failure is not something for you to be scared about it just means that you chose to extend your artwork and yourself in the pursuit of being a better artist.

You will fail (alot) and you have to be willing to show these failures to people that will tell you why you failed. Do not cover them up or make excuses (please, please don't do this, means that you have no faith in your artwork or your skills. If this is the only thing that comes out of your mouth then you might as well not try because when people offer critique you will not heed it) and don't run to the people that will give you compliments because you will not get any better while you listen to people singing praises (your productivity will slack off and you will not see the people that are much better, that will inspire you to get better). Learn to deal with the brute honesty and hold those people close the ones that take the time to help you become better at your craft. Learn and use that knowledge and take the knowledge that you can get free of charge from other animators, artists and the public.

Don't be afraid to show your work, you worked very hard on it and it should show and take any opportunity that you have to work more, to make the quality better with increasing your speed and to show it off in competitions, galleries, screenings for friends and family, your network of colleges (that are willing to see it and give feedback). 

Take time to notice life, catch it, express it, learn more about it, people watch, take pencils and paper and sketch when you can, if you have a device (tablet or laptop) pay the money and get flip-book, learn where you can collab, sketch crawl and life drawing, take the time to learn a different form of artistry.

MOST IMPORTANTLY LEARN AND FAIL LOTS :) only way to expand as an Artist.

Thank-you for reading and 'til next time Keep on Animating!

Cassandra

No comments:

Blog Archive