The Artistic Plateau
Lately, I’ve had something that’s been weighing on my mind, and I wanted to share it on the blog. It’s something I’ve shared with a few friends recently, but I figured writing about it here might help me focus my thoughts.
I feel like I’ve reached a certain point where I’ve plateaued as an artist. This not to imply I’ve reached a level of perfection or satisfaction with my work – in fact, I’d say I’m quite the opposite.
What’s been bugging me is that I feel like my art hasn’t changed a whole lot over the last two years. And I know it needs to change. I want it to change. I can see the weaknesses I have and I want to fix them.
I demand a lot out of myself, and I know I can be much better than where I’m at. This isn’t me beating myself up; it’s about me being honest with myself and using those weaknesses I have as points for me to focus and improve upon.
I can’t help but wonder if the weekly grind of making webcomics prevents me from really stepping back and analyzing what I’ve been doing. Or, put another way:
Do I need to stop and take a break at some point and come back after a while?
I wonder if other creators feel the same way. Can you tell whether you’ve plateaued? How do you, as a creator, push yourself to take your game to the next level? I’m curious to know your thoughts on the subject.
-Krishna
These beautiful and intelligent people wrote
Tell me what you think!
moo
September 27, 2008 at 10:54 amNot being an artist, I probably can’t really help with this, but I think you should be less critical – though you know your strengths and weaknesses so you probably do know what you’re talking about. Your work seems pretty good to me.
However, maybe you feel your art hasn’t changed because you are drawing the same characters all the time – and by necessity they should stay the same or certainly similar for the comic to work. You could maybe challenge yourself by doing a completely different strip and see what you come up with – but I imagine it’s like trying to change your handwriting – you develop a style over time and it doesn’t then change an awful lot.
If you feel you need a break, then take one. Don’t force yourself to keep on if you are starting to feel it’s a chore. It should be something you enjoy.
Rasmus
September 27, 2008 at 11:00 amI can relate to this in a big way, because I’m never really satisfied with my art either. I think it’s really common amongst cartoonists and artists in general. As for a solution, I’m not to sure. Can’t you try to develop as an artist while doing the comic? Identify what you want to change, and change it. Look at art you like, and incorporate the things you like in your own style. Maybe start doing daily sketches where you’re trying other styles and such? Post them in your blog also, that’s always an encouragement to actually doing them.
I know that the creator of Fanboys, Scott DeWitt, took quite some time off from the comic (http://fanboys-online.com/index.php?comic=259) just to improve as an artist. When he came back the art had changed completely.
Good luck!
Jarmo
September 27, 2008 at 11:24 amI know what you are saying even if I don’t know the term. To tell you the truth – if you watch only PC Weenies, it’s not the same as you started it BUT I can see that there’s only a little change for anything in the style. I hope you won’t get offended by my comments – just telling what I see and observe: for PCW running about 10 years and such.
I think your style comes from animation point of view and I have _always_ thought it’s kinda Stephen Silver -ish (it was pretty amazing you showed the book on uStream one day). It is a fast way to do cartooning/strips/comics/whatever/etc BUT it can be the reason you are feeling you haven’t changed in style for a long long time and I can see that.
I think one reason is that this is the main way you ARE doing art? OR it might be that you are just afraid to change anything? Old saying goes: why fix it if it isn’t broken? We chatted about your old drawings, doing life drawing and maybe trying it out again – why don’t you do it then – when you possibly have free time you should draw different things – fill in another sketchbook filling it with drawings about “everything” else than strip related things. Draw Aarti, Sonia, do some self-portraits, expressions – go back to basics and be brave…you can always implement everything to your strips and on-going art-style.
I don’t know if you know what I’m getting at but I’m trying to say what might help you not to feel that way ;)
Dungeon Warden
September 27, 2008 at 11:36 amIf you feel your are stagnating in your current art style, why not try a different style? Maybe even a whole other technique. Look at a lot of other artists and try to copy what they are doing. Looking at your art from a completely different direction can only help improve it.
Another option is to try to draw your characters into another comic strip. What would they look like in Charlie Brown’s world? What about in Duckburg? Hanging out with Howard the Duck or Groo the Wanderer? Would Conan the Barbarian want to share a drink with them? I’m already getting inspired just thinking about it. I hope you will be too.
John Muir
September 27, 2008 at 12:31 pmHow much is this the drawing, and how much is this the writing?
You often share that Aarti helped you out with a line, which is nice and honest for an artist; but perhaps you’ve found a symptom of an underlying cause. Maybe the rigid schedule you keep is pushing you to write to a rule-book which has had a decade to grow in the back of your mind, and maybe that’s the reason you think you’ve levelled out? The stories you choose to write are always going to be a big influence on the art you then get to draw.
I must admit that I’m a text heavy kind of webcomic fan myself. Pictures For Sad Children, Dinosaur Comics, and XKCD come to mind. So feel free take my advice with a grain of salt.
Another tack entirely would be to try diversifying your sketches. Landscapes, still life, maybe even taking up painting besides drawing. Fortunately the world is always your oyster. That’s what makes every kind of art so great.
Oh, and it’s your comic. You do precisely what you need to!
Largo
September 27, 2008 at 2:25 pmPerhaps if you listed some of your perceived weaknesses we could help you figure out ways to improve them. Maybe if you pitch it to Mark and Jerzy we could make it a special Art & Story Alive.
What I think will help is to diversify your work. I don’t know how much other drawing you do besides PCweenies and Uncubed, but it sounded like it’s not a lot. Just doodle in a sketchbook, draw from life, try out other people’s styles to find those little nuggets that will improve your own work. It will open up many possibilities for you as an artist if you’re not stuck in one particular style.
krishna
September 27, 2008 at 4:41 pmJohn, I was referring to the art-side of the equation – not the writing (although some could feel that way about my writing, too, I suppose.) :)
I really need to sink back into life drawing and experimentation with other media. I think something that’s out of my comfort zone will give me a new perspective on approaching my current work.
Angi
September 27, 2008 at 10:33 pmI have so much to say on this subject, yet am too sick to do so.
In the past, I’ve tried mixing it up with something completely different. If you use brushes, try pens. If you’re really tight & controlled & inclined to overwork things, try ink on rice paper. Hell, sculpt or something, try something that taps into your creativity with a new perspective. And look at others’ art, stuff that’s similar to what you do, and stuff on the complete opposite of the spectrum.
Hitting spots like this is part of being an artist / creative type, and you’ve got to be creative in how you work past ’em.
And now, I collapse into bed, full of modern medicine.
hari
September 27, 2008 at 10:58 pmI go through uncreative patches also, but the difference is when I’m uncreative, I don’t feel the need to create something. I think your tight schedule has something to do with your getting stagnant in style. Mind you, as long as the style works, I have no problem with it. But you are right – as an artist, you have probably entered the next phase of development and are feeling the need to experiment with your style..
So if you perhaps observed more artists and their work, you might get over the “plateau” and emerge with a different style.
John Muir
September 28, 2008 at 7:18 amI’ll just concur with what everyone else is saying then: experiment!
Someone whose been doing a fair bit of that is Mike Krahulik (Gabe) at Penny Arcade. Their archives are the story of an artist in flux, as even the strip’s two central characters have changed in appearance dramatically. His fans agree that it was all for the good. He’s quite something to behold in Photoshop now. I don’t know exactly what you think if anyhting of Penny Arcade (it’s a love it or hate it kind of strip) but I appreciate his courage in changing everything before a live audience.
Anyway, this all comes down to what’s right for you. Don’t think “what’s right for the comic”, because guess what? There’s no difference! If you want to explore styles you’ve never touched before, you go ahead. If you’d prefer to do it on private, do so. That’s just how this sort of thing works. What rewards you rewards your audience.
Daniel
September 29, 2008 at 1:59 amRead scifi – or anything for that matter, and create artwork based on your interpretation of the characters or aliens. Submit the artwork to the author and see if it is close to what his interpretation of the character is in his minds eye.
This will make your mind work in a different fashion – hopefully opening up your own imagination to do the changes you had in mind.
Jason
September 29, 2008 at 5:42 pmI’m a musician, and I go through something similar quite frequently. For the last couple years I played and wrote nonstop, and produced more work than I ever had, which led to favorable reviews, interviews, an endorsement deal, etc.
I then became burnt out and pretty much took a year off. I recently returned to it with a whole new approach.
I definitely think that once you attain a certain level in artistic endeavors, it’s often beneficial to take time off.
– Jason http://www.myspace.com/jasonsnewmusic
zieglarf
September 29, 2008 at 8:03 pmI don’t have a comic yet. I draw caricatures at a theme park and at parties/events. It can be alot of drawing. At the theme park I’ve noticed a pattern. The most growth in our stage 1 and 2 artists.
The 1s are working really hard to get the likeness of the subject.
The 2s start exaggerating and trying new stuff. Mimicking other caricaturists they admire.
The 3s; THEY know it all. Telling noobs how to draw.
The 4s are stagnant. No growth, but still think THEY are da schnizzel.
The 5s know they are plateauing and want to grow more. But don’t know what to do.
The 6th stage they become a noob as they force themselves to break thru that wall and do new stuff. They fall into the ‘comfort zone’ with customers, but the stuff they do on their own is much more energetic and fun.
Without a challenge (competition) to draw better we ALL seem to get stuck. Don’t stop drawing, but try something different. Like an athlete doing cross-training.
Life drawing is still the best! Take a class.
Javier Hernandez
September 29, 2008 at 8:23 pmWell Krishna, at the risk of trying to benefit from your dilemma…..You’ve now given me a good chunk of talking points for your appearance next Tuesday!! :)
Kip Oneil
September 30, 2008 at 11:44 pmI’m not sure if someone already mentioned this above, but they were all lengthy and I’m incredibly tired so I didn’t read them.
One thing you could try, although it may be hard with a kid and all, to spice things up “art-wise” would be to participate in the 24 Hour Comic Day and try something new for each of the 24 comics.
This would force yourself to try 24 new techniques or ideas in a way that won’t really affect your site as it’s your choice to post them or not.
Sometimes I just need a reason to force myself to do something, to really get something out of a good idea state into a done state.
I’ve kinda wanted to start drawing more (I only write and do the website for our site) so I think I’m going to sign up and just play around with some ideas I’ve had.
If I don’t sign up and do it that day, it’ll just stay another thing on my back burner so to speak.
…crap, I’ve become one of those lengthy posts.