2022 New Year's Rambling
My New Year's resolution last year was to finish as many projects as possible. I'm not really sure if I've done that more than I've created new projects, but I think that goal has led me to create more things than ever before. Every year my setup for working on projects improves, too. I've recorded 3 songs this year (the last one me and my dad recorded yesterday!), made 41 separate vector images, created my first complex halloween costume, done about 20 different digital drawings depending on how you count it, made 3 different little clay things, nade about 5 miniature pieces of furniture, and, generally, been way more productive when compared to previous years. I could really go on about things I've done.
I don't mean any of that as a gloat (for the most part, haha)- more as inspiration, hopefully? I consider myself a very slow worker. A good amount of my friends have drawn nearly 100 finished pieces this year compared to my 20, a few have started recording entire albums of their own, and I'm sure most of them have completed more projects than I did. But... I don't care! The important part, I think, is being satisfied with what you've done, and challenging yourself in a pleasant way. Many people say you have to draw every day to get better at drawing. That's probably true if you want to get better fast, but the quality of work and the way that you go about it, I think, are more important.
Judging by my numbers I drew around 2 things per month- that's not very much at all! But my style has progressed in that time. It's only gotten easier and faster to draw humans over this year. I believe my composition has improved. My ability to draw and shade folds has absolutely, undoubtedly improved. The "draw every day" advice has always intimidated me as someone who wants to draw for fun. If anything, as a semi-perfectionist, I think it stopped me from drawing more than anything. In my opinion and experience, if you draw at least somewhat regularly, and with the intent to improve (by doing studies, analyzing what you're weak in, etc.) you can, in fact, improve without drawing every day. Of course, drawing more often will yield more improvement, but all I'm saying is it's not an absolute REQUIREMENT for improving. And, ultimately, my point is: just because you don't do something every day, or even often, doesn't mean you'll lose all your skill. Draw for fun. If it's not fun, don't draw that day. You don't have to have a study or specific thing in mind to improve upon- drawing at all is an improvement. There is no drawing requirement- or any requirement for any other hobbies.
Even just doing related things is very helpful, I believe. 3D modeling in blender has probably helped my miniature making. Drawing for vector art, drawing for linocut (and when doing linocut: thinking about positive and negative space), painting on clay, thinking about design, and thinking about composition for photography have probably all contributed to my digital illustration skills. If you feel stuck, try some related mediums. If you're struggling to embroider, or enjoy embroidery, try some sewing or something that requires a lot of hand-eye coordination- or something that requires a lot of attention-to-detail. All of those related skills will probably improve your embroidery. The same goes for any hobby. Just because you don't, specifically, embroider constantly doesn't mean you aren't working on your embroidery if you sew or work with your hands in your spare time.
In short: you don't have to do a specific task every single day to improve. You don't even have to improve to have fun. If something is just a hobby and not your livelihood, focus on what makes it fun. If you feel stuck with your hobby, and want to get better, try other things you like which might improve related skills. Don't be discouraged if you don't have a lot of time or have trouble sticking to a routine. Every single thing you do affects all of your other abilities- every time you pick up and manipulate something, every time you catch a ball, every time you read or look at others' art you are doing something. The more you do the better you get. Just go for it! Do things!
Good luck, happy New Year, and do lots of stuff this year! My resolution, at least, is going to be the same as last time.
