musings on art and the suffering artist
Aug. 8th, 2021 01:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kyokosasagawaSo I was listening to an art tips video from like, 2018? 2016? Anyway, in it, this really great artist suggested 5-6 hours of studies a day to really get good at art. People in the comments were agreeing with him, but all I could think of was:
"What about your health?"
If someones asking for art advice like how to study art, it's reasonable to assume their tendons aren't used to action like that. Even if it was used to action like that, you'll still end up with arthritis or carpal tunnel or something if you force yourself to stick to a schedule like that.
I should know. I once drew hours and hours a day, and ended up having to take a week-long break with a wrist brace because everything hurt so much. But I kept going back for more, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to draw as good. As far as I know I didn't end up with anything irreversible, but god, I could've.
I think it all plays back into the suffering artist trope. That you should use pain, no matter what type of pain, to further your art and only then can you get really, really good.
Which is bullshit.
Lots of people have different learning styles. If someone wants to study 5-6 hours a day, then so be it. But you shouldn't be in pain to improve your art. Channelling pain as a form of trauma recovery is one thing, but wasting away your mental and physical health to get better and better is just a form of self-harm, in my opinion.
"What about your health?"
If someones asking for art advice like how to study art, it's reasonable to assume their tendons aren't used to action like that. Even if it was used to action like that, you'll still end up with arthritis or carpal tunnel or something if you force yourself to stick to a schedule like that.
I should know. I once drew hours and hours a day, and ended up having to take a week-long break with a wrist brace because everything hurt so much. But I kept going back for more, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to draw as good. As far as I know I didn't end up with anything irreversible, but god, I could've.
I think it all plays back into the suffering artist trope. That you should use pain, no matter what type of pain, to further your art and only then can you get really, really good.
Which is bullshit.
Lots of people have different learning styles. If someone wants to study 5-6 hours a day, then so be it. But you shouldn't be in pain to improve your art. Channelling pain as a form of trauma recovery is one thing, but wasting away your mental and physical health to get better and better is just a form of self-harm, in my opinion.