Pushing Through

Perseverance. It’s hard! Not only with one’s art, but often with other things in life that pile up and may take one away from doing art, or much of anything at all. But is giving up even harder to do?

Excerpt from Epileptic by David B.

We’d like to share what some of our students have said about this common concern many face.

Our Mighty Network group is not only an online forum for students to share their projects or ask advice about technique and assignments, but a community where we all hold each other accountable and can relate with one another on the very raw nature of being human in a society that never stops.

See an excerpt below as SAW’s Six-Month Graphic Novel Intensive student, Steve Bakker, shares his thoughts on SAW's Mighty Network about perseverance and accountability. Some peers share their experiences and wisdom as well. Check it out.

“Persevering when persevering at most things is hard.” - Steve Bakker

“Hey all, this isn't a progress report but it is an accountability post, about challenge for my creative process that I'm sure I'm not alone in contending with: debilitating fear, anxiety, or despondency beyond (but perhaps including) our creative projects at hand. I've mentioned in a few Zoom calls that I have an unpredictably occurring "down week" here and there where I might not be working on the project--or much of anything. During my time in this program, it has been intermittent waves of generalized anxiety, despondency, and irritability that have held me up more than distress about the project itself, or distress about the project has roughly coincided with generalized distress.

Any insights on persevering with creative projects at times when it's not only the creative project that suddenly appear impossible, but when most things feel equally daunting or meaningless or disorienting or irritating, and it's suddenly harder to keep track of plenty of day-to-day stuff? I've been assuming a lot of my project-related challenges have nothing to do with the work but rather with an unrelated state of mind, but of course the two aren't isolated from one another, and so might have ignored usable persevering-with-work resources that have already been shared.”

-Steve Bakker

Here are some excerpts from replies that other students shared on Bakker’s post:

“Hi Steve, I totally sympathize with this. Sometimes things are just... off? Even when there’s no global pandemic going on. Right now there are just so many reasons to feel this way all the time, so it’s sometimes tough to justify working on projects that operate outside of the current reality. What helps me (in art, comics, and everything else) is breaking things down into manageable chunks and checking them off the list.”

- Elise Dietrich

Another supportive student also shares,

“Hi Steve, I don't have any good advice here because I tend to similar waves. I can only say that after long periods of not creating I remind myself that I love making art and that even though drawing might get me a little nuts because I spend too much time alone in my head-submarine, it's still the one thing that consistently interests me. So take breaks if you must, just get back to art when you can. 

This group has proven to be good for my accountability. It doesn't mean there are no breaks but they are shorter. In general drawing with people helps to keep you going but since I just avoid my real-life drawing partners when I don't feel like making art, the fact that this accountability group cost money is significant. It's probably because of the fact that I take my project seriously enough to pay for help. So maybe find something that gives you a similar psychological effect...  

I can remind you that there are people that really want to see your project progresses and that it is interesting + unique. Knowing that doesn't always help but I hope this time it will.”

-Ayelet Ben Dor

It is of upmost importance that we, as artists, remember that we are doing the work even when we are not physically creating, and to be patience and take tasks one thing at a time. Every period of the creative process is important, even the low periods where we make nothing at all — we are ultimately finding our way back to creating again.

Sometimes I feel extremely overwhelmed with tasks at hand, especially ones very important to me, so my mother once asked me, “How do you eat an elephant?” I replied, “In what insane world would I ever eat an elephant?” But she went on to answer, “One bite at a time.”

The point is, we can only do things one step at a time, even if that is a time-consuming teeny, tiny step. It’s still a step. Patience with ourselves key.

Being an artist can also be a very lonely profession, because most of the time, you are making the work all by yourself, which is why having and taking advantage of a community like SAW's Mighty Network can be so obliging and pleasant. At the end of a tiring panel; page; or entire comic, teachers and peers alike are all here, eager to see your work and give constructive feedback.

SAW Founder and Teacher, Tom Hart, adds into the conversion,

“One thing that I hope matters is right now, you have this group, not only acting as "accountability,” but more importantly, an audience of people who WANT to see it! I DO.” - Tom Hart

Want support in persevering with your art and help with comic creation in general? Check out SAW’s Year-Long Intensive Program or SAW's Online Courses.

And come say “hello” anytime and see what we’re all up to on SAW's Mighty Network!

Cheers,

Karlo (Karr)