''Painting Doesn't Get Better Quickly"

Hi, this is KONY.( *・ω・)ノ

This is the first time for me to share with you guys my thoughts and stance on painting.

The title of this article is quite impactful, and I'm sure some of you may be attracted by it, but it's a rather simple description of my attitude towards painting.

I hope you will read what I am about to write as just one of my opinions.

Now, I mentioned in the title that painting does not become good right away, but why is that? The reason, of course, is that painting is difficult.

I feel that many people often look for "easy" and "quick" ways to get good at painting on the Internet. There is NO such thing. If there were, people wouldn't be struggling to paint and crying over their paintings.

Then, when does one become good at painting? It is natural to keep painting, but to put it succinctly, "It is easy to become especially good at painting when you overcome walls (obstacles).''

Yes, this is another abstract expression, and you might say, "What are you talking about?''

The "walls" here are the things you are not good at (hand drawing, skeleton, anatomy, face, agitated/overhead composition, etc.). If you paint on a daily basis or as a hobby, you probably have an idea of what I am talking about.

Next, "overcoming" means "coexisting" with your difficulties rather than "overcoming" them. It is not necessary to overcome all of your difficulties. It is more important to develop your strengths. If you are a painter, you may be good at something (something you like or enjoy drawing). I think it is easy to understand if you think about the opposite of that.

As a common example, the "wall" for painters is the hand. There are many painters who are not good at drawing hands. Of course, I am one of them. I have already overcome the "wall", but if I were asked to draw hands without looking at the materials, I am not confident that I would be able to do it well.

If you are good at it, you can draw without using 3D materials or 3D models. That is an admirable "skill. However, there are some things that cannot be drawn "well" without materials, no matter how much you draw. It may be true if you say you don't have enough sketches, but that is not the whole reason.

Nowadays, there are many professionals and people on the Internet who are better at drawing than I am (or you). It is easier to see where you should aim for than in the past, but I have seen many people quit painting because they are overwhelmed by the gap between their current ability and the ability required in those places. It can be very difficult to maintain positive emotions in such an environment.

What to do in this case? I will give you three recommendations on how to deal with this situation.

①To take a break from the Internet.

②To use your feelings of jealousy to your advantage.

③To continue painting.

I will explain each of them below.

──────①──────

The first is a simple and effective coping strategy. In a positive way, it is easy to regain self-esteem and confidence by being a frog in a well. Try not touching the Internet for at least one whole day. And read a book you like. Analog, not digital. It is effective to try to stay away from the Internet that thoroughly.

──────②──────

The second one requires a lot of reason from some people, but if you can master it, it can be a very useful weapon. Once you can tame your jealousy, it will be a great asset in your development as a painter. The way to do this is to say this in your mind when you are jealous of someone who paints better than you do: "This jealousy is good for me.''

Jealousy is not a bad thing. It is like stress. It feels bad because we see it as an enemy and think it is bad. By changing the way you think about stress, you can also change the way your body reacts to it. Specifically, when we have a bad impression of stress, our blood vessels constrict and our heart rate increases, but when we think that stress is good, our blood vessels constrict less, similar to when we feel joy or courage.

Changing just one thought can dramatically change the way your body reacts and have a very beneficial effect on your painting life.

──────③──────

The third is the first, the most cerebral.

Whether you are depressed, sick, or busy with work or studies, you should always paint. This must be difficult for those who make excuses for themselves. No offense at all, but many of the painters I have dealt with in my life are those who make excuses not to paint, such as because they want to play games, because they painted a while ago, or because they are tired from work.

It is perfectly fine to paint as a hobby. It is best to enjoy your hobby. However, it is different for those who want to make it their job, earn money from painting, or become better at it.

People are not passionate about what they are forced to do. People are passionate about what they choose to do. They are passionate about things that are difficult for others to intervene and that they can control, such as their lovers, their work, or their studies for entrance exams.

Therefore, if you "chose" to paint, you should not lie to yourself. If you can't do what you chose to do, then your life will just be swept away by the waves of society. Some people want to be that kind of person like ''Sheeple'', but since our focus here is on people who paint, we do not recommend it.

To sum up,

Painting is not easy and one must overcome obstacles in order to improve. To do so, it is important to coexist and develop your strengths rather than overcome your weaknesses. Also, there will be times when you see someone better than you on the Internet and feel depressed, but when this happens, it is helpful to stay away from the Internet and use your jealousy in a positive way. Ultimately, it is important to maintain your passion for painting, and the key to success is to stick to the path you have chosen.