~AstroCrush

IN YOUR FACE

Profile

Gallery

Prints

Faves

Journal

I'm feeling burned out.

Sun Jul 13, 2008, 8:07 PM

Mood: Frustrated

Colosseum aside, for the past few weeks I've been feeling really burned out from drawing. It has to do with the fact that I also do cartoons for the newspaper I work at, and that the other jobs I'm working involve drawing. And I have to spend my free time drawing, apart from my work time which I spend drawing.

And it's getting tiresome.

I really enjoy it but I realized even the things you love have a saturation point. Especially when it's no longer involved in the process of doing what you want and have it instead made into a job.

It's gotten to the point that I'm getting all existential and angsty about my job as a cartoonist and layout artist. Is this really for me? Because I don't want my passion to become a chore. I guess it's a passion because it's special, and not menial. Other than that, job sucks and I don't like the pay but there are perks like food and meeting fancy important people that I can use for connections.

I'm really so tired. Maybe I should start looking for a new kind of job, to balance out the things I really want. Should there really be a delineation between doing the things you want and doing things for a living? I don't know.

All I know is that I'm seriously tired.

8 Comments

Devious Comments

~~love 0 0~~

~~joy 0 0~~

~~wow 0 0~~

~~mad 0 0~~

~~sad 0 0~~

~~fear 0 0~~

~~neutral 0 0~~

*SabieMoonbeam Jul 13, 2008, 8:23:23 PM

Take it from me... ANYTHING can get weary after a certain length of time at one task. The trick is finding out ways to maintain your interest in it, and find a new way to see the situation every day... and I should probably follow my own advice.

--
A strong leader is expected to maintain steadfast resolve in his opinion even if the environment changes or he gets new information. In any other context, that would be considered the first sign of a brain tumor.
-Scott Adams
--
Visit ~Climber-Fans

=auryn Jul 13, 2008, 8:43:33 PM

I sorta know how you feel, Colosseum wise. Going from that straight to SDL and now another OCB, and knowing that there's going to be some major conflicts with upcoming travel plans...it's all getting a bit stressful. I do think it's a good experience to have, but maybe there's just a point where too much of a good thing is too much. That you've had it as well as illustration work, and that you're very dedicated to making long and detailed entries, well, I can see why you would feel really burned out right now.
If you do make it to the next round in TC, maybe it's just a matter of cimplifying your entries, just so that it becomes less stressful.
As for whether or not art is really the career for you...who knows? Maybe this is just a worry brought up by being tired, but that wouldn't be a feeling you'd have all the time. I guess it's just something you'll figure out. Good luck.

--
Hello, this is Auryn from the VD clinic. Speaking of being postive, your test results are back in. Stop sharing the love.

~Jazon19 Jul 13, 2008, 10:32:20 PM

Ahh man, Know the feeling. There are some days you just need to chillax. Mind you already know all this

<(Groovy!)

~PropertyoftheUchiha Jul 14, 2008, 8:52:12 AM

I know exactly how you feel.
Its the same at CN.
It's also the reason why I haven't been drawing lately.

Drawing is supposed to be fun... but now, everytime I want to draw it just reminds me of work and I lose the momentum.

Drawing is something we do because of how we feel.
We draw what we want and that makes us happy.
But drawing due to dictation and force takes away the joy of it.

It is sad. But I just try to remedy it by taking leaves every now and then.. and not getting involved in stuff like THIS. *coughepic-battlecough*

You can do it tho. Don't make such a rash decision and drop altogether. ^_^
Regrets are oh so very hard to deal with.

--
"I Am Addicted to This Perceived Fate." - Dir en Grey "Kodou"
Full-blooming Narutard. Available for picking at all seasons!
Stripateer numba' 3

*CyrilTheWizard Jul 14, 2008, 10:11:15 AM

Its tough man...Drawing can be tiresome once it becomes something you feel you HAVE to do. Sometimes inspiration just kicks you and you can't stop yourself no matter what. But it seems that inspiration has left you a little and a rest would be good. But I still wouldn't leave the job...I dunno, my time management skills are somewhat sucky :-S

--
Real Stupidity beats Artificial intelligence every time!
-------
The Pig's Ear. Go visit it! [link]

=shazmatthews Jul 17, 2008, 1:38:26 PM

You're going through exactly what I'm often afraid of going through. And I haven't made the privilage of getting there yet. But I have been through artistic burnout. That was due to university. It's often made me ponder back and forth as to wether I really want to be cartoonist/artist but then I am often reminded here and by various talented individuals why I should keep going. That sounds cheesy, but every job can get repetitive and demanding. It doesn't mean you have to give up entirely. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Lols you could be working a 9-5 temp job in a financial office reconciliating rich people's files and crunching numbers repetitively like I'm doing right now.

Seriously I think maybe I should try getting up off my arse and actually doing something with my art.

You'll be ok.

--
If you noticed this notice, you'll notice this notice isn't really worth noticing.

~AstroCrush Jul 18, 2008, 7:18:03 PM

Thanks, man! Greatly, greatly appreciated... wow, that must be some tough job. Does it have its perks though?

--
It's in the blood
It's in the will
It's in the mighty Hands of Steel

=shazmatthews Jul 22, 2008, 9:33:22 AM

Hi Astro. Sorry I didn't reply sooner. Your reply didn't show up on my DA message page.

I will tell you this about my job. It's mind numbing. It's repetitive, and I think I'm just about ready to head for the hills but I can understand why you'd crave for balance. Yeah there are bonus perks (which surprised me last week) but unless you like figures, and adjusting some rich sod's account then it's nothing really special. It's just clerical office work. It beats being unemployed though.