Further reading:
Why Cats Paint

Once you've grasped that material I find:

Why Paint Cats?

to be the logical follow-up.

you could check out the Codex Seraphinianus it's a modern day invention

I was just about to post about this. Some writer has definitely been overthinking, but I love that they incorporated "mass debate" into the book description.
Direct link: https://www.amazon.com/Warhol-Chris-Chan-Lifespan-Suppression/dp/B095F3762C/ref=sr\_1\_1?dchild=1&keywords=warhol+chris+chan&qid=1621906042&sr=8-1

This is the cover of The Soviet Bus Stops book. The only purchace I've ever made on amazon and it was definetly worth it. Appearantly bus stops was one of the few opportunities architechts got to really express themselfs and it made for some really interesting designs. Highly recommend it.

I put a link and more pics in my blog. Direct amazon link:

• http://www.amazon.com/Why-Paint-Cats-Ethics-Aesthetics/dp/1580082718

Warhol / Chris Chan: The Lifespan of American Pop Culture, or The Suppression of Reality https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095F3762C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_FZ2V5WJ3972X8J0H7K17

Someone wrote this, posted about it on here, and everyone jumped him basically.

It’s something that would have been somewhat entertaining as an essay published online, but instead the author is charging 21.38 for it

There's a book called Art & Fear - it's a kinda quirky, dated self-help book for artists and creators. I'm particularly fond of one anecdote from the book:

> The ceramics teacher announced on opening day that he was dividing the class into two groups. All those on the left side of the studio, he said, would be graded solely on the quantity of work they produced, all those on the right solely on its quality.
>
>His procedure was simple: on the final day of class he would bring in his bathroom scales and weigh the work of the “quantity” group: fifty pound of pots rated an “A”, forty pounds a “B”, and so on. Those being graded on “quality”, however, needed to produce only one pot – albeit a perfect one – to get an “A”.
>
>Well, came grading time and a curious fact emerged: the works of highest quality were all produced by the group being graded for quantity. It seems that while the “quantity” group was busily churning out piles of work – and learning from their mistakes – the “quality” group had sat theorizing about perfection, and in the end had little more to show for their efforts than grandiose theories and a pile of dead clay.

IMO there are only two keys to learning:

1. You must do a lot of something (so, preferably, find something you really enjoy and find encouraging, whatever it is)
2. You must get gently nudged in the right direction (it's okay to make garbage, but however slightly, be taking note of things that will make next time smoother. It's easier to have someone else point this out for you).

So if you're super social? An immersion program would probably be great for you!

If you love anime or drama or jdramas, go for it! There's tons of low hanging fruit to pick up.

If you're super dedicated, follow your university course! You'll come out with a solid foundation.

I don't really think there is a best way, it's just understanding how to press your own buttons.

I'm not a pro so I have no personal insight on this other than agreeing with the people who point out that invoices getting paid and repeat business happening should tell you something.

For:

> Am I the only one that deals with this a lot?

If you want to read about similar issues in general, Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking is a decent book, IMHO.

Limited quantities when printed + sought after art book = high prices

The local library in my area had a copy in 2014 though and I was able to check it out. It's a really interesting book to look through. Not sure I'd want to buy a copy for myself though.

Edit: TIL it was reprinted in 2013. It was released for the first time in 1981

• Wikipedia link

• Amazon link (2013 reprint edition)

I'm so sorry about the loss of your cat. I've had a variety of cats (still have 2) and it hurts every time. You may want to find a support group to help you get through this. There are a lot of online supports groups, including r/petloss.

Do you still see a psychiatrist or a doctor? Maybe he can prescribe an anti-anxiety med until you get through this.

Regarding your creativity - make an appointment with yourself to release your creativity. It could be an hour a week, or more. (The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron is a good resource for this type of stuff - your local library could have it.) It might also help to start a journal and just commit to writing on one side of one page each evening.

I had a cat that lived to be 21 1/2 years old. He could be a real pain in the ass, but he had a great personality. The one thing that helped me with his passing is the following quote:

>To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. (Claude Campbell)

I hope you find peace. I did end up getting two older kittens shortly thereafter, and while they did not replace my cat, they helped.

I'm similar to you in age.

I'm similar to you in years of experience, give or take.

MY PERSONAL OPINION – which may not resonate with you – is to make your own short. This short could literally be anything that is right up your alley. It could be character. It could be a fake title sequence for a non-existent show/ movie. It could be an ALT fan-art title sequence to an existent show/ movie. It can be a music video. It can be a short narrative. It can be a series of 20 experimental VFX films.

Basically you're in a great position to take ALL THE SKILLS YOU HAVE ACQUIRED... and if you're ready to go for it... JUST SEE WHAT YOU CREATE ON YOUR OWN.

The reason I say to go for this is, no one in our field cares about degrees. We DO care about portfolio.

Maybe this book might even give you some... pointers? Or help whittle things down for you?

Art & Fear, by David Bayles

If you enjoy reading, Art and Fear might be a good guide for you right now.

Feeling inadequate and painting anyway is part of being an artist, at every skill level. The drought and the flood are natural to art-making, in my experience.

You are an artist. You put feeling into images. Keep painting, and keep drawing. Fill a sketchbook a month, with whatever comes to you and moves you. Welcome home :)

Oh, I'm being incredibly lazy, but the blurb in the Amazon page for the book is actually quite good. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Fear-Observations-Rewards-Artmaking/dp/0961454733

I suppose crucial points are that you are the only true and proper judge of your work (e.g. photographs) as Art, and further, the only certain way not to create art is not to *try* to create Art. It being Art, and satisfying to you, has, alas, little to do with saleability.

It applies to photography (and indeed uses examples from photography) as well as any other art (and indeed crafts or anything creative). I really liked the writing style - you may not.

Was thinking the same thing. Much like this book I've had for many years.

Why Paint Cats: The Ethics of Feline Aesthetics

I found a few excellent resources to help me get over the fear of art itself.

I read a book someone on here recommended. It helped me understand what it is to "do art" and how to be kinder to myself: "Art and Fear" by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

I also found a very straightforward course on Udemy: Character Art School: Complete Character Drawing Course

I recommend both of those resources strongly. It's important to change how you feel about art in order to be able to do it yourself. If you're like me, you want to do everything as cheaply and as well as possible, which means becoming skilled yourself at many different things you never thought you could do. Learning from people who are already doing what you want to do is the way to go. I would start with the drawing and then move on to the animating once you can do a little something.

Good luck!

Don Lashomb wrote a book comparing them. It came out in May, before the allegations.

The author regrets everything.

I'm sure that story has been told in lots of places, but I saw it first in a great little book called <em>Art and Fear</em>, which is full of really good insight and advice that everybody who likes to make stuff, no matter their "art" or hobby, will get something from. But the core of the message is: get out there and do it; do it a lot; make it easy to do so it's never a hassle to start doing; and don't agonize about perfection at the expense of actual time doing.

I checked your work and you should be proud of yourself. I know it’s really discouraging not getting a job but nowadays even engineering school graduates normally apply more than 200 resumes to land on an interview. (in the US).

I know and saw so many bad designers out there and somehow still they have their jobs. So it’s all about luck, timing, connections and location in my opinion.

I would like to recommend this book. (Check your close local library).

Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking https://www.amazon.com/dp/0961454733/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_DYPYWRP9KME4FT9QK03N

Andy Warhol / Chris Chan

Warhol / Chris Chan: The Lifespan of American Pop Culture, or The Suppression of Reality https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095F3762C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FBWNYNBJ1HNE78R2HBDK

The book is still there unless Amazon hasn't updated their site. I was able to see it from this link but idk if its work for you. https://www.amazon.com/Warhol-Chris-Chan-Lifespan-Suppression/dp/B095F3762C/ref=zg_bsnr_1064_6?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=WABS3SHN01GQV66ZRTEA

The Soviets also liked to show off their bus stops.

If you can, check out this cool little book of advice and motivation for artists. I found it helpful.

Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Fear-Observations-Rewards-Artmaking/dp/0961454733/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=art+%26+fear&amp;qid=1608322016&amp;sr=8-1

Looks great! I can thoroughly recommend this book as a great resource to get started if you're looking to learn more tricks: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Shibari-1-Douglas-Kent/dp/0973668814

In post covid world it's definitely worth looking up a local peer rope or rope jam event on fetlife. Having an experienced rigger show you a few things is super helpful. It turns out there is an easy way and a hard way to do a single column tie and it all starts with that!

Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils and Rewards of Artmaking.

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Fear-Observations-Rewards-Artmaking/dp/0961454733

Amazon sells all three. For a little over 20 each.

Link to first book here

Damn auto correct... Douglas Kent. Here is a link to the book I was thinking of. Douglas Kent's Complete Shibari: Land: 1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0973668814/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JwixCb23JVNQ9

Just as an FYI, 30 is the longest I use but also 20 feet since double the up so I am only dealing with a shorter amount when ties. For two reasons 1 I'm not pulling rope forever through itself and 2 it's easier to control a shorter amount underfoot. If I need longer I will put a knot at the end I'm working with and use a slip hitch to attach the next rope to it.

I got a great story when I was starting out about rope getting tangled around the cat that was chasing it...

Also depends on the type of rope you are using will depend on which and how many knots you will need to hold the rope in place.

Yeah that's a bullshit answer. Most people give crap answers anyway, you're better off not paying any attention to them.

It definitely stings when you work hard on something and post it and it gets no attention. In fact I went through that exact thing with a track recently. My best piece of advice, work hard. Don't burn yourself out, but really focus on getting those ideas down and pushing your comfort zone. Don't feel the need to release everything you make. Sit on it for a while, move on to something else, come back to it. If you're still really feeling it, post it. Otherwise leave it be. I know it can feel like one massive race at times with people creating tons and tons of art that people love and it hurts to see that and come to the realization you're pretty far off from there. But run your own race. Measure yourself with how well you've improved compared to yourself in the past, not successful people.

I know this gets posted A TON, but this ira glass video is so spot on. ira glass

And this book has really helped me out

If you want to bounce ideas or talk about creative roadblocks like these feel free to message me anytime. This stuff can get really isolating and depressing fast. Even more so if you don't have people in your life that understand the passion behind your artistic pursuits. When it comes to artists a lot of people are ignorant about how much blood, sweat, and tears goes into that work. That's why you have to shut out the opinions of people who aren't on the same level as you.

You DoodEl'ed that one, for sure...is that a cockmic? I mean I know you can teach cats to paint I just didn't realize you could teach a cock to paint. Learn something new every day.

FORCE YOURSELF.

I'm on day um... 63 I think? I don't have my sketchbook on me at the moment, but I was challenged by a friend to do one drawing a day. No restrictions on content or detail. Just had to be in pen, and had to be daily. So far it's been FANTASTIC to just be in a position of "well, I don't wanna draw today, but I gotta get this done before I go to bed." It really beats the fear of a blank page out of you when you know that you MUST draw today, even if it's just abstract polygons.

Another recommendation is <em>Art and Fear</em>. It discusses what you're feeling on a very high level (it doesn't talk about technique at all, just things like motivation around the creative mind and thought process) and the book itself is short.