Sta.sh
Theme
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this journal 
Total prizes reach 1000 
But of course there are always the rules......
Please please please fave the journal!
Make another journal about this giveaway and provide a link of that journal in the comments (this will help spread the word about this giveaway)
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Requests are closed
Status: COLD
EDIT: Thank you SO MUCH for all the watches, faves and comments!
I'm sorry I can't reply to them all... I do love ya though <3 1: Question: Do you think it's possible that drawing burns you out? I really need to know, as I've been feeling like this a LOT lately. I think it's because I can't seem to sleep, as I feel nervous and anxious all the time. I think it's affecting my drawing... Do you find that if you take a break from drawing you come back refreshed or out of practice? If you do take a break, how long is it for? I'd really be grateful for any personal experience or tips, I really don't want my art to become crappier because of this. XI
2. In two weeks time I'm going to be moving house... again... （ ´Д｀） It's the second time this year and probably the 6th time in... 3 years? I know I don't post here so much (but I was planning to, really!!!), but I might disappear from November 1st seeing as the new place doesn't have the Internet as far as I know... and of course I cannot survive without the internet... OuO
3. I redesigned my website! It is now a gratuitous amount of black and purple and sparkles. *twiddles thumbs* =w= I seem to remember someone asked how I built my site, and all I can really say is that it's all just HTML in Notepad... echoecho.com has some nice tutorials on HTML and CSS website building.
And I uh don't know what else to write now... I hope you're all doing well!
Toodles!*flings self into bed*
ask me stuff!
My icon is by =angelishi!
For example, try taking some creative pictures. Even if you don't have a fancy camera, it'll get you away from the sketchbook (or computer) and you can apply light/composition from photography into illustrations.
It doesn't have to be photography though, making costumes or crafts, or working with clay or just cooking cuisine for a while. Just find whatever engages your brain creatively without requiring a pencil for a while essentially.
Good luck!
But taking a break helps HEAPS! I think 2 weeks is a good time for taking a break, when I get back to my pens and paper, I feel really eager to draw!!! Also holidays.
ANYWAY
Aaah. Is that why you haven't replied to my messages? My friend Cathryn has been trying to contact you for a web comic series and hasn't heard from you.
Go fill yourself up. Get completely out of your comfort zone and you will find food for the soul. Look for something like ballet, blues music, cooking, art exhibitions, gardening, whatever you haven't done yet. Like in Kiki's Delivery Service nap at noon, don't even think about drawing. Put all your drawing kit away and don't look at it until December. If you are out of balance your work will suffer so take pressure off them and give yourself some attention.
More and more people praise your work in my portfolio wherever I show it, people from Aardman lately. It isn't a race to the industry, rest in the knowledge that you will be at the top one day.
Take care,
Amanda x
I wish I could stop drawing for that long but I'm under a lot of pressure to keep drawing (esp. from my family) so I have secretly tried to have a break for a few days. Feel free to send me another email, I will see if I can find the contact your friend sent me (I think she noted me as I haven't recieved an email from her) and will reply to her, but feel free to give her my email too.
Thank you so much for the support, I hope you're well.
Hope everything is wonderful and inspired,
Manda xx
Wow, I kinda hate deviant art... I didn't see your message until this very minute.
I really know where you're coming from. So many times I have restrained myself from throwing my notebooks out of the window. I'm on notebook number 39 to give you an idea, exhaustion doesn't cover it. I think its the price you pay for having a "job" that is also your main hobby.
But I don't have a plan B, so I'm sticking to it.
And I have browsed deviant art an awful lot but genuinely haven't found anyone whose work I like as much as yours. I just want to know how you are right now (given your last message is now 7 weeks old) before I send you anything.
Really hope you're okay now,
Manda x
And any artist will tell you that you always reach a point where you're just tired. you're tired and you want to stop. But just keep going with your art and you'll find that you feel more and more comfortable with your work and often times your skill increases as well. (That happened to me earlier this year, as i'm studying to be an animator) u 3 u
Personally I find that my artistic capabilities suffer when I force myself to draw something. The pressure makes you stress over every single detail until you lose sight of the thing as a whole.
Another possible reason would be lack of inspiration, since I tend to 'regurgitate' things I've seen into my art. Anyone reading my mind would easily recognise things I have previously seen in the art I do. For example, a boiler might find itself inspiring the mechanical innards of a robot, but if I haven't been looking at enough boilers I'll find myself casting about aimlessly as I try to fill in the robot's empty guts.
I don't really lose much skill even after extended breaks though. I haven't really sketched properly for about two years, but I'm still good with a pencil. The inspiration problem seems to appear here too, since I can barely think of anything to draw!
So yeah, I guess my tip would be to take a break but use it to gain inspiration. Train journey, walk through the neighbourhood, anything works. Don't worry about losing innate skills because, well, they'll always be around.