(no subject)

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if this has been asked already, please forgive me if so.

I've been wondering lately, what would be an acceptable wait time when taking a break from art? It happens once in a while that I just can't seem to draw, I guess it's just an art block, and I either need to take a break from art fully, or take a break from commissions and draw for myself. I always feel guilty about it though, so I wanted to know what you guys think is a good time for a break and when it's too much.

I don't take on more art when I feel like that, so don't worry. I'm more wondering how long is a good break when you already have commissions in your gueue. I usually only need to take a couple days off, but sometimes it does turn into weeks, t'ill I feel too guilty and just push myself to do the art.

I personally work down a list. So if the commissioner is not first in line, there is already a bit of a wait time as I work on the first.

Edit: Thank you everyone for your advice :3

I'm starting to think that I'm maybe taking on so much work (but still not TOO much where I take forever) that I end up burned out, which also leaves me with not too many breaks. I can personally juggle a queue of 10, and still get each piece done in a day, a few days to weeks. But I think maybe it might be a good idea to bring this down to something more like 5 and try making a schedule for myself.

Comments

[breakspire.livejournal.com]

I find that if I take a break for more than a few days it gets harder for me to get back in the swing of things. But that's just how I work, and I make things full time now.

I would consider that as soon as you get paid, doing art is a job. So at some point even if you don't feel like it you have to do it. How long depends on what it is and how long your commissioners expect to wait (something you should let them know).

[ariakitty.livejournal.com]

I usually take a weekend "off" if I am feeling some artistic burn out. That's enough time to relax and goof off so when Monday rolls around I am ready to work again.

[ankewehner.livejournal.com]

I don't think a couple of days are much of a problem.

But if you sometimes run into a weeks-long art block, well... I guess I'd just make sure that I don't take on too many commissions at the same time. Maybe organise it as a short commissions queue, and a waiting list?

If I'd run into problems on the lines of, "Sorry, I have [real world problem/nervous meltdown] and have no idea when I can get back into art", I'd tell that to people and ask them if they would prefer to wait indefinitely, or to get a refund.

[kiriska.livejournal.com]

A couple of days isn't a problem, but if you think you're going to need more than a week, I would personally clear the queue first -- otherwise, the guilt of the to-do list is going to take the relaxation and recuperation out of your break anyway. Best clear your work queue and your conscience beforehand so you can really recharge.

[kappyjeanne.livejournal.com]

I agree with this comment!

[dazen-cobalt.livejournal.com]

I don't think a few days is going to create a problem. art is different than a 5-9 job. if you're worn out you're not gonna be able to give the commissioner your best. I find that the biggest problem between artist and commissioners tend to be communication. keep the door open and most people will understand.

[volmise.livejournal.com]

I don't get very many commissions myself, but if I do fall into a rut like that taking a few days off does help - but no more than that as it's harder to get back into things.

Keep in communication with your commissioners. I'm sure if they want what they ordered to be the very best it can be, they wouldn't mind waiting a few extra days for their pieces.

[leahtaur.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to sound harsh, but... do comic artists on deadline get such serious art blocks that they can't work, to the point that their deadline is missed? Do magazine cover artists get in such a block they can't finish their deadlines too? If they did they wouldn't have a job for very long.

I feel that indulging in an art block is one of the benefits of being a freelancer without deadlines to worry about, which is fine -- but it's just that, an indulgence. It's all in your head, and it's something you could work through if you really wanted to/needed to. I'm not a professional comic artist/cover artist/whatever myself but I imagine that when they get an art block, they just force themselves to work through it and if crap comes out, they redo it until it looks right.

Again, I don't mean to sound like I'm coming down on you. :) I get art blocks too. But I do think you can choose how to handle it, and taking a break for your own work is not the only way to get through one.

[hellebore.livejournal.com]

I don't know what your day schedule is like - but I personally set up from 9am-5pm to work (but I also have a rambunctious kid running around the house who I have to tend to). After 5pm? I clock out. I also don't work weekends. So, try setting up a block of time to do art every day, unless you prefer to leave your weekends open. Treat it as a job.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

Hm, that would be a good idea. I don't have anything to do all day, so I tend to just work at anytime, in the span of the whole day. I'll try making a schedule and see how that works for me, thank you :3

[fatkraken.livejournal.com]

Commissions should come with a concrete deadline. If you can work on your own stuff and take breaks and still meet that deadline (and you should make sure you can), then it's a non issue. If you can't then tough, suck it up, do the commission work even if you hate it, then take a break and rethink your scheduling for the next round.

As above, "treat is as a job" is the best advice. When is it acceptable to go home from (salaried) work? When you've finished enough work that day that you can meet your deadlines comfortably. If you're crunching on a project, then that might mean 14 hour days for weeks at a time, until it's done.

[imlikat.livejournal.com]

I think a few days is okay - like I believe someone else said, it's good to treat it like a normal work week, and take weekends off. If you're doing your own art during your break, I'd be careful about posting it - it can be uncomfortable for your commissioners if they see you posting your own art when they're waiting on their paid work.

What I usually do is just take a few commissions at a time, then take a break either for a breather or to do my own art. When I'm ready to draw for other people again, I'll reopen commissions, whether that means contacting people on my waiting list or opening up a journal :)

[grygon.livejournal.com]

If you're lucky enough not to have a regular day job as I read in another comment you posted then I am sorry but there is little excuse for you to not somehow work with or around or through this artblock. A day or two, fine. Any longer and you lose any sympathy that most of artists who have to work full time and then fit in commissions in our "free" (from a day job) time.

Not to sound harsh, but also as leahtaur says- professional artists don't get artbreaks and they do just fine without artbreaks. So find a way for yourself to do just fine without them too.

For me, I have to work full time to pay the bills. So when I take on commissions I make sure I have set aside a week or a month to fill that queue and get it clear within a good time frame. Then I take a break for my own art or projects (not an artbreak, I find I very rarely suffer burnout as I have so many different types of art to dabble in) for however long I see fit before taking on more clients.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

IAWTC. I've seriously lost sympathy for artists that don't have a day job, yet somehow continue to push deadlines farther and farther away or somehow end up with a burnout/art block.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

I don't have a day job cause I'm still 17, so I don't have any bills to pay ^^; I do want to get a job for the experience and save up money soon though.

And ya, I don't like artists who push away deadlines as well. I always make sure it's highlighted in red in my gueue and I work on that first and foremost to get it done much before the deadline.

Though, the art block thing, I don't think not working during the day should mean you never get them. Everyone gets them, I just wasnt sure what is acceptable or not, which is why I asked and am now trying to work around it and make a better schedule for myself.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I understand that -- having a breather is ok; deliberately skipping on your responsibilities is not. And I was not trying to knock on you.

Like I said, I'm just jaded with this because an issue I have with an artist where her excuse is that, burnout/art block, which somehow has not gone away for years...

I've had plants grow from seedlings to decent sized trees since then! >=O

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I didn't mean to get defensive. It just sounded more towards me then just in general.

But oh no, I wouldn't skip on things. I really hate it myself when people are that bad. It's just, because I haven't worked in real life, i don't know what's to be expected, when you should work, when it's ok to take a break, ya know? Not a good excuse of course, it's why I wanted to ask.

I'm going to be setting up a schedule of what time I work and when I don't. (like when you get home from work). And small breaks just to let my hand rest and then continue. I think it's going to help a lot and it helps make you push through art blocks since you want to stay on schedule.

I actually find not working, and not doing much during the day, harder to work with it, since you tend to get into the habit of being able to things at any time during the day. A schedule works a lot better.

[grygon.livejournal.com]

Yes, to me it feels like they are frittering away a great opportunity! If I didn't have a fulltime job during the week I would be spending a TON more time on my art and doing a LOT more commissions. Burnout? Tch. Right now I get "burnout" in the form of no time/energy/time once I get home and do all the chores that need doing and finally get to sit and sigh and oops, forgot to shower and make my lunch for the next grueling workday lol.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

I actually do draw most of the day. When I said I have nothing to do all day, I meant other things that would make me unable to draw.

I actually burn out more easily now, then when I went to regular school all day and only had a bit of time to draw.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

You say that but as a general rule when it comes to most people, the more time you have the less you get done.

[grygon.livejournal.com]

I've grown to learn not to fritter away my free time. Before you know it it's gone and you're complaining about what you didn't do when you could have done it. Usually my complaint to coworkers after a long break now is: "I didn't get it all done, but I did as much as I could considering I was rarely just vegging."

It doesn't have to be a general rule, it's a general excuse that people use and everyone else nods along in empathy.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately it takes time for people to learn structure, I struggle with it in particular because of my conditions which often mean that structure goes right out the window.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

Should be noted that it's wise to tell people on your list about the break -- and that the break is not excessively long.

Seriously, I commissioned someone years back that is still recharging their batteries/trying to break from the art block for two years now.

I just don't think she cares anymore.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

Two years?! Now that is bad. I get guilty in just a couple days and start working so much, I couldnt imagine taking that long.

[pariahsdream.livejournal.com]

What I think is being missed here in a few of the comments is the fact that those artists on hard, tight deadlines- they don't always put in their best work just so they can meet said deadlines. There's that saying "Fast, good, cheap. Pick two."

Frankly since you are probably not on a hard and fast deadline, taking your time and really giving everything you can to your clients is not a bad thing. Keeping a schedule is good. Giving yourself breaks throughout the day is better. Get up away from your work and walk around or check the mail or whatever.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

Ya, I think my problem was that I'd work hard for days, all day straight, not much breaks, so I'd end up needing days of a break

Taking breaks during the day is probably going to help a lot more. Thank you :3

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Seeing some of the answers, I have to ask if some of these people have tried having nothing but time.

Fact is, the more time you have the less you're likely to do. All freelancer's suffer from this to a certain degree, I struggle with it, give me a hard firm deadline and you'll practically guarantee it on time, tell me "whenever" and it's very likely that it will double the time because there is no pressure.

I noticed that in school, if I was given a weekend to do a project, I'd turn out one ten times the size of the one's submitted by people who'd have weeks and weeks to do them. My teachers used to nag me because I'd never start a project on the first week, I'd always start it with a time crunch but I'd pull out something better than the people who'd worked for weeks on them.

People who are unemployed or self employed are very prone to falling into a funk, you need real self discipline since you're the only thing driving you, and if you put it off once, once can become twice and before you know it, long stretches of time have disappeared. In fact having nothing but time is one of the worst things that can happen to people, they end up slumping without the structure they're used to.

[grygon.livejournal.com]

I have to ask if some of these people have tried having nothing but time.

Most of us don't have the luxury to try.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't term being virtually unemployable due to discrimination luxury.

[grygon.livejournal.com]

And that is a totally other animal from "try."

I was not commenting on your hardships, I was commenting on your use of the word "try" which suggested that none of us have chosen/sought out a way to have a lot of free time as if it's so easy to do.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Whereas I consider it not a case of whether you've been able to arrange it as whether you have experienced it in some form or other. Unless you've tried being in the position of having loads of "free time", it's going to look green and all nice over the other side of the fence, in reality, it sucks.

I doubt many people have experience of long periods of time with nothing in them, it can seem like a luxury but honestly, that green grass is weeds.

For starters, everyone immediately assumes that you having free time means you're now free to spend time on what they want. People treat you as if their demands on your time must immediately be met because "you have nothing better to do", I've actually had doctors who've pretty much said to me that "it doesn't matter how quick you're seen because it's not like you've got anything more important to do".

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

I agree completely with that. It's why I actually want to go get a job (though mom wants me to finish school first) since it will give me more to do. When I used to go to regular school, I'd have an easier time to sit down and work because I only had a specific time to do it. Not saying I don't work well now, I just started taking too many breaks for my liking.

I think keeping a schedule like someone suggested, is really going to help me with that.

[minimalismo.livejournal.com]

All artists work in different ways... I usually have a hard time concentrating on painting during a busy season like Christmas, so my productive time is usually spring-summer. I have friends who are professional illustrators (they get paid to do this sort of work for like game companies) and they do not take "breaks". They are constantly drawing and filling up sketchbooks. So it depends on how you work and which art industry you work for. One good thing to keep in mind is to ALWAYS treat "being an artist" as a job. Be professional. Keep your personal attachments and feelings away from business. Business is business and personal is free time.