"Words of Art": Save your Eyes! & Other Tips

This week's Words Of Art are a little different from our typical, but just as important.

I'm going with more of a 'survive as an artist' direction. So if this isn't your cup of tea, LOOK AWAY!!!


…you still here?
Cool. Glad you stayed. You're about to hear some of the little tips I've learned recently on how to continue to survive as an artist, especially a digital one. Let's get started!

#1: Sitting in front of a computer isn't good for your eyes. 

We've all heard that one before.

But what are some ways to continue to work as a digital artist, and to 'Save Your Eyes'? It's something I've heard multiple times, and there's the trick I've heard:

every 20 mins, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Yeah, I mean if it works for you, there it is. If it doesn't, then you're in my boat. I forget to look away every 20 minutes and if I set an alarm, I get out of my artistic groove.

Let's look at #2 so I can give you the answer for TWO BIRDS, one stone! Hollar!

#2: Sitting in one place for too long isn't good for your body.

Here's my trick! Ready!?

Go for a walk/jog.

Yup, that's my simple trick. Go outside, every day, once a day.

It's important. Not just lunch break of walking around the office. I mean, go outside and walk.

Find yourself a friend, a dog, or just get some quality alone time to listen to music or just think.

Walk for about 15-20minutes. (work your way up to longer if you can, if not, just this little amount of time will help!)

My schedule is at 5:30pm, I go for a walk with my dog. I focus on the sky and far away objects while walking, so I can stretch my eyes on different distances.

#3: Keeping in a creative mood is hard to do when you work everyday.

It's hard! Sometimes you just aren't creative anymore and you just can't seem to muster anything else out of that mind of yours.

It happens, now how do you fix it? (How now brown cow??)

Give yourself 'play time.' I'll explain:

There's this nifty thing one of my friends showed me called Kinetic Sand. It's basically like real sand but it has a polymer in it that makes it not stick to your hands (and everything else the way normal sand does haha), and it's super easy to clean up because it 'sticks' together. You'll have to try it out, it's at Target and Walmart. If you can play in real sand, that's fantastic.

GO PLAY WITH SAND. That's right. You heard me. Go. Play. Rekindle that childlike innocent fun and remind yourself how exhilarating it is to make something.
Don't get caught up in making something fantastic, just let your brain wander and have some fun with the feeling and the excitement of it.

If you can't get to sand, and on a super budget, or you want to play in another way: steam up the shower and make shapes in the shower mirror. Swirl your fingers and forget about making something perfect.

Just have some fun, and relax. You can also borrow your kids' play dough, anything you can do with your hands that you can't get perfectionistic about. Go draw on a white board and DONT get overly attached, make weird shapes and turn them into animals.

The point: go find something fun, somewhat artsy, maybe you did it as a kid, that shows YOU how to have fun again. Even if it's for 10 minutes, it'll make you laugh and help you let go.

#4: My hand cramps so bad.

Ah, that oldie but goodie.

There's a few different things I've adopted, pick whatever works for you.

One thing is I play an instrument for fun. How is that related?! I'll tell you!
I play the piano and boy does it help strengthen my fingers. Guitar, Flute, even the Trumpet, all have hand positions that help strengthen your fingers other than drawing.

Another thing is those lovely stress balls. Your hand cramping up, grab it and mush it for awhile. Mush it to stretch your fingers out, that's the goal here. (Though it works great to get rid of the stress too!)

Finally, (not really a problem, just a suggestion) #5: Get a hobby outside of drawing.

It will bring such life back into your work and in unexpected ways.

I love to take photos on my walk (that's like 3 birds with one stone, haha!) and for me, that's really fun. As I said previously, I like to play the piano too. Whatever it is, whether artistic or not, it'll bring a bit of life back to your digital workspace, I promise.

What do you love to do, other than digital art? I'd love to hear it in the comments section!

***ANNOUNCEMENT: WORDS OF ART WILL UPDATE EVERY FRIDAY!!!
That's right! I have a weekly schedule now! Wooohoooo! Feel free to RSS follow or email subscribe with the links on the top right of the page if you want reminders!
See you next Friday!

Cheers,
JECooper

Here are some of those photos I take on my walk :