@rybson Hi, replying here instead of @moss since I have a longer character count on replies.

I'm going to infodump and mostly via screenshots of slides to start -- I'm sorry that it's less personal, but I think they have a lot of helpful info and I put a lot of time into trying to put my best knowledge into them. I'm ofc happy to answer any questions. It's a special interest.

I'm starting with practical tips & tips more related to digital practice since you mentioned your tablet, but lmk if you're interested in physical mediums too -- I have a LOT of recs for how to manage those in blankets well!

Here's the links from the slides:

https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake

https://trembelingart.com/about-me/

@rybson As others have said, time and practice really do help. I actually hate giving that answer, because I'm very ADHD and I actually struggle to do anything consistently. Ever.

This project is the longest I've stuck with any single project, and even still, I spend months where I don't work on it, and then a week where I draw every day, because that's what works for me and my brain. Maybe your brain is better at daily practice, maybe it isn't.

However, I don't think consistency is what matters the most in new creative skill building, it's resiliency. Which is something we disabled people excel at.

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I'm including the Taste/Skill Gap quote (if you're not familiar, I can't recommend it enough, I highly suspect that's a bit part of why you're struggling right now). I go through phases with it -- every time I find myself butting up against the taste/skill gap again, that's when I know I'm going through a period of growth and I just have to keep trusting myself to keep *slowly* exploring creatively and to grow the skills and find what's missing for me.

Ira Glass quote as audio/video (if watching video, it has a lot of typographic motion): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91FQKciKfHI

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If you look at where I started the project:

https://www.illmarks.com/page/9/

vs where I am 2.25 years later, it's *wild*.

https://www.illmarks.com/

that's a lot of time, but I also think I started to see improvements after a couple months .

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I'm mostly self-taught, but there are a few tools I use (cont)

@rybson Very occasionally, I will do a life drawing practice.

While there are many videos online, I HIGHLY recommend the Line of Action website for people with energy limiting conditions, because you can control your own session length and the flow of images.

https://line-of-action.com/

If you're not familiar with the set up for Life Drawing classes, usually there's a few warm up exercises which are shorter in length, maybe 2 minutes, then 1 minute, sometimes even 30 seconds *SCREM*.

These are meant to be warm ups, and then will make the next few 5 minute drawings feel luxurious in comparison!! After, there's usually longer drawings, 10-15-20 mins, or even longer, where you can really render the model.

CW life drawing is often nude, or semi-nude.

This structure works well for many people with longer energy levels, so what's cool with line of action is you can build your own class set up and see what works for you -- maybe you don't want short warm ups, or maybe you only want to do short poses that day!

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I also draw from reference a LOT. I have aphantasia, so it's actually really important for me as an artist to learn from noticing things irl.

This is good, because even when i can't draw, I can sometimes tune into my note-taking mind for future drawings -- noticing shapes of trees, human joints, etc.

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Ok, i think that's all for now, i have to eat. I hope some of this is helpful!! you got this, please reach out anytime w/ Qs, if you want feedback etc

@rybson PS The Disabled Artist Affirmations zine is lovely

Physical: https://www.tnet.store/product-page/disabled-artist-affirmations-physical-zine

Digital: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1679300210/digital-disabled-artist-affirmations

Library: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/m6x6paky