“I don’t mean to say that I’m all these things, but I try. I got accused over the years of being a fine draftsman. Actually I don’t really draw that well. It’s just I don’t stop trying as quickly. I keep at it. I happen to have high standards and try to meet them. I have to struggle like hell to make a drawing look good.” — Milt Kahl
Life is hard. So is making art. But it’s important to at least try to do better. And that means, some things we just can’t allow ourselves to accept if we are to be good artists. Here are a few that come to mind:
- Doing things halfway with half effort or at half quality when you know you could do better.
- Leaving things in a state or condition that makes it hard for others to follow up on. It’s not cool and it’s unprofessional.
- Not giving your full attention to whatever you’re doing. When you’re doing a task, there should be nothing else on your mind but the task. (This is the toughest, so it’s more a “try” rather than a “must.”)
- Heading into a performance, such as animating in Maya, with little vision or preparation. That’s a definite no go. (Abstract or personal art can be exceptions.)
- Not putting ideas on paper and depending soley on your memory or feeling. This is a visual craft, layout your plans visually.
- Assuming other people always know better, or always assuming that you do. Instead, listen to the work; the right answers will come from there.
- Doing things out of order. Examples: animating when you should be planning, polishing when the acting and design choices are poor.
- Overrationalizing things or overreacting to your emotions. Use your intelligence but follow your heart. Guide your passion with reason.
- Rushing into things. Nothing good ever comes from rushing.
- Allowing technique to override imagination. Your skills are there to support your ideas not the other way around.
- Trying to be efficient instead of effective. Only by doing things the right way will you avoid wasting time.
- Disrespecting your tools. Keep them clean, orderly and well-maintained . Treat them as you would treat your body and you will be rewarded during its usage.
- Working when you have no energy or the ability to be mindful. It’s not possible to do good work in a poor state.
- Spending too much time with people who are too rational, critical or cynical, for they will drain you of all your energy and passion.
- Accepting laziness or inferior results. The artist who accepts lower standards soon loses his ability to see and do.
- Overdoing it. Sometimes it’s best to leave it alone and say it’s done and move onto the next step or next piece.
- Constantly doubting yourself (and others). Doubt impedes possibilities.
- Using your reference as your roadmap. If you do this, you’re only copying and not creating.
- Leaving critical issues for later. Examples: trying to solve story issues while animating or waiting to solve acting or weight issues during polish.
- Believing that your skill or your personality alone will cover for your other deficiencies. It won’t. The code is pretty simple: do good work and be good to others. Always.
- Not returning other people’s emails or phone messages. The people who sent them to you will remember.
- Being too obsessed with success or failure. Both are imposters.
- Spending every day and all day doing what you don’t want to do. Either learn to love it or, if it’s really a torture, leave it; doing a job you hate helps no one.