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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jost on October 5, 2006, at 21:21:15
I'm undertaking to finish the drawings I'm working on, in a reasonble time.
I'm going to specify a number of hours that I'll take to do this, a baseline and a limit. Then I'm going to stick to it. I'm going to see if I possibly can. Really, and not being a bumbler and losing myself in complexities and ongoingness.
1. Drawing A (Debbi)-- 15 hour target, 18 hour limit. I've done 1 hour today.
Need to do: head, arm, part of knee,foot
2. Drawing B (Kelly,assuming Kelly comes back)-- 15 hours target, 21 hours absolute limitNeed to do, head, left shoulder, hands. slightly adjust parts.
3. Drawing C (Chiche)-- 30 hours target (? 10 times), 39 hour limit (13 times).
Still at the beginning, but I'm going to make this a super-quick drawing. [Maybe this number of hours won't work out. Revisit. but not going to take forever.]
Yeah.
4. Drawing D (Sarah)-- that's harder. I don't know- probably need a less draconian point-- getting it sketched in, right composition-- have to think after I see her next week.
Okay, I'll check back on this from time to time.
Jost
Posted by Phillipa on October 6, 2006, at 21:57:37
In reply to Trying to Finish Things, posted by Jost on October 5, 2006, at 21:21:15
Jost good luck. Sounds like you've set realistic goals. Although I can't even draw stick people I admire people who can draw. What a talent to have. Love Phillipa
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 11, 2006, at 8:37:45
In reply to Re: Trying to Finish Things » Jost, posted by Phillipa on October 6, 2006, at 21:57:37
Hi Jost,
I'm sorry that this work has taken on such a chore-like character.Are there certain parts of drawing that you like better than others? like maybe the hair, or the fingernails? or doing the rough outlines, or working with a particular set of tools?
Maybe you can make it a goal to start with the most onerous task at the beginning of the session- get started on that, and it you're not in a groove after, say, 10 minutes, to switch to something else. Whenever you complete a subsection, reward yourself by either a) working on the parts that are your favorites, like the hands or b) taking a walk through crunchy leaves or drinking a cup of tea while staring out the window.
Right now, I'm in a part of my diss. work that is usually my favorite part. It's frustrating, but can be incredibly rewarding. Data analysis- after I find all the errors in data entry, and get my spreadsheets and my analysis scripts in shape, well, I can start playing around, and making graphs and charts and stuff. It's awfully satisfying. I love the moment of EUREKA! when you find out that your main hypothesis fell flat on it's face, but that the data are telling a much more interesting story instead. I love that paradigm shift.
Do you listen to music when you work? I find that this helps keep my mood more stable, and keeps my neurons happy, since so many of them are neglected when I'm crunching numbers in a spreadsheet.
Retail therapy- Maybe you should take a walk to a nice boutique and find one really special piece- like a unique hand-knit lambswool sweater. Something that you know you will treasure for a decade or more. Something that will be cozy and comfy and precious. If it costs 200 dollars, You can think of THAT as your reward for finishing up this set of drawings.
Don't be so hard on yourself- it's okay to have to start over sometimes. Just make sure that the critic in your head is the sensible Jost that gives good advice to Linden, not the BigD that tells you all kinds of pernicious nasty lies.
happy wedesday to you, Jost. Set realistic goals, and recognize when you're done for a bit. you can always come back and finish up a few spots here and there. Go for the big outlines, the little stuff will happen on its own.
-Li
Posted by Jost on October 11, 2006, at 17:15:42
In reply to Re: Trying to Finish Things » Phillipa, posted by Lindenblüte on October 11, 2006, at 8:37:45
Hi, Linden.
No, it's not like that, for me, though-- it's not a chore, or only very very rarely-- and that is terrible, when it happens-- However, it *is* a struggle. But I like struggle-- sometimes it's a losing struggle, as now, particularly as now-- that I don't like. But when it's a struggle toward vision, or some greater understanding or clarity, or with a certain soundless music, or something, then I like it. Maybe right now I don't love it-- which isn't good-- but I don't always have control over circumstances-- you can't always be in love-- that only happens in lucky eventualities-- which aren't mine, at this moment. Maybe I"ll find a way to fall in love again.
It's not that I do one part and move on to the next; I do it all, and more of it all, and then redo it, and redo it, and make it more (if I can). Many times, that doesn't work and things get lost and something else needs to be found.
The moments of insight, or revelation, are brief but even the small ones go a long way. but then they fall away too.
So I don't know. I wish I hadn't had a whole year of doing nothing that I could keep-- that's really disturbing, and hasn't happened before. But maybe it doesn't matter-- since no one knows or cares what I"m doing except myself. I do hate to think of a whole year of blank nothingness-- which it seems.
To me-- not to you.
But we're different that way.
Jost
This is the end of the thread.
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