Recommended Habits for Artists

Sometimes we fall into habits that turn out to hinder our progress over time, but there are also a ton of healthy habits you can adopt that can improve your quality of life as an artist. In this video, Bobby shares the habits that he believes are most helpful towards reaching your goals and accelerating your career.

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[eitroo]

1. be a good role model
2. rethink how you do things
3. communication, the art of conversation, is important
4. do more than you're paid for
5. do the most important thing you don't want to do first
6. change your frame of mind when you think about your bad habits.
7. look for something new to learn every day!!!

[nealtse]

Years ago I ran into Bobby Chiu at Chicago Wizard World comic con. I showed him my student art portfolio. He could have nitpicked my wonky proportions, composition, shaky rendering, but instead he told me, you have your drawings and your digital paintings. Rely on your lines less. Make them disappear. Which was brilliant, because it was such simple advice, but then it forces you to really think about your painting and edges and filling the piece and its final outcome.

[paultakahashiart]

I'm a drawing instructor, working with both children and adults.

One sentence I hear time and time again during workshops is "I can't do it!, " regardless of the age or actual skill of the student. I try to get them into the habit of keeping a distance from their work. Neither a good or a bad drawing say anything about your own self-worth. Of course a good drawing is rewarding, but a bad drawing simply shows you where to focus your attention next. A bad drawing is a guiding post, not a punishment or testament of failure. Getting into the habit of enjoying the process with loving patience (that is as much failure as it is success) instead of fretting over the expected result is what I can offer as advice.

[loni]

A habbit or mindset I have to remember is that taking a break isn't equal of being lazy or a bad artist. Sometimes a break is needed to recharge, and it's OK to step aside and recharge and then continue learning and building your skills.

[MoikaloopTV]

I value the things you are saying a lot. I hope that this makes sense to a lot of your students because it can save you so many years of unnecessary stress. Understanding how habit and habit-building work is super important. For me the book "Atomic Habits" kinda changed my life in that regard, I highly recommend it.

[sayanikaart]

I recall you saying in another livestream, "Feed your artistic soul." I'll carry this advice in my heart forever. And also the concept of energy bar was ✨ awesome ✨

[iamtheotherperson]

one habit I live by is: do what you say and say what you do. So be accountable and honest, and communicate. Talk to your colleagues, clients, boss, whomever may need to know what is going on.

[catsrup]

getting out of ur comfort zone and talking to others is so difficult for me but I need to learn and do it

[PropheticAnomaly]

8:30 I love this so much and it's so true. One of my favorite quotes: "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” The older I get the more I realize how valuable and limited my time is. I always prioritize the most important task. I get exhausted from even the smallest things like going to the store, so it's important that I manage my time and energy wisely.

[Lilmomo-stzh]

Bobby, you are such an amazing person. I constantly get depressed about my progression through life and your vids always give me that little kick in the ass I need to feel completely rejuvenated. Thank you 💘

[owendoud]

Man I love your advice and conversation. There are a ton of artists that I think try to focus too much on skill and not on being an outstanding individual. I know that every artist I know personally should really listen to what you said here.

[dartstudent]

Ur work and the way u explain ideas inspires me in my art journey, thank u so much for enriching art community, 😊

[chayemor]

My favorite habit is waking up at a time when my household is asleep, it really helps to get through two solid hours without any kind of interruption. Add another 2 hours during the day before sleeping time, and bam, you've got 4h practice while still managing that 9-5.

[julian]

Doing the thing that I do not wanna do first. Right.
*Wakes up, goes to work*

Thanks Bobby for always giving good and relatable advices.

[SunreiStudios]

💐 I have a sketchbook where I make abstract art in the morning as a warm up to take the pressure off of drawing that day. If it looks bad everything after will look better, and if it looks ok I will feel on fire that day. There's something calming about making lines and shapes into random patterns without the intent to do it for anyone but myself. It feels a lot like being a kid and seeing a piano for the first time wanting to press the keys and see what I can do.😊

🌻 May everyone reading this have a wonderful day💌

[sarahariyapperuma]

This 13:40 mins of my life, for sure was a good investment .thank you so much!❤

[maazician]

Bobby i just to say that, at the moment you're the only person bringing positivity in my life, thankyou so much for you existence in this universe.

[puccarts]

Agree with everything except for the bit about randomly speaking to strangers. I think women and possibly even vulnerable people and some minorities may need to be a bit more wary of this especially in big cities. Unfortunately, in today's society, this isn't always the safest thing to do even if you're simply just trying to be friendly. Use your own discretion. Thanks for sharing, Bobby!

[FERRAYYY_]

Thank you Bob! It's another amazing video! I would like to add another habit which is self evaluating for the work outcome and doing that from time to time, for example monthly. Then, do the things you think the best to let you do better, like balancing time, rearranging the order of your things to do, or even changing things in the self that you've never thought about!

[dillardparker]

I revisit some of the techniques I have learned and apply them in new ways.