a question for all aspie artists out there- please help

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Me and art have a love hate thing going on. It is my life. It is the one thing that will always be constant in my life. No change because there is always something to do with it.
I am an illustration student but have found my aspergers getting in the way a bit. My concentration is really bad- I tend to spend more time pacing instead of drawing. I work really slow. As an illustration student I have to do some research as part of the brief. I do a lot of research. I spend more time researching than actually drawing. When I am researching concentration isn't a problem for me. I could sit there for hours until looking at a computer screen makes me tired. It's when I am actually drawing or painting that I get fidgety, over excited, anxious, pacey. I find it difficult to enjoy the process of the artwork because I am never sure of what I am doing and I hate that. I have been told I'm good but I never feel like my work is good. It's ok. I can't concentrate long enough to put in the hours of practice required.
But if I didn't have art I would still be depressed. It gives me a reason to live. I do enjoy it when I know what I am doing. There is no doubt that as an aspergirl I will need illustration to be my career. I'm not very good with working with people. It is quite stressful for me. I have a social phobia.
To make it as an illustrator, I know I will have to find a way in which I can find it easier to spend more time drawing. Illustrator need to put themselves out there, build a website and a blog promoting their work. I don't want to do that because of the difficulties I have. I am not very good in working with clients, I go mad if they don't get or accept my way of thinking on a project. I don't understand neurotypicals. I'm not confident in my work and I find it difficult to keep to deadlines because I work so slowly. These experience have been based on college and projects I have done for family.
So it's a catch 22. I need art in my life, its the only thing I can do. I'm in my own little art bubble. But will I make it as an artist? I have huge doubts about that at the moment because I find it difficult to function in a neurotypical society.
Has any other aspie artists been through this and found a way to survive? Any suggestions or advise?

Having your own blog is nice (and free), but since you don't have one, you can always upload your work to one of the sites listed below.

http://www.illustrationmundo.com/illust ... tr_date=wc

http://www.illustrationweb.com/

http://www.theispot.com/

http://www.illustrationserved.com/

You'll have to check each site to see which of them will allow you to list for free. Illustration Served is free.

Thank you
I'll check them out

I have lots of similar issues .. also .. wonder what to do about it .. ?

maybe the biggest issue, i feel, is that with connecting and communicating and cooperating with other people .. there i am clueless ..

thoughts i've had are .. agency or agent .. clients talking to them instead .. and i only deal with one person who i am comfortable and used to talking to .. or also .. maybe having some sort of company where different people do different things .. someone else then talking to clients and i focus on artwork ..

Ye. That is an idea, I know my tutor works as an illustrator when shes not teaching and she goes through an agency. Is it possible to just do art and not deal with clients? I know if you make it into the big companies that you wouldn't be dealing with the actual clients as much. If I could live from just doing my art on my own with maybe only an art director to deal with, I would be happy.
What type of artist are you Woodfish?

I consider myself an artist at heart, but I have similar issues too. It could be that art is a kind of communication and we just don't care that much about communicating with others. I've put off doing art full time because it's easier having a steady income in a corporate environment, but I'm seriously thinking about quitting (I do 3D modeling for industrial design). I think if I could focus only on what I want to do, it will be OK. Trying to please others, as with illustration, can be a drag. I've found that, although working for a company is social, if I'm only concerned about the work, the social aspects don't matter so much. Also, I found school to be much more stressful than actual work.

Not an established artist. Changing technique and style a lot. Here's an oldie as an example:



It's done in 3d software (Bryce) many years ago. I still like to fool around with 3d now and then. One thing that seems to suit me for some reason is to do cards. Like christmas or birthday cards and such. I have sold a very few of those.

A thing that struck me. I've seen people here at WP discuss having a company suited to AS/D folks' needs. That's probably similar to my thoughts of having someone or something representing or acting on behalf of me as an artist. Maybe a little bit like what's discussed in this thread:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt232690.html

Just looked up that post and really like the sound of it. It would be really good if something like that were to happen. As I replied in the post, with computers and e-mail anything is possible. It would be ideal. I like card making but could never actually get into it myself. I'm more of a traditional/digital hybrid artist. I tried animation but trying to think of 3D form in space all the time really confused me.

I can be like that at the start- just concentrating on the work and not on the social side but after a while everything gets to me, even the surrounding environment. It is nice to hear that I'm not on my own in feeling this. It is very true- I have a set idea in my mind and I don't want to think about whether it fits the bill or not. I firmly believe in support though and my college has a good support system in place so hopefully it will work out ok. I'm not ready to give up yet

I'm not concerned with doing art full time, since I have a full time day job that pays very well... for now at least.

And now that I think of it, my counselor diagnosed me with Aspergers after we had a talk of why I haven't created a business with selling my art. I was having a Q&A session with her about business(I found out that besides counseling, she's been starting and running businesses since she was 16), and she picked up on the Aspergers. I found that a lot of the problems with trying to figure out a business process for me and my art among other skills stems from my Aspergers. One of my biggest problems is how do I sell to other people when I don't understand other people. I've made about 150 dollars total out of all the art I've ever made. Business is not my thing.

My suggestion is to diversify your skill set in and out of art.

Never ever give up art, and never let anyone take it from you if you can help it, but don't be afraid that if you attempt to use it to provide your sole source of a means to live it doesn't work out. Sometimes my art is all that keeps me sane when I deal with the world.

Thank you. I think work and careers in general is tricky for Aspies. Thank you for your encouraging words.

Wow this thread has been a bit of a revelation for me! I had previously thought it was only me that was like this. Having recently been clinically diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD & Dyspraxia, I kinda figured my problems had somehow been related to my condition. But hearing that so many others have the same problems makes me feel less of a failure for not being able to focus on my art with the kind of vigour I've always wished I was capable of.

I have been an artist as long as I can remember, I was already obsessed with art at the age of 7/8, and most people remember me for my realistic sculpting at junior school. Yet despite being unusually good at art - especially sculpture, I've also struggled with it. All of the above is so familiar to me, the pacing when I have art work to do, the inability to concentrate (except when doing research, which back in the day was books not internet).

I had a successful career sculpting miniature figures for boardgames etc for the big toy companies, but it was very much hard work for me. I hated the business side of it, I hated the briefing sessions with clients, and most of all I hated knowing that I could in theory do a job in two days, but because of my difficulty in concentrating / focussing it instead took nearly two weeks to finish

In the end the stress was so great that I quit as a sculptor and tried instead to work in computers. Big mistake. I ended up hating that even more than trying to survive as a commercial artist. Four years ago I quit office work for health reasons and returned to working as an artist. I hardly make any money these days as I don't have the willpower to go back to commercial art, so I eke out a living as a private art teacher, which is a lot less stressful to me.

Nowadays I tend to avoid sculpture as it has become very difficult for me to find the willpower to do it so I concentrate on painting instead. But I still struggle to get things done, and am too social phobic to push myself to galleries etc.

I wish I could answer your call for help, but that is impossible for me. Best I can do is to let you know that you are not alone in this.



BTW, if you are interested, this is my website (which has not been updated for ages - more procrastination):

Graham Hanks Art

Wow this thread has been a bit of a revelation for me! I had previously thought it was only me that was like this. Having recently been clinically diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD & Dyspraxia, I kinda figured my problems had somehow been related to my condition. But hearing that so many others have the same problems makes me feel less of a failure for not being able to focus on my art with the kind of vigour I've always wished I was capable of.

I have been an artist as long as I can remember, I was already obsessed with art at the age of 7/8, and most people remember me for my realistic sculpting at junior school. Yet despite being unusually good at art - especially sculpture, I've also struggled with it. All of the above is so familiar to me, the pacing when I have art work to do, the inability to concentrate (except when doing research, which back in the day was books not internet).

I had a successful career sculpting miniature figures for boardgames etc for the big toy companies, but it was very much hard work for me. I hated the business side of it, I hated the briefing sessions with clients, and most of all I hated knowing that I could in theory do a job in two days, but because of my difficulty in concentrating / focussing it instead took nearly two weeks to finish

In the end the stress was so great that I quit as a sculptor and tried instead to work in computers. Big mistake. I ended up hating that even more than trying to survive as a commercial artist. Four years ago I quit office work for health reasons and returned to working as an artist. I hardly make any money these days as I don't have the willpower to go back to commercial art, so I eke out a living as a private art teacher, which is a lot less stressful to me.

Nowadays I tend to avoid sculpture as it has become very difficult for me to find the willpower to do it so I concentrate on painting instead. But I still struggle to get things done, and am too social phobic to push myself to galleries etc.

I wish I could answer your call for help, but that is impossible for me. Best I can do is to let you know that you are not alone in this.



BTW, if you are interested, this is my website (which has not been updated for ages - more procrastination):

Graham Hanks Art

Yeah I'll definately have a look. I'm compiling a little visual reference book of illustrators and artists so I might include you as well if your ok with that. It's mainly for my use. Teachers might see it too but it's my personal research.
I'd say sculpting mini figurines was tedious.
It is good to talk with people who truly understand.
It takes me ages to complete a piece of work and I float in and out of projects that are half finished or less.
It does get the better of me some days, I get so fed up. I have no real life experiences of dealing with clients but the little experience I have in college really stressed me out. I guess I just have to build myself up slowly.

I pace the most while painting as I find trying to concentrate on the process of building up layers, trying to think of colour as well as tone is confusing and require intense focus.
I also have a weird strong need to always study and practice the basics of painting and drawing so usually the only time I create my own pieces of work is when I'm forced to by a college brief. Even then I'm quite slow at getting through the research and roughs process let alone create a finished piece.

It really does help to talk to people who are going through the exact experience when it comes to art. I think it is a good idea to band together and support each other.

I don't know about others but I also have no confidence in my work and never think I'm any good. I'm a perfectionist and I always feel uneasy looking at the work of classmates because I lose confidence in m own work thinking I'll never be that good.

I had a look at your website and I'm impressed. I love your pastel paintings. I especially love your colour palatte - your use of soft tone and colours. I see you also have some book illustrations?

Ugh where did the second post come from!

But yeah that's fine to use them for personal reference if you like.

I know what you mean about lacking self confidence in your work. No matter how many times people tell me how good my work is I still doubt myself as an artist and see nothing but mistakes and poor brushwork And my studio is full of unfinished work too

I think the worst part about the procrastination is knowing that you are technically capable of doing the work in half the time yet still struggle to get anything done. I sometimes hated myself in the past for being so 'lazy' of course now I know it was my Aspergers, but its still frustrating.

And yes it is nice to talk to someone who understands