There’s plenty advice on the internet about how to ‘improve’ (make more and better work) as an artist. How to learn to draw using perspective. How to create more interesting compositions. How to get better at colour theory. How to find the right art books to read. How to beat creative block. How to earn a living wage from your work.
But, I’ve not seen what I now know to be true; that to improve in anything, one must get actively rest. One needs time with other humans. One needs exercise. One needs to eat well. One needs proper sleep.
Sure, I could sit at my desk for 12 hours a day and I’d probably complete more pages of my graphic novel than if I sat there for 10 hours. But page count isn’t everything because the work would suffer; a tired brain, body, back, and hands won’t draw or write as well. If I am starved of social interaction, I lose perspective on the world. A poor diet fundamentally prohibits my body’s ability to function which, in turn, can simply mean I physically can’t draw today because I’m sick.
And yes, there needs to be a balance. Not everyone needs people all the time; solitude is also necessary. And I’m not talking about spending hours not working when one could be working, what I’m talking about isn’t ‘slacking off’, it’s cultivating a habit of healthy balance; active rest.
This stuff ‘around’ what we call the ‘craft’ – isn’t optional, it’s necessary. I’ll make better progress for longer if I prioritise the physiological and psychological necessities of my body. Sustainability of the practise is also part of the practise. It’s all in service of the work.