Jerry Uelsmann is the photography professor at the University of Florida who once divided his students into two groups.
Group 1 was graded on the number of photos they took
Group 2 was graded on the best photo they took.
The interesting thing is that he found the people aiming for pure quantity also took the better photos.
I’m not going to grade you, but I’m going to help you overcome perfectionism, procrastination, and quickly move towards refining your personal style.
Quantity helps you find your voice. When I was trying to develop my style the advice I would get was that it would take time.
Actually it takes volume.
Trying a lot lets you see what resonates with your self first of all and sharing what resonates with yourself with a public audience lets you know what resonates with them. Making commercial art is about finding the sweet spot between both.
I’ve been doing this prompt in my 10 minute sessions and I’ve been really enjoying them
TEN MINUTE ARTIST PROMPT
Day 1:
Divide a spread into 8 sections, in a corner of each section write one of these words.
Elephant
Star
Bicycle
Bread
Crab
Dancer
Tree
Pencil
Draw a corresponding image for each word in its section.
Once you’ve drawn all 8 images. Pick the best 2 images and blackout the rest, you will end up with 2 of your best images.
E.g:
Continuation… (Day 2 onwards)
Divide a spread into 8 sections, in a corner of the FIRST section write one of the word from one of your surviving images from yesterday, then fill the other boxes with related word.
Draw a corresponding image for each word in its section. Pick the best 2 images and blackout the rest, you will end up with 2 of your best images.
Share your best images in notes, and if you want to tag me and link to these instructions.
PS: if you enjoy this, then you might also enjoy the thumbnail workshop I did with
