Last Semester At University - How To Get Motivated?
Winter break for me (in the US) ends Monday. I'm taking 2, 1-credit independent studies/studio art classes, and then I'll be done for good. Problem is, right now, the last thing on my mind is wanting to get back to school. I've been on break for a month, and it just felt so nice to sit back and do absolutely nothing.
This semester is pretty important though, because I'm making a body of work to apply for graduate school eventually...So I can't half-ass things.
If you're a student (or recent grad even), how do you get motivated at the beginning of a new semester? It normally takes me a few weeks to warm up to things, but I want to be on top of things right away...
I have often felt the same as you esepcially at the begining of the semester. Do you get projects with a set brief that you have to stick to at the begining of semesters for you to work in?
For my course we often have to do research on topics to begin with and i try and go to galleries or anything that is relevant to the topic to try and spark up some initial ideas for the project.
what do you do normally to try and motivate yourself?
I often set myself small tasks and when i complere them i allow myself a treat may it be something ncie to eat for dinner, some clothes, a night out or even renting a film to watch. Simple things can be a good way to motivate yourself.
Hope you get motivation soon, i understand the frustration and have the similar problem myself at the moment
as an incentive - visualise the end result - you want a fantastic degree show that people will come and look at and go WOW
but don't work like you are producing for that - it can be a little bit overwhelming - make yourself small tasks (as Jane said above), that will gradually build to a good body of work.
As for getting started - sketchbooks! the tutors harp on about them but filling one in daily does a lot! ideas spring from silly wee sketches and it's an easy way to keep your hand in
Sarah, I do printmaking too (etching), and I also do metals.
Rhubarb, right now I basically have to write a proposal of what I want to do for the rest of the semester, so I don't have set projects really. Normally to motivate myself, I usually read a lot....I'm really influenced by words in general/definitions, psychology especially and such, but the big challenge is putting that into visual terms. That being said, I do a lot of thinking and pondering - lol.
However, today I went into the metals studio to work on a piece for my mom, and it got me excited about working again...I agree about treating things like "small tasks" too...I get so overwhelmed easily. I am going to try giving myself rewards too, because I tend to forget to do that, even if I am productive...I'm always so focused on getting things done.
Feel free to PM me, both of you. I'd like to chat art some more.
Sounds similar to me this semester, i have to set my own brief, do you have any forms to fill in for your assessment that may help you direct your work that are not just writing a proposal? also for my course we have to make our own timetable of sorts,what we will be doing each day to make it more structured.
What i find helps at the begining is brain storming which could evolve ideas, progress thoughts of what you will make, i actually did this kinda thing on the train, doodling can bring out so many thoughts.
psychology may evolve into the structure of the brain, cells etc... as an example but could all come together at a point in future weeks for a final outcome.
Speak to your tutors, i had a tutorial with mine today and i feel so much clearer than i have done about my art for quite some time/ postive feedback, ideas, things to research could boost you to get ideas.If that makes sense
I met with both of my Professors today, and they both loved my ideas for the semester!
Here I was all worried about it, but we were all on the same wavelength.
*breathes sigh of relief*
My school is fairly laid back about deadlines and such for situations like this...It's more up to the students to be in touch with the Profs, especially if you're doing something like an independent study.
I am excited about this semester now...Everyone is on my side.
Sorry for the late response. Basically, I'm continuing with themes I worked with last semester: In simple terms, that'd be communication and the notion of having so much to say that you're literally silenced...So, I'm collaging and sewing on prints from last semester and fabricating human anatomy out of metal that deals with speech, perception of speech, etc.
I have my work cut out for me, lol. (What's new, right?)
I could post online...Though I'm a little leary due to copyright and such. lol Maybe we could exchange emails or something and show eachother work at some point?
I'm taking 2, 1-credit independent studies/studio art classes, and then I'll be done for good. Problem is, right now, the last thing on my mind is wanting to get back to school. I've been on break for a month, and it just felt so nice to sit back and do absolutely nothing. 
