Hey there!
This is something I'd like to bring up after reading the CG Routine forum post, I assume that the fundamentals of what advice was shared there will work here but it can't hurt to ask.
So I'm trying to learn how to use Blender and 3D modeling in general, and on top of that I'm learning to draw/concept art (using a combination of CG Cookie and Draw A Box), how to play guitar and studying for GCSEs (late to the party unfortunately but I was home tutored so I had to pay for the lessons and eventually the exam). On average I study about 5-6 hours every day, trying to relegate at least one hour a day to each topic. I was just wondering if there was a smarter way to go about this? Just that sometimes it can feel quite daunting and that I'm learning incredibly slowly (though I doubt anyone in the history of anything has thought they're learning too quickly haha).
The reason I say smarter is because there are times where one subject vastly dominates all the others where I'll get little outside of that topic done. Like yesterday I almost did the entire Fundamentals of Digital Sculpting course in one sitting but I never got around to doing anything else. Though there are other times where I spend hours drawing lines and boxes (not too sure why I find that so investing) or being glued to Rocksmith or my chord charts for the day. The reason this concerns me is because I frequently hear the adage of little but often so I fear by delegating these huge chunks of time to one subject I'm harming myself in the long run by not consistently practicing everything.
Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way entirely and I'm spreading myself too thin, I don't know. What I do know is the passion is there, I'm just worried I might be misusing it. Thanks to everyone who read this and if you have any advice or a similar story it'd be much appreciated. Have a good one!
Hey, Aaron.
I've never really heard the adage "little but often" before now, though I expect that's a great way to build up a consistent habit, which is often important to long-term success. And I do know of "productivity" and "learning" specialists who recommend working smarter, rather than harder, by focusing a specific amount of regularly scheduled time each day on specific tasks related to what you're trying to learn.
But, me, I'm a lot like you: a self-taught creative with a huge number of divergent interests. And, I actually find that binging – like how you'll spend a whole day on one skill set rather than part of a day on each skill set – works for me. I often go in cycles, where I'll focus on one topic for a week or two at a time, and then go off on something else for the rest of the month. I need the focus of a deep dive and undivided attention followed by a break to really absorb what I'm learning. Sure, when I come back to a subject after that break, I sometimes have to do a mini-refresher (depending on how long my "break" was; I can be terribly inconsistent at times), but those refreshers are shorter and shorter each time and I can still see steady improvement in my skills.
However, I'm not trying to become a professional at any of the creative things I'm trying to learn – 3D modelling, concept art, music, whatever. I just want to be good enough to be able to express myself fluently in these art forms and impress the hell out of my friends and family (who almost always say "wow, that looks so professional", even when I think it doesn't).
So, I think it really depends on what skill level you're trying to achieve and the reasons you have for wanting to achieve that skill (and skill level) in the first place. I find I progress far faster if I have a specific goal or project I'm working on (e.g. "learn how to create a realistic paint job on metal in Cycles", rather than "learn how to render in Cycles" full-stop); it helps me focus on the skills I need to learn for success in that moment, on that project, rather than scattering my focus over a lot of extras that aren't immediately useful. And I try to do projects that force me to learn new skills or new aspects of skills I already have.
Regardless, I've found if I want to acquire a skill quickly, there are several factors that make it easier for me:
Remember that while it takes 10,000 hours to truly master something, achieving a decent level of proficiency takes considerably less time. An average college course is about 45 hours long (3-credit, single semester), which is enough time to get a student familiar with the basics and able to start practising and improving.
Skill-learning tends to have three distinct phases – the initial (and frustrating) learning phase, which always seems to take far longer than it actually does; the intermediate practice phase, where you've got the basics and are developing noticeable proficiency; and the internalized/autonomous phase, where you perform without having to think about absolutely everything you're doing.
I don't believe you have to go to college to learn what CGCookie teaches – or any of the other things you want to learn. But, if you want to learn more quickly, try restructuring your time to focus on "projects" or "classes". Just as a college student doesn't have to take all the same classes each and every day, I don't believe you need to focus on each thing you're trying to learn each and every day. But, if you create a structure to follow – even one as simple as breaking a project down into sub-tasks and related skills you need to learn to finish it – you may find it easier to feel like you're making progress.
Dunno if that helps or not, but that's my thoughts on the matter.
Cheers,
HP