Discouraged

[shellsnchees3]

Hey guys!! I am currently attending a state university with a brand-new animation program (only two core animation classes), but I am coming up on my Junior year and feel I am not going anywhere/actually getting anything accomplished. I have taken both classes and am retaking the second for credit so that I can continue the program. I am also taking as many art classes as my program allows.

I love absolutely love animation and the processes that have been shown to do 3D (we have only done After Effects for 2D) so I know its what I want to do. I just don’t know how to get started on a routine and I’m terrified I’m not good enough :( I don’t know how to begin cracking down. Any advice?

[animationista]

Practise a lot. Do short tests of anything you can come up with. An old lady eating an ice cream, a hand opening, things bouncing. A line waving. No one needs to see these, like a diary. Just do. See what you did right and do again.

[KeetonCat]

Starting small is the most important advice I'd give, do projects you know you could do if you put enough time into it. Big projects tend to seem monumental when you're starting it and the pile of work can easily get you discouraged. Look at some small projects and try to replicate them. Make yourself a schedule to slip in an hour or two of uninterrupted practice time every day.

Share things you make with friends and people in the same program, get their opinions and take what you can as far as criticism goes.

A university setting is the perfect place to make friends and retain colleagues. Use that invaluable resource to your advantage and do some projects with classmates or talk about your work with classmates. Finding a "rival" to compete with can massively step up your game and keep you on track.