Dealing With Discouragement

[capnmeow]

dealing with discouragement : so how do you, as a leather worker, deal with discouragement in either not being able to get a technique, the response and feed back from others or art websites, or just biting off more then you can chew.

My experience so far is mostly frustration and futile efforts leading to wasted hours and a hint of guilty to were im ready to just "close shop" and sell my tools which would catch me a good chunk of change.

Edited June 6, 2012 by capnmeow

[DoubleC]

Capnmeow, right now I'm cutting out a snake for an overlay I'm going to do. Unfortunately it looks more like triangles connected by a snake head. Cutting, no matter what the tool, I can't do well. I know that. But I'm not really getting frustrated because I know I can hide some of my errors with the ostrich overlay, and others with sewing. I also know I'm not going to do another snake overlay or inlay. This is my first guitar strap and I know it's not going to be perfect no matter how hard I try. But I'm going to learn a lot on this one and I'm going to do the very best job I can. I'm never going to be good at cutting, just better than I am now. I think frustration can be caused by a lot of things, doing hard things when you're tired, and expecting too much out of yourself. The important decision I think you have to make is whether you are still enjoying your work on leather. If I didn't still love it and look forward to it, I would quit. Other wise, frustration is just part of life and you take it along with the ooooohs you get when someone sees your work locally. IMHO Cheryl

[Mike516]

@ capnmeow - how long have you been at it?

[Bob Blea]

Capnmeow,

I have often been discouraged lately, not just with leather but with lots of things. Some of it is just a product of the times we are in now. If I am tired or have been at it for a long time I can get to feeling this way and it usually means it is time for a break. Usually sleep and some other activities so I can return to what I'm working on a little refreshed. Whatever you do, take you time deciding. Leather, like anything in your life, can seem very frustrating when you are focused on nothing but it. When you take a step back and get some perspective it doesn't seem quite so big a problem.

Hope this helps,

Bob

[capnmeow]

about a year almost

[Sylvia]

I hear this kind of thing a lot when it comes to playing guitar. Especially, when young ones want to play as well and as fast as their idol in 3 days and feel frustrated and discouraged when they can barely make their fingers fret the proper notes/chords. Usually what the answer they hear is.... "Slow the heck down and learn to practice accurately.... then speed will come."

I find that leatherwork teaches patience. It takes a huge amount of time and practice, along with a measure of artistic ability to get to the level of the pros. I can tell you that like anything worth while, it takes practice. Lots and lots of practice. Our leather idols didn't learn this over night and probably not in a year either. They had mentors to guide them, and took the Time to learn and practice their craft.

Like Cheryl says... we have a tendency to tackle things beyond our current abilities. Perhaps it's time for you to slow down and choose practice projects just beyond your current ability. That is to say... if you can turn out an awesome belt... choose something slightly more challenging. All too often (and I've done it too) people jump right into the deep end and try to do the most difficult project when in reality they are just learning. Then frustration sets in because they didn't meet their own expectations, due to a lack of ability. Then, if they don't quit, 5 years later they attempt the same project with some trepidation and find it turns out great. The difference in this case is the years of practice they've gained.

[Northmount]

You are just getting started!

Like others have already mentioned, take a step back and do something else you enjoy. Get out and do a few things with family and or friends. Change of scenery is almost as good as a rest. If you are a perfectionist, you need to back off and not be so hard on yourself.

Depression and discouragement are linked pretty close together. Steps you can take to reduce depression are to get enough exercise. Going for a half hour walk each day gets some of those brain chemicals we need working. Get up in good time each day. Go to bed before you are worn out and exhausted. There is an old saying, early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. There is a lot of truth in it.

For your leather work ... Is there someone near your location that can be a mentor? Books, video, forums, etc. are all good sources of help, but watching someone work and working with them can be a bigger help. Take a class or two if you are in an area where they are available. Another option is to get a friend interested in leather work so you can work together and share ideas and help each other.

If critiques are hard to take (which is true for many people), don't ask for critique. I have heard the comment from various counsellors and advisors that there is no such thing as constructive criticism. We do need to learn what we need to do to improve, but be careful with how you ask and who you ask for critiques. I come from a family of perfectionists. So know how it can affect a person. A simple example is how we take something a child has done and show them what they should have done. After a few times, the child won't show off their work, become depressed, and may even quit trying. If you have problems in this area, go get some counseling from church or other counsellors you trust.

It is good to talk about your problems, but don't focus on them. If you have trouble talking about your problems, you need to find a person you can trust to talk to. Someone that recognizes they mostly need to be a listening ear, and that they can't fix you. You make your own changes when you decide to.

I hope there is something in my rambling that you can use and are able to go onward and upward.

Now go for a walk.

CTG

[Luke Hatley]

Why not post photos of you latest work and lets see what the problem is...if there is one.

[capnmeow]

well really my biggest problem is time i use to have the time to be slow and work at was doing but i dont have that much time as i use to between having to work out for my job, taking care of siblings, and just being flat out tired i just find it so hard to get to leather working and then im starting to realize that doing armor leather would be expensive and thats why i started working with leather but never realized it would be so expensive, for a hobby at least.

[DoubleC]

Oh, well money is a big frustration, I can understand that, as can a lot of folk. Time, another. I get mad if I'm working on something and have to leave for an appt. or something so it must be very hard with your siblings around. I will get to the end of a project and find I only have 2 Chicago screws and need three, or brown thread and need black, little things but expensive when added up and frustrating when you want to finish. I think we'd still like to see what you've done, I think Luke had a good suggestion.