INTJ Artists

[Jezebel]

Do any of you enjoy art as a hobby? How many have pursued it as a profession or would like to? What subject matter do you prefer? Any particular media? What do you think your strengths and weaknesses are as an artist?

[Opti]

I enjoy web design - I used to do a lot of it as a hobby and was going to look at a career in design , but there are so many talented people out there especially the youngsters whom are much better than me. Plus it used to take me ages to finish a design as I would be constantly trying to improve on it (Yes I am a perfectionist) Plus I couldn't get used to the use of colours - always choosing black/white/grey. I still do a bit of design now and again as I like doing it - recently my employer asked me to make a coaching card ... The instruction was to use an A3 sheet of paper and 'glue' some photos onto it .. They were suprised at what I produced, I had obviously not shown them my creative side before or should I say they failed to see it?

[radioactivez0r]

I have no talent for creating from scratch, but I enjoy taking existing content and molding it to my purposes, via video editing and machinima. Finding ways to fit within certain boundaries and retain your meaning is a great challenge.

[Jon]

I'm going to school specifically for studio art right now and I hope to be a professional comic artist/illustrator. I mainly work in various inks and digital coloring. I can see all of the flaws in my drawings (like most artists), so I generally end up hating them a couple days after they're done. It's a strength because it helps me improve, but it's a weakness because I'm never really happy with the results.

[Tarrick]

One of the things that I would suggest is to just start drawing something (anything really) and don't allow yourself to erase anything. Just work with what you have. It doesn't have to be serious, but you begin to understand how to roll with your mistakes a lot better. I try and draw at least once a day even though I primarily work in Photoshop and Illustrator. Though I've been slacking recently >.<

[drc]

I have had some success (at least in my personal opinion) at creating music. I enjoy playing guitar (wich I do almost daily) and other instruments when I get the chance. I have days where I am feeling extremely creative and able to come up with new riffs or ideas for the music. Then there are days where I just want to play familiar songs or things that I already know. I have no idea what triggers these different mental states for me. However the balance is most likely for the best. It gives me time to reflect on what I have learned and then I can try to improve upon those ideas.

Also just a thought...

Optimisery1973,

If you really want to do something go out and do it. I wouldn't worry so much about what other people do in the same field. There will always be people doing it and you may percieve that they are "better" than you. However determination and perfectionism can go along way. All that matters is that you do what you want to. Life is too short to second guess. Also I would go with the thought that they failed to see it. :)

[Opti]

Optimisery1973,

If you really want to do something go out and do it. *I wouldn't worry so much about what other people do in the same field. *There will always be people doing it and you may percieve that they are "better" than you. *However determination and perfectionism can go along way. *All that matters is that you do what you want to. *Life is too short to second guess. *Also I would go with the thought that they failed to see it. *:)


Thanks for the words of wisdom DRC :) I had given up on Design for a career and am currently chasing a career in Retail Management (I've got there but it's a long story) but I will be making sure I use my creativity more often in the role :)

[drc]

Management can be fun. I personally love planning things out to the extreme. Best of luck to you in your new career.

[HackerX]

Growing up, I used to be really good at drawing/sketching/painting. These days I still have the eye for good design/art, but I lack either the creativity, or at least the inspiration to pick it up again.

I'm going to school specifically for studio art right now and I hope to be a professional comic artist/illustrator. I mainly work in various inks and digital coloring. I can see all of the flaws in my drawings (like most artists), so I generally end up hating them a couple days after they're done. It's a strength because it helps me improve, but it's a weakness because I'm never really happy with the results.

This is also a problem of mine, anything I do start, I tend not to finish, because I'm never happy with the way things turn out as I go along. That goes for design as well.

[Tarrick]

You know, with the amount of INTJ artists on here, maybe would should have a little art contest or something. Just for kicks.

[Jon]

You know, with the amount of INTJ artists on here, maybe would should have a little art contest or something. Just for kicks.

That sounds like a lot of fun!

[Firelie]

I'm currently in school for graphic design...though I"m not entirely sure what I'm going to do with it. From what I've heard, though, most people don't do much with their majors after graduation (though that seems really silly to me...why bother getting a degree if you're not going to use it in a career?)

Anyway, I tend to be better at abstract designs than actual objects, and I looooooove playing around with color.

Strengths...hmm...I tend to understand what people are asking me to do easier than other people, and I think I have a lot of cool ideas.
Weaknesses... I'm not as emotive or exciting as some artists are...and I don't always have the skills to make my cool ideas come to life.

[Rei]

Always been an artist. Art has always been my best mark on my report card (well up until I was forced to stop taking art so I have room for career marking courses anyway).

One thing that really frustrates me when I do anything artistic is being the darn perfectionist. Nothing ever seems perfect. On the other hand, it's really what makes me good at anything I guess...

I've recently taken to photography, because it's slightly less time consuming than starting a drawing from scratch. Plus, photography doesn't require instruction from another person so much as the other arts do (you could learn most of the from a book, and the rest if your own creative instinct).

One problem I had in art is that I had a hard time getting along with my art teachers. I never seemed to agree with their preferences, and I stopped my lessons fairly early on. That REALLY sucks now that I think about it, because I end up learning how to do things REALLY SLOW because in addition to not having instructions, my stubbourness keeps me from putting my finger on the problem even if i KNOW it's there. And then the perfectionist kicks in and gets really frustrated... and ends up with numerous abandoned pieces of art work...

[The Rose]

I have wanted to be a famous singer and songwriter ever since I was 4.
I even went to live in Nashville for 2 years to try and make it in the music business,
but I was not successful.
People have always told me I have a pretty voice and I should make records,
and while I enjoyed the compliments,
it might have been better if people would have kept that silly idea to themselves.
While I can sing well and write nice songs,
I no longer believe I have everything it takes to make it big in the music business.
I cringe to think what Simon Cowell might say to me if I sang for him. :scared:

I do have a small audience I get to sing for,
and I have to satisfy myself with that.

What's funny is that even though I am an introvert is that I have no problem singing on stage in front of hundreds of people.
I'm not shy at all.

[StJimmy]

Growing up, I used to be really good at drawing/sketching/painting. These days I still have the eye for good design/art, but I lack either the creativity, or at least the inspiration to pick it up again.

ditto.

[Guido]

I completely forgot until now, but I used to love drawing when I was younger o.0 I was pretty decent for my age too if I remember... too bad I stopped :/ I used to draw ninja turtles when I was in grade 1-3. Then I moved onto baseball and hockey logos. Then I moved onto ships (the old kind with masts and sails.) I could never draw anything from scratch though, it always needed a reference.

[StJimmy]

i started trying to replicate images from ad&d rulebooks at around 8, which led into me taking art classes up until maybe 12 or so. when the old lady stopped giving the classes i pretty much lost interest and moved on to other things.

[lollercancer]

i use to love to draw, and i still do when i'm bored in a class.
lot's of gnarly political satire, too great to be destined for any newspaper ;-)

i write scripts, too. the problem with art, for me, is that i become so driven and consumed, that i almost kill myself while making it. It becomes scary, but the results are pretty pretty pretty good.

[BlackMita]

One of the few things I can sometimes be arrogant about is my drawing ability. I plan on training as a concept artist when I get to college in the not so distant future. Lack of ideas or creativity isn’t my problem, but not practicing enough is an issue – I procrastinate in fear of not meeting my impossible expectations. Luckily, when I manage to force myself to the task of executing what I set out to, it pawns 60% of the time. It’s hard though, mostly for the reasons you guys have brought up; especially the “hating it and seeing all the flaws after your done” thing.

I’m currently battling to learn solid perspective and constructing the human form from memory. It’s mostly about over-doing things right now to burn the knowledge into my mind. Thank god for Andrew Loomis books: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

[Jbmontag]

I can only draw a stick man. It is a cool stick man though, with hair, clothes and everything ;D

I prefer poetry as my artistic medium of choice.

[bikerscars]

i've never been proficient at art...

no innate talent at drawing or music...

just never interested me

[rasoirviolon]

As a toddler I had a keen interest in dogs and art. Both of them combined resulted in numerous sketches of animals. I'm not sure if I can truly consider myself as one who has natural artistic ability since my obsession with dogs has waned and I don't pursue sketching anymore. Perhaps if I had developed my drawing skills when I was younger, I would be something closer to a true artist.

As for my current medium of expression through "art," I engage in poetry and prose (which most are failed attempts). Even with my musical background, I am no virtuoso. Many times I've been told I have potential ...but currently not the means to fully dedicate myself to development of my artistic abilities.

[deicruxified]

One thing that really frustrates me when I do anything artistic is being the darn perfectionist. *Nothing ever seems perfect. *On the other hand, it's really what makes me good at anything I guess...

likewise... sometimes when i draw, no matter how other people think it as beautiful, i'm still not contented so i actually don't have a collection coz i throw them away afterwards or just give them to those who want it.

i came from a bloodline of musicians and painters (mother side)... we paint on walls and sing on tables!! (err singing... count me out)... i do charcoal painting/sketching and my favorite medium has always been the pencil. i drew einstein in charcoal and is still on display at my alma mater. i also experiment on craypass a bit but being the perfectionist that i am, i think i'm bad with colors except for black and white :( :edit: i have used adobe to draw once and a friend of mine used my work as part of his ad on newspaper but i still prefer working with my hands coz i find digi art a form of cheating hehehehe joke... i just attended a corel painter seminar a while ago and i do hope my budget permits me to get a copy of the software... i find it more complicated yest elegant than adobe.

i love art but i don't want to have it as a career. my sister and her painter friends have always been bugging me to join their art exhibits (they have actually sold their works) and my mom always seconded their remarks. however, i just want art as something i do in times when i need solitude

[rwyatt365]

A long time ago I sketched and painted (oil), mostly inanimate things. I never had the knack for capturing people or animals. My family is full of artists; my father paints and sketches, my younger sister is a fantastic (struggling) artist, my mother does custom needlepoint, all of us played instruments at one point or another.

I never considered art as a career, guess I didn't consider myself good enough to make any kind of living at it – that perfectionist streak in me. I've always kept my artistry to myself.

[biased]

I'm not an artist or "creative" in the classical sense. However, I have found that current and younger generation often "imitate" art styles. Japan seems to be quite popular for this. Whatever you do, don't do this. Become creativity, let it express who you are as opposed to some poor imitation.

[Jezebel]

Off topic replies have been moved to This Thread

[Evalind]

Management can be fun. I personally love planning things out to the extreme. Best of luck to you in your new career.
Extreme planning goes very well with studio photography.

[jeffersonian]

I've had some luck with graphic design and music.

I'm much more interested in painting, however. I used to do my own version of famous paintings but with the colors all messed up. Really interesting outcomes.

I'm a big fan of geometric shapes in art. I'm also a HUGE fan of Hopper.

[BRENTZ]

Interesting themes. Black/white/gray/perfectionists. Yeah, me too. I was accepted at Art Center School of Design. I didn't have money. Perfectionist and way too tight. I became an Aerospace Engineer instead.
Anybody else out there INTJ and 99%+ IQ?

[phoenix]

Interesting themes. *Black/white/gray/perfectionists. *Yeah, me too. *I was accepted at Art Center School of Design. *I didn't have money. *Perfectionist and way too tight. *I became an Aerospace Engineer instead. *
Anybody else out there INTJ and 99%+ IQ?

Aerospace engineer? Where?

I'm at NASA Goddard...working operations for the soon-to-be-launched GLAST mission.

[BRENTZ]

I'm at BOEING Satellite Systems, literally across the Blvd. from LAX.

[GOD]

Interesting themes. Black/white/gray/perfectionists. Yeah, me too. I was accepted at Art Center School of Design. I didn't have money. Perfectionist and way too tight. I became an Aerospace Engineer instead.
Anybody else out there INTJ and 99%+ IQ?

Yes, I'm the same. My mother went to art school and my father treats houses he builds as like an expression of artistic intent. (Both INTJ's)

Me, I thought that MONEY was the holy grail and went down that path, only in the last couple of years am I gravitating back towards my artistic abilities. The difference is that us INTJ's can whip those F'ing artists (F in the MBTI sense lol..) because we can apply our scientific approach to creativity.

[Iannus Quirinus]

Used to be very good at drawing, especcialy at my age, back when I was in elementary school. Then once, I stopped drawing, just shut it out of my mind, and I'm not so good at it now.

Been trying various types of art with some or no luck. Then found something I enjoy: Lately, I really enjoy writing poetry (and some short stories), in english as well as in my mother tongue. I write only for myself though, don't share it with anyone. And I think I'm pretty decent at it too. :)

But then again, I'm not a clear INTJ as far as I know.

[Tsuru]

I write music. I'm hoping to be a video game composer at some point. Here's some samples if any of y'all are interested:
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I like to draw silly things that come from the surrealist froth that constantly bubbles in the back of my mind, but my actual technical drawing skills aren't that great compared to most art people. :P I do sculpture/paintings every once in a blue moon too.

I always enjoy writing, and I think I'm pretty good, but it's almost impossible to get myself to do it for some reason.

[childofforest]

Growing up, I used to be really good at drawing/sketching/painting. These days I still have the eye for good design/art, but I lack either the creativity, or at least the inspiration to pick it up again.

ditto.


ditto again.

I used to love painting and writing poetry when I was young, (I won a poetry award too! :)) but started to lack the initiative to do more.

But one of my wildest dreams is to write a long series of novels like that of Shiono Nanami (a japanese writer who wrote the long epic series The Stories of the Romans). I dream of writing something like she did - a very academic yet fictional and exciting book! Plus, I want to pick up playing instruments again like piano or cello (which I abandoned like six years ago).

[BRENTZ]

Hmm? So is maturation a killer of our youthful daydreaming?removed unused code tags

[Firelie]

Hmm? *So is maturation a killer of our youthful daydreaming?

Yes.

[BRENTZ]

So we've become "Wisemen"

[Rohsiph]

Holding onto the dream of making a living off my art--drawing, writing (fiction and poetry), film making, and hoping to eventually get around to music (haven't really touched the composing side since high school) and game design.

At this point, I am unpublished/unsigned/altogether-ignored with my parents paying for another year and a half of college . . . but am hoping to finish a 40-minute film within the next month, with an idea for a novel planned out that I hope to get started on pretty soon.

Hopefully at least one of my creative talents proves to be marketable . . .

[dayguard]

Animator in training. Dabbles in poetry and music too.

[qwerty]

I write music. I'm hoping to be a video game composer at some point. Here's some samples if any of y'all are interested:
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I like to draw silly things that come from the surrealist froth that constantly bubbles in the back of my mind, but my actual technical drawing skills aren't that great compared to most art people. :P I do sculpture/paintings every once in a blue moon too.

I always enjoy writing, and I think I'm pretty good, but it's almost impossible to get myself to do it for some reason.

Very cool music.. It reminds me of darren hanlon (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.). I'd love to hear your music in a game.

[Figmentum]

Cray pas and charcoal drawng.

[Bossy Mom]

I like to make quilts; some people call it "fabric art." My specialty is reproduction '30's quilts - so that we never forget our heritage.

[Jay]

I'm in my third year of design right now. I'm not sure if I want to major in Illustration or Character Design yet though. I just really enjoy writing stories and creating the critters that go in them. Another one of the things I do in my spare time is write/maintain a collaborative story writing site. Write, write, write...

Once all this school stuff is done with, I'm not really sure what I'll end up doing. Maybe game design, web design, illustration... some sort of hybrid. I think ideally I'd like to start up my own sort of design firm. Though I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Alexfree]

I enjoy writing, drawing, animation and programming. I would also take up piano at some point. I also design websites, logos and almost everything in between. My strengths are perfectionism, dedication and my relentless search for constant improvement. Sadly, those are also my weaknesses. I am never, never satisfied with the results, despite the kudos I receive.

My dream would be cinema, as a director or editor, and designing videogames.

From the other replies I see that a lot of people share the same interests and at the same time.

I guess INTJ are naturally multitalented due to their focused nature.

[supreme_nogi]

I love art sooo much! I honstly don't think I could live without it!...I used to want to be an artist professionaly, but due to the lack of money and the fact the u probably have to know people in the art world to BE somebody! I also wanted a more focused career where i'd make great difference to people's lives and at the same time have patient contact! So i choose medicine..

anyways, I still do art in my spare time...I espically enjoy fine art and abstract art!...I think the reason why I enjoy art so much is because it gives me an alternative to express my emotions rather than talking about them to another person which just makes me feel uncomforable!

I like working with a pen/pencils/graphite sticks/watercolours.acrylics...everything really...i like experimenting!

[The Many]

I love art. I have written music (and lyrics) and poetry - strangely enough I can only write poetry when I am feeling something, which I, being my usual rational self usually am not. Music is easier since I can write it in a more mechanic/rational way... since my band project broke down I haven't had that much inspiration, though.

I am also currently writing a play together with an ENFP friend, which is a very interesting experience. Not only writing it, structuring it and getting it done, but also managing to get the ENFP to work is quite the task :p.

Ohh, and I have a couple of ideas for books lying around too, but those are to be dealt with later. They will be quite conceptual and philosophical though, I can say that much.

[justintj]

My job is as a 3D computer graphic (CG) artist/animator. But I'm a slow learner, while this field requires me to study and create a lot in a very short time.

In addition, according to To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. a computer animator should be an INTP, instead.


So, my questions are: "What's the main difference between INTJ and INTP? How does an INTJ succeed in a CG career?"


I just found the answer to my questions on: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Thanks.

[Santana28]

<~~~ visual "artist" here. i've actually done dozens of concert posters for national/internationally touring bands... well, i designed them at least. i let my husband sign his name and take all of the credit, and now he has somewhat of a name for himself. even had a gallery showing once...haha... i thought that was terribly ironic :)

growing up, i drew compulsively. i never really tried to perfect anything - i just drew out of frustration. the attention it brought me was always a thorn in my side that i wish i could have made go away.

i really dont see visual art as my particular form of expressing myself - i'm just very good at interpreting things in a visual manner i suppose (i dont know, i dont like most anything i do...everyone else seems to love it though)>

When i was young, all i ever wanted to do was play an instrument. i begged my parents over and over again for a guitar, or a piano, or drums. for whatever reason they never let me have one. i have an ear for things and have often thought about getting into audio engineering... and i wish i had the attention span to write...

i HATE "artists" btw. you either are creative, or you aren't. creativity applies to everything in our lives, not just your skill at illustrating ideas. ugh.

[Rohsiph]

i HATE "artists" btw. you either are creative, or you aren't. creativity applies to everything in our lives, not just your skill at illustrating ideas. ugh.

I'm not sure I understand what distinction you're trying to make--but it sounds interesting . . . maybe you could expand on your idea a little?

[Santana28]

I'm not sure I understand what distinction you're trying to make--but it sounds interesting . . . maybe you could expand on your idea a little?

i suppose i should, since i let that slip out. i could go on and on about it. i'll dig up some of my old writings, as soon as i figure out how to post a picture :) FYI i have no option relating to attatchments or files at all...

[danalaina]

Do any of you enjoy art as a hobby? How many have pursued it as a profession or would like to? What subject matter do you prefer? Any particular media? What do you think your strengths and weaknesses are as an artist?

yes, it's both professional pursuit and hobby for me.

subject matter isn't terribly important. evoking emotion interests me. lately i'm skewing abstract and focusing a lot on color and texture.

my preferred medium is paint, but i'm most skilled with pencil, pen/ink, and digital.

my strength is that i'm not afraid of producing something terrible when i try new things. it certainly happens often enough. >.<

my weakness is that i still tend toward the precious. when i was growing up, there was always a little high associated when i made something that other people praised. disapproval didn't matter much, but who doesn't like being told they're wonderful? now that i'm a little more serious in my intent, i'm having to unlearn the tendency to make pretty things. nothing significant ever comes from dithering.

[Medicus]

I am an artist in several mediums (pencil, metals, sculpture, dentistry) yet I often end up angry at how my judging mind takes over the process. The illusion of "perfect art" has caused years of frustration and not finishing or following through on projects. I even opened my own pewter-casting company full time. But the impulse to always improve my production process left me burnt out and furious most days. Drawing often requires that I access my right-brain. This normally causes a war to erupt within trying to trust the non-verbal part of my being that can draw, and quite well. I worked through Betty Edwards "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" book back in 1988. Progressed from drawing stick figures to near photo-realism in about two months. Then I quit out of fear and have only just recently begun to draw again after a 20 year hiatus. How does an INTJ make art? I have asked and risked upon that question for over twenty years now. I miss the joy of drawing and creating that I remember as a child. It is a grief that has yet to be healed within my soul. Art typically means emotion. And INTJ's hate emotions, right? Simply keeping the passion going for a project has been very hard for me. The "judge" within me usually takes over, begins dictating and forcing the process, and before long I throw my hands up in disgust and quit. Maybe I have chosen the wrong medium(s)?

[Alpha Prime]

Do any of you enjoy art as a hobby? How many have pursued it as a profession or would like to? What subject matter do you prefer? Any particular media? What do you think your strengths and weaknesses are as an artist?

Doing art, professionally, has many disadvantages. For one, I hate creating something that has to live up to someone else's standards.

[DeadSpace]

use to draw/sketch and paint, oils and acrylics, nerve damage stopped that they regenerated but my hands shake slightly, not good for precise work. Now it's 3D art, modeling, texturing, rendering. Actually more enjoyable than painting ever was, i can change whatever i want, or view the scene how ever i want, easily :)
Constant tweaking is the one downside...don't think i've ever been completely happy with a render yet...always one more little adjustment...