Are you intuitive or analytical?

[akitsukino]

All artists think differently and one thing I'd heard is there are two ways artists mostly work; intuitively or analytically. For instance, when thinking about color an analytical artist would go through all the finer parts of color theory, compare and contrast different types of color schemes, and might even look up a color wheel online just to be sure. An intuitive artist, while maybe having a small grasp of what color theory is, might just pick colors they feel look cool and move on, still getting a nice design in the end . An intuitive character designer would be able to draw tons of different designs being able to work really fast and do a lot of creative things, but they might have trouble drawing outside of their own style and adhering to more rigid things like proportion. An analytical character designer would be good at copying others style, being able to meticulously dissect them and recreate them, but they would usually have trouble creating their own style and might not have the best time working things out on a whim.

I definetly feel like I'm more intuitive. I sometimes wish I was more analytical, because there are so many times I'll see problems in my art and can't find out out why it looks wrong, or I'll see artists I really like and can't articulate why their stuff looks so good. But I think wanting to be more analytical is what's causing me to ignore my strengths in being intuitive. Its definetly something I've been working on. Sure its good, or even important, to have a little bit of both, but I think I need to play to my strengths a little more. So what do you think you're more of; analytical or intuitive? Which one do you wish you had a little more of? Let me know below!

[shazzbaa]

I'm kinda in the "why not both?" camp.

Like, if someone doesn't have knowledge or practice, they're going to seem more intuitive, just because they don't have all that theory knowledge yet. Someone who has a lot of knowledge and practice and has developed a system is gonna seem more analytical, just because they have the knowledge to back up how their stuff works. Learning theory doesn't have to quash your intuition; it can strengthen it.

For example, a lot of times I'll sketch out a basic composition of a panel, and then check rule of thirds to see if it hits points of interest or not, and think about whether the composition I've drawn is good for the panel. Does that make me intuitive -- going with my gut for the initial sketch? Or does that make me analytical -- using my knowledge of composition guidelines and fundamentals to refine that sketch into a finished piece? When I check, I often find I've just hit the rule-of-thirds points naturally -- does that mean I work intuitively, or that I have a loooot of practice reworking compositions so that it's become second nature?

I think you could definitely make an argument one way or another, but ultimately I feel like it's only so useful to separate the two. It's like asking a golfer "Are you a putter or a driver?" Like, you might be better at one or the other, but you're probably going to practice and use a mix a both.

[MinNCompany]

Analytical. Im an engineer at heart, haha

[Shanny8]

Both, at various times. Sometimes I tend to be intuitive; other times I can be analytical- it depends on what I'm doing versus the mood I'm in.

[AnnaLandin]

I'm kinda in the "why not both?" camp.

Same. I'm analytical about some things, but intuitive about others.

I know enough colour theory and rules of composition and such that I can analyse the heck out of an image if I want to - and I sometimes do - but a lot of my colouring process is just throwing things on the page to see what will stick.

I can get super-analytical about things like panel arrangements and story-pacing and framing of panels, etc, but a lot of the time I just go with my instinct and roll with whatever I come up with.

For me, there is no clear line in the sand, and I don't feel like I fall fully - or even mostly - into one camp or the other.

[JKNNKL]

pretty sure that to be intuitive u need to have learned the analytical side of things first. like you cant intuit without having some background knowledge cuz you won't really know where to start. Like you know how really experienced chefs don't use recipes and can just grab a handful of spices and throw it in and it'll still taste good? it seems intuitive to an observer but they had a lot of background theoretical knowledge and experience in order to intuit how much spices to use etc.

[LordVincent]

Intuitive as all hell. I just draw whatever I like, move on, make a million mistakes, learn from half of them, and then move on to hopefully make better stuff and new mistakes that teach me new things.

I've got adhd so it's quantity all the way with me.

[PopChromatic]

I'm so analytical about art that I argued since I was a kid that I wasn't an artist at all. I didn't feel there was even any creativity involved in my art, just reproduction. (Note: I'm not the one who does the art for the comic; that's Jesse.)

But then I discovered writing, and in that field I'm definitely more intuitive.

Just from a cognitive function standpoint, intuitive and analytical are not in opposition to each other, but are two different aspects of human personality. For example, on the Myers-Briggs scale I'm an ENTP. N = intuitive, and Introverted Thinking (the TP) is, in essence, the ability to be analytical.

[LCT_m_a_d]

I'm mostly analytical in learning process and intuitive in the execution process. I'm always big on finding new information whether its thinking about what my audience would like to see, brainstorming on feedback, and thinking fundamentally about artistic techniques. When it comes to the decision making process, I trust my gut since I'd like to think I spend so much time training it. So then I can go ham and let whatever happens happens

[ConradComics]

I mostly do trial, error and iteration. So, intuitive I guess?

I have training, so analytical is in there somewhere, but a lot of times I say heck with the rules and try something anyway.

It can't hurt.

[lunaartemisasama]

Intuitive and I am a bad artist , I just try again and again. When I try to be analytical my drawings look REALLY stiff lol.

[ryoko]

I'm in the intuitive camp when it comes to drawing, arranging pages, colours, etc. I tend to draw quickly, but I'm aware of any 'mistakes' I've made and then I have to force myself to be analytical. I go back and make myself 'fix' things before carrying on, which can be like mental torture some days ^_^'

[aFistFull]

I'd probably say it depends on the situation. Mainly what I'm drawing and what style I really want. It's very interesting though what you've brought up.