When art makes you square (A debate/discussion)

[indagold]

... I never talk about art. Maybe once i'll mention to a friend I finished a comic chapter but it never gets into the conversation. It'd be weird to be honest, like a plumber going non stop "woweee I sure do LOVVEEE plumbing. Don't you guys LOVEE your toilets because they WORK??? WOowowowow!"

[tayo_rafferty]

I've been getting really into chess recently. I use Chess.com to play against people around the world. I'm jogging too because I don't want to have heart problems when I'm older and I'm starting to get a basic understanding of marketing and advertising when it comes to consumer interaction and the consumption of media.

[keii4ii]

about being empathetic/willing to listen to someone else about what they're interested in, as you would want someone to do the same for you if need be.

I think that's the assumption here causing the misunderstandings. Do unto others, sure. But I DON'T want to talk to my non-creator family and friends about my struggles (or successes) as a creator. I DON'T want to talk about my dog to people who don't like dogs. If I really, really want to, it'll be for reasons other than "it's on my mind." e.g. If I wanted to go to an indie comic convention out of state, I'd be away for the weekend, and I would let my folks know about that. If and only if they ask more about it, I would tell them more.

Would you talk about cats a dog park? Sure, you love cats, but it's a dog park.

Well, you can just not talk while you're there. Or better, you can just not go to a dog park. Both of those things (not talking + not going to a place where it would be odd to talk about the things I like talking about) are strategies I'm comfortable using.

[lunaartemisasama]

It's cubism (sorry I had to write it lol).

I just talk about life in general lol, like... yeah I am still alive! Cheers!, the news and travelling,

[Rhombik]

How does one become "well rounded" in a sense that art isn't the only thing you ever talk about/do/think about?

I have a few hobbies and my job is not very art related so I tend to fall back onto these with my non-art friends. My roommate bears most of the brunt as he's there when I have my midnight rages over not being able to draw a hand or whatever.

What are some of your hobbies/other interests outside of art/comiking/writing?

I hike, I travel, I'm learning a language and I read a far bit. Luckily these are quite universal interests.

(Get it? Well-rounded? Square? Ah, nevermind...)

Puns are good. They help you stay in shape. ha ha ha...

[joannekwan]

Fuuuuuuuuuck. I never talk about my art irl. LOL
At most I'll talk with my husband about a couple of my characters, like, if he'd rather date Beau or Andreas (he's team Andreas all the way). Or I'll ask him about plot points and if they makes sense or whatever, but never anything really in depth.

In general I don't talk much about my work because I don't want to feel like it's gotta be about "me me me." So I try to take interest in other people's lives. Even if I don't share a passion for that hobby, like knitting for one friend, I'll comment on how nice his newest piece is or if he has another piece planned if it's brought up.

Anyway, with irl friends, we talk about each others' lives, relationships, work, TV, movies, sometimes video games, and gossip. Gossip is so good. hahaha

[joe_galindez]

I'm jogging too because I don't want to have heart problems when I'm older

Traditional cardio may be bad for you. This article doesn't mention the aching joints, but it's part of the problem too.

[tayo_rafferty]

Thanks @joe_galindez! In the article they're talking about chronic cardio which is a little different to the kind that I do. Of course doing anything in excess can be dangerous, I appreciate the heads-up.

[joe_galindez]

Nooo I wanted an argument

[TheThoughtfulBoxful]

In general I don't talk much about my work because I don't want to feel like it's gotta be about "me me me."

You just explained my life. Incredible.

[PaulDevers]

Uhhhh, I didn't know this was a thing other people also experienced? The only thing ever on my mind... ever is story work. Luckily, my brother is also a writer so we just talk about each other's stories constantly to move through conversations, and then traditional stuff like video games and movies and junk.
I try to do other hobbies, like baking and geology and stuff like that, but it's pretty much comics and stories 24/7 with me.

[tayo_rafferty]

Nooo I wanted an argument

Sorry. It was actually good advice. People do tend to take excersise too far then injure themselves.

[joe_galindez]

Wish someone had told me when I was a teenager. Then I wouldn't have the knees that I put up with these days.

[tayo_rafferty]

Wish someone had told me when I was a teenager. Then I wouldn't have the knees that I put up with these days.

Yeah, I had to learn through my brother. He used to jog like crazy but now he gets pain in his knees sometimes. Not enough calcium, not enough warm-up stretching and too much high-impact cardio.

[TheThoughtfulBoxful]

LOL My sister's a little fitness nut and if it weren't for my mom she'd have the entire family jog every day.

...I dunno, I felt like I should say something abt jogging.

---

New question: If art can make your "square" socially (opinion), can it make you "round" physically? How does an artist stay fit?

I'll admit I sit a lot without breaks when I'm drawing.

[joe_galindez]

For me it was skipping rope. It's supposed to be this complete exercise that's easy to do and inexpensive too. It murdered my knees and ankles. I didn't even get good at it because it turns out you need hight levels of both skill and coordination to practice properly.

Can't fault the calf development though.

[tayo_rafferty]

I'll admit I sit a lot without breaks when I'm drawing.

Try to get up every 30-60 mins and just stretch a bit. Stretch your legs and arms and maybe jog on the spot for a few seconds.

[joe_galindez]

I used to do step aerobics this way, till I realized walking was a more natural way to keep the circulation up.

[UbePie]

As for being square socially, I don't talk about art unless it is with another artist or someone important to me. I find it dull to talk art with someone who doesn't understand or care for the creative world. To me they are the square not me. Most people I don't talk art with talk about shallow things that bore me. Not even the news, they just talk about realtionships dating or some tv show that has nothing but sex in it.
Most creative minded people are willing to dig deeper into a plot line of a movie or the meaning of an image, and I find those talks stimulating. Luckily I am sarrounded by philosophers, writers, crafters and photographers. So I have plenty of people to talk to, lol.

As for being round, I am on such a strict diet and run around so much doing errands or standing and walking down the hall at work that even if i sit for one entire day I still lose weight...
We have a sort of hippy all organic natural diet, cuz my partner works at a health food store and with her discount we can aford the healthy food.
Exercise is great but hard to keep up with, I have seen the most results from changing my diet.

[lilydusk]

This, so much. I feel like I don't want to even try, knowing the other person won't even be able to keep up. Even when I try, I get bored midsentence and just change the subject altogether. I hope this doesn't make me an art snob lol.

Re the question, I'm fine with making some superficial chitchat for socialising purposes. Admittedly, I'm also a bit of a workplace gossip.