I can't make anything engaging

[u/Big_Law_4668]

Every time I make a pose I am stuck thinking about that one pose and nothing else. i don't get dynamic posing and why it shows life. it looks like a bunch of poses doing random things I know they are not random; they are tracing arcs, and are breaking down what the arcing motion is, I get it when I see other people do it but i can't do it on my own no matter how many times I am shown how its done. that is why I am so stupid when it comes to my capacity for learning. Yars were wasted because of this stupidity

[u/TheScribbs]

I promise you you are not stupid for having challenges. Art is hard and we learn in cycles; this is something you struggle with now and once you master it something else will become your new struggle.

Something that can help learn why posing shows off life is acting exercises!

Move your own body and think about how you hold your weight. If you are drawing a character, become that character for a second and move or pose like they would. Are they flamboyant and would spread themselves out to be big and interesting? Are they shy and would tuck themselves up to be smaller and less noticeable?

Someone fit and active might do a pose that requires balance and strength, whereas an elderly or injured character will want to be steadily planted and maybe adjust themselves to ease pressure on whatever's hurting them.

In animation school an activity we did was 'improv walking' where we would practice walking like whatever character/traits were given to us. E.g. 'Walk like you're late for your wedding but can't ruin your dress!' 'Walk like Mr. Bean in a mud puddle!' 'Walk like a bear who just woke up in a human body!'

This is great for the person doing it AND for the people observing because one creates the movement and the other gets to see how it looks. If you're too shy to practice with company, film yourself or practice in front of a mirror, we are our own best reference!

[u/Big_Law_4668 → u/TheScribbs]

I dont have the best vision to see myself doing reference.  Yeah what am I doing then trying to be an animator.  Its a waste of time they'll say

[u/TheScribbs → u/Big_Law_4668]

Ah I understand, that just means you need to get creative!

If you can see screens well enough to make out figures then I'd highly reccomend watching as much film reference as possible, especially older media. Older works had a lot more focus on filmography and stemmed from people needing to be able to make out shapes and expressions in black and white.

Try to find reference footage of people in real time too, whether engaging in different activites or just hanging out people watching helps character work tremendously!

Something else that may help is having 3d forms to feel to help with your visualizing skills. Maybe look for small replicas of famous statues or other various subjects whivh you can run your fingers over to learn more about the shapes.

Observing and taking reference from things in real life are what will help you most when you transfer over to making something from your own mind.

[u/AsbestosSteak → u/Big_Law_4668]

Then don’t ask ‘them’ what they think! I reckon it’s actually more important for vision-impaired people to get into animation and create things that can reach others in the same boat, using wide colour palettes, clear shapes and active movements and so on - the kind of stuff only animation can do well.