[danzarely]

Hey guys and/or gals. I am 15 and really interested in becoming a great artist. I've been drawing on and off for about a year or so, anime and real life mostly, and when I'm doing it I think I'm doing pretty good. Then I get online and see these godly acts of art, get discouraged, and then pout about how I will never be that good. It seem all my work is more static than dynamic. I have very little trouble with fingers, shape of head, and eye proportions...but very little includes some. I can do clothes and hair just fine, I have some trouble with getting the "female" proportions all together...does everyone have these problems starting out. I know people who have never practiced in their life and can draw perfect tigers or people, and then after class just throw them in the trash....kinda makes me mad, anyway, should I just quit? will I ever get better? how so? have I started too late? am I obsessing? am I crazy? AM I?!

lol, I really would like some of you huys inputs. You are very talented people, and I guess in a way I am the Keebler elf and you are growing the tree for my cookie shop! lol, wierd analogy. but seriously, please give me some feedback.

-dan

[subcultured]

if you don't try, you will never get anywhere and that doesn't just apply to doing art either.

just keep practicing.
buy those model books, or even check out a lot of those online tutorials. draw from life. even tracing can help you learn just don't let it be a crutch.
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SUBCULTURE STUDIO PRESENTS BILARAN WARS

[faeklone]

Let me just say this: I looked at the stuff I did in Highschool, and the stuff that I do now, and it's very different. It's the learning form the production of the work that has helped me to get better, and is what untimately helps anybody get better. Keep practicing, and for figures, espescially with reference, and you should get alot better as you go on.

Never believe the "I haven't drawn a day in my life" and they make wicked pictures. The key to them is that they either understand stuff like proportion alot faster than others, or that the stuff the count as drawings could be finished pieces. WE all doodle. My schoolwork in lecture classes are still filled with doodles to keep me awake. Doodling itself helps you to get a feeling for the marks you're making and to hopefully better control them.

All in all, give it time. Both for you to develop as an artist, and to improve your skill level. 15 is a nice place to be. If you're surfing this forum, remember the pictures that you liked and figure out what it is in them that you like, or how they made that piece successful. All in all, never stop learning.

[Mega Muffin]

I'm kind of in the same boat you are! I'm 16, and see all these great artists' work and get discouraged. But have courage! I am confident that I will get better. It is highly improbable that I won't, and looking back on some of my older work, I already see improvement. Go look back at something you did like 6 months ago, and compare it to something you did recently. I'm sure u will see alot of improvement. Everyone says to practice practice practice, so I guess it's good advice .

[Sukhoi]

The feeling will never stop. Get used to it. You are never "there".

Just my positive comment.....It's good though, 'cause you'll always have something new to learn, hehe.

-Sukhoi

[Max]

[Dekard]

[aphelionart]

danzarely, IMHO art isn't about trying to be good, or better than the next guy (although who doesn't enjoy a few bragging rights?)... art is for people who like to have fun by discovery. for me it seems that the more you learn, the more you learn to let go and have fun. the only thing requird is desire, which you have already because you came here. i didn't draw at all until i was in 7th grade or so and there were tons of kids way better than i was. ..wish i could show them now!

you hear "practice practice" and it sounds like it's going to take forever to see results. draw from life for a week and compare the first w/the last drawings, and i guarantee you'll see something to inspire yourself to reach greater heights

don't get discouraged.. even my art teachers, who've been artists their entire lives, are still trying to find a way to be better. and if you see someone who's better than you and u just cant leave it alone, think "i can do better" and then prove it!

-matt

[Xaya]

mhh, i am 18 years old
go to a secondary school of design, which is very frustrating because u not learn that much... some theoretical composition stuff thats all
and u have to draw some little child illustrations or boring stills

there is really nobody who is skilled with human anatomy and so on
and everything gets copied...

i myself focused on anatomy, human faces and eyes
sure i not a master of that yet.. but i practise...

work with references...
search for nice images in the net or in real and draw them
(just sketches, try to get the proportion and the shape and shading)

if u work without u never will know if it is right what u do
sure u have a imagination how a face,woman,cat looks like
but there differences and details u have to see

and after a while when u have drawn 100 of female faces
u know what it makes female... and u not need that references u used to have



so catch pencil and paper and draw and have fun

Xaya

[subcultured]

if you consider it work it wont be any fun at all. thats why i don't consider getting a job using my art. Even though some people says there is a possibility that i could get one. but I think it will just ruin a good hobby for me.
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SUBCULTURE STUDIO PRESENTS BILARAN WARS

[seth1]

Hello all. Im 15 years old and love trying to draw and do digital art, and when i see all these great artists works it inspires me to say that one day i might beable to do that. I have progressed a bit in these last few weeks ive gotten alot of help from designnrg witch is chris.. All i got to say to you man is just parctice every day and do little sketches from life like chairs, cups, and flowers any thing but do lots of them they help lots and try to get one speed painting a day thats been helping me so much and dont for get to do lot's of research on http://www.google.ca on prespetive lighting and every thing to do with art. I have been drawing from lots of reference latly and i have noticed more ideas just poping up in my head it's cool..

[kyphur]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I look at stuff that I was doing in High School and wonder what I was thinking. It's humorous.

I had the opportunity to meet Chuck Jones and I remember him telling someone that was with us, "Everyone has the ability to draw, it's just getting past the first 10,000 drawings before you start seeing it."

In other words it's mainly just a lot of patience and talent that you have to develop over a period of time. It's not something unattainable, it's not something that's completely out of your grasp. The only time it is those things is when you stop having the drive for it.


Don't worry about obsessing either, it's good to be a little obsessive about your work and how you go about it. Just don't let it get to you to the point of being anal about it and being over meticulous.

Do what makes you happy, that's the only suggestion I can give you.
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Kyphur

You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.
-Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)