Well, sorry to hear you hurt your friends feelings, if they're a good friend, they'll understand.
I am sure your words resonate with nearly all of us on this forum, every day we're subjected to the most amazing artwork - it's hard not to feel inferior. But I turn it around and think, we all started somewhere, every single person could not draw at some point in their lives.
These amazing artists, or artists of any skill level, got there by practice. Some by hard hard hard work. We all have the potential in us, but to free it, takes hours of study, practice, knowledge etc. They say 10,0000 hours to master a skill, now that's like 10 hours a day for 5 years if you cain it. So you can see it takes a LONG time. I just keep in mind that one day, 5-10yrs, or less!, I am going to be a great artist, like the people I admire today - if I didn't think this then I wouldn't bother, but I do and do bother!
Don't judge yourself on the work of others, you may do crap drawing for weeks/months - I did for years. Realise now that you do enough of these crap drawing they eventually will turn into good drawings - I guarantee this. If you want it enough - the talent will come naturally after time spent drawing, studying, and hard craft. Talent isn't some elusive thing given to a select few of us - Go on sketchbooks on conceptart.org sketchbooks- they often start as immature, inexperienced, doodlings - look a year or two down the line, they have pure quality work, applied knowledge of form, lighting, colour - and it's perfectly documented page by page - many now have jobs in the industry, creating beautiful images - they're only human, like you and me - just highly motivated and energised.
So stop putting your work down, realise what it is and that it's going to get better, and encourage your friend the same. Putting yourself down is de-energising and you are setting yourself up for failure before you've got up the first step. I realise when I do a crap picture, but I work out what's "crap" about it and learn to carry that over to my next work and try avoiding the same mistake. My crap pictures today are far better than my crap ones 1 year ago, same with my good ones.
Set yourself a goal of where you want to end up, trust me it's possible - spend as much time as you can on it (I havn't watched TV, played a video game for four months, and have given them both up indefinitely) If drawing is what you love and drawing that makes you happy, and you love art then follow your dreams, we're only given one life so spend it doing what makes you happy!!
If you need any help with the basics - try the thread "Where to start?" in general art queries, Koshime, our resident mentor has some great advice - with it you will improve even faster.
I noticed you have done some posemaniacs (think it was you!) - I can give you some tips for getting a basic structure in fairly accurately if you like.
So as of today, love your craps ones because without them you won't have the awesome one's which you will have 1year+ down the line!
Even though your signature says otherwise, I still feel the need to call you popcorn. lol
"I think to myself HIT THE SKETCHBOOK PHOENICORN THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE" Gave me alaugh I really needed, thank you thank you
Event hough I laughed, it sounds like a good idea to me. Getting really good ideas off of you guys. 'Should be writing books, dangit! Also, I'm checking out that thread as I type this. Thanks again, popcorn!
No problem and being as your a First time offender with the popcorn thing I will let you off with a simple Go To Hell, instead of physically traveling down the internet and ripping each of your fingers off for each letter in popcorn you get to keep which fingers you want. Also put a link to your gallery coz I would love to see you stuff as I am willing to wager that it is better than you give your self credit for Once consumed by the fire, Now I control it!
Well, sorry to hear you hurt your friends feelings, if they're a good friend, they'll understand.
I am sure your words resonate with nearly all of us on this forum, every day we're subjected to the most amazing artwork - it's hard not to feel inferior. But I turn it around and think, we all started somewhere, every single person could not draw at some point in their lives.
These amazing artists, or artists of any skill level, got there by practice. Some by hard hard hard work. We all have the potential in us, but to free it, takes hours of study, practice, knowledge etc. They say 10,0000 hours to master a skill, now that's like 10 hours a day for 5 years if you cain it. So you can see it takes a LONG time. I just keep in mind that one day, 5-10yrs, or less!, I am going to be a great artist, like the people I admire today - if I didn't think this then I wouldn't bother, but I do and do bother!
Don't judge yourself on the work of others, you may do crap drawing for weeks/months - I did for years. Realise now that you do enough of these crap drawing they eventually will turn into good drawings - I guarantee this. If you want it enough - the talent will come naturally after time spent drawing, studying, and hard craft. Talent isn't some elusive thing given to a select few of us - Go on sketchbooks on conceptart.org sketchbooks- they often start as immature, inexperienced, doodlings - look a year or two down the line, they have pure quality work, applied knowledge of form, lighting, colour - and it's perfectly documented page by page - many now have jobs in the industry, creating beautiful images - they're only human, like you and me - just highly motivated and energised.
So stop putting your work down, realise what it is and that it's going to get better, and encourage your friend the same. Putting yourself down is de-energising and you are setting yourself up for failure before you've got up the first step. I realise when I do a crap picture, but I work out what's "crap" about it and learn to carry that over to my next work and try avoiding the same mistake. My crap pictures today are far better than my crap ones 1 year ago, same with my good ones.
Set yourself a goal of where you want to end up, trust me it's possible - spend as much time as you can on it (I havn't watched TV, played a video game for four months, and have given them both up indefinitely)
If you need any help with the basics - try the thread "Where to start?" in general art queries, Koshime, our resident mentor has some great advice - with it you will improve even faster.
I noticed you have done some posemaniacs (think it was you!) - I can give you some tips for getting a basic structure in fairly accurately if you like.
So as of today, love your craps ones because without them you won't have the awesome one's which you will have 1year+ down the line!
:-)
Feel silly repeating myself, but thank you :)
One thing reminded me. I'm up at college for art. Well... no yet. I'm going to turn in a portfolio for the art program this semester and I'm really nervous. I feel that there's a high chance I'm not good enough to get in and if that happens I feel like its gonna be a major damper on my view on my work.
I guess I gotta get my stuff and just show it off. I'll never know unless I try, huh?
Edit: man, i forget what I wanna say while i'm typing, lol. Sure! I'd love any tips you're willing to give with the posemaniacs sketches
It sounds like you're still very young - you have so much time to improve. Do not be discouraged if you don't get in, just carry on in your own time - you'll get there!
I mean, I havn't drawn since school really, but I realised that this what I want to do - too many unfulfilling "normal" jobs made me realise that (im now 27!) and I'm confident I'll pull it off with a lifetime of art ahead of me! =))
That red line I find VERY useful - study the figure quickly and get that line down fast - do pages of 10sec/15sec poses and really get that line down.
I'll try and do a little step-by-step on how I do it - I actually have the forms pretty well imprinted in my brain now (been using maniacs 1month) - but I still use the line on some poses. I used this line for all my drawing for 2-3weeks. Once the line is down try build the structure around it. Again ill try get a good pic of how I do it.
That's the spirit. when I went for my interview I had just 2 decent pictures where as the others had a mountain of stuff. My tutor made us all place our work on the tables and look at each others. he then asked us all to talk about what we saw. To this day I don't think my art skill got me the place it was my passion and the way I spoke about things like composition complimentary colours etc. Just show the passion and desire to improve and you will ace that that interview. remember they want to see potential not a finished product at least that is what my tutor told me. You can doo eet! Once consumed by the fire, Now I control it!
Thanks for the tip Alex! I might try out the line thing today :)! Hopefully my painting won't distract me, lol.
Same to you Popcorn! It makes me feel better about the interview. I think on my better days I at least have the spirit (I know I do when I'm out buying art supplies, haha)
Everyone has been great. I feel tons better now. Now I'm off to finish a painting. Thanks again!
In the entertainment business, it is about effective communication.
Some artist, can render amazingly realistic illustrations, and have absolutely NO soul. Some others, can have fantastic designs, but lack a certain colour or rendering quality. Others are stuck in their little niche speciality, girls with chain mail bikini gun totting vacuum cleaners (you can make a serious living out of it, look at Gil Elvgreen, a diverse commercial american illustrator, famed for painting coca cola scenes, more famed for his pin up ladies), spaceships and scenes of destruction, pristine landscapes or cutesy stylised creatures to die for...
So, what is the difference between a child painting green skies and fantastical creatures, a illustrator with 20 years of experience and a lab technician doodling naked women every day for 2 years.
The answer is....
THEIR IDEAS ARE THEIR OWN
Artistic technique, will help communicate your ideas. It will help strengthen the way you communicate these thoughts creatively and aesthetically, but to be honest, as long as you can convey them to someone....that is all that matter.
Techniques are just tools, for fools, so dont be a mule. There is always going to be someone who will be able to paint faster, or paint better or is younger...but so what.
Ultimately, you are all unique, be cause it is your ideas and life experience that counts. Being an artist is a lifelong lifestyle and way of life. So go get on painting
There you go bigbad - that's how I do it, I've never actually compared my sketch by the original before, but as you can see it's not too bad - and I've been doing it for four week, about 2hours a day. It's not perfect and will not beat life drawing, but it's a great tool for practice - I've kinda worn it out a bit, but I've learnt loads about the dimensions of the body and can spot mistakes in mine and others work pretty quickly. So, good luck with everything, and wise word for the Koshime, as ever!
Alex thanks for posting this I always have difficulty visualizing the construction lines for some reason so cheers Once consumed by the fire, Now I control it!
Alright I have a problem. It all started around 2 years ago, My friends thought I was mad. Now in my new course they too think I am mad. Now you may think the problem is an emotional imbalance low self esteem etc but no. you see they think I am mad when they should think I'm psyco I boliviously have not developed my insanity. So my question is this how can I out do my self on the crazy level and also how can I make money from belonging in an institution? PS I have a presentation due on myself and what inspires me maybe I should use that as a platform do I hear the words strip show? Once consumed by the fire, Now I control it!
Alex & Koshime -wise words, i would equate it with my hubby, who is an amazing guitarist. ( Yes I would say that , but that's not the point) he hates it after a gig when ppl say you are too good I'm going to give up and throw my guitar away. He is trying to inspire people, the way that his heroes inspired him. (you can always tell the people that are- musicians standing slackjawed in the front row watching every intonation and note, artists in galleries examining the brush strokes of the masters). The great thing about this site is we can benefit from living experts( well, hopefully they are living,lol) who are willing to share their expertise (because they were inexperienced like us once) and glean advice that we couldn't possibly get anywhere else.
Practice practice. Just keep on keepin' on (his advice)
AHHHH Red! 666 posts! Postcount of the devil! You must post another post immediately or go straight to L! I've never believed in God, but I believe in Picasso. ::: Diego Rivera :::
BigBadNoNo - You've had good advice from lots of people, but I have to add my 2c.
In a community like this one - it is hard to excell - though some do quite nicely. But take any one of us and put us in the general population, and we are fairly talented artists. So if someone compliments your work, or admires it, just graciously thank them for their compliment. And if they ask for help, don't put yourself down, but rather tell them what you did to reach the level you're at and what you hope to do to improve further.
Hope it all works out with your friend.
I've never believed in God, but I believe in Picasso. ::: Diego Rivera :::
Also, I'm checking out that thread as I type this. Thanks again, popcorn! 
AlexTooth:
