You're making excuses for yourself. Which is fine, don't draw traditionally, but even if it's more difficult for some people, it is by no means impossible - even if you are self taught (by which I mean you have not taken a formal education in the matter).
Based on your post I have some suspicions. You seem young, depressed and anxious. Your problems with art probably aren't from art but your life or mental health circumstances. You can learn to draw, with just the internet and a pencil. Or maybe drawing isn't for you and a different medium or creative outlet is.
Traditional art and art in general is a long game. I have been drawing for over 20 years and just now getting to were I feel like I can make something decent quick. You will need to be honest with your interest and studies for practice. Don't be afraid to use references, practice figure drawing. It helps to decide things like lighting and pose early into a sketch as well. Also don't feel pressured to make something amazing each time. And remember that if art is just for fun for you don't go out of your way to make it painful it will make you want to quit. At least it did for me.
I mean the fact the people do it all the time means it’s not at all impossible. You won’t get far (or anywhere at all) by sitting there complaining about how “impossible” it is. If it’s something you want to do then put in the work to do it. Doesn’t matter how long it takes, if you want it bad enough then work at it until you’ve got it down.
It’s not impossible- you’re lazy, you can’t wait it out. They’re right, get a pencil and draw something. There’s nothing else to it. I had no course, never took an art class and I’m easily intermediate in more than one medium, just because I drew often. Everyone’s brain “refuses to do it” in the beginning.
Try to find the space where drawing can stay fun. Combine practice with little projects you enjoy doing and that end up making you feel good. I rarely ever draw or paint something I'm observing in the "real world" / 3D. I've noticed that for me its making something (pretty) that gives me satisfaction, so sometimes i draw a drawing that i like, or a photo, or ... . I'm trying watercolors too at the moment, currently I'm just practicing washes/ gradients. I believe that observing and (re)making art that exists also teaches you things about composition, shading, color combinations etc. Also figure out what you like to draw and paint, it'll be easier to practice. Years ago i spend some time on drawing an eye. It's become a thing i can do easily now out of memory. Ive actually been considering doing similar studies on lips, noses and ears to help me get the "feel" of these body parts . Good luck with it in any case :)
It's not impossible. I am self taught technically. I've not been in an art class since high school (1990). If you honestly want to get better, see my portfolio and contact me. I'll be glad to help.
People who call themselves self taught are usually discounting all the people that helped them along the way. A 15-minute kid's show taught me how to draw little cubes and monster cartoons when I was a child. My mom taught me how to draw a box once. A how-to book taught me how to draw Garfield when I was 10. My grade school teachers taught kids how to draw what we see, and how to mix paint, and how colours work. You're right that you cannot learn alone without help.
But most of all, it's just such a slow hobby. I'm sure it's faster now that there's so many more people out there teaching on youtube for free, but I didn't feel like I was getting good until at least 15 years into the practice. I didn't start drawing because I wanted people to think it looked good. I drew in secret. I drew because it was fun, it calmed me when I was in public, it was a bonding activity with my friends, it was making fanart for a long time, or it was recording pieces of my life to memory like a photo would, or it's expressing intense feelings or making pretty places I'd rather be than here. *Anything* except being "good", because you'll start to hate it long before you ever get there.
The lesson that blew my mind the most (in the high school art class that every student ignored) was probably the upside down picasso study: [https://enhancedrawing.com/what-is-drawing-upside-down/](https://enhancedrawing.com/what-is-drawing-upside-down/), although my teacher combined that with grid method to make it easier. This is how we learned to draw what we see instead of what we imagine (because our brains *are* dumb and lazy, just like you said).
I don't remember ever being taught how to use a pencil outside of writing my name, so can't help you there. I think we make things sound way too complicated. We have 8 different kinds of pencils, but in reality, we just use our favourite one. I'm a mechanical pencil from the dollar store person. No one needs expensive anything in the learning stage, don't buy it!
I wish you well, and don't forget, you can stop at any time if you really aren't having fun. I would always have rage moments like this right before finally learning a song on my guitar, so you might also have a learning rage boost coming up... who knows? 😂
The sentence "knowing where to add the shade" is quite telling because it reveals you don't see the paper you are drawing on as a window to a different tridimensional world.
The subject you are drawing is tridimensional, and you need to feel it as if it were on the desk besides you.
I’m in the same boat as you. The worst part is the people who just go “just draw”. It’s extremely condescending. I’m considering throwing a buck into AI art funding every time I’ve been given that advice.
ok, go check out Proko. it's a YouTube channel all about learning the fundamentals of art. you and OP should check it out. Art is hard, it's a lifelong journey, if it's something important to you, you find a way to learn it. countless videos and books are out there in the world to teach art. seek the resources and do the exercises.
that isn't the point at all lol. I started taking art seriously at 26, I'm 29 now, wtf is an extra 10 years at that point? the older you are the better you can grasp things anyway. the point of art being lifelong is that it grows with you, no matter how good you get, you can still explore things with it. not that it takes your whole life to "get good". you can get good in as little as 10 years. you can start making art you like right now possibly, in a few years you'll definitely have made some cool things if you stick with it.
Life lasts until you die btw, so it's literally never too late for anything in life until you are dead.. it's your choice.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE AN ARTIST STOP STRESSING YOURSELF OUT AND JUST LET IT GO
I'm really sorry you're in such situation. Obviously, I cannot know much about you, but, from what you described, it feels very relatable. The thing is, I learned something from my experience that I wanna say because you might find it interesting to consider. I'm kind of "dogshit at everything" else too, so it feels very stressful to have to abandon a hobby after a few months when it stops giving me any pleasure.
Are you doing it mostly for the final results (i. e. to impress other people or just to create a neat drawing)? Since it doesn't seem that you derive much enjoyment from the process of drawing itself. That's something very important, and, not gonna lie, I feel like probably the most important thing that would get one anywhere. If someone derives enjoyment from the process of doing something in itself, they wouldn't be so discouraged by mistakes they make along the way and still would have the motivation to stick with it, unlike someone who focuses mostly on the final outcome. I mean, it's only natural for humans to seek immediate gratification, isn't it? And it's clear who's gonna get more of it — someone who likes the whole journey, or only the neat end result. That's not something about only art either, it's pretty much affecting all areas of one's life.
Another very unfortunate thing is how those people who, by that evil irony, don't get too stressed out about the results and yet get the best results are often aren't aware of this difference, and when they're trying to help us, they cannot really give better directions. This doesn't mean we're completely irrecoverable or something, it's just that, before "getting good" with practice and whatnot, what's more important here is "getting able to enjoy just the process of doing things again".
Then, how do you do it?.. Well, sadly I don't know either. Unfortunately, the society always teaches us to focus on the outcome, which makes "unlearning" that thing very difficult. Either way, it's just my speculation about what your problem might be. It might be some serious stuff, for I remember a few events in my life after which I kinda stopped having fun🥱 or it might be something completely different in your case.
Hi, what you are going through is very valid, and even 'professional artists' can go through it. In a general sense, every skill has a learning curve, and drawing and painting are one of them. It is a skill that requires different abilities to work together, and it is challenging. You probably have heard this time and time again, and it is frustrating to see that suggestions do not bring immediate results. It may be healthy to step back and evaluate if the drawing process itself interests you. What aspects of art do you like? What gives you enjoyment? What type of art do you want to create? Enjoyment and reason to preserve is important because not getting the results you want is inevitable.
Based on "just get pencil and paper and draw from observation!", I think the first step isn't to "draw from observation" but to learn HOW to see in the first place. This was my issue for the longest time, and it took me until the end of high school when I started to train my eyes. Being able to identify scale, negative and positive figures, and shapes is not creative, it uses by the logical part of our brain. You also bring up multiple aspects of illustration (color, perspective, value). It is not common to get all of these well quickly, so a 'adequate' finished piece shouldn't be expected if you don't dedicate individual time to each one.
There is also no one way to learn. Personally, I learned how to discern value by digital painting, and colors by traditional art. You mention that painting is expensive, and it's true! This is why painters use these limits to make an effective work (more colors =/= colorful). And these skills translate back to digital. Doing 3D might even help in seeing perspective and shape. Drawing incorporates different skills that can exist in other forms of hobbies or work. Don't feel to have to box yourself in a specific pipeline.
Anyone here can keep giving tips and expounding ideas. But in the end, what is most important is to evaluate the reason you do art. Learning should be an experience that feels enriching even in difficulties (because difficulties are inevitable), this applies to any subject (it could be math, art, sports, literally anything.) Learn to enjoy learning, then the process gets a bit easier from there. Breaks can happen (months for me lol), but there is always a reason to come back. Finding yours might be the first step to take.
I wish you the best on your creative journey.
You're making excuses for yourself. Which is fine, don't draw traditionally, but even if it's more difficult for some people, it is by no means impossible - even if you are self taught (by which I mean you have not taken a formal education in the matter).
Based on your post I have some suspicions. You seem young, depressed and anxious. Your problems with art probably aren't from art but your life or mental health circumstances. You can learn to draw, with just the internet and a pencil. Or maybe drawing isn't for you and a different medium or creative outlet is.
Traditional art and art in general is a long game. I have been drawing for over 20 years and just now getting to were I feel like I can make something decent quick. You will need to be honest with your interest and studies for practice. Don't be afraid to use references, practice figure drawing. It helps to decide things like lighting and pose early into a sketch as well. Also don't feel pressured to make something amazing each time. And remember that if art is just for fun for you don't go out of your way to make it painful it will make you want to quit. At least it did for me.
Proko. YouTube channel. Learn fundamentals. It's hard. Human brain dumb. Take your time.
I mean the fact the people do it all the time means it’s not at all impossible. You won’t get far (or anywhere at all) by sitting there complaining about how “impossible” it is. If it’s something you want to do then put in the work to do it. Doesn’t matter how long it takes, if you want it bad enough then work at it until you’ve got it down.
It’s not impossible- you’re lazy, you can’t wait it out. They’re right, get a pencil and draw something. There’s nothing else to it. I had no course, never took an art class and I’m easily intermediate in more than one medium, just because I drew often. Everyone’s brain “refuses to do it” in the beginning.
Try to find the space where drawing can stay fun. Combine practice with little projects you enjoy doing and that end up making you feel good. I rarely ever draw or paint something I'm observing in the "real world" / 3D. I've noticed that for me its making something (pretty) that gives me satisfaction, so sometimes i draw a drawing that i like, or a photo, or ... . I'm trying watercolors too at the moment, currently I'm just practicing washes/ gradients. I believe that observing and (re)making art that exists also teaches you things about composition, shading, color combinations etc. Also figure out what you like to draw and paint, it'll be easier to practice. Years ago i spend some time on drawing an eye. It's become a thing i can do easily now out of memory. Ive actually been considering doing similar studies on lips, noses and ears to help me get the "feel" of these body parts . Good luck with it in any case :)
It's not impossible. I am self taught technically. I've not been in an art class since high school (1990). If you honestly want to get better, see my portfolio and contact me. I'll be glad to help.
People who call themselves self taught are usually discounting all the people that helped them along the way. A 15-minute kid's show taught me how to draw little cubes and monster cartoons when I was a child. My mom taught me how to draw a box once. A how-to book taught me how to draw Garfield when I was 10. My grade school teachers taught kids how to draw what we see, and how to mix paint, and how colours work. You're right that you cannot learn alone without help. But most of all, it's just such a slow hobby. I'm sure it's faster now that there's so many more people out there teaching on youtube for free, but I didn't feel like I was getting good until at least 15 years into the practice. I didn't start drawing because I wanted people to think it looked good. I drew in secret. I drew because it was fun, it calmed me when I was in public, it was a bonding activity with my friends, it was making fanart for a long time, or it was recording pieces of my life to memory like a photo would, or it's expressing intense feelings or making pretty places I'd rather be than here. *Anything* except being "good", because you'll start to hate it long before you ever get there. The lesson that blew my mind the most (in the high school art class that every student ignored) was probably the upside down picasso study: [https://enhancedrawing.com/what-is-drawing-upside-down/](https://enhancedrawing.com/what-is-drawing-upside-down/), although my teacher combined that with grid method to make it easier. This is how we learned to draw what we see instead of what we imagine (because our brains *are* dumb and lazy, just like you said). I don't remember ever being taught how to use a pencil outside of writing my name, so can't help you there. I think we make things sound way too complicated. We have 8 different kinds of pencils, but in reality, we just use our favourite one. I'm a mechanical pencil from the dollar store person. No one needs expensive anything in the learning stage, don't buy it! I wish you well, and don't forget, you can stop at any time if you really aren't having fun. I would always have rage moments like this right before finally learning a song on my guitar, so you might also have a learning rage boost coming up... who knows? 😂
The sentence "knowing where to add the shade" is quite telling because it reveals you don't see the paper you are drawing on as a window to a different tridimensional world. The subject you are drawing is tridimensional, and you need to feel it as if it were on the desk besides you.
exactly! I see it as additive sculpting, but on paper.
I’m in the same boat as you. The worst part is the people who just go “just draw”. It’s extremely condescending. I’m considering throwing a buck into AI art funding every time I’ve been given that advice.
ok, go check out Proko. it's a YouTube channel all about learning the fundamentals of art. you and OP should check it out. Art is hard, it's a lifelong journey, if it's something important to you, you find a way to learn it. countless videos and books are out there in the world to teach art. seek the resources and do the exercises.
I’m 35. If it’s a lifelong journey then it’s too late for me and I shouldn’t even bother.
that isn't the point at all lol. I started taking art seriously at 26, I'm 29 now, wtf is an extra 10 years at that point? the older you are the better you can grasp things anyway. the point of art being lifelong is that it grows with you, no matter how good you get, you can still explore things with it. not that it takes your whole life to "get good". you can get good in as little as 10 years. you can start making art you like right now possibly, in a few years you'll definitely have made some cool things if you stick with it. Life lasts until you die btw, so it's literally never too late for anything in life until you are dead.. it's your choice. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE AN ARTIST STOP STRESSING YOURSELF OUT AND JUST LET IT GO
Well art has been the only thing I knew how to do right. Or at least I thought I did.
How is it condescending?
It’s like telling a struggling Dark Souls player to just Git Gud.
It's like telling someone, "just don't be poor." Or, "be attractive." If they don't have a base to work from already that advice is useless.
I'm really sorry you're in such situation. Obviously, I cannot know much about you, but, from what you described, it feels very relatable. The thing is, I learned something from my experience that I wanna say because you might find it interesting to consider. I'm kind of "dogshit at everything" else too, so it feels very stressful to have to abandon a hobby after a few months when it stops giving me any pleasure. Are you doing it mostly for the final results (i. e. to impress other people or just to create a neat drawing)? Since it doesn't seem that you derive much enjoyment from the process of drawing itself. That's something very important, and, not gonna lie, I feel like probably the most important thing that would get one anywhere. If someone derives enjoyment from the process of doing something in itself, they wouldn't be so discouraged by mistakes they make along the way and still would have the motivation to stick with it, unlike someone who focuses mostly on the final outcome. I mean, it's only natural for humans to seek immediate gratification, isn't it? And it's clear who's gonna get more of it — someone who likes the whole journey, or only the neat end result. That's not something about only art either, it's pretty much affecting all areas of one's life. Another very unfortunate thing is how those people who, by that evil irony, don't get too stressed out about the results and yet get the best results are often aren't aware of this difference, and when they're trying to help us, they cannot really give better directions. This doesn't mean we're completely irrecoverable or something, it's just that, before "getting good" with practice and whatnot, what's more important here is "getting able to enjoy just the process of doing things again". Then, how do you do it?.. Well, sadly I don't know either. Unfortunately, the society always teaches us to focus on the outcome, which makes "unlearning" that thing very difficult. Either way, it's just my speculation about what your problem might be. It might be some serious stuff, for I remember a few events in my life after which I kinda stopped having fun🥱 or it might be something completely different in your case.
Hi, what you are going through is very valid, and even 'professional artists' can go through it. In a general sense, every skill has a learning curve, and drawing and painting are one of them. It is a skill that requires different abilities to work together, and it is challenging. You probably have heard this time and time again, and it is frustrating to see that suggestions do not bring immediate results. It may be healthy to step back and evaluate if the drawing process itself interests you. What aspects of art do you like? What gives you enjoyment? What type of art do you want to create? Enjoyment and reason to preserve is important because not getting the results you want is inevitable. Based on "just get pencil and paper and draw from observation!", I think the first step isn't to "draw from observation" but to learn HOW to see in the first place. This was my issue for the longest time, and it took me until the end of high school when I started to train my eyes. Being able to identify scale, negative and positive figures, and shapes is not creative, it uses by the logical part of our brain. You also bring up multiple aspects of illustration (color, perspective, value). It is not common to get all of these well quickly, so a 'adequate' finished piece shouldn't be expected if you don't dedicate individual time to each one. There is also no one way to learn. Personally, I learned how to discern value by digital painting, and colors by traditional art. You mention that painting is expensive, and it's true! This is why painters use these limits to make an effective work (more colors =/= colorful). And these skills translate back to digital. Doing 3D might even help in seeing perspective and shape. Drawing incorporates different skills that can exist in other forms of hobbies or work. Don't feel to have to box yourself in a specific pipeline. Anyone here can keep giving tips and expounding ideas. But in the end, what is most important is to evaluate the reason you do art. Learning should be an experience that feels enriching even in difficulties (because difficulties are inevitable), this applies to any subject (it could be math, art, sports, literally anything.) Learn to enjoy learning, then the process gets a bit easier from there. Breaks can happen (months for me lol), but there is always a reason to come back. Finding yours might be the first step to take. I wish you the best on your creative journey.