This video isn’t about what the person is drawing…
I want to share this as a reference video of how people can improve their drawing! I want to especially pinpoint #2 and #4.
Tip 2: Drawing from life is ideal. Drawing with the assistance of photo reference is common among professionals. Very few artists can draw anything they want to, flawlessly, entirely from memory.
- Unless you have photographic memory… I applaud you. I have been told several times that a few new artists feel ‘ashamed’ to look at references! Don’t be! You learn from references, we are not all born with photographic memory. And even if you have the image in your head it is very hard to project it on paper. It is never a bad idea to have a photo reference, go online and find images you like, and develop your drawing through those. It is not copying at all unless you produce is completely and try claiming it as your own. Then thats’ plagarism. But using references is never a bad thing and taking photos when you go out really helps out alot!
Tip 4: Try looking at the thing you’re drawing as an abstract arrangement of shapes, composed of lines at various angles.
Some of you who has seen my own drawing tutorials or work in progress may have realized, even when I’m drawing a chibi or person, I ALWAYS begin by laying out the shapes before I add in skin and ‘fat’ into them. I sometimes draw stick figures on my notebooks because I want to study the movements on people and take quick notes of how things look like for future references. I do that all by starting with lines, squares, circles and other abstract shapes.
Tip 9: Don’t expect progress to occur in a matter of weeks, or even months.
Never expect to be a master at anything overnight. It doesn’t happen that way. Sometimes things go on in life that can restrain you from practicing drawing but as long as you don’t forget, and always go back to it because it’s your passion, than progress will be obvious in the future. Keep your old artwork, start using sketchbooks instead of loose leaf paper, KEEP YOUR SKETCHES AND DOODLES. NEVER throw away even a picture of something you feel isn’t perfect. I tell this a lot back when I was tutoring my colleagues and friends how to draw and improve their drawing. Each time you scrap a drawing in the middle, equals you stopping that progress and trying to improve. When you end something in the middle,and throw it away, you can’t go back to see what things need to be changed. I have old sketchbooks from 10 years ago when I was still in high school and as horrible as they were, they sometimes reflect or tell me about my own mental process of what went on during that time or how amazing my ideas were back then, just didn’t have the skill to produce it.
One of the fun things a lot of artists like to do, is ‘redrawing’ a piece of your own past artwork based on your own style that you’ve developed over the years and compare your past and present to see your progress.
Tip 10: If comparing your art to that of other people is bringing you down, then stop doing it. Your work doesn’t need to win contests, impress people, or be ‘conventionally beautiful.’
Art should is selfish. It should be about you rather than pleasing about other people. You don’t need to draw a bibliography but your art should make you feel good about yourself. It shouldn’t bring you down. I have tons and kazillion artists I look up towards but not once, do I compare or say ‘I’m horrible compared to them.’ Never say that! I’ve been learning so much about art therapy lately, and it holds true that art should be something your express yourself and style on. You can learn from other artists but eventually, you should find yourself, find your art and feel good about it. When you truly love yourself and artwork, people will automatically love them as well because there’s no lies.
I hope I can help some of you guys continue with pursuing what you like. If you like to draw or what to begin drawing and learning about it, do so now. As long as you’re passionate and determined about it, be patient and you will strive :) And this YouTuber markcrilley states all the things that actually holds true for many artists out there. They may not realize it but it works!
Art is no miracle. It is a reflection of hard work, patience, and passion.
