This video autoplayed in the bg while I was struggling with a project. Can't draw a fucking line right. Being an artist is so volitile and as someone who is a professional artist, I still struggle with all of the same things you talked about. Making money from art also brings a whole new slew of problems, in the vein of what you've described with youtube (your audience needs to be happy! The people that are paying you need to be happy! your creativity doesn't matter much in most roles!). I am 28 now, and I spent my entire adult life chasing this career only to find there is no salvation over the hill, no legitimization that can cure me. To make things worse, I find it harder than ever to work on personal projects even after I quit my job. The joy is dead, and I wish I could work on bringing it back, but there's no way to force it. I'm not trying to discourage you from a professional career in art by no means, I just want to tell you to give yourself time and space. Take care of your spark, and if it's not there - be patient. That's what I'm trying to do. Sometimes it works. Sometimes I get impatient and I try to force myself, but that just makes me miserable. I feel this irrational pressure that time is running out and I'm not using it to complete my works. Need to stop that somehow. I still don't know how, but getting out into the world always helps. You're so young, hell, I'm young too and I'm 7 years your senior. There's time. You'll find it, or better yet - it will find you.

Even as an intermediate(ish) artist, I got sooooo much out of this. I really loved this, especially the unscripted but at the end. Thank you :)

great vid!

Thank you a lot for sharing your journey, feelings, insights, and advice! I am sort of a burnt out teacher, with about 8 years of work experience, who left the job. And trying to find my true way in life. Working as a CNC machinist at the moment, just to sustain myself. It’s fine but there’s definitely something else in life I want to do. Art is one of them. I’ve had some inclination to it since the very childhood. But unfortunately I didn’t apply it anywhere. It makes me sad, knowing there’s a whole side of me I do not know. Trying to learn how to draw now. Though due to my psychological challenges I am being inconsistent. Not really thinking about making a living as an artist. My main goal is to learn myself, free my artistic side, and express myself. Your video just felt comforting for some reason. And I decided to share something about myself. Thanks again!

"you cant rush art" toy story

These are amazing insights. It reflects how I feel about art being more of a journey of fun self discovery than it is a conquest for perfect information. Thank you for sharing this with us. (this economy really got me n all the homies tweakin)

I love how chill this whole video is :D

The ending lmao Hope you’re ok

your art is great, but damn youre so handsome!

Some person recommended me this video I'm just watching it like eh

Here's the deal too: I relate greatly to the story aspect. Who cares if we can render something beautifully? For me it's like watching a movie with amazing special effects but terrible writing. I think it's all very related to PURPOSE. We need purpose in life. I found myself looking back at some old storyboards for a video I was shooting for work and I was surprised at how expressive they were. Why? Because they had to be. I did them quickly and I wasn't precious with them. I HAD to get a point across. It was a means to an end. I think more than anything you're facing, much like me: What's the point? I suggest to you, the same suggestion I would make for myself: If we are to pursue art there has to be a point. Write a story first. Get disciplined with that. Perhaps figure out where that story is going to go and how. Then put the work in. Even this video you made here was a story and I bet it was a ton of work. But you did it. And no doubt it could be better in innumerable ways but that will always be the case for all of us.

You know what's interesting? I think this mentality is true for all pursuits, such as cooking, and fitness and <fill in the blanks>. Long story short discipline and consistency is absolutely crucial but so is experimentation and fun. You might be able to join the gym out of pure rage and will to lose a bunch of weight but far more often you will find success in just going consistently. Then after you get that consistency you can ramp up the difficulty, etc, without hating it so much. TLDR: Keep at it but don't lose sight of the fun, and all things are work.

Maybe it's time to stop doing humans and try more abstract art or any different stuff...

Awesome video man. Hope you find what you’re looking for !

I don't think I've ever watched a more motivating and helpful art video. you're so real bro.

I love the ending

ALWAYS use references for everything. You brain tricks you and is lazy.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I think there were a lot wise words in this video. Some of them are also new and challenging ideas. I think someone needs to be speaking from experience and intuitive wisdom to say something like artist's discipline can only stem from fun. That is bold and I hear it for the first time. Normally they say doing it for doing it and not stopping even when you feel like garbage. Finding a way to love it again instead makes sense. Thanks for this sincere video.

I really like the brush that you're using. Is it bundled with krita or is there a way to create/find this? I am lacking a brush that works like yours for my setup.

You need a Cosmogony

Thank you for the vulnerability and honesty. As an artist and maker I feel very strongly as you do. It is so easy to lose track of our heart and passion when we try to make a living. I am trying to get out of this uncomftable place too, and my "plan" is to 1. make things I haven't done and made time for (like paiting folk motives on my wall) because I was too afraid to do it or it was not a priority 2. try to consume less (social media, film etc) and/or prioritize things that give me a sense of wonder, that really inspires me. 3. reconnect with the crazy exciting idea that feel out of reach (make a video game, animate a whole sort film, create a giant tapestry) and work towards them. Trying to remember why I want to do these and keeping the inner fire alive. I love the rawness of your art at the beginning, because it has this inner fire, the need to tell a story, to create something just for oneself. I hope you kind find your way back to your inner fire!

I don't know if it was because of laziness or because I wasn't satisfied, but I stopped seeking technical betterment at some point. And now all I do is "channel" (I don't know how else to put it). I do automatic drawing through imagination and just letting my hand draw whatever it wants. I find that something else, something spiritually more elevated than myself is allowed to come through now, as opposed to when I was chasing technical perfection. I can look at a finished work and feel inspired. It doesn't always work, but what I've noticed is that I'm able to "channel" a lot better if I meditate often (daily is best), and if I minimize external inputs like entertainment, news, etc. I loved your video, thank you for sharing your experience.

Dear Frej… you have saved a lot of people from taking the route from need to want, pulling the ego away from the pits of hell 😂 to the path of simplicity… that may sound stupid but I think you’ve touched soooo many hearts with your testimony……. Touched my heart … my 3 month all new to ever picking up a pencil and drawing… I love it … I don’t know why I love art all of a sudden but in this moment, I do and I can’t thank you enough for showing me that beautiful hill ahead, that I think I would have started running up it and begun to hate the feeling of that internal strain… instead of taking in the view the joy the inspiration and passion, beauty.. … I want to be good/ really good at drawing/painting… and I know how to burn myself out… thank you for saving me 😂❤❤❤

I’m trying so desperately to want to make art again. It’s been so long

Can u do an art study on Marcin Piwowarski , his work has lots of texture, he’s a picture book artist and I’m trying to figure out how to achieve that look cause it has a magical whimsical quality to it. Thanks

This video is inspiring; it strengthened my desire to draw. Thank you!

0:28 for 10 years atleast 😭

Bro saw AOT ending and went 'Fine ill do it myself' Anyway, amazing journey man. Keep up da good work!

And to think you made VI as a boxer, and now she really is a boxer!

We are in the same fase dude

I reccomand you just do whatever you want and when you get new experiences doing whatever you want to do, those will inspire you to make art after some time, probably.

A question, your art is super rich with atmosphere, even in beginning. Did you do those out of imagination purely or did you use reference photos? For example at 06:34 I honestly like how it looks. Problem is I do not think I can draw from imagination, every time I start drawing my goal is to get as good as possible and learn as much as possible. I've started and given up countless times, this video made me realize why, thx.

this is the best video i have ever seen in my entire life. thank you so much. i was falling into a death spiral hating my art and losing my goal, this brought me back to where im supposed to be

u kinda sound like rust from true detective

14:30 LMAO

The first ten seconds of this video is ME. Only reason I wanna actually attempt to get better at learning how to draw is because I wanna be able to to draw fanart of Erwin and Levi 🤣😭

"I decided to redraw AoT because the ending was bad" Me: Uh oh "I was such a loser, I didn't care for the world or other people" Me: Yep. Called it. Look, man, here's how I see it. You are what you call yourself. So if you're a loser, its because you said so. You sound like you are just starting to look within, to look at your actions and habits and see if they are helping you or hurting you. If I was you, I would talk to someone about what you are feeling. Doesn't have to be a therapist, but it does have to be someone you trust to listen to you fully. It sounds to me like you have struggles with confidence and isolation. Make time for friends and family, if you don't have those then go out and find them. You can make friends and meaningful connection. Good luck, big dog.

Wow. The improvement in skills and your emotional growth are breathtaking. I liked the end best of all even though it felt negative to you. Because I can see clearly that you’re just going through the doldrums and that you will emerge from this and have a leap in skills and move to a new phase. You’re growing the eyes to see. To be a great artist. And you will get there. Never stop learning my friend.

You were coping others and that was important for your growth. You went through a crisis that is inevitable on any path to authenticity. You are doing great

how can i get your brushes

Your landscape paintings convey emotions, even from the beginning. Truly beautiful.

Came here to tell you the aot ending was good and nothing else.

yooo nice video

I don’t buy it for a second.

this is beautiful. It was captivating to listen to. I think you are great at telling stories. Good luck with your adventure!

Thank you for this beautiful and honest video. I myself have been making art on and off for years (not professionally) and I have struggles similar to yours when it comes to "am I enjoying what I'm doing?" "why am I doing it?" "where's my fascination with art that was there when I just started?" - it's still there but it changed a lot. Your video made me think about what to do next. I haven't been drawing from imagination for years. I've been doing a lot of plein air (I'm into landscapes) and I feel like while I'm learning a lot from plein air its still copying, only from nature and not from a photo. So where am I in this? Sorry for the long comment, I just want to thank you for making me think and I wish you a lot of luck and I hope you find yourself again with your new skills in art. In fact I know you will.

The attack on Titan ending was god tier u just didn’t read it right

thank you so much for leaving in the part at the end. i’ve also been struggling a lot with making ‘real’ art, stuff that is genuinely inspired and meaningful. you touched on something i’ve been exactly feeling and it really eats away at me. i look at a lot of your stuff and really see something in it, so it reminds me i’m not just broken. it sounds dramatic but sometimes when i can make something technically decent which people compliment, but emotionally/conceptually dull, it feels like there is a real block inside me. it’s like i don’t know something which all these other great artists know. that’s not true though, because great artists make stuff about what they care about or feel, and i am definitely capable of caring and feeling. anyway, it’s just good to know other people making art go through this - and that the most important thing is to keep making out of enjoyment, not just to be objectively successful because that is what makes it dull.

i dont really know if you will see this comment, but i want to give you some perspective. you are not burnout solely because you wanted to make money, even if it definitely has some role in it. i believe that you went down the rabbit hole of perfectionism. especially from references, no drawing satiates you enough, because you know that you can add some more. no drawing is perfect, or at least not if you do not put months into it. i would recommend you to try different artstyles. picasso, hate him or not, could make the most unbelievable realistic portraits, but would not have been famous if he did not have unique style. your drawings are great, but there are so many people who can somewhat do what you do. if you want to stand out, you need to stand out.