Ageism In The Art World - Art Commentary

TIMESTAMPS:
Intro - 0:00
Kids These Days - 2:50
Back In My Day - 8:39
What's The Problem? - 13:29
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Resources:
Ageism in the art community by Duchess Celestia: • Ageism in the Art Comm...
Ageism and my experience as an older artist by Strawberrik: • ☆ Ageism and My Experi...
Age ism in the art community by TwistedDistaster: • ☆ Ageism and My Experi...
Digital art - A Revolutionary Artform: feltmagnet.com/drawing/Digita....
Famous Artists From Wealthy Families: theartgorgeous.com/cha-ching-...
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Software:
Clip Studio Paint EX (illustration)
OBS (speedpaint recording)
Audacity (Audio)
Adobe After Effects (Editing)
Adobe Media Encoder (Rendering)
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My Links:
Twitter: ItsFionapollo?t=j...
Tiktok: / fionapollo
Instagram: / fionapollo.yt

[@flyingmintbunny1286]

I appreciate this.. as a 26 year old who's been drawing since I was 5, seeing so many young people being better at art than me and it is terrifying..

[@Shimamon27]

If it's any consolation... A.I is about to make all the "Extreme epic hyper realistic" world, redundant. Because they all end up producing the same lighting mechanics, with the same proportions and the eventual same concept of "perfection". High art is stale, the AI is proof of that - They repeat themselves enough for it to be turned into code. Don't strive to be "The Best" or even "The Better". Aim for something unique, because in the sea of high leveled creations, it's hard to find anything special.

[@velvi8359]

The amount of resources available now to artists is nearly infinite compared to what we had as teens. There was no Pinterest, Class 101s, Ipads, or cheap tablets with amazing specs and features. We had poorly explained Deviantart tutorials, terrible how-to-draw books, and like 5 whole speedpaint tutorials on KZbin. It's easier than ever to learn now, I've improved more in the last 3 years than the entire decade before. Don't feel too hung up about it, just remember how incredible it is that you've had the perseverance to make art for as long as you have. A lot of people quit by our age.

[@moondaiandtrashpandadeluxe]

Kids these days start with tech snd have so many more resources to learn vs us oldsters who didnt

[@Ash-nh6li]

Well don't get into 3d art then

[@Yobyman]

Finding work as an artist is more about networking and socializing than it is about actual skill, some amazing artists have trouble finding work because their networks aren't big enough, while less skilled arists who happen to know a few people in the industry or got their start working on a few passion projects that got them notoriety find work easier. Companies and customers want to turn a profit (be it a cash for cash or cash for dopamine exchange) so they need to know that the person they're paying will not be a risky investment. Get to know people in the industry, build friendships with the artists you follow or the artists that follow you, that's your best bet for finding work. It's not just the art industry that's like this by the way... Any non-entry level job requires connections nowadays.

[@Imsuchaloserr_]

The ageism is really affecting me as an artist. I can’t stop comparing myself to other people younger than me and I always hate my art. It’s been so hard and I always hate how my digital art turns out. I really want this to stop. (I’m a minor btw)

[@velvi8359]

Take a break from social media and focus on yourself. Being able to appreciate your own art is a skill in itself, it doesn't matter how good you get you will always hate your art if you don't change your mindset. There are artists who are infinitely better than either of us who still hate their art, who still see nothing but flaws and still compare themselves to others. Find things in your work that you DO like, and rather than get upset at your mistakes, look at them critically, single them out, and develop a plan to improve upon them. You are not going to magically get any younger, there's no point to waste time focusing on it. The best thing you can do is look ahead, focus on yourself, and make a game plan. Where do you want your art to be and what do you need to learn to get there? Believe me, your art will improve infinitely faster if you focus on that rather than some random teenager online with an above average Instagram.

[@Jiggelmeister]

Keep goin. I believe in you. Find ways to enjoy the simple process like u probably did as a kid. Put on some music u like. Maybe do some fan art. Be proud of your little wins. When you get a smile or an eye right. And when it doesn’t work, “sit with the ugly” and work on the piece til it becomes beautiful again. Most pieces got that stage. And if you don’t like it, hey it’s just a file, delete it and try something new :) You’re an artist. What you do is a beautiful process. Don’t be ashamed of it.

[@Suited_Nat]

I felt that fr.

[@wintersprite]

It’s similar with music as well. I’m an adult violin student and there are kids better than me. Of course I didn’t start learning until my 20s. Also, even if you don’t like an art piece you made, that doesn’t mean everyone else hates it too. Art is subjective so there is very likely to be someone out there who does like/love it.

[@llynhunter]

@@wintersprite Great observation! Some of my least favorite prints are my best sellers.

[@heroslippy6666]

22 years old. I go to a local digital art club, and I am the one that brings in bad scribble art made with MS Paint. The other folks take commissions, work on webtoons, selling merch at conventions, and even one of them works for big tv shows. They accept me just as they accept each other. Something is just wrong with people on the internet.

[@petitsmacarons2373]

For real I sometimes feel like Internet is a whole other plane of existence. We hear things, we see things, we sea people act a certain way, but it doesn't really translate IRL most of the time. It is really weird and a bit creepy ...

[@godiswithyou.5358]

A local digital art club sounds so fun

[@godiswithyou.5358]

@@petitsmacarons2373this is true. Touching grass really does change your life lol

[@Asterix_Angel33]

@@godiswithyou.5358 lmfao

[@berserker3414]

''A 23 years old sculpted this, what's your excuse?'' I'm not a sculptor 🗿 Literally Also, I heard that the sculptor that the art was referring to was a privileged person who could access to a lot of knowledge very young and had the freedom to learn sculpture without having to work. This is why context is important, people

[@coreyaruecker]

It's fair. I think people miss the point though. I'm 33 and I am okay at a few skills I've poured a lot of time into. Lots of people feel insecure and bad at things, because they are... they don't put in the time. I've lived almost 30 roommates in my life and maybe 3 of them actually put time and effort into their hobbies and the ones who don't sound a lot like this comments section. They earn themselves all these negative feelings. They want to be a good artist but have no idea what kind of effort others put in.

[@clarehidalgo]

Not to mention Bernini was considered a "genius", the Pope praised his talent when Bernini was 8 ears old

[@oscardepaz3063]

"I made this song at 23." - The Living Tombstone

[@GhenTuongHB]

I'm 27. My family was poor. There were no way my parents would buy a tablet for me. After high school, I had been studying in college for 6 years and working in a job for 2 year. Now everything is in place, I have a job, all debts are gone, I bought a tablet and started drawing half a year ago. I learned that all of my favorite artists started drawing since they were kids making me feel rather sad. I feel being left behind so far that I might never be able to catch up with them. But some of them are willing to spend their valuable time to teach me their techniques, which I'm grateful.

[@ohshinoyoku]

Don't feel like that . I'm the same age as you and i was one of those kids at a young age of 2 years old who did a sport my entire life . People still to this day say the same things they've always said about me. " Your skill is insanely high and you're so good " what people don't see is all the times i failed in order to get that good. When i was 12 years old everyone kept bringing up my age. My age had nothing to do with it I just worked hard everyday for 10years by that point. Take any human being and have them do something everyday ( 2 hrs for me with tournaments on weekends as an exception ) for 10 years and they're going to be good at what ever they're doing. This is coming from a person who has lived it . I've also seen someone take the knowledge i have to give and apply it with only 1 year of training and win a state title . Humans all learn at different rates . Even now as i learn the skills of art I'm doing well and producing results of what is comparable to people who have done it for some time. I'm just getting my feet off the ground with digital art and you're " ahead " of me by 6 months . Don't feel like you have to compare yourself to kids . Don't let people make you feel worthless because some little kids out there are being successful. They just have more time doing it , and , or access to the right information at this time. You're not behind anyone and that is a bad thought that people have to let go of . Anyone telling you that you should feel bad , or be ashamed are egotistical and have a superiority complex. You're fine right where you are just don't give up ! Leave your mark and show the world your creations ok ? I hope to see you grow !

[@divine5328]

I just wanted to let you Van Gogh started painting and making art at the age of 27 and is one of the most famous artists of all time. I think the time and passion you put into art will show in your work far more than the day you started. Zdzisław Belsiński is also one of my favorite artists and also picked up art in his late 20’s after getting a job and degree as well. I definitely wouldn’t let the feelings of young artists deter you when artists who learn at any age are valid

[@GhenTuongHB]

@@divine5328 Thank you. So far the process is fun and I have been improving quickly. I also get to draw what I want, to tell my story instead of drawing for a customer. Having a job to support the hobby has its own advantages.

[@Allyfyn]

You didn't try paper?

[@ooo1o8o1]

I know one artist who started drawing at 18 and now in their early 20 they have better art than me who started drawing since I was able to hold a pen Btw both of us have artist parents One thing to say, my dad wanted me to draw to have fun, he never comment on my art quality, their parents on the other hand are expecting good art, at least that's what they said

[@mink2882]

🎶 If you've been drawing since you were a kid and built your whole personality on it so much so that you're now anxious everytime you sit down to draw and you're still trying to figure out who you are besides "the person who can draw" and what you actually like doing at 20 something clap your hands 🎶 👏👏

[@terrizoop3739]

STOOP😭

[@paperstarssss]

clap clap

[@schizotakes]

y you gotta remind me

[@forkalamari6093]

🎵if you’re really good at art according to everybody else but you hate it so much and feel like the thing about adults being not as good just cause they’re an adult clap your hands~🎵👏👏

[@Somecreacher]

ouch 😭

[@cassiscrowmatic]

Bob Ross didn't learn to paint until after he was an adult, and yet not only is he famous for painting, but for inspiring countless others to do so as well. If you're feeling anxious about art, or your age, just think of Bob Ross. Also, I went to art school. I have a BA. Do not recommend, not worth. Not only that, but I improved more outside of art school than inside it, and had some truly terrible teachers. (And a couple really phenomenal ones.) But in this age you can find fantastic video lessons EVERYWHERE. There's so many good tutorials, so many people offering knowledge. Not only do you not need art school, but I will be paying off my student loans when I'm 50.

[@alexanderstavroulakis335]

Any recommendations for tutorials?

[@MariusWales]

Expecting complete perfection from other people or yourself is the most unhealthy mindset I can imagine. And at such young ages? This is why so many famous child actors become messed up, because the standards are so high from their first gigs at a time when they don't know how the world works. You're ready when you're good and ready.

[@necro3609]

There is a more healthier way of saying "expecting something perfect" like the hunger to improve every time.

[@edibleshoe8713]

I feel like as long as you enjoy the art you make, it doesn't matter how old you are.

[@sonnidee8556]

Edibleshoe speaking truth fr

[@HarbingerOfDeath0]

Well said. Own enjoyment of the arts should come first.

[@idiotwithopinions581]

Louder for the people in the back!!

[@childeofepickness]

if only it were easier to enjoy the art you make… :(

[@slimetank394]

@@childeofepickness one thing i do is comparing my current works with my older works. Seeing all the improvement i made help me enjoy my art quite a lot

[@JakeTheJay]

We can't forget that social media platforms often encourage these toxic mindsets. You have to post constantly to stay relevant but they also expect quality. The sheer crunch you are expected to perform for a hobby is frightening and it's no wonder artists like me suffer from burnout in cycles constantly.

[@mimikyu_]

yup i feel a lot better now that i deleted all my socials and im trying to figure out my own art voice and what i like rather than deiciding what im gonna create based on what gets the most likes. its so bizarre if you really think about it. chasing likes, followers all this has killed uniqueness and individuality. we just chase to create what people like instead of finding a community which appreciates the work we wanna create from our hearts. which we never usually discover due to being online all the time

[@el_chavez]

That is why you only use social media to bring people to your website and to stay in touch with others in your field. I use it to see what people are doing and into at the moment. I have never been one to follow trends and in art as a business You have to be able to at least know what colors are in style. A thousand people checking out your website a month would get you more sales and commissions than several thousand people following you on social. I like testing designs on social too. If you never get likes and all of a sudden a design gets 4 likes then to me that design will sell.

[@pulpodesigner]

I know I'm in an overwhelming minority here, but as a 38 years old Latin American man I just feel so terribly old while watching this video XD. I wanted to make a career on art but the closest thing I could do in my country was Graphic Design, and only like 9 years ago I landed on a job where I was able to draw again and I tried to take art seriously since then. I know no one is asking, but as I feel like an old grandpa thanks to your video I'll give you two tips to you small children out there: First, stop worrying about your age, if you have a passion just try to follow it regardless of your doubts, because one thing is certain, and that is that not matter how good you can be at something always will be there someone younger and more talented than you. And second, well, I think being focus on your art is always good, but being too focus at a young age not so much. Go and live your live, have different jobs, known lots of people, travel all you can, because those things are what will feed your art later. And by the way, congrats for your channel, I enjoy your content a lot!

[@wintersprite]

If it helps, I’m 37 so we’re close in age. I do think kids should explore and not be forced into just one area. I’ve always had a handful of creative hobbies, and while it means spending less time on them than if I only had one, it also means that I start to get burned out by one, I can switch to another for awhile. And variety is the spice of life. Sometimes I’ll be into drawing or painting, other times into yarn crafts or sewing, etc. They tend to cycle around. I agree that there will always be someone younger who is better and that’s okay. There will always be someone better and there will always be someone worse. The good thing about art is that it’s subjective as well. I started learning violin in my 20s and only started lessons with a teacher in 2019 so I’m definitely not the best. I also have a full time job so can’t spend hours each day practicing (plus the multiple hobby thing and some days after work I’m too exhausted to do anything). It’s still fun to learn and we’re our own worse critics. I’ll think I did horribly on a musical piece and my violin teacher will point out the positives that I didn’t see or hear. She also reminds me that violin is hard (and it is because unlike many instruments, it’s in the family where you can go in between a flat and natural or natural and sharp. You don’t get frets or keys or buttons).

[@fencingkitty9166]

Yep, turning 40 this month and just started selling ceramics last year...still kinda trying to learn to draw better on the side (11+ years experience in graphic design)

[@pulpodesigner]

@@wintersprite nice to see more elderly people around here! XD. You made two great points, one that we use to only to see above us and never below and often forget we are always better than someone else, too, and two that is good to explore different fields, actually here in my country that's a survival strategy if you want to survive on creative fields. Its pretty cool you're committed to your violin, I think is kinda liberating doing stuff like that when you're not a kid and you're not feeling the constant pressure of being the best of the best and you can do it just because you like it.

[@pulpodesigner]

@@fencingkitty9166 hi, fellow designer! Ceramics is something I've always wanted to try, hope to do it someday. Good look with your drawings, its great you're not leaving it behind

[@conjurors-prelude]

Hello there fellow elderly artist ☺️. I'm 37 and I've also started pursuing art again. I'm accomplishing things now that I never would have been able to do decades ago, artistically speaking. I think it comes down in large part to impatience in youth.

[@DandisDen]

As a 35 year old, when I was in high school - Like, early 2000's when Digital Art was just emerging into mainstream - high school art programs were nearly done away with, schools wanted to focus on the Sciences, and Sports, so unless you had some natural talent to begin with, you were discouraged from perusing art outside of the required credits. More than once I remember the Guidance councilor telling me to not take another art class, and take a computer course of some kind. Now kids are encouraged to do 'whatever' they want, and its fostered and you're helped to grow and develop. If i had the same encouragement as kids get now, I probably would've have an art career by now, instead of trying to relearn what I'd lost at my age and already feeling like its too late and I should just work at McD's until I die and be merisable the whole time.

[@Ash-nh6li]

Really? When I was a teenager my friend was a great student and they lied to her so that she couldn't take the programming class and said they canceled it. But my school had pretty good art.classes that focus predominantly on art history or expressing yourself but more.on draftsmanship and color theory and technique ect.

[@artsdragons2779]

As a 35 yr old, myself, my experience is similar. Art was nothing more than a hobby and chasing your dream by developing the skills necessary to pursue art as a career was frowned upon and actively discouraged. Now that I’m an adult with too many responsibilities and bills to pay, it’s become extremely difficult to fit in the time and energy required to foster my artistic growth. I’ve missed the train, essentially.

[@sodakhanart]

Also 35 and this was exactly my experience as well! 😢

[@wintersprite]

I’m 37 and in high school, the art/creative classes I took were Crafts (we made masks, puppets, sewed pillows, did some sketching, made squares for a quilt, etc.), theatre as I love acting, creative writing, and video production. My brother took a graphics class twice but didn’t do well either time (still not sure why he didn’t try a different art class after the first time 🤷‍♀️). In college my major was Communication and Theatre arts but I also had to take either 2D or 3D art. I took 2D but got a C in it. If only I’d known about Prismacolors and other higher quality supplies instead of relying on Crayola, I might have done a bit better (not knocking Crayola as I do still love them for certain things but they don’t blend like Prismas and other more expensive brands). I’ve always had many creative hobbies so have never really pursued just one or two, and my list keeps expanding. I’ve bought loads of art supplies within the past couple of years, thanks in part to getting into Art YT. It’s been fun to try new mediums and work on art more. I also have expanded on crafts over the years as well (for example, I tried yarn punch art for the first time last year).

[@wintersprite]

@@Ash-nh6li I didn’t take any computer courses in high school, aside from Video Productions (edited on Final Cut Pro). I did start my first website in high school, being inspired by my brother starting one. That said, I also didn’t take traditional art classes in high school. I took theatre/acting as I’ve always loved theatre and film, Crafts where we made various projects and I fell in love with the movie Labyrinth and got more in David Bowie 😍), Creative Writing, and Video Productions. I have so many creative hobbies that I can’t choose just one or two, lol. Oh, I also was in choir.

[@stxllr4687]

I’m a 17 year old and even I get jealous myself when I see people younger than me (by barely even a year or two!) do so well in art. Seeing people in these comments, some of whom are significantly older than me get discouraged as well is alarming. If I already feel like I’m not good enough at this age, what more when *I* am older? Point being, if you’re an artist who is jealous of younger ones, remember that younger artists are jealous of those younger than them, or even the same age as them. It’s a never ending cycle. Best advice I can give is to stop looking at social media and focus on art fundamentals and studies instead. That way, you can improve your work whilst avoiding the lovely self loathing that everyone experiences when they see someone’s IG bio read ‘13’. :’D

[@mimikyu_]

this is the reason why i dont put my age in my bio anymore. everytime i see an artist put their age in their bio as the ONLY thing thats there, i dont follow them. it feels almost like a subtle brag and i can feel the arrogance. i can understand if they wanna write "minor" so that weird adults wont approach them. but i noticed artists under 18 are usually the only ones who write their ages right at the top of their bios. they know what theyre doing

[@Stoplookingathatistolethis]

damn im 17 and i kinda feel the same

[@stxllr4687]

@@mimikyu_ i half agree. i do think its a lot to do with bragging sometimes, other times it might just be that they want to interact with people their age all in all i think its a stupid idea to put your age on the internet (call me a hypocrite, but hey!) especially on something as easily accessible as a twitter/insta bio

[@grete9053]

​@@mimikyu_ you're delusional

[@Azura_Shades]

My mom used to draw commissions for people when she was in her teens. I forget the reason why she stopped, but she's picked it back up again about three or four years ago through the form of pyrography (she basically burns drawings on wooden planks and boxes). She gets discouraged by seeing her work in comparison to other artists online because she does everything by hand, and feels like she hasn't had any improvement with her techniques. She's almost 60. (She was also starting this hobby when she was still working. She didn't retire not too long ago) It's possible to start back with art at any time like you said. I think people (myself included, because I do digital art and I feel like I'm not at a skill level correspondent to my age when I look at some of my friends' pieces.) need to take it easier on themselves and try and improve at their own pace. I know there's things I need to improve on. I know my mom sees things she can improve on. I just wish she would take it easier on herself. Everyone starts somewhere, and everyone can start back again whenever they want to, so age shouldn't really matter when everyone makes art for their own reasons.

[@wintersprite]

Yes, the same goes for any creative outlet. I started violin in my 20s and I know there are other who have started later than I did (some start in their 50s or 60s). Is it harder? Yes. Yet it’s still rewarding and part of it can be that adults are more apt to think about what they did wrong or badly, etc. (not to say children can’t as I’ve had anxiety since I was a kid).

[@rinlozio1108]

I absolutely agree with the part about talent being an excuse. It's always so annoying, when people are telling me that I'm talented and they wish they could draw like me but they are not talented, so they can't draw. That's such a bullshit! I don't understand, why people treat art like some magical ability. We're not born with the ability to draw perfectly! You can learn to draw too! Great video. Everything you said is so true, and it sucks how society is just so toxic

[@vanrir6866]

A person recently told me my drawing abilities were god given, and which I replied to that I wish it was that easy! It's a skill that has in to be developed with a lot practice to be at a certain level and just saying "god gave it to you" massively invalidates all the work. I hate it when people treat art/drawing as something you're naturally good at which isn't the case 99% of the times

[@rinlozio1108]

@@vanrir6866 Yeah! Rhis is also the argument that people often use to gaslight us into wanting less money for art, o no money at all. I've heard that my art talent is a gift, and that it's my responsibility to share that gift with other people. How about you share your gift of working at the store and give me food for free? Do people think artist don't need to put any work?

[@straawberryfieldsforever]

I think talent isn't real! (let me explain), You learn how to draw, you develop your style and your traits. Nobody comes out of the womb with perfect anatomy or rendering. Sure I do agree that some people have better mental analysisis of how things are and are able to portrait it better but that's not the case for the majority of artists who praticed so much to be able to draw those things. I think calling it a talent downplays it way too much, like it,s just a talent and not a hard developped skill. I like to compare drawing to weight lifting, no you can't lift 100lbs on day 1, but overtime with more pratice, knowledge, tools, you definitely can achieve it if that's your goal. Same as drawing, nobody starts day 1 as a god of the pencil

[@starfall179]

Honestly, I feel this. My cousin has been drawing since like 4 years old if I remember correctly. She has been known to be very talented at drawing by everyone, and of course I'm not (I cringe at my drawings). And lately I really wanna learn how to draw for fun, so I tried watching some drawing tutorials. Needless to say, it's been over a year now and I can say I can draw. Sure not as good as her (Since she has been drawing wayy longer than I have), but at least it's kinda pleasent to look at (I usually share my drawings to my friends) even though it's still pretty mediocre. So yeah, you don't really need talent to draw, but talent does play a little part in it.

[@Temperans]

A "talent" does not mean that you didn't put work, that its not hard, or that a person couldn't learn it. Its a recognition of the work dedicated to make something look good. A person doing a sport didn't start knowing that sport. But we still say they are talented if they are good at that sport. Take it as a compliment that you are good and people wish they could have your dedication. From the perspective of someone that isn't good, it is literally an expression of admiration. Yeah, its also used as an excused by lazy people. But that does not diminish your achievements, just says that the other person didn't invest time into learning.

[@ayback183]

I (re)started at 38 years old. I was in the middle of a divorce and life was looking pretty bad. Then I saw a drawing tutorial on KZbin and thought "Hmm. Wonder if I could do that?" So I took out my pencil case that had been sitting idle for almost twenty years and gave it a shot. I'd put my drawing hobby aside for over a decade to focus on crappy jobs and a crappier marriage, so my skills were rusty to say the least. The drawing I did that day was horrendous, but the spark was back. So I'm in an odd position, as I have learned to draw twice, in two different time-periods. Twenty years ago when I was learning, I had dial-up internet, one or two websites, and whatever drawing books Borders decided to stock at the time and that was really it. I learned what anime was by stumbling upon it on Sci-Fi Channel's "Saturday Anime" segment (it was "Iria: Zeiram the Animation," and "Record of Lodoss War" that got me hooked.) I had no grasp of the fundamentals - I didn't think they were important. I didn't want to draw spheres and cubes, I wanted to draw anime girls and fantasy art. And my art was considered pretty good in my circle of friends, but most of my friends couldn't draw, so I had no feedback or guidance either. Lessons didn't work for me, as I was too lackadaisical at the time to take them seriously. I could pump out a well-shaded and very detailed sketch of your D&D character, in a static pose and some fundamental anatomy flaw I judiciously hid under a suit of armor and a cape. That was the extent of my skills at the time. Fast-forward twenty years and I'm starting again. This time, the world is at my fingertips. Pinterest makes finding references trivial. KZbin has an endless supply of art tutorials with many different styles and methods. And if I learn of some book that I think would be helpful, Amazon can have it at my door in two days. My Huion graphics tablet was quite affordable as well, compared to the tablets that were around back then. And with so many established artists stressing the importance of fundamentals, there is no excuse for me to ignore them. Overall, I've been improving rapidly, though I still have a long way to go. All that said, my age has been a source of difficulty for me, especially when it comes to associating with other artists, and I've yet to find a community. I'm always afraid that I'll come off as some kind of creepy old pervert drawing anime characters at 40 years old. At my age, sometimes I feel that people would be right to assume that I should be much better, or should have given up by now to focus on "real life" (which I failed miserably at.) I hear stories about people in their 20s being seen as old, and it scares me away - I don't want to feel like some art-discord's creepy uncle, so I keep it all to myself. So having never interacted with the community, I've never technically had a negative experience with ageism, I guess, besides the ones that happen in my head when I'm considering putting my stuff out there. Anyway, sorry for the rambling. Old people do that sometimes.

[@poethewondercat7851]

Your life is eerily similar to mine. I'm 42, I grew up watching what little anime I could find in local comic shops that would rent out the VHS tapes... jfc I'm old... and I'd draw my friend's DnD characters for fun. Then I got into a relationship at 18, and she squashed my ambition, saying that the anime girls I drew were just porn. I gave up for nearly 16 years until our divorce. Lost my job, had to move in with family, and figured why not try doing art again to make money? Now I've been doing it steadily for 6 years, but just like you, I've never really been able to connect with other artists, since most are younger than me, and the few times I tried, they were really hostile. And yeah, I AM the creepy uncle, even on my own discord server. But I love drawing and I never want to stop, even though I don't feel I'm nearly as good as I should be or could be. I won't put any links here since I guess that's poor youtube etiquette, but if you wanna talk about being old with me, you can look up Thatcatnamedpoe on twitter and DM me.

[@wintersprite]

I’m 37. There’s nothing wrong with drawing anime at any age. While I don’t really draw anime, I still like the style and my brother used to draw it. I’m also an adult doll/stuffed animal/toy collector and over the years I’ve found many others who collect as adults too. For awhile I didn’t actively collect (for dolls I collect mostly American Girl) and kept my love for AG on the down-low in high school. Then in college I found a couple of message boards for teen and adult collectors and it helped me get back into collecting again.

[@prinxen1733]

*I'm only 20, but I think if you make fanart of things that you like and post them on websites like DeviantArt and maybe Twitter/Tumblr, people will flock to you regardless of your age :) *I remember being artist friends with quite a few older artists when I was 13-14 that were super supportive of my art and gave me tips I wouldn't have thought of! I know the internet rn seems pretty insistent that adults and minors can't casually interact (for whatever reason), but trust me when I say it isn't all like that. And those that would accuse you of being a creep for engaging in the community also make similar callouts about bloody _12 year olds_ sometimes, so...

[@mercy5004]

I think it helps to find a community that has a generally older audience. I'm lucky in that I landed up doing commission work for a random fan fiction writer a couple of years ago.... and now I'm one of the admins of his discord lol. Most of us there are 20 somethings, but 30 somethings aren't hard to find either, and theres only a hand full of teens that lurk around. But the community is largely based around a love for old Fire emblem games (that's the basis of the fan fiction) which leads to older people filtering in and the actual children never coming in the first place. Some D&D groups also have significant artist populations, and many are more adult oriented, which can also help. Finding groups that tend to align with media or other things from around particular periods of time, (I'm a big Ranma 1/2 fan for instance, which is from the 80's) has helped me significantly in avoiding any ageism or issues in the art community (even if its just a handful of artists in a larger "fandom" discord). Those that tend to skew older in the first place I've found care WAAAY less about how "good" you are at any age, and just that you draw at all and can make things they mutually enjoy. But I'd definitely steer away from youtube discords for creators whose videos tend to attract younger audiences. I'm 26, and even *I* feel creepy being surrounded by these 15-10 year olds, even though I joined to support a channel. I've found the younger the group, often, the more trouble and drama. It takes a bit, but I promise there's a group out there that would just love having your art grace their feed.

[@Temperans]

How is being 40 year old drawing anime an issue? Anime is literally done by people of all ages. Heck there are manga that have been going on for 20+ years, are you going to say the One Piece creator is a creep? People in the anime community literally do not care about other's age unless the person is being an actual creep.

[@mintyflores7378]

I took a ceramics class made up of mostly elderly and middle aged women, age should never affect skill.

[@hazelgrunts]

My grandmother is 77 and still makes art, she makes cat sculptures and paintings. She is well known in her community, she’s even a founding member of a (pretty famous Canadian town) artist group

[@jiyakuches220]

It is nice that your grandmother still makes art! ^^ Cat sculptures and paintings are pretty interesting. I wanna know-how, and your one is alright too! My family makes art, too, especially my granduncle, who drew comics that are shown in newspapers. Unfortunately, they aren't available when I try to discover them. qwq

[@jimonmars1]

Oldster here. Got serious with my art last year, at 55. I know I'll never catch up the babies (like the 40 year olds lol). I think my lack of anxiety is because I don't intend to make a living at it. If I do sell a graphic novel or two it's just fun money. Having a day job that doesn't suck makes a huge difference.

[@a-garden-of-worlds]

That's awesome! Do you post your art anywhere?

[@thelemon5069]

Link to your novel?

[@Stavv_]

Art is becoming even more the most interesting hobby ever. Kids nowadays draw at very young age and there love it so much there evolving very good! Is good to see people keep going with what there love so much even if they have hard times!

[@SeinIshamiado]

"It makes an old girl happy" Miss noooo you are not old at all! Don't ever think that. You are beautifully young, (unless your actual age is like in the 80s then whoops lol) you give so much wisdom from the art community that's highly respected. ☺️ We love you queen!

[@jesterdays]

Nothing wrong with being old

[@SeinIshamiado]

@@jesterdays okay!

[@missyq8765]

Remember, younger people who are better than you might had a good head start when they were young ex. good equipment, good teacher/parents that knew art or just plain genius. Don't be discourage by it, people succeed at a different pace. So while you still alive and breathing, don't give up and keep on improving. Use other people achievements to motivate you to be even better than them. I also learned from the hard way, but It help me understand that I should go with my pace and enjoy drawing while still improving!

[@cassiscrowmatic]

Oh and a side note I forgot to mention, but I spent over a decade drawing caricatures at a very busy amusement park, so I am speaking with experience when I say the people who try to haggle down your art are the people who will appreciate it least. Never haggle. Save your work for the people who value your worth.

[@cometischeese]

my moms in her 40s or 50s and i think she draws really well, especially with flowers she doesn't draw digitally but her arts so cool to me. she taught me how to draw roses once!

[@Suited_Nat]

1:45 legit the artist curse of Gen Z. I’m 18, and I see artists that are years younger than me- and I feel so much pressure to be like them. Which is honestly depressing because when I was like 15, I still had the same issue, and imo, it really stunted my own growth as an artist. So now I try to just like my own art, and not try to compare myself to others. Tho I’ve gotten ppl that have said shit to me in person about how my art looks “wrong” or will just straight up laugh at me like that’s funny? Like the thing is, I’m not the best artist, or like able to paint realism at the snap of a finger, but I’m not terrible to the point of just mocking laughter. So yea- that fucked me up. Esp since the person that laughed at me was also an artist but w a big ass ego. Either way, I know I have a long time to go when it comes to improvement and just trying to love aspects of my art. It’s just that seeing the whole flex trend of “I’m insert young age and I can draw like this” is really demotivating. I’m glad someone talked about this though, because even if you are 15, you shouldn’t feel bad because you aren’t a “art master.”

[@sunchips1723]

As someone who does draws for stress relief THANK YOU FOR bringing it up! It seems like a lot of people forget about it when talking about art and artists and it drives me insane.

[@CatQueenOfPluto]

At 36 years old, I feel like I'm constantly playing catch-up skill-wise even though I never really stopped drawing. I've recieved online comments before about how so and so can draw better than me at certain ages. That didn't bother me as much as the comments from people I knew about how I should worry more about having kids before I was 30. I did end up having a kid at 33 and sure enough the comments turned into "wait till he's in school before you take up hobbies." Good thought provoking video

[@sh00kspeared73]

I so feel this. I used to see a bunch of people post stuff on tik tok that said stuff like, "a day in the life as a 16 year old concept artist" and then they'd show a bunch of professional level art. Throwing in the '16 year old artist' bit just seemed like an easy way to make others feel bad about their skills and have their comments flooded with things like, "WOAH, YOU'RE 16?? I'm 20 AND CAN'T EVEN DRAW A STICK MAN!!" There have been so many instances where I just wanted to quit because I saw people my age or younger already getting commissions and looking down on others who weren't as good as them. (and, tbh, this goes for so many of my other creative hobbies as well-- writing, virtual photography, music, acting...). Art shouldn't be a competition and I hate the fact that it's become that way.

[@milkntomatoes9418]

(This is a whole book I'm so sorry😅) I'm 31 and due to life circumstances, I was pretty much "sheltered" and stuck in childhood, and had my "teenager phase" in my mid 20s. I loved art as a kid, but for multiple reasons my family discouraged me from doing it and I ended up not picking it up again until I was around 18 (I made cringey OCs on dA alongside 12yos😅 but it was fun). But a lot of "life" and "me" things happened again and I would stop for a while or slow down until I dropped it again at 24 (my confused teenager phase), only doing a drawing or two every couple of months after that. I picked it up again at 28 and went a completely different direction in terms of my art style (Around this time you commissioned unprofessional, confused, little old me for chibi art and told me not to undersell, and while I still can't shake off the feeling that my art was and is not good enough to sell, your advice helped me a lot to value my art and my efforts more and I'm so grateful for it❤️). Slowed down again bcos I focused too much on how badly I was doing on social media and eventually got drained. But getting into new fandoms keep inspiring me to do art again and I'm glad to say I'm still in the game. I definitely missed out on a lot of practice all those years and I'm so far behind, but it is what it is. My "excuse" is that I did the best to survive my life and still come out as a somewhat ok adult, and sometimes that meant pushing art to the side.

[@Fionapollo]

I still have that commission!! It's one of my faves actually & it still makes me so happy to look back at 🥹 Life is full of ups and downs, so it should be expected that some people tend to stop & start at various times. You were a great artist when you started and still are now, not just through your ability, but because you kept at it. Social media I swear is the bain of so many artists, but you putting yourself first to survive & then still pushing on speaks volumes about what a great person you are! 💚

[@FairyKit]

I resonate with this so much! I had the same experience and sprinkle in the rich kid bullies haha. I'm 30 and have been on and off with my art. Never having an art tablet but now I do, I'm confused on how to use it even when I find tutorials. The tutorials go too fast for me tbh and I lose where the tools are. I'm still trying to survive, too

[@mercy5004]

I feel the having to push art to the side bit. Even though I actually was encouraged to draw and was given the resources I needed to make art by my family from a young age, and I definately enjoyed it.... there have been several times where I had to sit it down for a while, sometimes feeling like years (even though I know I must have doodled just, not sitting down to actually "make" anything) because whatever life was throwing at me, my mental health, etc just was too much. Or i felt burnt out and a lack of inspiration so I walked away. last time I took a long break, came back, and felt AWFUL about how much my skills lapsed in that time and that I had to chase to just come close to the level I was at when I was younger. But at the same time, I needed that break, the skills come back, and before you even know it you're back in the swing of things and have probably advanced past your previous skill level without realizing it. I've come to figure that art is kind of like riding a bike. You can stop at any time, leave it for years, and then pick it back up again. It'll be awkward and sometimes feel a little silly, but its all in there somewhere and if you just keep at it you'll be rolling in no time.

[@harkpow]

I wish kids can see more discussion of ageism because I think it is a very important topic. When I was near 12-13 I would see people all around me have beautiful art. Instead of growing because I am inspired, i was stressed to turn into an art prodigy. It felt so nice to have people commenting on your works and telling you how awesome you are. However, I was also very arrogant (like you said in the video) I looked down and saw people who were older than me that are less skilled and thought "man im so much better." I would get disappointed if I didn't feel I got enough praise and just think "They don't know anything about art." I still struggle with my pride in art class. If I tell a student that is less skilled than me that they have good art, and they don't compliment me back, my mind says that they are arrogant. Of course I know that's not how it works, and I am self aware. This is my point of view of being in the art community as a young person. This video was deeply accurate, but I also hope you have gained some insight from what I wrote.

[@xfacade_productions]

To get into the art school I am in, you have to present a portfolio, I was 12, that means that I SHOULD HAVE had outstanding art before hand, and I dont know about you, but that seems like such a standerd for a young person to get into a highschool. I got in. But not because I was great... They saw potential. But in all honesty, it sounds like they give everyone that chance of "you werent up to our standerd but we know where you're going so welcome aboard" I dunno about you but being 12 being expected to draw realism quite well is such an overwhelming thing

[@Fionapollo]

Jesus that is ridiculous 😰 congrats on getting in but that sounds like an insane amount of pressure at such a young age

[@SailorMya]

This is so true!!! I started drawing young do to undiagnosed ADHD because drawing during class was way more fun! Because of this my skills grew fast compared to my friends so I was heavily praised for my skills as a teen! Well after I was out of school the real world hit hard and I didn't have that excess class time to draw turning my passion into just a hobby... I think the biggest thing was seeing all the "young blood" who were leaps and bounds better then I felt I ever could be posting online... I hope to reignite my passion someday...

[@PokeNebula]

My desk is full of sheets of looseleaf covered front-to-back with character sketches and doodles i did during high school. but when i was struggling in college, and during covid i basicallt didn’t draw at all… i’m trying to pick it back up again

[@PokeNebula]

Funny thing is, i swear doodling in class might actually help our adhd brains focus? you can stop paying attention when the teacher is saying pragraphs of filler content, and then only start listening when they say something that’s actually new to you.

[@KiyoshiArts]

Personally it took me longer to get into art due to my family being very sport-based. It’s honestly not too long ago that I got into art, and seeing people around my age make high quality art always make me think what if I started art instead of having to do sports at a younger age.

[@m_artroom]

Are you kidding me that’s so funny. On the flip side, I was raised in a artsy type environment. I could never get into sports with moving around schools so much and sometimes I wish I got into it when I was younger, because it’s virtually impossible to keep up with peers while playing even simple games like basketball for fun and stuff.

[@sabiksphinx]

I was praised for my art in my teen years. I was considered 'talented' and 'creative'. But now that i'm reaching my mid 20's, people mistaken my art for being drawn by a 15 yr old and you stop getting these compliments. Also you start improving at a slower pace in your 20's due to work and life getting in the way, there's very little time to practice.

[@DystopianWalmarts]

The standard they put on young artist to improve constantly is heinous as someone who is a teen artist I often get extremely discouraged if my art doesn’t look like Sam does arts or adults around me is because that is the standard and if I do not meet it I am not going to make it a artist. Unfortunately its very sad that the age of artists is always in some way discriminated against. Anyway wonderful video and i can not wait to see where this conversation leads.

[@PerryPictures]

15mins in hit hard. You're absolutely not wrong about people having the audacity to call women failures if they're not giving up everything they enjoy. if I do have a kid, I still want to make art without being accused of negligence. u.u

[@mehcheerios370]

I had commented about my mother before I saw that part. She's in her early sixties. Gave up everything to raise her children. Only within the last five years or so she picked up sculpting with polymer clay and it didn't take her long to become amazing at it. I can only think of the things she would of accomplished if she had been able to continue to pursue her passion with or without having had to raise us. It's really disheartening and honestly disgusting that people would tell ladies to stop enjoying themselves and go pop out some children because it's apparently people like that think women are here for and can't have a life that doesn't revolve around coupling and having children. I've witnessed that firsthand with my mother not having a moment to herself to enjoy her artistic passion and express herself and see her visions come alive through her artwork and to me, even at the very least it's sad. I'm not saying it has to be one or the other, but when others tell someone it has to be one way only, they really need to step off and go reevaluate their own lives.

[@xcidgaf]

Your mother chose out of free will to have children. Society isnt obligated to worship her for the choices she made.

[@duckymclucky2562]

common youtube commenter L

[@augustuslunasol10thapostle]

@@duckymclucky2562 i think a mirror is what is needed here you want a L your entire existence has been a massive loss for all humanity

[@mrpickles-hb6zx]

@mind waves you didn't even understand the comment

[@crossidy7223]

Im 29 and have been drawing since before I can remember, I was always encouraged to keep drawing and had artistic people around me, mom, grandma, friends etc. Even when I flunked art school and threw the whole idea of being professional artist out of the window I was still supported and encouraged to not stop enjoying art. Took some years but here I am enjoying it again. Ageism is so weird when it comes to art, like sure its always a bit of an oof when you see a kid whos way ahead of you skillwise, but you know what? that kid worked for it, skill doesnt come from thin air. Im glad its easier to get into art these days and its so much more accessible for most people. Its also never too late to learn and put that effort into refining your skills, your artistic value isnt tied into how fast you can learn and you certainly dont automatically peak at like 22 yrs.

[@TheCrazyChickUpstair]

I've been drawing for 10 years and at 30 years old, I still feel like I am not good enough. I'm always improving but it sucks when i sometimes get told by random people that I need to stop and give up to make room for younger "better" artists.

[@shachintheartist]

Never give up in your passion or craft whether it is visual art like carpentry or drawing or music 😅 ignore people's insults

[@jcwt_pdx]

I started drawing at age 6. Then, in my last year of high school at age 17, I began to be drawn to art. At 18, I began to take art seriously, all the way through college. Now I am an artist at 46 years old, and I also do digital art via SketchBook and Procreate on my iPad. (I also learned that I have to do sketches too.) 🌹💜⭐️

[@poseidons_child.]

I’m a sixteen year old artist who just recently started taking my art seriously. But the “problem” is, is that my art style is more stylized and people are always telling me that I need a more realistic look to my art and I should practice more even though I’ve basically devoted almost every minute of my free time to my art.

[@mismiserables]

Your art definitely doesn't need to look realistic. One of my favorite artists is lavender towne. She has really stylized cartoony art and so many other people also love it. As long as you enjoy what you're drawing then you're good. Don't let anyone push you into drawing things in ways you don't have an interest in.

[@ArtzyZero]

I got that I lot at school too, people didn't really understand why I was drawing 'cartoony stuff' but I will say as a working adult who can't attend college, take full advantage of your school classes to learn the fundamentals of art, no matter how dull it may seem! I never enjoyed art at school because it was so limiting but if I could go back and learn it all properly I would, my art would certainly be better for it. As they say, you've got to know the rules first before you can break them! Learn proper anatomy, perspective etc. and become confident with it, then you can twist it to suit the kind of art you actually want to do! As for practice, you'll need to focus on what you feel needs to be improved. For example maybe you struggle with drawing hands or maybe noses? Then focus on learning how to draw those parts of the body in isolation, from the skeleton to the finer details and then start practicing. You won't see tangible improvement unless you're also seeking new knowledge and skills alongside all of that practice. Check out how other artists in the industry learn these things, sometimes there's little cheats you can do to get the same results without having to learn what every muscle in the hand does. XD

[@poseidons_child.]

@@mismiserables BRO I LOVE LAVENDER TOWNE

[@poseidons_child.]

@@ArtzyZero So…the other eye…how in the name of god do y’all draw that 😂?

[@ArtzyZero]

@@poseidons_child. I'm still learning that myself, haha! The best advice I can give is to learn how to draw the face at different angles, it'll make it easier to see when the eyes don't look right. Ask your art teacher/tutor if they can help you too, it's a big reason for why they're there after all! I'm not sure if it'll work because KZbin doesn't like links but if it does then hopefully this art tutorial can be of some help, even if only a starting point! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGisfoSYZ6p2pK8

[@thepuzzlemaster64]

I guess you can't count me as an example of "age doesn't matter". When I was younger I would draw on occasion, but I was more so focused on playing games and trying to get into programming that I was rarely drawing stuff. All of my art at the time were simple little doodles with terrible anatomy that were only used as concepts for game mechanics that will probably never see the light of day. Fast forward to 2021 at the age of 23, and I've had enough with trying to become a programmer or a computer technician. Inspired by a certain animator who did a certain challenge for one year, I decided to take on this same challenge myself (but with drawings, not animations). And within 1 year, I went from barely being able to draw a simple little character on a piece of paper to making luscious landscapes, creating a slew of different characters, and got really good at drawing hands on a drawing tablet. All of these would usually be cranked-out within a day, and barely anyone would comment or see my work. But the determination and commitment I had to completing this stupid challenge was really what got me to where I am now as this relatively unknown artist that's good at drawing everything in pretty much any style with (as of writing) only 2 years of real experience.

[@angelabranston3695]

im 68 and think you are great. You are clever, funny, well-informed, relevant.

[@Shimamon27]

For your questions - I drew since I can recall myself, and I began my way by drawing stuff I saw in old video games. When I take my age into consideration, my art level is... bad, but, It produces exactly what I want, and that is the only thing that matters to me. So far, I seen enough younger artist doing artwork way beyond what I am capable of, and as a child, I drew really badly in comparison to them in retrospective. So far, it seems like all age groups can do art in different levels and skill... What matter, when working on a team, is if the team of artists flow well with each other and have great team work. Otherwise, it's art. If someone wants to express themselves, go ahead. There's no age to creativity, it's always new, no matter who does it. I have never been "Good" in art, I just ended up with it being what accompanies me through life, and ends up as my tools of trade and passion.

[@chibiiiwerewolf]

As someone who only really started taking art seriously as an adult, thank You for this! ❤

[@sleiphnirdrawings]

I'm one of the younger people here, apparently. I'm 17, and what you are saying is true. I've drawn for as long as I can remember and it always felt like "the one thing I'm good at" and other people have pushed me to perfection, always comparing me to others (also devalue my work bc of my autism but that's another story). Many have tried pushing me to sell my work and pursue art full time, while I don't want that. That's gotten worse when I had to choose a college. Many wanted me to go to art school and were disappointed when I chose microbiology. I believe there are many people facing this pressure, which is incredibly harmful for all ages.

[@Vinstan2]

I also feel like this applies to the music world as well, especially the more orchestral type. It feels like if you never played the violin (or any other instrument) before the age of 12, you'll never have a chance at being as good as the rest. It doesn't help that if you want it to be a career option it's very competitive, hundreds of people can end up applying to join an orchestra with sometimes there just being one spot available. Every professional seems to have started when they were very young and it can often be discouraging to others.

[@Pompom-xy3uu]

Whenever I see artworks that are better than mine, I feel a sense of happiness, jealousy, and admiration for the artist. Then I use those feelings as a drive to help me get better at art.

[@StickmanLLC1]

hey fiona, commenting here to bookmark my artistic journey... currently 17, all i care about in terms of my future and being older is how much i improve. my advice is, focus on yourself and your art and dont overthink about others and their output compared to yours. all the best!

[@Fionapollo]

I believe in you!!!

[@samsaisabug]

I liked this video a lot. I like drawing for fun, but improving at rhythm games is what I enjoy doing the most so I spend more time on that hobby. When I do show my drawings to others I feel self-conscious like I should be spending more time on art...even though it's just something I do to have fun or unwind

[@icyroads3424]

This is a topic that needs to be talked about more, as a chronically ill artist that is turning 28 this year, I have felt the pressure of the things you just mentioned in this video and seen firsthand. I definitely know that this can help a lot of people and I'm glad you talked about it. I've caught myself saying how old I am and how I'm losing time I'll never get back. But you're right everybody's on a different time and should just go at their own pace, after all everyone has different life experiences. I can't wait for your next video. XD

[@critter_core]

This is exactly why there was a time I wondered if I should drop art. Never getting real money commissions and getting only one or two compliments is so demotivating, and hardly any art consumers realize this lol

[@candycane1744]

This hits home, I'm in my 20s and I see amazing art made by 6yr Olds and here I am feeling like an old sack of bones that's too late to get into the creative world

[@FunkVT]

I really appreciate this video. I’m gonna be 24 this year, and I recently got back into art and 2D animation after stopping when I was maybe 16. This ageism stuff definitely adds so much stress into something that I want to do for fun and passion.

[@edgerunner000]

Love this video ❤.. I’m 23 & I only started to draw about a year and a half ago & the only thing that discourages me is people around me don’t understand how long it takes to learn art and are constantly telling me to get a “real” job cuz I’m too old for this.. I try my best to ignore all of it but sometimes I wonder if it’ll all work out.

[@shachintheartist]

Same here I started drawing last year I'm 20 right now but I don't get time to draw because of college and assignments . Ignore those people's insults.

[@lostwarriorstudios]

I started really wanting to learn to improve on drawing when I was 4. I lived in poverty and actually didn't have access to technology besides the television. So I had to learn by looking at things around me and tracing in coloring books. (Putting a sheet of paper on top and sitting in the light so I could trace over the lines.) This is how I had started to learn. So when I got to be on the internet and fully explore at the age of 13 (without having to be supervised and use school websites) I was blown away by all the art my eyes could see. I didn't know about KZbin till I was around 14 when my teacher used it in class. That was where I found art videos. I have a small attention span so sitting there and listening to someone talk blankly made it hard for me to learn so I just stuck with what I know best, learning from looking at other art. I started using peices from other artists and referenced certain parts till I got the hang of the parts I liked. Once I had an idea on how to draw certain parts I began to flourish and spread my wings. Access to the internet helped me learn and develop my style and understand how art works. I believe the internet allows kids these days to learn faster and have lots of tools to use to learn. All I had was some coloring books and my own imagination. So even though I am 18 I am not amazing like some 13 year Olds because I grew up and had to learn differently. I think it is great that kids have access to tools like digital art, videos, tutorials, learn to draw books, and much more!! I think it is great and to my older artists.. DONT BE DISCOURAGED! YOU ALL have your own ways of learning and experiences.! Don't be afraid to get tips from younger artist! They have found tricks and things u might of not seen yet!

[@goji5052]

Recently I've been having breakdowns because it really dawned on me just how much BETTER some of my friends were at art. We're all around the same age range (being teens) but a couple of them are younger than me and are already GOD at shading and lineart (one of the slightly older ones is too). And one of them only started earlier this year and is ALREADY better than me. Meanwhile, I draw like a fucking elementary schooler....which wouldn't be an issue if I didn't also wanna be a good artist. And the worst part is, I FREEDRAW rather than sketch. Freedrawing comes more naturally to me than the BASIC BUILDING BLOCK of a good artist. So yeah. To their credit, anytime I have these breakdowns these same friends have always come to help and comfort me, but I have a hard time convincing myself that I deserve to be called an artist even half as much as they do. I also don't have any excuse to not be shit. I've been drawing since I actually was in elementary. I was probably like, 4-6 or something when I started, and I haven't been getting better fast enough.

[@riverAmazonNZ]

As an adult artist who prefers free-drawing let me tell you it’s ok. It’s just a different approach. Two things you can do to develop: get a sketchbook that you only use for MESSY sketching practice (don’t show anyone) and practice a lot but fast and messy. Do fast and messy sketches over and over without really thinking about it. And the other thing is, be bold and confident with your lines when free-drawing. It’s called gesture, and it gives your drawings personality and individuality. Like how graffiti art has a lot of personality, it’s because it has strong gesture.

[@shachintheartist]

@@riverAmazonNZ good advice

[@hubert1154]

Throughout middle school and early high school, I was reasonably advanced at art for my age. But by age 15-16, I stopped drawing so much and am now just a decent artist for age 18. Drawing every single day became drawing once every other week. Nothing special anymore and I've not improved all that much in the past few years. But I've learned to accept that it's okay not being the best of the best. It's okay to be decent at something.

[@yanstein8464]

answer to tweet - not everyone is bernini, he's one of the best sculptors ever for a reason this may sound rude, but not every artist is a genius, and that's fine, because genius is rare it's okay to just be talented and hardworking :3

[@mehcheerios370]

My mother has always been artistic when it comes to like drawing and whatnot. Though, for nearly three decades she rarely did anything. In her late fifties she saw those polymer clay sculptures which really inspired her. It's only been a few years and she's in her early sixties, but her model horses she sculpts are so amazing. After building the armature, she'll sculpt the skeleton and then builds them up from there. She gets such great feedback on her work. Like, the post reminded me of mother. She married young, had seven children, divorced our father, raised all of us on her own while putting herself back through school, and some times held as many as three jobs at once. She didn't have time to practice her talents. But then all these decades later she was able to pick up something new that she is passionate about. Even with the pain in both her hands she enjoys being able to sit down for a few hours in the early morning hours and bring her ideas to life. And it's perfectly fine and dandy if people in the early years of their lives can have the time to create their own works of art, masterpieces even, but people shouldn't be shaming others. That's not going to inspire anyone.

[@justsomejojo]

The bit about boomer clients made me smile. It's exactly the same for me and it's always funny (sometimes in good ways, sometimes in awkward ways). I had a briefing at the client's currywurst stand once, a briefing in the middle of a construction site, and a LOT of coffee meetings. The variety can be fun, even if decades of differences in mindset are sometimes tough to bridge. Through these meetings I also realized just how many older folks (and I'm talking 40, 50+) are also stuck in the "it's way too late to start now, I mean look at your drawing skills" mindset without being terminally online. It's just that the internet really really amplifies everything it touches and it affects people differently. In a way, the internet is a permanent "big fish in a small pond" effect applied to everybody in it. When I was a child, and then a teen, I was always "the kid with the drawing skills". When I went to art school in the city and met lots of other like-minded people, my self esteem took a big hit and singlehandedly changed the way I draw (the other option was to quit). I never sketched anything before that but at that point, it became a therapeutic step that got me to draw despite all the new-found insecurities - it was that bad. The internet, social media specifically, basically means that as soon as you get to be online, this whole experience can hit you full force, but not at 18 like for me, but at 7 or 8 or 9. *Of course* the ones that power through this will develop much faster, because competition and seeing what amazing things are possible can be really motivating if they don't break your spirit for art (goes for anything really)

[@aspendraws6173]

I wanna talk on this as a 15 year old artist.. sometimes I feel like I’m not allowed to be good because people online complain so much about how it is oh so discouraging when they see a young artist that is good, and I’ve seen young artists get BULLIED online for just being good, man. I just want someone to make an ageism video that isn’t about adults, but about the pressures, guilt-tripping, and the BULLYING some young artists receive. Because most of the time it’s because they’re young, and I think that’s also ageism 😭 I’ve had adults gatekeep resources from me to stop me from getting good, man.

[@bippzy]

I'm 31 (32 at the end of March). So by "artist standards" these days, I'm practically an ancient relic. But I'm still learning, even though I've been drawing my whole life and went to college for animation from 2009-2013. I honestly didn't develop an art style I was truly happy with until 2020 during the pandemic lockdown. But even then, I felt like I was behind even the 14 year old kids who have had access to much more useful resources than I did at that age, or even during college. It's been insane how much I've learned recently in the past few years. I'm not ashamed that I've learned from those younger than me, but I feel it almost insulting that people think I should be some kind of art god at my age. Not everyone has had the same experience or resources available as someone just starting out these days. I did art as a kid, I did art as a teen, I did art as a young adult (and honestly I still think I'm still a young adult at my age). But I know that there are people out there that are better than me at half my age, and even though I may be envious at times, it's still something I can be happy about. Younger people doing awesome art is a good thing, since it'll direct how things like animation go in the future. I wish I had the connections younger people can more easily have these days, but I have never given up, even though I may have had some ruts now and then when I wanted to give up and just say "I won't be as good". But you know what? I'm still doing my thing, and I know that if I stick to it, *someone* will notice and I'll gain that visibility. One way or another, I'll make sure I get to where I want to be.

[@TheMistyPhantom]

I'm 28 and I have been sitting on a comic idea since I was 22. I have been trying for years to improve my art and had to get kicked in the butt by someone I looked up to, to appreciate my ability as an artist, and to stop paying myself $5 commissions. I only started getting serious about art when I was 17. It was my therapy after my mother died, so it's important to me because I've felt for the longest time that if I didn't make something of myself in life I'd be a failure. I think I needed to hear this. Thanks for this

[@KoongYe]

I started art after college at age 27(couldn't draw a thing before). You don't know how many times the ageism discouraged me. Thoughts like "How can I be good when a 12 yo draws better than me." Well, I chugged through it and its been 5 yrs since. I am doing relatively well. I have at least a constant stream of commissions and outsourcing work from companies. I don't consider my drawing good, since I am always super harsh on myself, but I have a decent following and supporters. I see myself improving every year which is a big source of encouragement. It's never too late unless you think it is.

[@Voxen712]

Being stupendously competitive in a race I will never win because it isnt one- It is THE motivation exterminator for me.. Trying to accept that theres always people that are better in every point than me is _so_ hard, art is my passion and seeing people be much better at the same or younger age and going "yea I hardly ever draw" is just so destructing. The part about having to be at the "top of the food chain" in order to escape that stress really hits home.. Videos like these help me to try and just get rid of that mindset a little bit and Im thankful for that :)

[@MrocnyZbik]

Talent. I do not draw, I sometimes write but mosty GM/DM, tell stories in diffrent rpg's and sometimes I hear that I am "talented". I allways answer "No dude/dudet. It is skill, workshop and experience. I just played enough diffrent games, with diffrent people in diffrent settings to have a vague idea what works, when and how. And I read or watched enough to have some library to support my ideas". As for my writing, it is shit, but I am satisfied with it. Maybe some day it will be average. I am 36.

[@alexmcgilvery3878]

Kurt Vonnegut suggests several times that participating in art or other creative activity is less about the end product, than the process of creation. This is pretty much my philosophy. I do what challenges and grows my person. I've done many things badly and enjoyed every minute of it. That isn't to say I don't try to improve my skills, but that effort is predicated on my efforts making the activity more fun. I can see where being 'good' at a young age could produce pressures to always be better than others when they should be measuring their progress against themselves. Lastly we are far too fond of ranking things, art, skill, talent etc, and placing others, or ourselves on some 'objective' scale. My home is filled with art, some cost a fair bit of money, others very little, though I'm constantly encouraging creators to charge what they're worth. My favourite is a young woman I pushed for several years to charge more. I asked her to create a work for me and she immediately asked for ten times as much as she had been used to. Victory! I enjoy the art commentary and watching the process of drawing and colouring your work.

[@ConvenientlyShapedUsername]

I appreciate this a lot. For the longest time I've been feeling like I need to be "good enough" at art before a certain age and need to have everything figured out at 18. Also as a choice and preference - I'm told by adults all the time that it's ok and I don't have to rush; but I really liked the idea of having everything planned and have it go as planned. Though a lot of unexpected things happen that slow things down or corrupt the process of life or something. I fixated on practicing drawing anatomy and characters for years(though mostly without references while actually drawing, somehow I got better anyway), so much so that that's basically all I draw now and I forget what it was like before, but still couldn't work as hard as I should've been able to due to unfortunate circumstances. Seeing other 17-year-old and even younger artists being _amazing_ at art makes me a bit sad(though I'm happy for them). This twitter stuff really doesn't help.. I've been drawing for as long as I can remember, have a talent for artistic stuff _and_ also took it more seriously at 12-13 but I'm still not as good as them..

[@shuuni4947]

Hello, I decided to reply because everything you wrote sounds just like the thoughts I have, and I relate a lot. I’m a teen myself and often feel like “I should be this good at this age”. It’s harming and made me subconsciously evaluate artists based on their age. I would also practice drawing anatomy without reference like you said, but somehow learned through observation. There’s also the occasional pressure of having things figured out before 18 that haunts me sometimes. What helps me the most is realizing that no one can create the art _you_ want to make other than yourself, because everyone has their own unique vision of what styles they want to achieve. Like, only YOU can make the art that you like doing and that makes you happy, if that makes sense. Even if sometimes a piece doesn’t come out how I wanted, the feeling of joy I get when completing a piece to be proud of is what keeps me going in art. I completely relate to the slight sadness when seeing others be great at art as well. For a long time I struggled to feel happy for others but it’s going better I think! I found that it’s more beneficial to be inspired and learn than to be envious. I hope we both overcome this, and good luck on your art journey!

[@ConvenientlyShapedUsername]

@@shuuni4947 Wow yeah you do relate lol Yeah, at least it's comforting to know that only I can create things from exactly my ideas. Good luck on your journey too!

[@vodkabottleeeeee1384]

my insecurities regarding my art skills truly started haunting me as i got older, primarily because i've always prioritized expression and characterization over aesthetics, when i started using social media i got so terribly insecure because my art was goofy looking and not "breathtaking" and "aesthetic" And then i started to compare myself with people younger than me and specially my partner that is the same age as me, and i started envying them and resenting them only because of the ageism in the art community and social media algorithms :( I'm truly happy i finally got over that phase, and i no longer envy and resent artists aroung me, specially younger ones. This video really made me feel understood, i never managed to grasp how much of a problem this is.

[@Strawberrydollisadumbass]

Whenever someone tells me the they can’t draw or I’m not very good at drawing, I tell them to compare yourself instead of comparing each other so that way you can focus on the skill level or set so that you can strive to push yourself, so that way you can strive to challenge and compare yourself, and not comparing yourself to someone else, so that way you feel prideful when you look at your work in the past and see how much you have grown

[@moritzruffonei3960]

i never get tired of recomending ppl that feel like ''they arent YET a master in drawing / painting / whatever after x month/years of practice '' to watch the video ''the long game: why leonardo davinci was once a loser''

[@davidlee6720]

Titian did his best work at over ninety ,he also learned how to loosen up and experiment as well. I am over seventy and have learned all of the medium until they are now second nature and still feel like I have only just begun.

[@Calcifi]

Your mention of "if you have a knack for it people want you to pursue it" is right on point... I am an art student that's transferring to marine biology and because of this have had students/teachers/family practically berate me for "abandoning" my art skills in pursuit of something I enjoy doing. Doing art professionally drove me to extreme burnout (especially at a younger age) and the idea that because you're good at something you must stick with it is, at best, annoying. Thank you for this wonderful video and have a good day!

[@sulkyclara]

I’m 13 and yep, the internet is the reason why young artists are so skilled at art. Like you could search up many tutorials and you’ll see what you need immediately! For me, I just do art as a side hobby, so I wouldn’t see it as a big deal but for others, it might be their dream job but that doesn’t mean you should compare yourself to others! It’s best to think about yourself first, don’t listen to any hate online since they’re usually the one who doesn’t have as much art skills as you. Stay positive!

[@FeatheredCreature]

This makes me glad im not pressured to get better. I like doing art for myself a few times a month, and it is pretty cool when I figure out how to draw something I couldn't before. it's also fun seeing how my stuff changed over the last almost 6 years

[@scape_goat5066]

Omg I love the expressions on the characters in the speedpaint, and the little sticker on the phone is so cute!!

[@invaderalienface6507]

I first started taking art seriously at 5 and then I got interested in art history in 3rd grade (when I was 8) So art has been my thing for YEARS.

[@persephone8950]

Sometimes people say I’m lying about my age because of how good I am at art and say that my height proves it since I’m a tall lad. It’s honestly kind of weird to me how your age determines your skill in art when it really depends on your understanding and study of art

[@TechTchno]

I'm 19. I've been drawing regularly since around age 8/9 but didn't really do it a BUNCH more until around age 11~12. When I was 13 and made a lot of progress, I suddenly fell deep into the habit of comparing my art to others', and quickly fell into this horrible mindset of comparing my art almost constantly. I'd see people around my age or significantly younger that were significantly better than me, either at that time, or for my age, and every single time I drew something I liked I just felt like it wasn't good enough. It took me until late age 15 to start liking my art. I'm not sure of the exact buildup, but I ended up making drawings I consistently liked, and I actually began to LIKE my art. It was so relieving. I didn't compare as much then and I genuinely felt SO much better. Of course, it was hard to not fall back into doing it again, and it's a bit easier to not do so anymore, but cob, it absolutely changed so much for me. And I can understand anyone in the same situation as I was in, because I was in it for YEARS. It felt like forever, especially at that time in my life. It's HARD, man, it's so hard to get out, especially when it feels like you never will. But you can do it! It just takes time. I believe in all of you guys :]

[@mayak333]

I’m still pretty young and I’d like to say I’m pretty good at art, I have a developed style and stuff, and I started taking drawing seriously at age 10-11 because of scratch, but ageism has already impacted me so much. Seeing fantastic artists that are younger than me and/or my age doesn't feel very good, especially because my art is the trait I prize the most in myself. I think we should just do out with the whole idea of prioritizing prodigious people because it puts so much stress on everyone.

[@atomheart7907]

I love this, I had just turned 28 2 days ago and im catching myself saying I started too late or comparing my art to someone who wasnt even alive yet when I started, looking at my art and saying I should be leagues ahead by now since I had been drawing for over a decade, but started taking it much more seriously when I was about 16-17

[@MidoriyamaRArekusu]

I’ll be turning 35 next month; I have been drawing my whole life, was told all the way through childhood that I’m really good at drawing. Now after 16 years of art and design/ Fine arts studies at college and Uni, I am finally finding the confidence to draw again after going through a ten year period where I couldn’t draw anything. I know my drawing skills are not even vaguely comparable to people of less than half my age, but I still want to be able to express my ideas visually and share them with others. I just need to find my confidence and my drive to get creating again.

[@tiagofernandes2275]

I'm 27 and I've drawn all my life I feel that sting when someone younger then me makes superb art XD But in this last year's I decided to stop trying to make a career out of art it only lead me to multiple burnout's. I can't stop drawing trust me I tried many many times with no success, but I decided to just draw when I feel like it and ignore everything else

[@elisanimation1323]

I have generally been serious about my art for most of the time in which I've made art. However, for the longest time, I had absolutely no drive to do any such thing as I had no ideas. I would try to draw something and then stare at a blank paper for an hour. This did not change until I was 15, in which I would regularly watch animated shows and youtube animation. I began to closely analyze those character designs in particular, slowly picking the pieces I like most. Then, I started to draw and have more greatly driven ideas as I found something as a base to start with and eventually evolve over time. I took in many different styles and eventually developed my own (also currently practicing/development with a secondary one as well). This year, I am also taking an art class in which, for example, I've been able to do a full portrait of Weird Al Yankovic, something I never believed I could do before, bu seemingly excelled at. So, in my case, I have actually greatly improved my artistic and drawing abilities in under two years as of this time and have regularly tried and experimented with new things. Honestly, though, one of my best accomplishments in my opinions is that I can now draw hands (varying in detail). I also have taught myself how to animate as well, I haven't entirely learned all of the more complex functions of Adobe Animate (or Photoshop), but I have been able to figure out the basics. (Originally started that with flipbooks). Well, anyway, seeing the topic of this video, I felt like sharing. Have a good day, anyone who reads this long tangent.

[@Jiggelmeister]

Unrelated but dam that cake roll looks good...

[@caitlynanderson2641]

I love this video! I was always told in my family that I wasn't an artist and should do something more substantial because I didn't have the talent. I had been burnt out, so I restarted drawing shortly after turning 21 to relax. I wasn't that great, but I enjoyed every second of it. I'd rush home to sketch and learn as much as I could. I always felt like I came into art too late, so I never really pursued anything. Then, one day, I was writing a story out, and it clicked that I wanted to make a comic. I'm 24 now, and my comic is coming along slowly, but surely. I put in time, energy, and effort, and my art got way better. I'm a part-time freelance artist now (hoping to go full time soon!), and I could not be happier. Hearing you say art is another skill you can learn makes me so happy to hear. Years of being told I never had the talent pushed me away from art, so I'm thrilled to see the community talking more about this issue. Art is amazing! And it's never too late to enjoy it :) Sorry this is so long! Art is my passion, and I love getting to tell my art journey. ^.^ Thank you!!

[@strikerwott1222]

Another wonderful video! Yeah, I really relate to this. I've been drawing since I was real little, I forget which exact age, but it was quite early, and I admit I do get discouraged and jealous when I see people younger than me drawing super incredibly, but I have to just keep in my mind that everyone goes their own pace and we all have our different ways of drawing. I also honestly get real annoyed when people refer to drawing as a talent and not a skill, and there have been many people who have told me things like "You're so talented, I wish I could draw, but I can't" and other stuff like that countless times

[@WylieWolfenstein]

You are literally just like Hilda. Hilda is what inspired me to draw. Subbed.

[@Dustinisanartist]

I started drawing when I was 4, I'm currently 44, art world has changed a lot, I took it seruiosly my junior year of highschool, I'm always updating my skills and knowledge to keep up with the new tech. Unfornatily in the video game industry people see 44 year freelancer as an old man.

[@HarrenTonderen]

Hardest part is actually telling yourself this in a way you will accept it. Sometimes problems like that have very deep roots that holds on very tight

[@jbkhan1135]

I'm in my mid-40s and just started seriously drawing. A lot of people think that's too late to start, but I really enjoy it and having a lot of success. You're never too old to do something, until you're in the grave.

[@CastorCas]

I love doing art but I never wanted to go "pro" I have fun doing it and I love my art but I also don't think it is very good I have drawn for what feels like forever. I only ever slightly drew on flipaclip. My entire digital art was me on flipaclip for a month max or something. Maybe less than a month. I paint whenever I got time. I draw whenever I have a pencil (which I just carry one now) and paper. Obviously I compare my art. It is hard not to when there is so many amazing artists As I said above I do love my art even when I compare because I had fun doing it. (I probably won't ever start making digital art though.) I have improved since I was 3, obviously. I like to think I still improve. Actually I know I do, just never drastically. I create for fun not for others. Which is why I can go weeks or months without drawing (Also easily distracted) (I only became and adult sometime in these last few years btw) Tl;Dr I do art for fun, I don't take it all that seriously. Despite that I sometimes compare myself. Will never do it as a job

[@garrettramos8052]

Hello, I've watched this video three times. I nearly cried after the third watch. Thanks for this, it helps a whole lot and puts into words some feelings that I have had for sometime but never knew how to express.

[@wuerhyueh]

Thank you for the video, it gave me a lot of comfort. I am now 27 years old and I suffered from severe bullying when I was still a student. So I quickly switched my focus to the internet and mistakenly linked my drawing skills and fan base to my worth. I thought I had escaped reality, that I would do better online, that I was trying to win more followers, but in reality I was just caught up in endless competition and got a lot of pressure from it. I don't draw anymore because it reminds me of the past when I had to compete. It makes me sad, especially since I really don't have any skills or expertise other than drawing. I used to hope that I could make money from drawing, and now I'm lost, which is a terrible feeling. However, your luxury analogy has given me more confidence in what I used to do, even though I don't do it anymore.

[@tokiomitohsaka7770]

It is never too late to start. I am acquainted with a woman who started practicing martial arts in her 60’s and she is 90 now and very advanced.

[@Ninjacat25]

Thank you very much for this lovely message, it's very honorable of you to share it with us, and also your skill in art is to be very much admired. Subscribed.

[@Tamomi13]

My mom didn't start her art endeavor until I was in elementary school, and I became more determined in my own art in my mid-20s. I learned that you can't control what people think and you have walk to the beat of your own drum.

[@parisedoodle230]

I’m about to turn 21 soon… I guess my luxury of being a young artist is about to expire then 😂

[@n1vzee]

I'm glad that someone talked about this issue. I think that art is such a competitive field and it has gotten harder and harder for me not to compare myself to other people. But this video showed me that I'm not alone in this. Reading the comment section helped me realize that a lot of artists are experiencing the same struggle that I am. This certainly doesn't fix the issue but it makes me feel more confident and less discouraged. If you're reading this and you have the same problem know that you're not alone. It doesn't matter how old you are. It doesn't matter how skilled you are. The only thing that matters is your happiness. If you're happy making art who cares how good it is. So go out there and draw. Be creative and never let other people's skills discourage you. You can do it. I believe in you

[@humbleebumblee]

I decided when I was around probably 5-7 that I loved and wanted to do more art. It was before social media became mainstream so it wasn't really due to any influence on it's part but I do remember unconsciously comparing my art to an older high school student's piece and often tried to replicate what I saw, wishing I could draw like that. I never really gave up on art but it took me until my early 20's to actually start LOVING my own art! And I wish it didn't take me so long to appreciate the beauty in what I could make. Now a days at 27, I love watching myself draw and color, I enjoy the process from beginning to end and it's lovely to be able to smile at seeing your product come to life. Side note: I LOVE how you draw