Artists That You Should Learn From and Some You Might Want to Skip

Are the best artists also the best teachers? Hear Marshall and Stan's answer and get their thoughts on how you would structure your education with online courses. Clip taken from S2E03.
Thumbnail Art by Steve Huston
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#onlinelearning #selftaughtartist #onlineartschool
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CREDITS:
Hosts - Stan Prokopenko (www.stanprokopenko.com), Marshall Vandruff (www.marshallart.com/)
Production Assistance - Charlie Nicholson ( / shloogorgh , Sean Ramsey (www.peoplewhodrawstuff.com), Katrina Collins (www.katrinacollins.com)
Editing - Charlie Nicholson, Katrina Collins
Audio Engineer - Charlie Nicholson
Intro Animation - Cody Shank (codyshank.com/)
Intro Jingle - Tommy Rush ( / tommyrush )
Music Used with Permission Intro - The Freak Fandango Orchestra“

[@milddiffuse]

"Studying smart is more important then studying hard" This Idea has been planted in my head for a long time, but again without someone else to tell you that you're doing the right thing, it's really hard. And especially with exercises that one should do regularly to really improve, I always question myself if I'm even doing it right and don't stay motivated at all.

[@frankensteinjr.4985]

this is true

[@KershalJC]

Thats just an excuse smh. There are soooooooooo many resources out there. Books tips advice just pretty much everything, no excuses.

[@jackwatson7323]

I’m learning on my own and now that I have an idea of the fundamentals of drawing I’ve narrowed down my learning so I’m only focusing on one or two subjects for a while but I keeping sketching everyday. I find I can tell if I’m learning from my studies because it begins to appear in my sketches.

[@jeffhreid]

Steve Huston is an excellent example. Super teacher. He gets the idea across. Amazing to listen to him and realize you understand something in a new way. Cesar Santos, Andrew Tishler, Alex Travaris all excellent as well

[@smajickenan3114]

Love the podcast, it's really helping me grow as an artist and a person. Thanks both of you,keep on doing them! 😁

[@BelialDisraeli]

First time on this channel but gotta say that the old dude has the most unreal nicest voice i've ever heard.

[@kellyramirez7465]

Oh, the days of old before COVID when people could converse without the fear of dying. It's so odd that I can't really remember how I functioned without a mask or washing my hands every half hour! Great clip! Very helpful, gave me lots to think about when picking courses online

[@lisafred1362]

I love love studying from Steve Huston, Marshall, and Proko... my three fav teachers.

[@alphinart]

Great tips! I love how you guys just go straight to the effective, efficient, useful stuff and don’t beat around the bush! 👍 ✍️

[@anubhavjoshi6944]

Glen Vilppu, Will Weston and Steve Huston, Craig Mullins and James Gurney; worth learning from right?

[@ArtByBritania]

I ran into Glen at CTN one year and he just whipped out a water brush pen and a water soluble pencil and showed me how to sketch something. Now I carry those things with a mini sketchbook everywhere I go. Hes so inspiring to be around!

[@dummyaccountwoop8921]

Yes, especially Glenn Vilppu. He changed my overall perception of things and gave me so much motivation to push through with everything that I study nowadays

[@juanchinpanchin]

After 5 years,Glen Vilppu Drawing Manual is still my Pencil Bible.

[@chrisredfield3607]

Find people whose work you like. You live and die as an artist based on your taste, learn to trust it.

[@WidebodyLotty]

I’m glad he mentioned Drew Struzan. I love his work! I’m an amateur artist who feverishly tries to consume content in order to improve my skills. Drew Struzan’s “Hellboy” tutorial DVD is perhaps the most insightful video I’ve ever watched in regards to honing my particular style of art.

[@LeoPlaw]

I agree 100%, if you are motivated and disciplined, you will find the resources and people to learn what you desire. It just takes time, patience and persistence. In this information rich time we live in, it's all there at your finger tips with an internet connection. That said, one has to apply and practice the information that one absorbs, otherwise the information has no true cohesive meaning. Skills are built through experience.

[@A0Refrigerator]

I think the reason why people choose college is more the social network than anything.

[@Adriiell]

I practically failed 50% of my classes for 3D animation but I invited a friend from uni to my wedding, he gave me a full time 3D job three years later out of the blue

[@beksinski]

People are different. Some thrive in a classroom environment. College was useful for me because I got to try a bunch of things that I would never have encountered otherwise like jewelry, pottery and film making. Even though I proceeded to pursue painting the chance to experiment with other artforms was invaluable. As was the chance to practice gallery installation and group critiques. It's clearly not the right choice for everyone but it is for many.

[@jevaun-deanlinton3285]

dude that is so true. Like personally I'm in college for social network and a rigorous schedule or just better at being productive

[@keepyourshoesathedoor]

That and having a degree is great to going up in businesses.

[@Rozenque74]

Not just social networks, most parents here in SEA are expected you to graduate with at least a diploma degree as a social standard or connections when looking for jobs (either diploma+ or graduated from the same college/ university)

[@vermis8344]

'Emotional aroma'. I like that.

[@scramptha5949]

5:56, Stan gracefully avoids saying "No I don't know what that is" lol.

[@anthonygumingo9840]

I find Stan incredibly stubborn and not willing to accept the fact he doesn't know everything lol

[@OliVeeTV]

How is Marshall such a clear thinker? And so knowledgeable???

[@yoyolol22]

He just like me man

[@kenlowell9862]

It would be impossible for me to calculate the magnitude of affect of having at my disposal when I was a young and developing artist, the knowledge and instruction afforded todays youth via sources like this channel. Marshall is an absolute gem. Love that guy.

[@davepc2u]

so the macro plan for a picture maker @10:08: Technique: illustration and pen/ink Drafting: Anatomy; Rendering; Perspective. Composition: "Most important..." "..where you make choices to get emotional aroma out of a piece."

[@system-error]

Boy I hate those Masterclass ads. Never sat through more than the compulsory 5 seconds. They always start so pretentiously. Neil Gaiman had one too, one of the worst. And Bob Iger of Disney had one! Not sure what he can teach about art, apart from exploiting, corrupting and betraying it. Even Herzog comes off badly in his ad, saying storyboarding is for cowards. Oh so scripts are okay, but storyboards are cowardly? How does that work? It doesn't, that's how. He should take his 'masterclass' back to the drawing board with that silly proclamation.

[@KarenDodo9]

Thank you for this, such great advice

[@Dantes0victory]

Thanks to share this no Info. This is Gold! When I was a kid until I was a Teenager I enjoyed drawing. Then Job came and I dropped that. Now as a 31 year old I decide go back and practice and learn. I just got a tablet to create Art and comics. Thanks for the guidence!!

[@natas4301]

the clips are nice to eat lunch to

[@passage2enBleu]

and I'm eating peanut butter and syrup toast now for lunch.

[@AbiNomac]

Good to see another video posted

[@TheArtMentor]

Really appreciate the statement that not all great artists are great teachers. This is a major issue with the university system

[@klissia3289]

Love the 'mavin' Marshall was talking about!

[@gjs9366]

Good points, well said.

[@avtpro]

It's true, when you are starting out, you don't know what to look for or not. Some have "Learning Paths". It's doable. The issue is time, energy and resources.

[@benvalentine1316]

Many great artworks behind you guys! I spy a few Colleen Barrys and an Amaya Gurpides. Jelly!

[@itsiwhatitsi]

Amazing podcast, very interesting

[@cynthiamarston2208]

I’ve committed to Florent Farges as a beginner intermediate. It helps to use one guy for awhile or you get confused. He’s gotten me ( like a bull in a China shop) organized and somewhat more methodical and a lot motivated. It’s saving me time and progress is much faster! He has a great mentality too....a philosophical guy and his teaching....the oil painting course the live painting and his color theory are even done very artistically and everything he says is pure information. He really is an artist who also teaches extremely well. The color theory is so well priced it’s an absolute steal. As well as his Patron membership of $10 a month ( he could charge more for sure but tell him that! I’m poor!) Id pay $35 a month on a very very tight SSI budget. Check him out. You’ll be glad you did! Just an extremely happy student of his. The setting from which he speaks always has something artistic about it. It’s an absolute pleasure and incomparable.

[@larryjoselj8712]

Studying smart, it is what it is. Thanks man.

[@Maxmarvelus]

Vandruff completely changed my Tattooing career. His classes are epic. He's the best.🎉

[@martinpaint]

My take on this, being 31 and having done all the mistakes with art education: imagine you spend your days at your dream school. Take a calendar and set out 3 to 6 hours a day where you take "classes". These classes are study sessions of the subjects that conform your art/career goal. Why 3-6 and not 10? Because you need at least another 3 hours during your day for personal projects. All the studying and classes will get you no where if you don't start creating along with your studying. Having projects side by side with your "classes" will inform pretty quickly what you need to be studying. Finishing projects will also serve as way to cycle through different "classes" to keep things fresh and will avoid meltdowns. I'm lightyears away of being any good like Marshal or Stan but I find this approach really fun and it can also be customized if you happen to teach or work part time while still trying to improve your art. Love the podcast, I remember first watching these two in youtube in 2013, still enjoying their lessons and empathy.

[@ricklominguez168]

100 percent agree with you. This also works for me but for some this might not work.

[@michaelwatson7293]

Great Show! Can you guys make a list of the artist on the wall? I'd love to check them out.

[@omegaredtooth5104]

Great conversation

[@jefflhama]

I get to college because in my country it's free :D thanks to coming tomy Ted talks

[@amaartiflex1439]

Hi I have been listening to the podcasts since the beginning and just want to say Marshall and Stan you have really helped me! And I have one question how do you guys think I should go about finding what I want to do in ART(film, design ect)?

[@qwertyuiop-ke7fs]

i could listen to marshall all day

[@haroldgarcia726]

Really interesting stuff being spoken here!

[@mark_tolver]

Oops! Someone might want to correct Steve Huston's name from Steve Hudson at 2:32.

[@jillkama7614]

Marshall is a treasure

[@simonegreco4620]

I live in Italy and go to an art school. I know they cannot teach everything, and you have to do a choice because not every academy is well organized and it's worth the time and effort. But you have to take the good out of it. There will be useless course, more useful courses, teachers with great knowledge and some to spend no time with. But in the end it's also a matter of experience, you could discover something that you like so much and if you were so specific in your studies didn't notice at all.

[@ThatkidSquid]

I found now that since I've graduated I have an issue figuring out what to do and how to learn with out a teacher/mentor

[@rajnesh_art]

hi currently i am taking steve huston oil painting class at nma, Joseph Todorovich portrait and completed proko figure drawing will start the anatomy part after some time. i have (bfa in painting). and i dont want to go in 2d or 3d animation job . i love painting figurative painting and improving my draftsmen skills but the painting i sell most are abstract and easy painting. please do an episode on how can an painter earn as a freelancer and from gallery system.

[@WaynesWorldStudioVancouver]

Just like learning how to ride a bike, do you read up or have a teacher hold your hands and guide you through. You sure can learn by yourself but it will take long time and frustration, on other hand you have the right teacher you can gain speed and enjoy riding. Online class gets you a good start but real learning is in class where you learn ideas and creative within the people. Just like a good writer, he or she don’t bounce the idea in a room but inspiration is from the environment outside of the room!

[@karenkaren2369]

You are so right. I can paint but I can't explain that.

[@justinrobinson9583]

Finally a Joe Rogan type show for Artists. I say this w. respect. Art needs such platforms for discussion.

[@MADMACwashere]

lol

[@Nukleurfire]

You mean a talk show??? Joe rogan didnt invent that haha

[@HiddenHandMedia]

No. These guys actually know what they are talking about

[@justinrobinson9583]

@@Nukleurfire Obviously.

[@bluesonicstreak7317]

@@Nukleurfire - No, a show where people with a deep interest in a subject just sit around and noodle about it for however long it takes to cover the ideas on the table. It's a very valuable format, but one you don't see often now because everything is so on-demand and rushed.

[@shabih-ul-hassanraza3884]

Where can i find this proko road map

[@avtpro]

Older guy, the guy my age is right about having a directed path by a maven. I am self taught via online, videos etc. Even if the info was there on a given subject, there's no guarantee you will find it in a given or resaonable amount of time. Yes, you can learn via searches, but when someone can tell you "What to look for" or simply have the answer, it's faster. Even with learning something like Houdini for destruction effects. You can learn the broad "highway" effect but what if you want to learn something more specific. Most are only using it in a particular way so they may not even have info you need. For example, Houdini "Prop destruction" with character interaction. Most houdini users are blowing up houses, not breaking Armor shield or spears. There's no real solution other than custom mavens. However, sometimes there's a new tutorial from some indie users or rogue school. Often, a specific request for specific training material from a flexible small mentorship or DVD school has to be publish and that still can take a couple of months to create.

[@sauronunyuzukparmagi]

I want it in Stan's jacket :)))

[@Fethennour]

I must have missed this episode, so thanks for the recap. My goal would be hopefully to be a character concept artist/character designer, most probably for the video game industry (or the film industry, why not), so I figured I need to learn how to draw characters (obviously), and that's pretty much the reason why I got the figure drawing course from Proko (as well as the anatomy course and the portrait course). I hope I did the right choice, since these courses will help me to understand how to draw the human figure. Once I feel confident enough to take the next step, I'll probably try and find a concept art/character design course. I hope I can fulfill my dream.

[@dwintster]

Sound approach, keep at it. Just remember the easiest way to get good at something is to understand it. I went to a 4 year design school for Industrial Design over a decade ago and what I found that works best for learning design is project based learning. I have also taken a few character design courses at CGMA its the same thing. So I would suggest picking up the 3 books on character design from 3D total or if just one the character and creature design book from Marc taro holmes and begin to work your way through it project by project and seek feedback, rinse and repeat. This is how you fast track your path to design.

[@Fethennour]

@@dwintster Thanks. I'm still very (like VERY) early in my learning process, literally started Proko's figure drawing course just a couple weeks ago, so it'll probably be a while until I need to read this book, but I'll keep it in mind. Thank you.

[@SubNorm4L]

Good luck. Proko is a reliable source of knowledge, I learned a ton from him when I started years ago. Trust 100% what the guy says and you'll be good. It's a really solid foundation.

[@Fethennour]

@@SubNorm4L Thank you very much!

[@Andrew-rz9ck]

In Marshalls perspective course he talks about looking down on a object much like we often do to other people in life . Thats true that So many look down on others and I am wondering what drives the human to do that. what is the point of looking down on someone? or is there one.

[@rajnesh_art]

students also go to colleges to get a degree so they can apply for teaching job or some other place. i know if we have a killer portfolio you can get any job but not all students have that portfolio so they rely on the degree to get a job where there is mandatory to have a degree.

[@DennisCNolasco]

I thought I was having deja vu, and then I read the description 😆

[@DazzlingAction]

11:13 stan felt that one.

[@sadfgdfasdf4924]

how much would the perspective course will cost?

[@avtpro]

The guy that's kind of bald like me, He is really on point. Even when I want to know what to study, I look at industry job descriptions. They tell you want you need for a given field. Sometimes It's a bit gratuitous, and I wouldn't want to work for some of them anyway but it is how he said an "Outline" of what to focus on. Same with school course outlines. It's important to know what to study and want not to study. So currently, I'm learning houdini but I am only focusing on what area. Only what I can quickly adapt to my pipeline.

[@Brian-ti6tt]

Those mics sound good.

[@KennyGsca]

...”Man I love you guys!”

[@drumatic]

All about the George Bridgemann book.

[@washaa]

James Gurneys books are great primers

[@Dylanepw]

Caption says "Steve Hudson" instead of "Steve Houston" But I totally agree, dude is insanely good and a great teacher.

[@SheffieldAbella]

Actually, its Steve Huston. Great guy. I had him for four classes in college. I remember after the final he treated our class to the theater to watch Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven.

[@Dylanepw]

@@SheffieldAbella Haha well we both agree it's not "Hudson" like the caption says. Glad you got to learn from him in person, sounds even better.

[@geraldmanansala8539]

Wait when did this episode come out? I've been following the podcast since day 01 and i dont remember seeing this one in Season 2

[@happychannel1871]

This is an old episode. It says it at the end.

[@hsvfanjan17]

S02E03, it's in the description

[@07lipe077]

...but which episode is s02e03..

[@merkridge8780]

Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Isaiah Thomas, and Bart Starr were the best at what they did, but all were terrible coaches. Larry Bird was good at both because his talent didn’t come naturally. He was a student of his craft. He could communicate his lessons learned.

[@WeAreWeirdo1982]

Prokoooo!!! Lol 😭

[@manzencastillo]

Chris Legaspi and Stephen Bauman

[@avtpro]

Not trying to downplay young hopefuls, but the older Gent knows, because you have to live it. I also taught in a few colleges. He's right. It's a fast industry but a slow collegiate system. Information comes and goes in magazines quicker than a school can write a curriculum. That's how I got into teaching, I was self-taught but knew more than the schools (90's). There has to be a Pro somewhere. Now there is a lot of info but in a way it's too much info. It's overwhelming and you still don't know if you can getting the right info. There's no real 100% solution but these are things to consider.

[@aanimzoart5321]

Mark Carder. Is a good teacher

[@KaneIllustration]

I had the great fortune to study with Steve Huston for over three years back in the 1990’s and it shaped the very foundation of my art and teaching. Much of the reason I became a teacher myself is because of Steve. I’ve had the great pleasure to work with Marshall and he’s an amazing instructor as well.

[@SheffieldAbella]

There were a lot of people we were very lucky to study with while they were still with us.

[@KaneIllustration]

@@SheffieldAbella absolutely Sheff!

[@manzencastillo]

Michael Hampton

[@mycollegeshirt]

True but learning things like art since it's so subjective, someone telling you your art sucks that you respect is so extremely important.

[@HiddenHandMedia]

It's subjective in a way. You can look at someone's art and tell their skill level which is not subjective.

[@mr.pulpnoir3526]

I was planning to become a painter/artist like many other artists I look up to but I'm just gonna give up on that before I humiliate myself.

[@VMitch-ng7tg]

What are your reasons for wanting to become an artist?

[@mr.pulpnoir3526]

@@VMitch-ng7tg I'm not waiting. I'm giving up on it. Before I humiliate myself.

[@HiddenHandMedia]

Nobody cares. Just do your work for you. Forget the judgment. That's all in your head.

[@mr.pulpnoir3526]

@@HiddenHandMedia The reason I'm giving up is because I'm too stupid to learn anything. I'm not that smart. I can't learn sh*t. No matter what I do or try. Nothing will happen. That's why I'm giving up. I have no talent.

[@jeremylin4087]

@@mr.pulpnoir3526 At the moment you have an absolutely terrible attitude. So until that changes, i would agree, it's hopeless for you. But if you can get your mind back on track toward constructive ways of thinking then you might have a shot again.

[@tonycheezal5650]

I love your video, I hope there's a way to send message to you to review and interact like discord

[@Draftsmen]

We don't have a discord setup, but we might look at it for season 3 if enough people want it.

[@triisart1721]

@@Draftsmen yes please, make it happen!

[@smithjohn383]

Some masters are bad teachers because they are so talented to start with. They never can understand why some people struggle with some basic things because they never did. Those who had to learn it the hard way are better 'cause they know.

[@duranimusprime5989]

When he says. "technique"-- what does he mean? What are examples of technique?

[@sgtpepper91]

Steve Huston teaches you to add 7 extra muscles to the forearms

[@Cyranowan]

I skip Hogarth.

[@SheffieldAbella]

Hogarth was awesome in person but you either like him or hate him.

[@MarkWhippy]

His book on drapery and wrinkles is pretty useful. I’ve got his book on hands too but haven’t gone through it yet.

[@Richard-cy8eq]

everything I see online for teaching art sucks IMO

[@bozoclown2098]

Type 3 teachers. Those doing it for a paycheck from nepotism

[@kkbbxx]

Smh, everytime I hear one of these two speak. It's just a commercial

[@KpxUrz5745]

The first reason to distrust anything being said is all the bad art on the walls.

[@thenaysays]

?????????

[@orandxb]

Man, your foot on the table is not cool.