Stop Playing it Safe with your Art

[@ergojosh]

Jumpscares: @2:29

[@Gilded_Seraphim]

guys i think he's batman

[@iOnRX9]

you need to produce more work and make them available for print on demand$$$

[@TopatTom]

@@Gilded_Seraphim he savin artist not just gotham

[@ChiharuMori]

Josh isn't wrong. If you aren't willing to make mistakes, experiment, or take time, you won't grow as an artist or be as great as your art peers. Josh learned how to create top-notch compositions and character storytelling through gestures.

[@KYLETISZAI]

What is art

[@asholie]

Can confirm this, as someone who always drew what I was comfortable with, I barely progressed over the course of a few years. Please do experiment, it’ll be awesome!

[@ReginaldSprinkhuizen]

You're approaching 30. I had a mental breakdowns at 50, realizing I didn't want to do my old job anymore and decided I want to be creative. Drawing is now my focus, but at being 56, the feeling of not having enough time creeps up on me. I scares me, makes me even more of a perfectionist and that's numbing. I'll get there, once I'm able to let go of these voices that demand the impossible. Thanks for the video. It is inspiring. And I wish you all the best with your mental issues.

[@mellodraws]

keep at it! I believe in you. :)

[@bovinleephann]

Damn, I feel this shit at 24

[@arknark]

You're badass for what you do. Don't ever stop. I'm trying to get my mom into drawing again (she's 57) cause she's on Tik Tok wayyy too much and that shit is rotting her brain

[@ReginaldSprinkhuizen]

@@arknark TikTok is rotting everyone's brain!

[@cookicrumbl]

@@arknark so it's not just me. tiktok is really changing people i used to know. used to be fun to hang around. now its like everyone is in a hivemind.

[@bovinleephann]

Damn, I really have been "forcing myself to improve" and not really allowing myself to just doodle and stuff, and also find myself nitpicking a lot of my art for all the little mistakes rather than the bigger things I (probably, probably not) did well. I just can't really get over the idea of patting yourself on the back when you don't really deserve it feeling really arrogant

[@BabushkaKoi]

I’m now 28. About a year and a half ago, I decided to start taking drawing seriously after listening to my parents’ criticism about going down this path. At the start, I simply made small comic doodles for the 31 days of October and had the most fun with it. Somewhere a long the line of wanting to learn how to improve and find a way to start heading to live a comfortable life while making art I enjoy, I burned myself out for a time. It was only after a break that I remembered that I should be having fun and letting my pencil & brain move how they want and see what happens. I still have that aim of living comfortably while making what I want but I’m keeping that reminder to not lose myself to my own critiques

[@gunagyasokal2206]

this was relatable! i tend to critique a lot of own work alot and sometimes it can just get really hard to manage all that stress from not being able to do as good as you think you should, but improvement isnt instantaneous, if it really was, we'd all be great artists through an effortless endeavour. i think theres wisdom in letting yourself flow on paper and see what happens instead of trying to control every little aspect of your drawing which in turn makes it very stressful to manage! i also do find it hard to motivate myself. take care!

[@calebjp0]

BLACK CHOSO?!!?!?

[@suzume_artz]

This! That's why when I do studies, I never copy directly from the picture, especially the colours. If it's an tree, I make the shape of the branches different depending on the mood (curves for whimsical & sharp edges for strength), I change the time of day with my colours for a landcape study & so on. I love adding my own interpretation to my studies as well & it feels so liberating ❤

[@livingincreation]

I think there is a sort of “refreshing state” when you go sometime without creating and you come back to it ready to tackle probably, task you wouldn’t have considered before 🙌🏽 It’s fine to break off on occasion don’t look at it as a bad thing even if it’s months I’ve gone months without drawing before and I came back doing things I couldn’t/ wouldn’t

[@Cr1sscr0ssaplesawc3]

Ever since I’ve started drawing on one layer, my art has gotten better I’ve been more confident. I make mistake? I’ll just draw over it. It makes my work feel finished before it’s even finished

[@su_zuki_2310]

there's something cathartic about seeing this drawing and grotesque art in general(or guro art in Japanese)..and i love it.🔥

[@loreyxillumina]

Same

[@kyer9677]

I didn't touch procreate for like 3 months and then when I opened it back up the other day, surprisingly my older drawings that I didnt like at the time actually looked kinda nice to me! Still struggling a lot with digital art... I find sketching on it really difficult and feels unnatural to me. Also the fact that I can zoom in on every detail 😅 I wish there was option to disable zoom

[@Greenman12399]

You could try getting a paper like screen paper? Or just sketching on paper and moving it into your canvas

[@grandpriy]

In many cultures the more noise you make when you eat, the more compliments are to the chef … this piece looks scrumptious

[@GlennJSpiro]

Don’t worry about 30 yrs old. what you know and what you don’t know . I’m recently 59 yrs old and recently started drawing again after 30 years .

[@anniemadeit21]

Happy belated birthday! I understand how you feel, I just got out of a depressive state and God has giving me new life and new inspiration! And I was not drawing for a while and I was repressing as well but I got better because of God and now He inspires me!

[@omfgcarpetmuncher]

when i step back from my work and not look at it for a bit, i call it "curing" time. like making candles or epoxy resin

[@jocourt4232]

I'm so proud of you, bro. It brings me so much joy and inspiration to me when an artist realizes that art is NOT about making meaningless good looking and realistic paintings, but the meaning you put to it, even if only you will understand.

[@Rymosuke]

Man Josh... I am hitting 28 this year and when you spoke about feeling like you could have already learned everything you know now years ago... damn I feel the same! X) I spent about 5 years after turning 18 studying something I ended up realizing that I didn't even really want to do professionally... I discovered I wanted to do art and build my own worlds and games and have been doing that since 2020ish, but... it's really been eating at me that I could have been so much further along my journey by now if only I had discovered digital art for myself that much sooner! So yeah, I definitely have a similar sort of feeling about rapidly approaching 30 and feeling like I could already be a loooot closer to my goals than I actually am! '^_^

[@Squiggle9000]

It's nice to hear/see you getting back into being comfortable with the art your making and what you're posting

[@adrianangeles9960]

Thank you. Sometimes i forget to take it easy and have fun with my work rather than to punishing myself for not knowing enough. And to see other artists going through the same thing, and overcoming it, its awesome. I hope yall continue on your path, dont give up❤

[@sebrestudio3801]

Thank you for sharing this. As someone who had come across this challenge in my recent life, it's inspiring to hear it from other artists. I stopped art for a long time. Coming back was a true sense of re-growing pains. Going through my own health issues and depression losing so much last year, 2024 has been a beacon for me to change my life from the perspective of career, getting out of my bubble to talk to other artists, and to find myself again in art. I had removed all colors from my work for years because I felt like focusing myself into other elements of art, and over the new year, when I had decided to drop it all and do what I love as a living, I had faced it and decided to really stop playing it safe. But also, throughout that time off art it made me realize in hindsight that there was so much I also learned from just taking that much needed break to better myself. Leaning into my workflow and adding colors back in has really paid off for me this year. So much more to come too. But 100%. Many of us has been programmed to try to be something and make a following out of thin air, but truly, bettering ourselves in the work we do or just our own self-discovery and healing really makes that much of a difference. The rest just comes naturally.

[@cammiluna]

I didn't become comfortable/aporeciative with my art until 38 (i just turned 43) It's better to get out of the tunnel vision as early as possible, but it's good enough if it happens at all! ❤

[@beansmybeans2433]

This video really speaks to me. There's times where I feel like I am not that great of an artist as others perceive me as. Your art is a great inspiration to me 😊 I hope you never stop making videos because I always look forward to seeing them!!!

[@ergojosh]

Np, and as a tip - that feeling won't go away unless you wanna make some big changes to your worldview lol. But it is good to remind yourself that it's natural to see yourself worse than others seem to say you are, and give yourself some credit.

[@thestuffedpenguin4184]

You're literally one of my favorite artists!! Thank you for being honest about your depression. I was so amazing at drawing just last year, I'm back to square 1 since I haven't drawn anything for a year now. I'm trying to get back my passion for art now. I loved this video :) Can't wait to see more from you!

[@alexp.1646]

Honestly this is a great vid to have. I'm living through 30 and am now only a couple months away from 31. Its intense to look at my work and just not enjoy it. I wanted to be a full time artist by now but yknow, life finds a way. Its good to hear others are working through their own things.

[@Gr13fM4ch1n3]

This spoke to me as a 3d artist as well. I've been so hyperfocused on trying to capture hyper-realism that I lost my sense of art along the way. I spiraled downward into an endless loop of scouring the internet for resources on 3d hyperrealism and only found myself discouraged and frustrated. Now I want to embrace what's so great about art and how I don't need to know what specular IOR the oil on our skin is to tell a story. Just make something that speaks. Thank you.

[@333Vampirewillrule33]

ive heard a lot of people try and describe depression and it different for everyone but drawing and painting is a way for most of us to journal, i look back on my work and i can recall the music i was listening to, the food i ate, the feelings of doubt or anxiety that had me putting pen to paper. time capsules, a life lived, thats what we capture always keep fighting

[@MM-jx2gb]

I'ver been in a huge art slump and depression too this was very helpful Josh thankyou!

[@GleamDrawz]

I've been going through a major art style change recently, and I am improving so much, but im kinda forcing myself to! I do need to doodle more, I did watching this video and it was the third humanoid id made since I got better and he looked so much more alive, the anatomy just came to me like that and I don't even draw humans! Tysm!

[@BigBahooncha]

Heya! funny enough im an artist as well and my birthdays march 5th and i turned 28 this year! similar but just one off of both numbers ;) anyway the worlds going through massive changes and im glad you were able to look within and reflect on those chains we all place within ourselves to finally break free. myself and many others are on a similar path and im very excited to see where this takes you and your art! much love.

[@ergojosh]

Wow thats cool haha 1 number off each one, and that means one off for the birth year as well! Hmmm how tall are you? haha jk but happy belated to you as well!

[@juliusgalletti4134]

Keep pushing boss 🙏⚔️ you've inspired many people in this life and not many people can do that or will ⚔️❤️ happy bday🎂

[@laylaflofeild3342]

I love the captions! ❤ It’s so helpful!!!

[@jauxro]

that's a beautiful sentiment, I'm listening, I'm learning, get that foueucking octopeus outta my face, this is beautiful, everyone should see this

[@rebcebabart]

This spoke to me on another level, just stepped on the same journey. Seeing all the comments, I know I'm not the only one. Really happy for you man, I know this experience will stick with you for life. Thank you for making this video!

[@illuminated_crown]

Josh your art got so good over the years. Ive grown too but i envy your growth. . Your gesture game is top notch

[@Foxsy_Official]

Speaking as a professional artist, I feel every bit of this. Every little bit. Thank you for sharing your struggles, as they make people like me feel less alone.

[@skipydoodles]

I saw that. Caravan palace mentioned. top tier taste and your art too. top tier mind works

[@4_seagull]

I think its important to realize when we think in black and white (a common facet of depression) about our art and art journey. For me, I tend to do no drawing at all if I can't perform to my standards and judge myself as having fallen behind which is backwards because then I end up getting nothing done instead of having something, even if it's not up to my standards. It really is crucial that half your drawings should be fun stuff, I don't follow that advice enough. And yeah, my self judgements are also really harsh when I first create a piece but then I look back and realize it's good and I realize that will probably be the case for what I'm creating now even if I don't like it right now.

[@OzzyIDV]

i recently started this, i used to stick with what i knew i could pull off without branching out at all. for the past week ive been having so much fun especially with perspective pieces

[@HeftyBalance-fj1st]

So awesome to hear from you! Wilder wacky art is so inspiring! Thanks for posting!

[@joshuaireland5402]

I am Proud of you! As such a young man you have found your own way to find that place of "Chill" as an artist. As an Artisan. Escaping from a grind mentality and embracing the free'd mind artist! There is a time and a place for the grind, but there is a yin to the yang, Rest and recovery after the Toil and strain. Finding that mental space usually comes after great struggle, stress, or even reaching a breaking point. You find yourself put back together with new perspective.

[@andrewcai5042]

Proud to say I'm not playing it safe to always expand my visual library. Let my mind wonder for the best possible results. Depression does not stop my art. It is surprising much notes and writing I personally do in preparation for my drawings. I love these video discussions/analysis. Very true an artist's ability to see the potential is highly important. Do as many revisions as you are comfortable with if any. Know when to slow down but also know when to speed up: go your own pace.

[@su_zuki_2310]

nice to see you again.❤ missed you

[@TheChameleon2008]

That batman voice had me cracked!

[@onnaquest]

Happy birthday dude. The bit at the end is such a great way to look at deciding on a 5 year path. Wish I would have thought about it like that when I was younger. ✌️

[@lucassilveira9474]

Eu comprei um iPad Air 5 dois dias atrás, eu amei!😍😍😍🥰 eu adoro os seus desenhos…principalmente traços. Eu quero seus brushes, pode me dá por favor ?🤩🤩🤩

[@ZaraKimori]

Happy belated birthday! 🎂 Great art and message. Sometimes stepping away provides clarity and a different perspective.

[@lacklvster4512]

BASED CARAVAN PALACE LISTENER🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ergojosh]

YUP

[@Jabbernut-games]

As someone who just turned 30 last year, I feel you on the shock

[@ChantelleArts]

So true, I am having the most fun with my art now i've started to experiment ☺☺

[@WormsSoupYum]

Thank you so much for this video! It really helped me understanding the real problems i have when i draw I usually put so much weight on myself trying to make the art look as perfect as possible, that i forget to try new things and make mistakes where i can actually learn. Drawing has aways been the only hobbie i have that i really enjoy and for the past few years i've been losing motivation on it because i keep comparing myself to others or putting myself down, and i was thinking of giving up until i clicked on this video Thank you very much man!! Keep up your good work!!!

[@AmandaMarie1287]

Drawing looks cool but man all I could think of was the traumatic experience that was the movie Old Boy

[@valerypc25]

I've come to a point where I've accepted that, yes, we can improve, but perfection is albeit impossible, so why waste so much time being so critical of yourself for a goal that is impossible to obtain and just focus on improving to be "good enough" and mainly, good enough for yourself

[@creative_mindsrus1541]

There are many of my drawings when I tell myself it looks likes crap maybe it wasn't a good idea. Though I push through take breaks and in the end it looks great. Always push yourself

[@dexterousd]

Hey man, great vid, love the art. Trying to get set up myself and was just wondering what camera you have and what rig or mount you use for the overhead view?

[@mikelezhnin8601]

unrelated, at 16:57 the chromatic aberration filter thing is such a neat trick, I should try doing the same one for highlights

[@antjonesuxgaming]

i hope you find peace along your journey! thank you for sharing your perspective with the world

[@cristal.146]

Haven't finished the video yet, but I just wanted to say that I'm loving this Caravan Palace playlist you got there! Keep rocking 💪🏾

[@n.ne.ness21]

your voice is so relaxing and the speech was so encouraging, that I started a new piece, focusing on challenging myself to do new things... and I think it worked out. So thanks.

[@alexcampbellstudio]

My birthday is on March 6th! Born in 86 though. Happy birthday!

[@anunnacy]

10:29 You really are man! Also I am 36 (!) now (37 approaching) and just now also having more of these thoughts, and I haven't achieved a fraction yet of what you did. So yeah.. you're going strong, trust me ergo. If I was in your position right now, I'd jump around feeling young af! Just sayin. 😅 (oh and btw guys, no this isn't my art profile so pls don't judge lol)

[@lymstudiosart]

Glad to see you Bro. And happy belated birthday!!!

[@jaideearts]

This video came in the right time ❤

[@su_zuki_2310]

ah yeah i truly understand what the relationship between depression and art is.... :)))))))))

[@treewaterstudio]

Coming from someone who has been fighting herself since preschool due to bad influence of a community telling her not to be herself. I get it.

[@D8afaah]

You’re awesome! Thank you so much for this uplifting message and for sharing it with us :)

[@arknark]

Mistakes rule. Most of my drawings are a mistake, but I'm really learning how to roll with what the paper wants from me. Stay vigilant, and have fun

[@EvilNeonETC]

I'd like to put my 2 cents here as well. Knowing that the internet isn't going anywhere any time soon, you got all the time in your life to make what you want. But the thing, "what you want". Sometimes what you want is to go do other things. I think that's a-okay from a balanced perspective. My general concern is that if you take too long though, the market for yours, mine, and most artists will have shifted dramatically in the coming years to where new skills or processes must be learned in order to sell art. Though of course, it's been like that for a while now.

[@4ohf]

the natural way really is the best way. I use just drawing for fun and not caring as a reward, I want to get better so I can doodle better in a way. Also the subtitles were way to much for me, I had to cover them with an other window to even pay attention to the video 😂

[@WaspMedia3D]

Oooh Caravan Palace - nice playlist!

[@yhwachlick101]

Hi josh. This is completely off-topic but I really like your art and would recommend a movie I think you and a lot of other people might like. It’s called, Deep Sea, A 3d chinese movie that took many years to make. The secnery, the character acting, the characters, the animation, lord I can go on and on about this movie. Again, it is called Deep Sea, directed by Tian Xiaopeng and produced by YI Qiao. -edit I am not the best making reviews so hopefully this post makes you interested to watch the movie

[@ImPinkKat]

Its nice to hear im not the only one who didnt pick up art really this year so far i moved to finland and it was very hard and stressful so only a few days ago i started again ! It feels nice to hear im not alone even tho it sucks for all of us 🤣

[@ergojosh]

That’s a big move! (Unless you are from Sweden idk)

[@ImPinkKat]

i am from england so it was a real big move with moving company and stuff!

[@EJ_XD]

I mean if people are that concerned, duplicate the art then store one, and experiment freely with the other one. I do this all the time for that extra boost of confidence

[@xoyuri_art]

Is why I posted my art of the milkman as my comeback. I didn't wanna play it safe anymore lol

[@justoneofthosedays]

Thanks for this. I have a lot of ideas that i know i would wanna draw, i just have to motivate myself to start.

[@vinny-zebu]

10:38 Hahaha, I used to think like that too. Now I'm 32 and kinda let go of that feeling.

[@SlashCash29]

josh being a fellow caravan palace fan is so sick

[@ergojosh]

ive been obsessed with them again lately. They pair nicely with The Living Tombstone and I love the artstyle.

[@abahces]

Happy Saturn return

[@heavyboi1116]

Thank you for making this❤

[@zombiedrool5437]

i feel a lil forced with playing it safe with art. I want to make a webcomic but i feel limited because i want to do horror and webtoon seems to have very strict rules when it comes to horror :((

[@jadenabraham3564]

we have the same b-day😊

[@damiandanielbontea6081]

Thanks for the video ❤

[@CordeWork-lt6jw]

This is so hard to just try to like be myself on here though because everybody always tries to like bring me down and I’ll be so afraid I feel anxiety rushing through either like my art or not people are really rude comments about your artwork and then I’m too worried about what kind of brushes are good to use on procreate, sketch, brushes, or brushes that are basically perfect for artwork

[@ergojosh]

If people are trying to bring you down for being your authentic self, know you are moving in the right direction! Its a tough road but its worth it.

[@LetsSmiley]

YOU LISTEN TO CARAVAN PALACE AAAAAHHHHHHH YEEEESSSSS

[@ezrasinclair]

Hey I was wondering what table top thing you put your iPad into while drawing? Great stuff again tho, one love❤

[@sleighaaa]

This is a really inspiring video. I need to make more art.

[@x3rc693]

hbd!

[@thefloof6163]

Do you ever use a paper texture screen cover? Also nice Caravan Palace rep. I love them.

[@ergojosh]

Yes I use Paperlike!

[@davidrobinson9507]

March 6 : my brother's birthday, and Michelangelo's birthday

[@ergojosh]

Oh wow that’s really cool!

[@Squiggle9000]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I WAITED THIS LONG!~

[@tallfungus]

Thank you 🙏🏼. I know it doesn’t necessarily help you to know this but your work and your talks help people. Thank you🪿

[@sakareeh]

Love listening to you. I haven’t drawn for my self for 2 years now and just for art classes in college. Or if I do, I just do small doodles or one drawing every few months. Only now am I just drawing my ideas after years of being afraid of making cringe Mary sue ocs/stories. 15:47 also do this part in black and white? Is it easier to understand the form ?

[@KwehShiro]

i'm currently in this space where i barely draw. i only drew once or twice an actual drawing last year. haven't finished one this year. i haven't been able to draw much since my depression got worse. i used to draw so much, like i could draw till 5am for an entire week, i can barely draw for an hour now.

[@ergojosh]

Take it easy, the fact you are drawing at all is way more meaningful than the length of an individual session!

[@JR_Zart]

Luv ur vids dude keep up the great work🙃🙂

[@collapsedstar4754]

Thanks for the video!

[@kasiakactus8761]

Ergojosh listens to Caravan Palace W

[@Sethmeth82202]

5:50 tbf how we eat is just a few steps more than how animals violently feed themselves

[@DarinMichau]

Positive effects of social media? 🤔 hard to think of 1!

[@ergojosh]

Here’s one: People around the world are more understanding and therefore empathetic. (It may not seem that way because of the higher visibility but I believe it is) Our grandparents had no way of understanding how other people lived except what they were told on the radio or saw on TV. Now, you’ll be exposed to multiple different cultures on your home feed which just makes you an all around more accepting person than if you only knew the people in your hometown for 40 years.

[@Tenpys]

welcome home Josh

[@rafifthesecond9023]

Yo Ergo! you might've answered this question before, but what app did you use for the reference pictures on the side?

[@ergojosh]

Vizref but I am enjoying Milanote alot lately.

[@NahNoWayy]

"I feel like I hit pause at 18. Like I could have learned everything I know now at 22." My god, did that ever hit hard, right close to home. I know my passion for art will always be with me, but both life and my own self has gotten in the way of my progression. Worse yet, whenever I was able to get back into drawing consistently, I've continued to harp on what I lack, stomping out any built up motivation into the ground. It's a toxic cycle, one I aim to sort out. Beautiful work on display here, Josh, seeing and hearing the process is inspiring me to be more experimental with my art as well. Thank you for the insight as well, take care.

[@Pedro-ex4wh]

Which app do you use for the moodboard? Been trying to find something like that for awhile