Are you actually improving in your art?

[@RangoJalex]

I find myself going through phases of consciously trying to improve. Sometimes I'll have weeks where I'm constantly learning new methods and theory, and sometimes I'll just have weeks where I just create with the tools I have rather than trying to learn new skills. I find for myself that even if I lose motivation, it's important not to get out of the "flow state" too much or it's just really hard to get back in. That's when I dial back trying to improve and make "my best work yet" and just make simple ideas that I know aren't revolutionary, but just for the fun of it. So I think you kind somewhat bypass the negative parts of the last three steps by not trying to constantly one up yourself after having a phase of exponential learning.

[@thesenate4815]

For a while i was making digital paintings of pets and proud of it, but after the last piece i made, which burned me out a lot, i also wanted to learn new things because i only produced with each painting. And the time it took me for each one wasnt worth the money i was making

[@Ozblivion-Official]

This guy has really seen it all, literally everything he mentioned we have all gone through honestly it helps to know your not the only person who worries like this

[@Mae64385]

I love how for me, my art starts sucking for like a few weeks and then my brain just gets a random click which just makes my art jump in quality

[@finnnowikow]

that's so accurate i'm at a loss of words. i'm currently really struggling to produce art, i haven't drawn almost anything in the past weeks, but it's tougher to me because my animation course starts in a month, so that little voice in my head keeps repeating "you must draw, otherwise you're useless". and it's crushing! drawing is frustrating, and not drawing is also frustrating. i think your video has enlightened me, drawing things for fun and with no standards is just what i need right now. thank you :)

[@prashasti598]

i guess the cycle just ended for me recently which was hard ofc but im now in the REBIRTH phase and really enjoying what im doing whenever im doing it.. i drew a very tropical pigeon out of imagination and thats the only drawing i actually didnt think was like a burden which was awesome!!

[@ElvisRocking1]

Humans are just very fucking complicated, tough and delicate at the same time. The balance in very fine. This is why after a stressful day of self doubt, i try to crack a smile and try again the next day. Thank you for these videos, its a small grain that balances the scale for most of us. I hope you always have good poops, CHEERS!

[@jefflhama]

2,5 years working and I'm currently in the hopeless phase, crying while watching this video. This helped a lot, the anxiety of being a freelancer is getting me hard too, with the hopeless phase I'm so bad even to find new clients after a burnout I had one month ago and droped all the works without getting back for two weeks straight.

[@pedrosso0]

Meanwhile I somehow immedeately jumped from birth to hopeless

[@DarthBiomech]

/*Sees the title/* Ah, this video will surely go well with my anxiety!

[@NutyRiver]

I’m in the death stage right now, and for me this cycle is pretty dramatic. I guess it’s comforting and soothing to know that this is, well, a “thing” that everyone goes through to an extent. I’ve had projects that have failed because of my approach, and I’ve felt really angry with myself because of how stupid I was. But you’re so right. It’s necessary to reflect and think about what did and didn’t work, and it’s normal. I think it also helps lessen the blow of certain stages to remember that right now won’t last forever. This helps me with my mental health too. When I’m depressed, or manic, or sick, or stressed, I remind myself that every feeling eventually passes. It’s hard because in the moment it feels like you’ll be stuck that way forever.

[@salaoe9850]

Summary of the vid Yes, if you put in the effort and learn properly you most likely are improving, but never expect it to be constant smooth improvements throughout the entire journey.

[@Eric-yd9dm]

This is so much like "The Hero's Journey". Birth, evolution, Symbolic Death, Reflection, and finally Ressurrection or perma death. There are interesting books about this, such as "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" or "Man and his Symbols". Curiously, it also aligns quite well with Tarot's Major Arcana cards order. I really like how so many different people and media eventually reaches similar conclusions!

[@brocoli17]

I’ve only been animating for a year and I’ve been through all of this several times.

[@teacherleo20245]

After 7 years drawing, growing and learning, I hit a dark stage. This video was incredibly helpful. Thank you so very much for sharing your art and wisdom.

[@Lovetsonmarq]

It's so amazing that toniko is one of the best channels you can come to for advice .your videos have helped me to take up art again . Thanks man❤

[@JakinsStudio]

Thanks for making this videos toniko. I'ts almost like you knew I needed it. Every stage in your cycle is 101% accurate but I'm still trying and hoping i can move to the rebirth stage. I started drawing for fun and hoped to be an aniator one day, i found out about the techniques and knowledge like animation principles, values,composition and i executed them and felt at the top of the world and that my art was great and i was really proud of myself. I got admitted into an animation school this month and i met classmates with insane levels of artwork, some classmates many times younger than me. And now when i do stuff, i begin to compare and don't like the stuff i was once proud of. But i do love animation and art, and i still do have big dreams in mind, I'm trying my best to improve and slowly trying to go to the rebirth stage, i hope i do. I'm kinda sad that there was more on stating out the problems in this video than actual advice but i do get the gist of what to do, Thans for being an inspiration and keep doing what you do.

[@Goryalight]

I am a beginner artist who wants to advance in my craft -- this profile picture is and my first digital art that I am proud of, and when you learn how to love yourself it helps not to be critical and nihilistic to others. What I try to do to maintain my mentality is to do line-art on one day and coloring on the next day. It does help me understand the struggle and it helps me to not be so negative.

[@MaddieAnonymous]

Ahh, I don't know why it's been so long since I've watched one of this guy's videos. Great stuff here. I've been passing through the Death stage since July. (Good thing I don't do this for a living😅😅) It is physically and mentally painful to pick up a pencil to draw anything, and just as bad not to. No motivation and lots of headaches for trying, but total agonizing anxiety for not. After watching this vid, strangely, the thought of picking up my sketchbook seems much less painful and much more appealing. So, I'm gonna go draw something now. That's all I have to say! Bye!☺️

[@bcillus]

damn this guy literally dissected what I went through the past 10 months without even talking to me.

[@bukachell]

I go through this cycle all the time with my art

[@AwesomeJLK]

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed.. I got a lil cocky when I was improving a lot in little time. But then the progress stalled. Realizing that there are ups and downs really helps.

[@soloplayer8664]

This is basically my daily struggle but chances of enjoying what I do is really low and day by day my gift becomes more of a curse. Trying to overcome this crowded, annoying, noisy, and toxic environment/family in Philippines.

[@Artofcarissa]

I definitely needed this video. I’ve been trying so hard to improve my drawing since I graduated college but I’m still getting the same feedback that my drawings are too flat and my construction isn’t solid despite the fact that I’ve been working so hard on them. I’m trying to do this thing where I do ‘conscious’ drawing so I focus on making things as solid as possible to correct any mistakes I’m making. So I’m vowing not to listen to podcasts or music while working on the early stages of sketching and drawing where I’m figuring stuff out and trying to focus on making it as accurate as possible.

[@actuallyray]

Thank you for explaining myself to me.

[@treytrey-mv8cj]

hello I love your channel its gotten me into animation and helped me improve

[@BroadcastingCN]

Ah yes

[@isfunart]

when sad or stress i really cant draw very well, i rest with play games or watch anime to recover.

[@TheEnigma2389]

OMG, this is soooooo on point! Thank you so much for uploading this video. I'm not an animator, but as someone who is learning art, this video is hard relate. The tip about journaling at the end is worth trying out. Thanks once again 🙂

[@SaffronicSaffron]

Sounds like reincarnation, pretty cool. That reminds me of how my art works, sometimes it goes sometimes up sometimes it goes down that doesn't mean I have to quit it means to keep going... I think.

[@pedrosso0]

Does your art go up and down like this, or merely your perception of it? If you compared the "Down" ones to the "Up" ones you made before, are they worse?

[@SaffronicSaffron]

Umm I sort of get what you mean. it was when I really used to just do my drawing on paper but now I use a tablet and it's pretty ok.

[@wonderworld1928]

That perfect voice over at the intro, Bravo

[@xblade149]

Me every time I hit an artblock and start comparing my work to others, I start doing others things like exercising, riding my bike, read a book, or cooking. I realize when I hit that stage I need to stand back and calm down.

[@RetroDreamer]

I’m at stages 5&6 right now and it is pure torture, but I feel like I’m getting closer to 7. 😅Thanks for this by the way, as always it is very informational and motivational!

[@tukkidoodle]

9:34 How could you say something so inspirational and go ' that's all I am gonna talk about bye-' and evaporate into thin air

[@Vakodraws]

Ive seen a lot of these videos. But the fact that you named all of the stages properly and described them perfectly while being extremely specific about it, made me sub ! You nailed it !

[@astonbean]

Right now I'm in multiple stages simultaneously relating to different mediums. With digital painting I'm at a stage of being unsatisfied with my work and trying out new things, while with life drawing i'm in the stage of rediscovering how fun it can be

[@venomousz]

Thank you kind person, i needed this.

[@brandonjacksoon]

Thank you, dude! Best youtube channel about animation! You really inspiring me to do my best :))

[@geocrude1300]

I really needed to hear this.

[@kiro1547]

I will still die for the cute dog for the intro

[@DarkTider]

I havent quite really hit #5 yet, but have had moments where i've been in a momentary rut, the cure? A quick break, like 1-2 days off, and also comparing your current work to your previous work. Sometimes when you don't think you are going anywhere, the best thing to do is look back at how long the road behind you has become.

[@AwkwardPain]

true. Mine are never as dramatic, but recently I started animating (and drawing) again after around a full 2 year break. I am just starting to regain the confidence I had before... trying to keep up a log on youtube while I still have the momentum.

[@stratovolcano7813]

Wow this makes so much sense 😭 been in the self-massacre stage for a while and now I’m at death stage so praying for that rebirth soon. 🙏 I’m told I improve fast so I imagine that’s why I tend to cycle through these stages very quickly.

[@BroadcastingCN]

1:40 I- I can't lol Freaking funny skit

[@vexper974]

Thank u I've been in plateau/massacre stage for a while im more focused on sculpt but i enjoyed animation as well, thank u for ur wisdom 🖤

[@VICKY-ce7xo]

Golden Gucci stage, that was hilarious

[@BlurplesJournal]

Self Massacre is the stage I’ve been on for probably few years now. But I never reached the death stage, because I know this is something I love to do. I transitioned from traditional to digital, during that phase I lost so much motivation because my standard cannot meet my skill. I’ve just been constantly hating on myself, deleting works, not willing to draw. But as I practiced, I sort of reversed my stage, and started going backward in your cycle. I think this cycle is not just one way, sometime you can skip steps, or go backward. Which is why I agree improvement is not constant.

[@eduardoe4670]

why is it that every time I got a problem learning animation you end up making a video that coincidentally aligns with my problem.

[@Elizahmations]

Maybe he’s a wizard 🤷‍♀️

[@ryancarless7921]

I do worry about this, very helpful video

[@mlepmlep1]

Wow I really needed this, thank you so much!

[@Mimimi0o0o0o0]

This is a great analysis

[@sumangle25]

So articulate! I needed to hear this. Thank you!

[@regi5436]

That actually helped. Woah.

[@JoJoboiWav]

currently going through the 5th stage in music production, the 4th one in graphic design, and the first one in drawing

[@Aquatwin22]

as someone whose kinda going through the negative stages myself right now. i feel like usually im good at making faces from my head without direct-from reference drawings! but lately it feels like all the faces i draw from my head are wonky in proportions and perspective and same-face-like and just UGH but hopefully i get back into the start of the cycle again!

[@C03-T3]

This video could not have come at a better time for me! I feel like I'm just about to get out from the " end of an era/Hopeless " stage right now by trying to draw for fun. But it's been a struggle because of outside pressure and my inability to explain why it's hard for me right now. So Thanks!

[@tdm_tdm_]

This was so helpful today, thanks for making this relatable content dude.

[@halidramzan2803]

So eye opening. Thank you. ♥️

[@iaraconi]

Toniko: are you actually improving in your art? Me: no, next question(? X"D

[@paulogodoyp]

This is so accurate omg

[@zm.9096]

I'm currently at the Death Stage, but there is still hope for a future with much much art in!!

[@Emmawow12]

same

[@hussamgunter7381]

Same

[@cavemann_]

Relatable

[@dojoworks7704]

I'm in really bad unfocused stage that makes it hard for me to decide what to make. I need to learn to enjoy the process for larger projects and not be impatient. I know I can learn it but my mind is not calm enough to do it. I have found cutting out social media and watching less KZbin can help.

[@UltimatePerfection]

I feel good enough about my art skills. Not perfect by any means but good enough to handle myself. I still learn and improve, but even if I am not, I am okay with my current skills.

[@Nogardtist]

i only have 1 stage and its the hopeless void no matter how good or how many art you make nothing will ever change no one gonna see your trash the world is hell and i probably did something to deserve it and theres no way out social media dont want more art they only want more popular artist

[@breeze5459]

Im at middle of the groove and golden gucci

[@destroyerkitty9434]

There is no “improvement” in art. There is only finding whatever makes you feel happy when you step back and take it all in.

[@percydarkox7894]

Right now im studying animation, and most of the time i get really upset cuz im trying to reach a certain amount of quality and its just, so difficult that im starting to think that this is not for me ;;, but im just trying to remember that this is supposed to be fun, and im supposed to have fun, so im slowly getting out of the hole i dug myself into, also, i have a very autodestructive tendecies so im just taking it slowly

[@cantthinkofahandle22]

Trying to improve continually yet it no longer feels fun, can be really draining

[@darthluno3166]

The thumbnail says a lot

[@marcfuchs6938]

Your art getting worse can also be a case of creative exhaustion. You may need to stop creative activities for a while, be it days, weeks or even months. Your creativity is like a battery, when it's drained, it may not recharge when you try to keep using it all the time. It's the same as sleeping. When you are really tired, you can't concentrate and potentially make bad decisions. Your creative spirit is the same and needs rest, and once you have let your creativity relax for some proper time, your results may be better than ever and you may feel highly motivated. Doesn't work that way for everybody, but certainly for me, which is why I am a skilled hobby artist, but wouldn't want to do that as a job.

[@rizwanzaman1793]

I think I'm at a stage of pitfall. I'm learning lots of things but I can't seem to apply them.

[@Xenderman]

I'm currently in the death stage, almost reborn.

[@Bee_Mavrick]

After a time i took a long time from drawing. So after 8 yeas i gi back and find my drawings are about the same. But more loose

[@zarastorm4981]

Sometimes when I draw my character look down then back up I have to foreshorten the bottom of the head but when the head comes back up I get confused of what the size actually is so the head size either gets distorted or smaller. What should I do?

[@Catrin3]

Disculpa, no tendrás una versión subtitulada al español? :c

[@Morphexxer]

talent is everything. if you where not born with the brain juice required to be good at art you never will be. Only talented people blindly believe that it was all hard work and not genetics. i see people draw amazing anime art and other things. No sketch no boxes nothing and people say "he studied the fundementals" the is no way in hell that the person that just jumps in to a drawing no sketch nothin ever needed to draw a freakin box. He just knew how to do it. thats it.

[@LunaWitcher]

I'm so deep in the Death stage that I decided to study data science just so I have some more hope to be financially successful in this life

[@НикитаДенисов-у9ы]

Yup, I passed full circle recently.

[@zooropa414]

please help me, my biggest problem with drawing is that the drawing is always tilted wrong, is something wrong with my eyes? I always end up rotating but I really hate how tilted I draw, I use small Wacom intuos pro, I also find it difficult to plant the feet and the negative space is waaaay off I am really frustrated help

[@blahdeedah]

Do you flip your drawings? When I draw characters their center of gravity tends to be slightly off too. I don't rotate but I find flipping horizontally to check/correct at different stages of the drawing helps. For planting the feet more solidly, you could try sketching a box or square in perspective lightly below the character, to get a better sense of where the feet should be placed. More here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXSTnX-Bqqd1aa8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWbKfHRtndpqfMU

[@zooropa414]

@@blahdeedah thank you so much

[@blahdeedah]

@@zooropa414 Welcome, hope it helps. 🙂

[@retrogamer3775]

I am now in end of an ear stage.

[@Morzhow]

Hello from the bottom named "5 stage" (guess it may happen too early, wih only 4yrs of art)

[@mr_don_key]

Hi Toniko, I like your informative videos quite a bit. However, i do wonder after all these videos.. why did you go the 2d animation route and not 3d? not saying 3d is better of worse.. just wondering how you choose 2d (if you even choose that is). I know it's offtopic regarding this specific video.. but i need to ask somewhere right? ;)

[@wenliang4757]

The golden gucci state. Im dead lol

[@malahamavet]

I jump from stage 1 to the last stage: do something because it's fun, and then abandon it to try another thing. repeat this a lot and you get like me, who knows about many things but didn't surpass beginner level in anything in years... and I like those things so why don't I do them? hmmmm...

[@zooropa414]

Do you think drawing from imagination is good at some point? Like after studying anatomy

[@Vanyx1000]

I wish

[@eaninventimation3773]

1:41 what exactly did u use to make that snow portrait?

[@Navks]

Ah yes 1:39

[@LmaoMeowz]

I think i skipped the groove lmao I think i’m in 4 right now but I haven’t finished watching yet so Edit: actually i think im sort of going backwards on 5 because i feel like I’m getting a bit better & feeling more confident & doing the stuff I did before again

[@adeactivated]

im at like 5 or 6 so thats fun

[@carnidaess]

currently crawling out of my death stage 🖲

[@legokirbymanchannel]

How weird, considering that this cycle seems to have happened only once with me and never again. It's already a 7th year of complete stagnation for me. I'm an adult and still unemployed...

[@Qw3rtScapes]

When I’m going to draw, what I see in my head don’t come out near correct lol

[@rowantic6539]

Today i Tried to color a seahorse. It is now a zombie seahorse ....

[@wolfa9393]

1:40 😭

[@BroadcastingCN]

Ah yes Can I say 100% no or yes My devil and demon under the bed: both is good

[@rezrezzy7781]

I would have to agree to some of the things, but nothing is more infuriating than gaining next to no growth. I don't know how dark some other artist have fallen. This one prays for any artist to not fall into dark rooms that I am to familiar with. Go learn from the best and hope that your genetics and mentality will bring you a quick and effective growth.

[@JeanneBook]

But yknow im never really good at it....

[@kenonerboy]

1:45 excuse me what?

[@Felix.Wingfield]

Haha no, I've barely managed to keep the rust off for the last 14 years.

[@jacktaktical]

ik u dont improv steadily however 2023 has been the year ive LEAST improved