🙁 What If You NEVER Get Better At Art?

[@williammclean6594]

Art is about putting in the time the people that you see that improve a lot in the course of a year. Some of those people are like drawing like 8 hours a day. If you're just like doing a couple sketches and only drawing like maybe 30 minutes a day, you're not going to improve very fast. There's a KZbinr and twitch streamer kaycem. He quit his programming job and basically in about 2 years got into the animation industry. He use to draw but he quit for a long time. Then he got his skills up to a professional level in a 2 years and he was drawing like 8 to 12 hours a day in order to do that. Also a lot of people don't know how to learn properly. They waste their time on a lot of bad tutorials online. They would learn way faster if they like. Bought a couple of good drawing courses if they could afford it. Because those have a curriculum, you know exactly what you have to practice and you don't have to figure it out. If you're just like practicing like random stuff everyday, you're not really going to learn anything. You have to set up your own art curriculum if you're not going to pay for a course where you practice like one specific thing for 3 weeks at a time and then switch to a new thing.

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Hey William, I like that you highlight how important putting in time is and realizing that we really don’t know what people are doing to get where they are … and that goes for whether they are doing well or not so good. And sometimes it’s not even that people are not practicing the correct things. I have seen assignments posted for Proko’s courses that are no where near the examples Proko gave. I struggled with this myself but there we others who were not doing as well as I was. Drawing is a challenge and expecting consistent predictable progress is tough. But yeah there is so much we don’t see behind the scenes.

[@williammclean6594]

@@canilearntodraw2579 yeah I'm taking one of proko's courses right now and he suggests don't look up the critique videos until you actually do the assignment. And I completely miss the mark what he was talking about in the explanation video because sometimes it's instructions aren't clear until you actually see the critique and demonstration. But still you have to put a decent amount of time to practice. Just practicing for like 10 minutes a day. Isn't going to get you much improvement and I think it's still important to practice sufficiently to know what to study without wasting time

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Hey William this actually sparked an idea for a video for me to do 😋. I had a similar experience as well with Proko. You think you understand just to find out nope. 😂. But yes putting in the time is one of the most important things.

[@maxpierce8414]

what course would you recommend ?

[@williammclean6594]

​@@maxpierce8414 When I first started I wanted to save money so I took courses on Udemy. I don't recommend them. They're cheap but they don't teach that great. The best ones that I've taken on there are only a 7 out of 10. But a lot of them were really bad. Proko's beginner drawing course is good if you're a beginner and even if you're not, it teaches you all the basic concepts. I've also taken anatomy of distortion on colosso. I got it on sale during like one of their black Friday. For like $30 so it was like 80% off but it's pretty good. It teaches you how to mannequin to you drawing. And it goes over all of the anatomy and it comes with PDF downloads for exercises. Also the classes that Kirk shinmoto are great. He's an animator and his process is pretty good and easy to understand. They are pretty expensive though. You can find them on his gumroad. He does have a KZbin channel but he doesn't post very much. thekirkshop.gumroad.com/ Also, Michael Hampton a lot of his videos are free on his channel on KZbin but he just released s course on proko. The way he teaches gesture drawing is really easy. If you're just starting, you won't really know how to really understand his book that he wrote. But if you buy his book and take his class at the same time, you'll understand it. But probably the best ones. And the cheapest for getting started was this KZbin channel that I found Darwish studio. His method for drawing the figure in this video is very easy to understand for beginners. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mICmXp96hM2KirMsi=vIyK7xzRdS3x2CWH He also has like a $5 PDF you can buy on his gum road that goes into all the steps and more. It's worth it in my opinion. He goes over isometric perspective and how you can use it really easily to make boxes to put on top of your figure. If u struggle was drawing shapes. It's a really good technique to be able to get the boxes for the head and the rib cage and pelvis right.

[@brandonwebb3806]

I love the video game analogy, just what i needed to hear. Your videos are awesome, keep up the good work!

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Hey Brandon! Glad to hear that this gave you some motivation. Keep enjoying the journey! Thanks for the comment. It keeps me motivated as well ☺️

[@blacksheep1337]

I think that learning english, drawing, programming or even how to talk to other person is a skill for me and as much you do and think about it as much you get better, i really think thats not a talent

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Hey blacksheep. I think I agree with a lot here. The importance of spending the time cannot be overstated. However, I do think there is some people will improve faster than others … are these persons simply putting in more time and effort? It’s hard to tell. But it does seem that those who are at the top put in a whole bunch of effort. Likely much more than others around them. Maybe the talent is the ability to put in the effort and time. 😝

[@GastonAcevedo]

you are my hero!! 💪

[@canilearntodraw2579]

☺️ thanks for the feedback!

[@imajinationproject]

Just i needed to hear. Thank you so much 🙏

[@chrystalmoeart]

This is a very good video. Very thought provoking. You're absolutely correct. Becoming the best should not be your goal as an artist. If you like to draw, just draw. Obviously, people are going to have different goals which then affects the information they share. Which means not every art tip [especially from the very small elite artists] is going to be in line with what you want to do. And if that is the case, just move on. So for us in the middle, we draw simply because we enjoy doing it often.😀

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Hey Chrystal! Thanks. Your comment made me think of something as well. I think because most art channels are about getting better at art we tend to think this is the only way to experience the hobby. To be on a grind to get better. This isn’t the case with game channels and streamers. They have some videos about getting better but they have a ton of videos just about the experience of playing the game and having fun. We are really missing out on the experience of art it seems.

[@chrystalmoeart]

@@canilearntodraw2579 Agreed!

[@raul740]

Man you really inspire me to keep practicing. I having trying for years buy everytime I feel like I just can't, I want to be better I want to put in paper the thing in my mind but I just can't. I start to Practice draw again this Sunday so I wish I don't drop it again. See how you get better and better helps me a lot. Keep going! (Sorry if I say something wrong, my English is not that good)

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Hey Raul thanks for the comment! Remember you don’t have to be hard on yourself. It seems that this feeling of not being able to put what’s on your mind on the page will always be with you even as you get better. Because as you get better your ideas grow as well. Appreciate your drawings for where you are. Find something to like about it. And more importantly don’t just draw seriously. Have fun. Make jokes about your drawings. It’s a hobby. Nothing bad will happen if you make a mistake.

[@lepearcreatif]

I needed this. Im having a hard time finding structure. I dont really master anything, i just stay in a weak/mediocre zone and take all the shortcuts to make it faster. I guess putting out content gets in the way. Also afraid because i have no idea i can make it as an artist, even if just a part time gig. But i need to practice and force myself to stay in practice mode for more than 20 minutes. Of course childhood trauma doesnt help when its time for that PTSD in form of fear and procrastination kicks in. I guess i´ll try again and again in hopes eventually i get it right. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Glad that this video could motivate you to take another look at drawing. Sorry to hear about all the trauma from your past.

[@Joshuadc1975]

I know I don’t practice as much as I should. I probably spend more time watching tutorials than drawing. It’s a bad character trait. Keep up the good work. Loving your videos.

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Thanks for the feedback Joshua. Well being aware of what you are doing is the first step. And also remember you don’t have to put in more time if you don’t have it. You will just need to change your expectations of your hobby. I think sometimes we end up thinking that we can only enjoy drawing if our drawings are perfect. I think this is something we lose as adults. My kids enjoy drawing even though they are aware that their drawings are not as “good” as mine. Whatever “good” means.

[@pittlebelge]

So, that's a lot to unpack. I'll take an easier approach to those questions of skill, talent, motivation, progress and enjoyment and just offer a little tip for those time when you feel like you are not moving forward. When you feel stuck, pick one simple skill, and try and make it better in your next piece. Just focus on making that one thing better than before, nothing more. In the next watercolour I paint, I'll try and render the hair better than in the last portrait I did. That's it, nothing more. I'm not saying that it will be perfect, just a bit better than what I used to make. That's something I can manage. When I'm finished with it, I'll be just a little better as an artist, my skillset will be just a little more complete. It's just one step forward, but it can't be taken away. And the satisfaction I get from it will be real, I'll have something to be proud of. I'll have put some effort in improving that skill, and it will pay off. Now, I'll say that I have no intention of becoming a professional. Art is a hobby for me and I can afford to just enjoy it for its own sake. Enjoy the journey.

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Small baby steps. I like this approach.

[@mirlindthedon]

Great video i really love drawing but i sometimes just realized that my overstimulated brain says me i should pick up my phone and swipe reels in instagram but over all im trying to draw more and i do draw more and im struggling like i guess most people with phone addiction

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Yeah … I know what you mean … squirrel 🐿️!

[@jackfelldown1]

Aw man, so you're saying even if I practice drawing a straight line a thousand times every day for a year I still won't be able to draw a straight line if I lack talent? My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined. This is my problem with these 'it's all talent' folks. They found continuing hard to continue and gave up, that's fine. Sometimes some things in life just don't work out cause living is hard and it ain't just about one thing. But whenever they start spouting things like 'you can't draw unless you're talented', they seriously discourage people who are trying. Sure, I accept talent is a thing. The top 1% people who really make it big through art or something. Some people have that intuitive sense of color, or they can visualize a perfect image where I see all black inside my head, but do we know when(how early) they started on their art journey? How they were taught? What kind of experiences they went through? How many piles of sketchbook they left behind in their journey to get to where they are? Cause more often than not, all of those things culminate to create the 'talent' they show off. Sam does art, Kim Jung Gi, they all started way earlier, maybe not different from most of us, but the difference is they continued to pursue art where we gave up at some point, for various reasons. Then you pick up a pencil in your later years, follow some shit tutorials from tiktok that have no substance, scratch a few lines for a few months or so, then give up when you see no visible improvement and whine about talent and whatnot and spread your bitterness to the others who also started late yet are willing to give it a shot, despite how hard it is sometimes. As long as you have enough sense to understand why 1+1 makes 2, you should have enough sense to draw an accurate box. And if you can do that, you can also do spheres, cones, pyramids, all the tools you need to construct an image if you lack the intuition but really want to. There's color theory for people who can't color intuitively, there's composition charts for people who lack that sense. Everything's learnable these days. Yeah, the issue of practice and skill is a big issue, and you might never get in the top 1%, but who says you have to? Even if your drawings are shitty, you can still draw something, create a crappy comics or a shit animation. Sure, it won't look as good or professional, but you can do it if you really want to. Unlike some people who'd been genuinely dealt a bad hand, like being blind, or lacking limbs, or proper mental faculty. They just can't do the things we can even if they really want to. If you are one of those people, then sure, complain about talent all you want. You're justified. Otherwise, you gave up cause it didn't work out, and that's fine. But since I don't think you necessarily need to be very very good to draw, I don't think it's a matter of talent, but willingness. You wanna whine, that's fine. After all, we all feel that way sometimes. But keep any absolutism out of it cause otherwise you're just poisoning others.

[@canilearntodraw2579]

I’m reading and wondering if those opening lines are what you got from my video … or are you just responding to the person whose comment I read at the beginning. It’s hard to tell just from the comment considering that this seems far from what I was trying to convey. It’s possible I still need to work on my delivery.

[@jackfelldown1]

@@canilearntodraw2579 it's the comment. I understand and agree with your angle. I should've clarified, so it's not you, but my delivery that needs to be worked on.

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Lol I see what you did there. Yes I agree with you. Everyone that I notice that i really like they draw a lot! Like not even just a lot … they draw A LOT. It seems like most beginners (myself included) fall into the trap of thinking they should be a master in 1, 2, or 5 years. When most of the people we look up to have been putting in multiple hours most days for decades!

[@DennisCNolasco]

Word!

[@LopsideMakes]

A Sakura pen I see? 😏 Good taste.

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Thanks 😊

[@Hyena1025]

I resonate with the comment because they said they put years of work into drawing before they gave up, I too spent years drawing every day before seeing my drawings from year 3 look practically the same to day 3, I had no improvement whatsoever despite my best efforts, despite searching and learning and practicing every advice from my favorite artists Then you immediately say that you think people who express they want to learn aren't putting in the effort? The comment was right, people who say drawing is a skill are already talented

[@skyhavender]

It seems to me that talented people dont realise they are talented. They just think "Oh i just worked harder then everyone else" but a part of them know this is a lie. Why else would they get angry over someone calling them talented? Its because they know deep down that they just have a nack for it and they dont like it when people remind them that they didnt have to try that hard in order to learn.

[@joeschmoe3815]

That's impossible. It seems you're not putting the things you learned to good use. You don't need talent to improve otherwise the concept of learning wouldn't exist. What does exist though is wrong learning where you think you did something but only wasted time. Like learning a grammar sheet for a language for 2 years and some dictionary and then complaining that you can't form one coherent sentence.

[@Hyena1025]

​@@joeschmoe3815​I did everything in my power to improve and nothing worked 🤷‍♂️ every single piece of advice when I asked for help was "Keep practicing" moving the goalpost by saying "you weren't learning right" just adds to my sentiment that artists that say drawing is a skill are already talented Art requires talent and you cultivate that talent with practice, if you don't have talent you don't have the base foundation to build skill on and all that time learning is put to waste, my years of wasted time is testament to that

[@dplj4428]

4:35 the way your brain functions

[@canilearntodraw2579]

So important

[@Tha_Pencil]

Then I guess I'll die a failure

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Interesting. I hope that’s not what you got from this video 😔

[@nangbaby]

I only enjoy playing video games when I'm good at playing them. That's why I stopped playing them.

[@boytawiwit7252]

TALENT is something people are born with, like HEREDITARY. It runs in the BLOOD, like sudden boost of urgency of making things BETTER than the other. Like SKILLS are can be taught but it depends on the person if his/her interested on what are they doing. Watch "BLUE PERIOD" anime, you'll see what I'm talkin' about. 😊

[@canilearntodraw2579]

Yeah. Talent only gives you a slight back wind. It’s still effort that gets everyone across the line.

[@Morphexxer]

video games are not the same sadly it takes zero skill or real learning to play a video game. drawing is a Skill that's hard to learn and even harder to master. video games have tutorials that give you all the info you need without you ever having to learn or figure out anything for yourself. Art is the complete opposite. Because you have to learn the skill through trail and error by yourself most of the time. There is no instruction manual for art. There are books that can give you info on how they mastered art, but wheter or not you use that info is upp to you. Video games spell everything out for you while'st art is all trail and error. I remember (dont remember who said it) but he said "video games are bad for you because you dont grow as a person because they dont really teach you anything". And from my years of playin video games i can easily say that thats 100% true. Its rare that a video game gives me anything that i can apply to the real world or even teach me anything of value that can help others or myself be a better person.