Things I would tell my younger artist self (that I will tell you instead)
You aren’t going to be very good at anything for a while. I’m talking years here, if you are fortunate. And that’s okay. You gotta learn that it’s okay to be bad at something. It won’t feel like it at first, and that’s okay too, but in order to get good, you must forgive your mistakes. Your mistakes don’t make you as a person. How you overcome them does. Learning to fail and move on will be the hardest lesson, but the best lesson too.
Make drawing become a habit. A thing that you cannot go very long without doing. Draw something every day, even if it is just a scribble. By making it a habit almost to the point of a compulsion, even if you get discouraged about your progress, you will continue to draw in spite of that. It will also let you not get too attached to the idea that everything you make must be a masterpiece.
On that note, do not let drawing consume your life, because your art draws a lot from your experiences. If all you experience is the act of drawing, then your art will suffer. Don’t forget to indulge in your other hobbies and hang out with other people. Other people’s experiences and perspectives can help you see things from another angle you never considered before. Being well-rounded can only make your art better.
Make time to draw what you love. People will be attracted to your passion just as much as your skill. But make time to draw new and different things too if you truly want to flex your muscles.
Meet and interact with other artists. They will be an invaluable resource for both learning technique and getting more comfortable around people. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but also help them help you by asking for more targeted critique (“I was trying to do this with this drawing, did it work? How can I do it better?” “I want to be able to do this, what do you suggest?”)
You will have less to fear about critique once you learn the difference between good and bad critique. A good critique is there to help you more than the critic, but it isn’t always obvious. Both the good and bad might make you feel bad, but take a moment to breathe and give it some thought before giving into defensive mode. It may keep you out of trouble. And remember at the end of it, you have the power to decide whether or not you will use the critique. No one can take that away from you. But it is also not a bad idea to thank someone for their time.
Don’t compare yourself to other artists. The circumstances that led them to create their art aren’t and can’t be the same as yours. Even if you tried to do everything they did, you might not get the same results. While their experiences can be great insight, remember at the same time that it may not work for you. There is no single right way to do anything, and with persistance, you can find your way too.
