#art musing

[jerseyartblog]

Just some thoughts on making comics and tackling projects ...

[nohaijiachi]

The amount of people that asks me tips about How to Art has gone off the chart. I don’t think I’m in any position to teach anyone but here’s some Absolutely Random Thoughts on things I’ve learned during my journey as an artist.

1- Anyone can learn to art. I mean it. I’ve said it multiple times. This is not some kind of positive schtick I keep up in order to make you feel good about yourself. I seriously mean it. But art requires sacrifices, which brings us to point 2.

2- Art takes time. Some people might be more predisposed than others. Someone is better at color balancing, someone seems to get anatomy flawlessly, someone is a God at inking. But art is a skill, and skills are practiced. Even if you feel you don’t have a “natural talent” it doesn’t mean anything. Practice is the one thing that counts.

3- Be patient. Be stubborn. Take your time. Art takes years to build up. There’s this notion regarding art that either you’ll instantly make it or you are shit. That is not true. Do you expect someone to pick up a violin and be able to play in three days? Of course not, because we can *see* that playing an instrument is hard and requires plenty of practice. Art is the same.

4- You don’t have to be a Young Genius. This is something I struggle with on a daily basis myself. Our society puts young artists on a pedestal, this sort of “you either work at pixar at 20 or you are destined to fail” feeling. I’ve fallen into this trap, I will fall into this trap again in the future surely. It’s easy to do that when you see so many amazing artists working hard and producing so many good things at a young age. But that’s them. You are you. You can be 15 or 65, it doesn’t change anything. No one is gonna rip the pencil away from your fingers if you get past a certain age. You can still do it.

5- Be kind to yourself. If you feel like you are drowning in doubt and self deprecation, take a step back. Look behind you. See those mountains? You’ve scaled those already. Take pride in your accomplishments. It’s good to work hard and with passion, but if you need it, take a pause. Your mind needs to recharge from time to time.

6- Find what works for you. Every person is unique and has different approach to art. What works for me can be an absolute disaster for you. If someone says “this is the only way to do this thing” don’t listen. They are lying and probably very insecure in their work. Try many different things, and surely you’ll find what is better for you. And then keep searching and trying. Before you can realize it, you will have a huge array of abilities you have absorbed by trial and error.

7- Inspiration is ok. It’s ok to imitate someone’s style. But be honest with yourself. It’s easy especially with today’s technology to fall into traps like tracing. But that doesn’t build up skill. The result may look good for the moment, but you are absorbing nothing. Use photos as references. that’s vital, but try to understand lines and space and perspective and interpret them in your own way. It takes time. Don’t take the easy way just for the instant-gratification. That hurts you, and no one else.

8- Don’t idolize others. Even the artists you look up to and admire went through and still go through the very doubts that plagues you. Just pick up your courage and ask them about it. 100% they feel exactly like you do, I promise.

9- In the same vein, don’t demonize others. Those amazing “talented” artists? They worked hard to get where they are now. Most people I’ve had the luck of speaking with are humble, nice people that just want to express themselves through their works. And those who act all high and mighty because they are famous or whatever and starts showing off like proud peacocks... Well, that’s their problem, not yours. If someone is looking down on you, it’s their problem, not yours. Don’t let anyone that’s full of themselves like that ever discourage you from keep trying.

10- Draw, draw, draw. Even if there will be times in which all you will want to do is scream and cry and hate what you produce- That feeling is what you go through when your ability is growing. Think about it like a roleplaying game. Feeling like your ability is *not there yet* means you are close to leveling up. Just grind a bit more of those XPs. And then start all over again. Because that feeling is not going away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find love and pride for your work in your heart.

And last but not least... All of the above counts for myself too. It counts for all of us, no matter who you are. Art is not a competition, don’t treat it like such. Art is something that can link us all. Art is a social expression. Art is love.

Wish you all the best of luck, and hope to see more and more people grow and become better and better artists. To have more artists in an enrichment, not a danger.

[changelingsandothernonsense]

My constant jumping back and forth between designing 3rd era Teldryn and 4th era Teldryn is giving me whiplash.

I think that's really why my neck hurts XD. I just like giving the birds different looks for timelines purposes.

I like drawing that hair man.

[lagt-duck]

Mmmmm maybe i should add custom clown designs so if people want those 4 clown format with specific characters or themes...

Wonder if someone would commission me that...

[solesurvivorpaigeargot]

... I have yet another couple with almost no colors in common, minus brown for leather belts.

GDI at least Paige only has like 3 colors so she doesn't need a billion layers to color neatly.

[dragonji]

alright this art is already driving me insane i want feedback but do i dare bother the single mdzs discord i just joined,,, if any of yall want to see a wip and give me a comment or two i will love u forever

[dragonji]

fuck it we goin semirealistic even tho its gonna murder my wrist i got new brush textures and i wanna go hogwild with em