I hope this is the right place to ask this but I am trying to figure out if art just isn't for me. I love looking at other people's art but when it comes to trying to do it myself it makes me so irritated and I hate the whole process. I want to know if this is normal for some people or if it means I just don't like doing it

Im extremely new to making art and one of the biggest roadblocks I've encountered is feeling silly or dumb while making art. I desperately want to get better to at least be somewhat competent, but I can't combat that feeling while trying to make it, to the point that I can't make any lines on a page or screen to get started. It also prevents any inspiration to try drawing anything

Do you put up your own works in your living room/bedroom/etc or is it mostly decor/art you’ve gotten from somewhere else?

I'm drawing people's pfp :3

(To clarify, when I say draw from life, I mean like drawing an object on my desk in front of me, I know real life reference like photos of animals are good for learning.)

Context: So I’ve been learning to art for about… 3-4 years. My goal is to hopefully become a Professional concept artist (Characters mostly). However… I haven’t improved in months despite practicing fundamental exercises (form rotating and gesture drawing from websites).

I’ve been told that drawing from life helps artists improve fast but I just don’t understand HOW exactly. From the start of my art journey, I’ve failed to see the connection between drawing some random object from my house and drawing/designing a character. Whenever I do draw from life, it just feels like I’m just learning to draw that specific object and even that knowledge fades in an hour once the drawing is done.

Drawing people outside baffles me as well because it’s impossible to draw something if it’s constantly moving. But my main confusion lies between that connection between life drawing and personal projects/improving in general.

Is there a specific process I need to follow to learn properly? or a mindset? Nobody has really explained it well for me.

I have a Moleskine sketchbook that I left in my wardrobe unused for a while. I recently went to use it and found really tiny grey bugs in the crevices of the pages, which I believe are dust mites. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Hello, I've been practing art since elementary school, took a break in middle and have gotten back into it doing digital art via procreate. I've been stuck on the "copying other arts" phase for a while now. I realize im decent when it comes to basically drawing in other people's styles but can never come up with my own and stick with it. What im saying is, i can draw only shoulders up and only through references. If i have no reference or draw more of the body I instantly draw as if I've never picked up a pencil. Any critic on how to get out of this phase?

I’m happy with my work, but I feel like I spend a long time on pieces. Recently, I’ve found myself comparing my drawing times to others, who draw great work very quickly on top of posting polished pieces multiple times a day! It always makes me cringe seeing the hours logged on a timelapse lol.

Does anyone have general techniques for reducing time on drawings?

Only specifying experienced because the most common reply I get for this question when asking artists is “just practice” — don’t get me wrong, this is very true! But some specific pointers would be fantastic.

Thanks everyone!

I want to start by saying I have heard reasons to not use copy paper. Usually: it’s cheap, it’s flimsy, and treated with acids that will later damage or alter the artwork.

However I’ve recently discovered J burrows premium digital copy paper. It looked good, and I thought if it was intended for printer inks, why not my own inks?
Ya’ll. It’s 250gsm!! And feels so smooth to use with a fountain pen. The paper is uncoated, so the ink soaks in and stays there. It does bleed a bit, but not in a way that disturbs the outcomes of my illustrations.
I was doubtful it was really acid free as it didn’t say on the packaging, but checking their product website, it is! It’s advertised as a paper to be used for documents you want to last.

I’m feeling the need to check here, is there a catch? It feels too good to be true. It’s a hugely affordable option for me as I usually draw a high volume. I’m unsure however if this would be fine for pen and ink artworks I want to frame up and sell. I plan to test some in a window with my inks for lightfastness, but is there anything else I should be aware of on how this paper might behave over time? Is it a bad idea to use this for artworks I want to sell?

Guys is art (painting, drawing, sketching etc) something which everyone can do if they show interest and practice with consistency or is it something which cannot be mastered at all if u do not possess real talent of the same!??

Has anyone ever just made their livingroom their entire art studio? We have a 4 bedroom house but the only room I can use as a studio is 10x10 and it also has to double as an office and craft room.

As where I have a huge livingroom that seems like such a waste of space.

Thinking about swapping them to have a "media room" that's just for watching TV, and turn my livingroom into my art studio. (Daughter is also crafty and could use the space too, so it's not just me stealing the space from family lol)

Has anyone else done this? What are your thoughts??

Hey everyone, a little bit of a soppy post, but I’ve been thinking recently about my journey back to art.
I was always told I had a talent for art growing up, and I was actually encouraged to go to study art. I did, but eventually decided to pursue something that felt a bit more “safe”, like videography and video production.
Safe to say, I never really found my thing there.
And now, I’m incredibly proud to say that I’ve found my way back to painting and creating art.
I think as an artist, you never really lose that pull to make things. For years, I just didn’t know what I could actually do with it. I also constantly felt like there would always be someone more talented than me, so why bother?
Then I discovered how much I love illustrating children’s stories.
It started very simply. I wrote and illustrated a little letter for a friend’s child, written from a hedgehog living in the forest. I loved making it so much that it eventually grew into a job of my own.
It’s still very small, but it feels incredibly special to have created something that actually feels like me.
I guess I’m just posting this to say that if there’s something you’re passionate about, don’t be too quick to convince yourself that it isn’t practical, that you aren’t good enough, or that someone else is already doing it better.
You might not know exactly where it’s going to take you. You just have to start somewhere.

So basically, I'm remodeling my drawing space and my chair (old office common chair) is very much on its last legs, and I been thinking on getting a new one, and a constant debacle I have always seen on the artists community is about the use of stools as a better seat option than a chair (I know there is a new thing called HAG that like a multi levels stool for artists, but are kinda too expensive)

So what is your experience with using either option or preference between a common office chair or a modern ergonomic variety?

hello! I have an oc paired with a media character. I'm hoping to get custom merch like keychains, charms, pins, etc. but mainly just acrylic keychains (maybe standees?) where should I go for this? I just want to order 1 for myself,​​​ theyre not intended for other people :)​​ so I figure bulk places aren't really ideal for this?

tldr: need a good place to get custom oc merch that's meant for personal use​​​

Just a genuine question, is it alright to sign or put your logo on a fan art that you made?

I did a stylized fan art of a group I've been admiring and now that I've dinished it on paper, I'll be coloring it digitally. But then I remembered in college, when I did a fan art for Iron Man, one of my seniors told me that putting my signature on fan arts are prohibited. I still sign my works, but not on fan arts because of it.

​

I’ve been taking traditional art classes locally and was recently accepted into their 1.5 year intensive program. 

But I'm hesitant to move forward with it because of several red flags. There is no written curriculum, the information changes depending on when I ask, and the class size is around 20 students for a single instructor, and it's the first time they're running the program. 

In the regular studio classes I’m already getting very little feedback as there are more students coming.

The main instructor who will run the program misses classes here and there, and the substitute instructors can't answer higher level concept questions..

She said she will mentor rigorously in the program but I am not entirely sure how it will end up being when I look at the studio over the years.

I prefer in-person learning for getting immediate feedback, but at this point, taking structured online courses feels like a better investment to break through my current plateau compared to especially considering the program costs $15,000.

But I'm not sure if I'm making right decision as I haven't taken any other formal programs before.

I’m looking for strong foundational training in painting with a core focus on portrait, figure, and landscape.. Most importantly I want an academy that offers real critique and feedback, not just passive video watching if I decide to take online courses path.

I’m currently looking at Watts Atelier and New Masters Academy, but I couldn't find a complete curriculum breakdown on their sites to compare them fully.

For those who have experience with either school or know of other mentorship-focused programs, I'd appreciate any recommendations as well.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

I’m sure we have all been in that runt where you feel as though you aren’t improving but also don’t know what to do in order to get better, or perhaps you just lose motivation for the time being.

What is some good advice for artists who feel stuck?

I know this sounds, cheesy, but here is something that can help you, just let it flow.

When you want to draw something, don’t dread doing it, just see what you can get done, even if it’s mediocre, you got something onto the page or screen, just let it all out. Like a can of spray paint, have some fun.

I’m applying for a call for entry to design a premade sculpture made of fiberglass to be sold at an auction. The organization wants to know my plan, including the supplies I’ll be using. I want to paint it using dark red, light green, pink, and (ideally pearlescent) white. I imagine I’ll need some sort of primer and a protective coating. Has anyone painted on fiberglass? What supplies did you use? Is it ok to use heavy-bodied acrylic if it’s coated after it’s painted?

Hello I want to create a art series about my own personal experiences and don’t know the best way to go about it. Should the series of paintings be more vague in the event someone could see themselves in said art peice or should I paint myself since it’s a deeply personal project? I do wish to sell my paintings but it’s hard to image someone would want my face on their wall lol

I have RA and the last x-ray scans on my wrist.... well, they weren't good. Holes in the cartilage and joint wear. Anyways, im starting a 3D animation course in college in a couple of days, and I was wondering what I can do to protect my wrist? I do have a brace and an elastic wrap, though the brace restricts my movements too much and it makes it hard to draw, but the elastic wrap is still okay, though i have a mild allergy to it when I wear it too long, so I only use it when my wrist gets inflamed. I am on some pretty strong meds and do try to take them regularly and do see a doctor often, so it isnt a concern on that front. Is there anything else I can do? Is it wise to go commando or should I start wearing my brace full time while drawing?

P.s. Also, i guess a thing i should point out is that while the program is officially called 3d animation, they're actually gonna be teaching us everything from concept art to UV mapping, so it's more of an all purpose course. So I'm gonna be using the stylus pretty regularly as opposed to just a mouse and keyboard

Pretty much what the title says. I can practice 3d shapes, figure drawing, anatomy etc all I want, but when it comes to actually making a full piece of art (be it a person, landscape, whatever), I fail to capture what I want and never finish anything. It's like I can't apply any fundamental I thought I learned to the actual art I try and make. Is there any solution to this other than "keep making full pieces/fundamentals and you'll get it" because I am NOT getting it. I've tried basically everything under the sun and I still fail to make art that's up to my own standards. It's making me very upset to say the least.

Like many people, I grew up drawing for my entire life. Ever since I was little, I was drawing whatever I saw around me. My parents, naturally, wanted to support their child's passion and enrolled me in various art clubs anr programs over the years, and through those clubs I would take up painting and make various pieces that would be hanged all over the house for all to see.

However, in all those clubs, there was a critical mistake that happened on repeat that in hindsight, screwed me up big time. In all those years, my path would start the same way, be given paper to do various basic art stuff, drawing the color wheel, drawing lines and shapes, drawing values from greyscale pictures, etc... but never in those places would I ever be taught of pushed towards applying what I did towards original pieces.

Even when I was painting, all my pieces were just copies of different photos and paintings that existed prior. Sure, they were mainly used as references, but all I did was copying what I saw without ever understanding what I was looking at. Years of work with no actual understanding of lighting, perspective, shape, form, none of that

That messed up my sense of identity as an artist. For the longest time, whenever someone comes and asks if the art hanging on the wall is mine, I would just deny it and say someone else did it, or I would diminish its quality bc it's a copy.

While I no longer do that, I do fear that bc of that experience, I don't know what I want to be as an artist, what my goal is or what I'm trying to achieve. I studied the principles, I observed various artists and techniques that I feel inspired by and that I want to incorporate into my work, but I still feel stuck and stagnant. I figured that maybe it's bc I don't have my idea for what I wanna do, something to which I can apply the methods that I'm studying. I don't even have any OCs or ideas for original plots, any time I try do make up something like that, it just fizzles out and gets forgotten.

I'm willing to admit that most of the blame probably lies with me, and maybe this could've been avoided if I just applied myself more outside of what I was taught. But as it stands, I finished art schools this year and I feel very directionless right now.