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Are my drawing skills just mediocre?

Archive: 42 posts


I have a big problem, my greatest wish is that when I grow up I want to have a job as an artist but I'm really starting to think that my drawing skills are average or even below. My friends and family always say that my art is great but I really can't take that as criticism since... they're my friends and family.
I've made a similar thread last year and the feedback was quite positive but currently I'm feeling that I just suck at drawing (btw, I'm 15 years old now). On deviantart I'm constantly amazed and inspired by some of the great work some people put out, it's magnificent, but that's exactly what made me think that I'm not good enough. I always see someone with amazing skills but I rarely see someone on my "level". It makes me think that I'll never make something such amazing as they do.
I said to my self that I'll start drawing every day just so I can practice and get better. But as that goes on it just makes me think that I'm just not good enough.

So here, what do you say?
http://blizzard-cool.deviantart.com/gallery/

It's come so far to make me think to just quit drawing

EDIT: First of all thanks to the people below for the kind words! When I said artist I was thinking about someone who would work on a comic, cartoon ,game art, etc., should've cleared that up. Sorry!
2010-06-13 17:19:00

Author:
blizzard_cool
Posts: 752


No, your sketches look great !

I love the lama ! :hero: And you're only 15... You have plenty of time to improve or even to study art
2010-06-13 17:33:00

Author:
Oddmania
Posts: 1305


I always go by: You never suck at drawing. You do it or you don't. And if you do it a lot, possibly with some feedback, your skills will advance. Remember: Great drawings are NOT naturalistic snap shots of your eye view, grounded in realism. Those are called photos :-D2010-06-13 17:35:00

Author:
Xario
Posts: 238


Don't stop drawing man! You've got a nice cartoony style I bet there are alot more jobs suitable for this kind of drawing than there are for realistic landscapes etc. Just keep practising and get better. Im 17 and I used to draw alot, I still have the subject in school to make sure I don't stop doing it.. Even if you can't go pro with it, its still fun to do and it'll come in handy alot.

Why not create some cool characters for a comic and make small comics with like 5 pictures, I love cyanade and happiness ( if you know that ), easy but genious ^^
2010-06-13 17:36:00

Author:
Kn0cked-0ut
Posts: 562


Those are brilliant drawings! You've posted that link before, And everyone was giving you praise! There's no point in giving up, if you love doing it AND you're this good! Just keep at it until YOU are satisfied too! You can't be expected to produce the standard of adult professionals at the age of 15! (I've been told this MANY times before!!)

I love little chief guy and wandering artist!

P.s. It's spelt "Mediocre"
2010-06-13 17:37:00

Author:
Weretigr
Posts: 2105


I think they're great! And trust me, I'm not lying! :]2010-06-13 17:38:00

Author:
piggabling
Posts: 2979


Medicore? Definitely not! Your art is beautiful.2010-06-13 17:39:00

Author:
Fastbro
Posts: 1277


Don't stop drawing man! You've got a nice cartoony style I bet there are alot more jobs suitable for this kind of drawing than there are for realistic landscapes etc. Just keep practising and get better. Im 17 and I used to draw alot, I still have the subject in school to make sure I don't stop doing it.. Even if you can't go pro with it, its still fun to do and it'll come in handy alot.

Why not create some cool characters for a comic and make small comics with like 5 pictures, I love cyanade and hapiness ( if you know that ), easy but genious ^^

Good advice

and I love cyanide and happiness too!

p.s. PERVERT!!! XD (referring to avatar!)
2010-06-13 17:50:00

Author:
Weretigr
Posts: 2105


I love the "Little Chief" and "Evil is Awesome." Really, I think the main problem you might have is that your not quite set on a particular style and I'd agree with Kn0cked-Out that you've got a good grasp on a more cartoony style; while the attempts at a more "realistic" style of drawing feel like they were made by an entirely different person (in particular, the "Fighter" reminds me too much of the art of Akira Toriyama or a comic book artist from the nineties to like it as much).2010-06-13 17:55:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka
Posts: 512


Blizzard, those drawings are epic. Seriously. Your "Evil is awesome" is, well, awesome! Not only can you draw brilliantly, you give very good titles!
You really shouldn't doubt yourself, especially with drawing skills like that.
2010-06-13 17:58:00

Author:
trip090
Posts: 1562


Mediocre!?
How could you say thaat!?
These are awesome!!
2010-06-13 18:08:00

Author:
Jovuto
Posts: 2345


You've with no doubt got a talent! I am 15 too (and incredibly enough, I love to draw myself), and I don't call your skills mediocre or anything down below, you're great. I think you are quite better than me, that's for sure. I always end up with more abstract and sketchy kind of things that looks weird... And I also have the same problem, people I know always says I a am great at drawing, except for the few who actually can draw, they give compliments and feedback at least.2010-06-13 18:22:00

Author:
moonwire
Posts: 1627


I really like them
definatly over average!
And if you keep at it, you will be even more awesomenessness
2010-06-13 18:28:00

Author:
samalot
Posts: 591


I think you're a great artist. I always have. ^_^2010-06-13 19:28:00

Author:
xkappax
Posts: 2569


Dude, your art is fantastic!! And as long as you keep on doing it, you'll get even better and better, don't get discouraged! Here's a tip that has helped me out a lot-- you'll always be able to draw your own stylized creations, but the thing about stylization is that, while it can look awesome, it doesn't require as much skill to do as realism does. Start sketching what you see around you, just draw a shoe for instance. Just get a solid grasp of how to draw really well realistically and with that, everything with your art will improve.

Can't wait to see more from you!!
2010-06-13 20:00:00

Author:
FULLGORR
Posts: 245


http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/120/4/8/Carrier_extreme_page_1_by_blizzard_cool.jpg

Of what I looked through, I loved this one. Work on coloring with computer programs. It's not really easy to use, but Adobe Illustrator might really help you. Especially if you have a tablet. You've got great ones but I'm not gonna lie, there are a couple duds too. Like that 'Fighter' one mentioned above.

But don't get feedback here, you're probably running into the same problem as you did with friends and family. Everyone wants to be supportive, which is nice and all, but not at all helpful and I totally get that. Seek more critical feedback from the dA community, perhaps, or elsewhere. This thread though, is much less likely to be of use.

I wouldn't call it amazing yet, as everyone else has been saying. I'm not being mean. There's just a lot of truly amazing art out there and it takes a lot of time and practice to get at that level. Time you haven't had. Not everyone does get there in the end, but I think if you continue in the style of the one I just posted you could go really far.

Overly positive praise is far worse than overly negative criticism, IMO. Good luck!
2010-06-13 21:42:00

Author:
monstahr
Posts: 1361


Not bad at all, you just have to practice... take a look at my unfinished drawings.
https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=28540-My-unfinnished-drawings
2010-06-13 21:47:00

Author:
ferrrch
Posts: 429


T.T! I hate when people say their art sucks, then you look at it, and its AMAZING. Because if you think THAT sucks, then my art is.... well, i think a mod would get angry if i used that language 2010-06-13 21:51:00

Author:
EvasiveSpoon
Posts: 119


Yes, they are mediocre, but you know that already.

As an artist you will never be happy with what you do, ever. If you are ever happy with something... then you know you're wrong. You might think you did something well but when you come back to it a few days later all you'll see are its flaws.

Just be honest with yourself. Only you know how much effort you put into something, how much you were really interested in it, when you thought nobody would notice how you messed up a part of your drawing, when you gave up on it. Nobody else can be as critical.

Here's a drawing I did a few weeks ago. I really hate it. Maybe you think it looks passable, but all I see is where I went wrong and that's how it'll always be.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l37/Corporeal/bf271afd.jpg
2010-06-13 22:57:00

Author:
Ayneh
Posts: 2454


I was 2/3 of the way through an art degree before I realised one day that my artwork was actually a load of ****e.

I quit the course and I've never picked up a paintbrush again.
2010-06-14 01:40:00

Author:
Ungreth
Posts: 2130


Anyone who calls that medicore is a fool.2010-06-14 01:44:00

Author:
JspOt
Posts: 3607


Hey man dont worry about it your stuff isn't bad

Just keep practicing and try develop your own unique style further to really stand out.
2010-06-14 03:05:00

Author:
rseah
Posts: 2701


I was 2/3 of the way through an art degree before I realised one day that my artwork was actually a load of ****e.

I quit the course and I've never picked up a paintbrush again.

There's no reason not to draw. Especially if you think that you shouldn't draw just because your art is "a load of ****e"

Drawing is to express emotion, how your feeling. If you expressed it well, then it's beautiful. Drawing is not about lines and colors.

@Blizzard-Cool, there are some amazing artists on DA, and they get pushed to the surface. Most of the stuff on DA is really not that impressive, if you dig down beyond the Featured Deviations and most popular pages. Your stuff is certainly better then some of the things I've seen on DA, and better then I can draw as well. Keep it up, and you could be a really great artist someday.
2010-06-14 04:19:00

Author:
nitewalker11
Posts: 222


There's no reason not to draw. Especially if you think that you shouldn't draw just because your art is "a load of ****e"

Drawing is to express emotion, how your feeling. If you expressed it well, then it's beautiful. Drawing is not about lines and colors.


On the contrary, I never used painting as a way to express emotion, but as a way of exploring the aesthetics of line and colour.

But in retrospect, maybe that's why my artwork was a load of ****e, lol!
2010-06-14 04:32:00

Author:
Ungreth
Posts: 2130


I can't say how much thankful I am to all of your kind words, you really gave me a confidence boost!

I'll try to make my own style and to try to draw more realistic things (at the same time!).
I can only thank you all, you have made me very happy
2010-06-14 17:03:00

Author:
blizzard_cool
Posts: 752


looks great buddy, everyone got their own style when they draw!

The sketches looks great.
2010-06-14 17:47:00

Author:
Alec
Posts: 3871


You defintely have skills. Well done. I don't think my art was at your standard when |was your age and I went on to go to art college and get a job as a designer. Check out a local life drawing class and you'll pick up essential skills to help you with your more creative stuff. Look into how to convey depth of field through line usage, shading etc. These are just little things but can really polish up a drawing.2010-06-14 17:58:00

Author:
wexfordian
Posts: 1904


I love the "flee" & think you should make more monstrous drawings, its really good. You want criticism? ok, I think those criss crossing lines on his back don't make any sense there & the drool looks too parallel. You should bear in mind I don't draw & might not know what I'm talking about.2010-06-14 18:10:00

Author:
lifeiscrapislife
Posts: 396


There's a couple of pictures that I thought showed promise...if that's what you're interested in doing I'd definitely stick with it. I don't put much stock in the comments of anyone that doesn't draw either...most of these images lacked any particular spark of brilliance...and as you are already aware, there's a ton of great artists out there.

Just keep drawing and try to develop your own style. Learning the rules for drawing more realistic stuff is always a great help...but I'd work on creating more stylized stuff, creating photo-realistic images takes a good technician, not a good artist.
2010-06-14 18:35:00

Author:
fullofwin
Posts: 1214


They're good, you got talent for it, but because you got talent you gotta keep practicing to be even better, try drawing real life animals people, objecs, vehicles, and all that, trust me even if you wanna be a cartoonist per say, knowing to draw real life stuff will improve yer drawings by a lot, it teaches you about proportions, shading, properties, and a lot of other stuff, remember that even a cartoon is always better with a bit of realistic details noticed here and there.

But you're doing good m8, don't worry about it.
2010-06-14 18:47:00

Author:
Silverleon
Posts: 6707


speaking as one who's drawing skills amount to the point that i can make an decent stick-figure, i'd say that those drawings are quite good.2010-06-15 06:58:00

Author:
kiwin
Posts: 218


That's some pretty awesome art in my opinion. Keep at it, buddy. : )

From a fellow artist (Somewhat),
Prince Pixelton
2010-06-15 23:10:00

Author:
Prince Pixelton
Posts: 286


I must thank you all again!
Things have been going downhill for me in a while and stuff like this really makes my day!
2010-06-16 17:18:00

Author:
blizzard_cool
Posts: 752


Just as godly as XKCD artwork.(AKA: AWESOME) You should do a blog like that, i love webcomics.2010-06-17 04:25:00

Author:
Deviantgeek
Posts: 386


I think those are great2010-06-18 14:30:00

Author:
ExplosiveCheddar
Posts: 978


Carrier extreme page 1 is the best one imo.
I feel that the major thing missing in your work is composition/incorrect cropping.

Just PRACTICE.
Read the interviews @ http://characterdesign.blogspot.com/
ALL of them say practice is the most important part, and they offer tons of other good tips.

On my DA journal (which I'll move back to my front page) I noted down a few things to think about while creating an image:
http://midnightheist.deviantart.com/journal/22307588/

My biggest weakness is anatomy, which limits what I can create.
Good knowledge of anatomy helps with freaking everything. Don't try to ignore it like I did when I was your age.

Hope this helps.
2010-06-18 14:49:00

Author:
midnight_heist
Posts: 2513


They look great to me....
Of course I can't draw a straight line with a ruler.

Ted
2010-06-18 18:02:00

Author:
Muskwa_1
Posts: 213


I'm going to tell you the truth here because thats all I can do.

Your not the best drawer I have ever seen but I have seen some amazing things you can't compare yourself to people with 30 years experience.

For your age you have some amazing skills man, all you can do is keep practising and keep improving. I a terrible when it comes to drwing, my lines come out spherical (even if I use a ruler )

Just keep working at it and keep on creative sites like this and you will get better and better, then when Mm are making LBP3 you wont just be an artist at Mm, you will be head of art. Love your work and your style, keep it up.
2010-06-18 18:12:00

Author:
robotiod
Posts: 2662


OMG I was really late to find a drawing to compare, so I will use a drawing I made last year or so:
http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8075
In my opinion yours are better, you manage to get those lines straight and avoid them being as chaotic as mine.
2010-06-27 12:08:00

Author:
moonwire
Posts: 1627


if you want other constructive critiques, be sure to visit a website called conceptart.org
I'm already member and I gotta admit I never drew that much since.
Your drawings are far from being mediocre!
Good luck!
2010-06-28 02:22:00

Author:
Chump
Posts: 1712


Your an amazing artist and you most certainly have an incrediable amount of talent for a 15 yr old. Remember, the people who post their drawings etc. on here, are usually adults. Don't think of yourself as a not good enough artist! I personally love your artwork that you posted, it's amazing! I would love to be able to draw and create like you. You have skill and if you keep practising, I think you have real potential and could do some amazing artwork. Don't compare your drawings to others, that isn't how it works. You've proberbly heard the saying "Good things take time" and "practise makes perfect"

I can see you as an outstanding artist in the future. Keep up the excellent work.
2010-06-28 06:43:00

Author:
Ainsl3y_xo
Posts: 478


I thought that this thread was dead... but anyhow, thank you all again. I know I'm getting repetitive with all the thanking but you're truly making me happy when saying such nice things.

Oh and I'll try that conceptart.org site!
2010-06-28 08:46:00

Author:
blizzard_cool
Posts: 752


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