wheeew, i was really scared about what he might say, but hate drawing? Nah man, we're here cuz we love holdin little sticks and making strokes on flat surfaces
I was afraid at first when I read the title, but then this video helps me to remind myself to enjoy drawing even though I can't fulfil my own expectation. Thankyou for this video
@@ripper9112 Art is a journey, you can't be happy/enjoying it all the time. There's a lot of effort, patience and energy poured in each piece you create and sometimes we'll have those bad days, a lot and consecutively, lose it, love it, it has its ups and downs just like any passion you decide to pursue be it singing, dancing, acting etc.
I think a lot of people will hear just “give up if you don’t like it.”, but I think the more important takeaway is to figure out why you like the craft in the first place.
I think there's a limit. You can dislike, even hate, certain work you have to do. Like a certain style, or even a certain character but you 'have' to for a client. But if you literally despise it, like he says in the video, it's just not work it. Like any other career, you shouldn't force yourself to do something you despise.
I've had so many moments when I wanted to quit. It took me a year to realize why I kept going back. I don't know if I'll experience that frustration once again but right now, I'm going strong and I love it.
Part of why I got interested in the first place is because I became entranced with the idea of producing beautiful strips the equal of say, Bill Watterson. And the desire for fame certainly is a motivation. I hate being a nameless, faceless nobody-I want to be part of the pantheon of famous disabled people. There are no cerebral-palsied comic strip cartoonists in newspapers. I’d like the glory of being first.
The message is more "if you don't like it, figure out why and change what has gone wrong along the way." Because it is sometimes enough. Sometimes it's not, but an art career isn't just one impossible goal to chase, it's a multitude of little paths that one can start to dismiss when they get obsessed with a single aspect of the craft.
Yeah I got that's feeling when I drew a charmander a month ago and picked really good lighting that made it pop. It gets me excited. I love learning these new things and seeing how it affects my art. I guess that's a good sign
I used get frustrated but after almost a year of struggle, i have finally learnt to relax and focus on improving little by little. Rome was not built in a day.
@@shazarjavaid7838 I think the speed of creating a new artwork increases as you keep improving every day. Like the post said, Rome wasnt built in a day. Let's just keep on going.
I don’t hate drawing, I just hate the fact that I have a hard time motivating myself to draw because whenever I see other people’s art, I get demotivated, and then when I look at my art, it doesn’t look like I want it to look, and then I get demotivated even more, and I try to force myself to draw to at least try and improve some or because I saw something I want to try and draw, and I can only draw a singular line before wanting to give up because I don’t have any motivation
I don’t know if this will help you but it helped me. I used to be the same. I would look at other people’s art and get demotivated and think “I’ll never be as good as that.” But then I watched a video, I forget the name of it though, that said to look at the art of people you admire and study from it, take from it, and learn from it. So I did. I collected a bunch of art from artists I’m a fan of and studied them. I zoomed in on the line art and looked at how this did their lines, studied how they used color, studied how they draw faces, studied how they draw eyes. And then when I did that I started to feel motivated again and started getting excited to draw. Eventually I ended up creating something that I was genuinely proud of.
You shouldn't feel pressured to draw, art doesn't work like that. My only advise it to -wherever you go- bring a sketchbook. Whatever can inspire you. And study from what inspire you. There's a good looking tree/dog/poster in front of you? Try draw it without thinking. Shut down your mind. Like when your in school and you're bored and draw. In school you don't care what will come out, you just let your hand do whatever it wants to do. An artist I know said: When you look at someone else's drawing, don't envy them, you'll never be them. You can't, cause you're you. Instead study their drawing and ask yourself "What I really like about this drawing? Why this is so good looking for me?" and answer yourself. Is it the way they draw eyes? Or maybe hands? Good, try copy their work. You wont wake up one day and immediately draw like Leonardo da Vinci. Not even him did it. Cause drawing is a skill and you need to work on it in order to improve. Also close Instagram, pinterest, twitter or whatever makes you feel like shit. It helps, it really does.
His skill has me discouraged because I realize I have a long way to go to get to that level. It was like that for me when I did architecture in grad school. I didn't have the drive to apply so much detail and precision to my work as my peers.
I dont understand how people can "improve little by little." My mom put me in an art-focused class since she knows I like drawing. But the constant pressure of people being better than you makes me loose motivation and I get stressed when drawing. Unlike those days I could just grab my pencil and start drawing whatever. I cant seem to do that anymore.
You improve little by little by consistently drawing and learning new things. These people aren't better than you so much as further ahead in their journey. And generally they'll be very happy to help you improve! The thing with art is there will almost always be some one you see as better than you. It needs to be motivating not scary. You can get better. Don't be afraid of drawing bad pictures. Drawing bad pictures is good. How are you meant to learn how to be better if you don't know what skills you need to work on?
I get your mom probably thought: “kid likes art! kid go to art school no more math just art, kid happy.” when in reality, art school is teaching you stress and the more technical, unfun way of drawing. Something I learned from an anime was to accept “defeat” and take the opportunity to learn from people who are on a higher level than you. Don’t just get frustrated and get mad at the people around you, but ask them what and why they took a certain approach to what they did. If you can absorb those techniques and etc., your art will improve and so will the quality of it. Practice mediums if you’re stuck too. One of my favorite stress relievers is drawing with a BIC ballpoint because you can’t erase and beat up your sketchbook with it with all of your frustration. It takes a lot of pride in yourself to admit you can take new things to make your art better from other people but it’s all part of the process. I don’t draw everyday, but I take minutes a day to look at techniques and analyze other people’s art process most days to keep my creativity going and absorb the information. That’s my “improving little by little” go-to. Every drawing I do, is drastically better than the one I did half a week ago.
Hobbies stop bringing fun and enjoyment when they become a responsibility. "Want" turns into a "must" or a "should". Hope ya told your mom about your pressure so she could understand.
// how people can "improve little by little// very simple. You learn foreign language: today you learned 5 new words, the next day more 5 new words... - and so you improve your foreign language little by little. It works for everything. Drawing isn't something special.
So much this. I’ve been an illustrator for more than 20 years and I’ve literally worked in nearly every industry. I’ve been an inker in the comic book industry. I painted book covers, board game and tabletop game illustration. Illustrations for RPGs, concept design, murals, I’ve even done technical illustration for the US military. This message is one of the hardest things to learn as a career illustrator. Especially someone like me who became very adept at adjusting my style to fit any situation / client. At one point was even a ghost penciler for a fairly famous comic book artist who was way behind on a deadline because I could mimic his style so well even he had trouble telling my pages from his own. BUT, I fell into a trap. I was so focused on getting the next gig and convinced I had to completely push aside the styles I wanted to experiment with to keep those clients, I realized one day, I had no style. In fact after a 15 year career, my ability to draw had suffered because I no longer knew what or how to draw without a client telling me do this and we want it to match this artist or this style (like Art Nuveau) Once I realized that, I was working for the Navy at the time, I quit doing commercial illustration. It was scary. Then I became a tattoo artist. In the 4 years since I’ve done that I began rediscovering my personal style and slowly I’m not only getting more and more tattoo clients who search out me for how I do things but I’m starting to get more and more illustration work based on my post-commercial art style choices. If you hate what your doing sometimes you just have to step back and make sure your not trying to artistically shove your round peg into a square hole.
Thanks for the story, man. Well, I don't think it was necessarily a bad thing. It just took a long detour for you to realize what you wanted, but at the same time, can you honestly say you didn't have any fond memories of the whole journey ? Congratulations on opening your own tattoo shop.
Just you bringing it back around to the point of "Focus on why you started in the first place" really sent me back to when I was a kid and just loved drawing for the sake of drawing, genuinely brought me back to wanting to draw again.
Dang. I feel that! I used to be into Automotive Design & Stock Car racing while I found out I knew how draw (almost) a replica of the Chrysler 300M. I still wanna be too
When one develops this habit over many years, I would say that it's probably one of the hardest habits to break free from. Very relatable in many, if not all aspects of personal life. It's like when a kid learns to like soda as a toddler and then continues to have it all the way into adulthood with no checks from an adult, then you or anyone else tries to tell him/her/it to not abuse it or consume it because it affects their health badly and then they either blow you off or lash out at you for "daring to say that to them". Until that person finds a way to change that habit or drop it, voluntarily, it's damn-near impossible for anyone else to help them or even show them the light, much less guide you there. It requires tons of self-worth, self-love, and self-brutal-honesty and determination to get out of that destructive lifestyle.
Same. Sometimes I wish I was in an art school. At least then I would be forced to do the art. I am very bad at managing stuff for myself. I love art. I love learning it too. But I am so lazy and procrastinate a lot.
@@sel4205 I too am terrible at time management. But at least I'm actually going to be in Art school after next month. I took a gap semester cuz COVID, I planned to do some self-study by reading some of the books and some online lessons that I bought but turns out that I haven't progressed at all and my gap semester is already almost gone. I'm sad that my "holiday" is gonna be over soon but at least I will be able to stop procrastinating. (Hopefully. Or at least do it less)
I miss those days when I just draw something that I can laugh at and not care about improving at all. Then everything changed when I actually try to improve and have been feeling like crap for the last 4 years.
I'm in the same boat: back when I started drawing and could barely create anything I was having a blast, drawing 5 hours a day and I made so many drawings. Now that I have reached a level way beyond anything I was hopping for when I first started, the fear of failure and of the white page is real. But when I get in the zone, I can stay there for quite some time, thinking "no, I won't stop now. 10 more minutes, I just want to polish this". And suddenly, one hour went by, just like that.
Art gets more fun the better you are. Don't feel bar you are frustrated after spending 10 hours on a picture and no one online even cares about it. Your time will come, just train.
hmm maybe thats true for some but the more you get better, the more you feel stressed to make something good. i mean i've gotten better, but it's not more fun at all. it's more stressful, and theres much much more pressure. and if you get more followers you'll feel more pressure to create sometrhing that pleases your fans
As an artist, this is so important to understand. The art you produce will only be as great as your abilities at the time will allow you. You will always top your best art because you always evolve as an artist! Keep striving if you love art yall, its worth it.
If you struggle to find a force that pushes you. Try to do it every day for a while. Some times you just need to help yourself into new habbits! I've done it and after two weeks I didnt want to play video games or watch videos anymore I was much rather drawing.
Yeah you cant wait for motivation, you gotta step a bit out of your comfort zone and just start. Doesnt matter if its doodles, studies or whatever but its better to do stuff then to think about doing stuff.... Once you get into the habit and start making progress it wont be a chore anymore. Also the right mindset is important... personally i always approach projects as confident as possible, while not expecting any masterpieces at all - allow mistakes, but sometimes tricking yourself into thinking youre a pro actually helps self esteem and confidence a lot. And im not talking about arrogance or overestimateting yourself. But a lot of people are just way too insecure because of all the amazing other artists out there. But you gotta remember that if someone reaches a certain skill level it just means its possible to achieve - dont get discouraged but see it as a challange!
@@allanredhill8682 That is really well said. I wanted to say about the exact same thing. Because I have been fighting through my sudden unmotivated self after stopping art because of work so I had to gradually put it into my schedule again making an improvement plan for everything I was lacking in life in general. I'm still struggling even though I'm actually good at my art. But I know that there's some small things hindering me from getting out the full potential that lives in me. Sometimes you got the knowledge but can't make yourself do the hard work for achieving it. And you have to struggle to avoid procrastination. Because that's all it is, at least in my case. So confidence is something you have to work for. I started out believing that I could do anything so if I go back to my past self but with more grown up knowledge it's going to work out. And that's the attitude most people need to find. Their way of believing they can actually go up with trying again and again, knowing it will take time and that it should be of your own driving force not someone else's.
Even if you just draw 10 minutes a day as a start you will improve and feel more motivated to increase it and do more. Find something you want to learn to draw. Practice on it. Find something that inspires you and try to find out what it is about that thing that makes it inspiring to you. Or just doodle blindly letting your hand go freely on the paper and see what it looks like in the end. If you see a figure you can draw that figure there. It will be a way of getting ideas on things you want to work on. Look at techniques that other people use instead of how well they do their art. It doesn't really matter if that person is a professional or not because what you need to work on is your own work not that person's work. Start small and get bigger once the motivation rises. Which will make it easier if you're procrastinating.
Yea, I’m trying to make this a habit as well, proud of the 2 things I did even tho I didn’t draw yesterday but I plan to draw today tho, I don’t want to feel miserable doing this or having that feeling compared to doing chores, so I think this is a step in the right direction if I do follow through with pursuing a career in art
I honestly expected this video to tell me the whole "if you're bad at drawing, don't draw". But instead, it's "do whatever the hell you want as long as you like it". I kept seeing this in my recommended and kept ignoring it because of the title (it makes the video seem like it's something it isn't). But now I'm happy I watched the video.
Not really looking at art as an career, but one thing that makes me quite mad is when I have an creation in my mind I wanna depict on paper, than right as I hold the pen or pencil my vision just keeps getting blurrier I create something that isn’t as satisfying as the thing in my mind.
Whatever you have in mind, just do really really dirty pencil sketches of its most basic structure/figure. That's what I do. It should never start as perfect. If it starts to be quite close to the thing on your mind, then you just add details little by little. There's no shame in Googling references for any object. You can only draw straight from imagination when you have already built a wide image vocabulary. If you haven't yet, then Google is your friend.
I used to be like you, but now it's piece of cake just to draw precisely in vision, I just draw alot, but now I'm learning some other ways to draw, but my style
I have a question. I am not looking to continue art as a career but as a hobby. I really enjoy drawing these half animal half human creatures, sort of like centaurs and mermaids but a bit more animalistic. They're not anthro but a sort of mix that I find cool personally but I'm scared or more accurately, embarrassed, to show my art to anyone because I'm scared of their judgement. I also want to tell a more mature story with these characters but again, same issue. I feel like my insecurities get in the way. Is it normal to feel like this?
@@Sshoup... I think everyone is scared to show their art at first. Honestly you don’t have too. My advice is draw for yourself first. I also guarantee that there will be others who enjoy what you enjoy.
This is phenomenal advice. I think it can be applied to any career or even situations in general. Things don't always work out, that's just how life goes. I made the mistake of growing up wanting to be a professional artist and deciding that I wanted to be a graphic designer so I could have a better chance of job stability than a freelance studio artist.. I'm in my final year of college, burnt out beyond repair, and I dread every graphic design assignment because I see the work of my peers and it reminds me of my lack of confidence and passion that others exude and is expected of me. The only thing that is holding me back from dropping out is the fact that I only have 4 classes left and I have been approved to graduate, no student loan debt. I am hoping that this bachelor's will help me get my foot in the door somewhere, falling back on my minor in business, maybe going into marketing instead, but who knows. I think the most important thing I've learned from all of this is that flexibility, especially in these trying times, is extremely important. Live with purpose and intention. Do what you love. Don't be afraid to make mistakes along the way. If plan A doesn't work out, there are way more letters in the alphabet. To anyone reading this, I wish the best for you, and remember you're not alone in your struggles
Just practice. During the time it needs to become a professional artist you can figure out what you wanna do. If you struggle with discipline: tell yourself that art ist just not your priority right now and see how it sits with you. If you have a bad Feeling about it you have to change that. If you are okay with that, then you actually don't want it that bad
If it helps, set some deadlines with a friend or someone you trust! Like on a certain day you show them what you’ve come up with. Whatever you choose to do I wish you good luck :D
I don't know what it is about this video but I have been thinking of dusting off my sketchbook and bought new supplies last night and this video popped up in my feed, and for some reason lit a fire under me.... Thank you, I truly mean that.
That's one smooth change of topic from "art therapy" to that book at the end. ; ) As a guy that tried to become a programmer and realised he doesn't really enjoy sitting and writing code all day I can tell you all: being good at something doesn't mean you have to do that thing. You can start hating something even though you're better than most in it so don't feel forced to become artists just because people tell you you're very talented. If someone forces you to do something you hate for long enough you'll hate him too, even if you're that person.
I left Uni as a 4.0 GPA student because I was feeling really miserable pulling 30hr study weeks in my subject despite doing well. I’m happier now but found myself really wondering what I could make of myself at this point if I’m one of those people who love art as art but not as work.
@@johndoe69420 this honestly makes me feel better. I was the same as you- at some point I broke down, but instead of quitting, I just stopped making good grades. I'm depressed and can't find motivation to keep at it because I feel the need to be a 4.0 student and, you know, what's wrong with me if I'm not? But this high bar is of my own making. I'm in too far to quit now but maybe I don't have to be so hard on myself. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you found something you enjoy doing.
ALPINE MUSH I too decided to cut myself some slack and instead of being a tryhard at everything, I weigh every problem I tackle according how much they would benefit me in the long run and how truly interesting I find them. If you really feel the need to strive for perfection, maybe try logging all of your activities so at the end of the week you can feel better about what you managed to accomplish rather than what inflated standards you felt compelled to reach. Always looks for the silver lining in what you do if you’re in the deep of it but don’t be afraid of looking for opportunities to get out if you seriously feel trapped (I have a friend who turned a serious hobby into a career when he reached out to a big shot and landed a job that paid better than senior positions at the field he was studying in). Best of luck to you, friend.
That's so true! At school I was pretty good at foreign languages, and because teachers love kids who have already taught themselves their subject, I left high school thinking languages were all there was to me. This led me to getting my Bachelor's in Japanese Studies, even though I couldn't even try to imagine working as a translator or a lecturer. Hell, I don't even speak Japanese all that well in the end, in fact I'm absolutely terrified of it. :D Ended up becoming a 3D artist. Oh well.
I was a background artist for one of the popular animation studio in my country for a year. I quit last month cos it was just tiring and overwhelming with just little pay. Now I'm just trying to find my foot again in what I love doing, illustrations and characters I relate with, and hope I can make enough for my in the process. It's kind of difficult because I've been used to getting directions, but now I have to think about everything myself all over again. I know I will overcome this... Thanks so much Trent for being here and doing this.
Out of curiosity what do you do to keep yourself afloat now? Does unskilled labor in your country pay comparable wages? Or do you try to push out commissions or sell your paintings (I assume you can paint quite well since you were a background artist) to locals?
Thats thr probelm when you dont have a team with you. theirs this anxiety and realization that what you do at this point is entirley your fault any mistakes are at your fault .
i wish i had this advice earlier. I was obsessed with training for art school that it really drained me mentally. My teacher and mother were both coming from the creative industry. They had expectations too high but offer too little guidelines for me. I really wanted to get experimental but was anxious about whether or not i might be accepted into my university. After quitting, i really got better and finally tried to pursue mechanical engineering as something i truly enjoyed. It's ok if you decide art isn't your thing.
Thank you for making this. I've always felt the need to learn 3d and and draw realistically because that's what the industry needs and ive felt bad trying to learn it. I'm gonna focus on what I enjoy drawing as opposed to what I feel I should draw.
I know there is no chance of anyone seeing this, but dude you saved my life. Thinking your future opportunity is gone because you “lost” your skill, is almost enough to make someone suicidal. I appreciate the video, and the way you spoke. Not a lot of people have a magnetic charisma.
@Mario L.-S. I like your answer. I definitely think God gives some people the talent for art to touch people. It will not always appear "Godly", but God doesn't sugar coat life. Glad you shared your experience with someone else.
I think I needed this. Not because I don't enjoy drawing/creating (I'm about to do my Bachelor of Design soon) but because now I feel grounded. You just need to come down into reality and then keep encouraging yourself. If you're good, you'll know and you'll appreciate the good AND bad artworks - it's all part of your improvement.
This video made me realize that the thing holding me back isn’t the fact I don’t like drawing it’s just the longing for approval I’ve posted nearly every drawing I’ve made online for about five years and I think it’s time to maybe take a long break and just draw for myself
Ah, this is nice to hear - i gave up on an art career because of depression and self esteem issues I had as a teenager but I never stopped drawing and practicing.
@Siinyx I mean, you're on the right track if you're still going for art! I wish I'd compromised a bit. I basically thought, "well i'm never going to be good enough to make money as an illustrator or concept artist or anything fun like that" and went for biology instead off of a vague interest and desire to have a career. However, my college had a really good design program that in hindsight would have been fun and led to more opportunities. Buuut I basically was too depressed to imagine myself having fun doing anything other than drawing pictures... so I went for something not fun at all. Nowadays I do work one of those "boring" tech jobs and genuinely love it. I'm still young though and still drawing so who knows where I'll end up. The thing that really helped my depression and self esteem after changing majors to be more creative was realizing I have ADHD and learning how to work with myself. tl;dr know that you can pick a career path that will make you enjoy showing up to work every day, even if it isn't the "perfect" one you imagine
I stopped drawing for 9 months and realized the reason why I was so hard on myself and hated everything I created was because I was comparing myself to other artists. Rushing the journey and wanted to be a pro overnight.
Honestly, even though I wanna go pro, sometimes I feel like Id be fine just working a regular job and doing art on the side and just improving. But of course, Id rather make money doing what I love
I used to want to be a professional concept artist and ended up being a data analyst. I’m 26, so relatively young I guess, getting older tho. I’m so happy I became an analyst, I can afford art supplies and still draw after work. Not only that I’ve learned so much about business and marketing at my job that I feel confident if I were to sell art, I’d go in with a solid mindset. (I haven’t yet, possibly will at some point lol). Anyways this isn’t to flaunt, but from my experience it’s ok to work a job that pays the bills and do art on the side. I have way more peace of mind. Highly recommend getting a tech job that’s remote
@@masteringillustration8811 its really cool youve found a way to sustain yourself and do art. Personally, the way I think about it is more like, if I make a living with art, I wont have to waste time doing jobs I hate. So its more of just me wanting more freedom to create art and spend most of my time on that. If you know about the artist Robaato, his lifestyle is like the one I invision for myself. But in the mean time, I can keep working my regular 9-5. I just dont want to stay there forever
I've never really wanted to go Pro. Indie is good enough. I'm practicing drawing because I want to make a web comic, if something good comes from it then that's fine but a goal of mine is to get a story out there. Even if it doesn't male me popular I want to be able to say "I followed through and told a story"
I remember I was drawing almost all the time in school, suddenly stopped when I graduated high school and had to find my first job. I was out for all day, leaving for job at 7 a.m only to be back around 10 p.m I didn't last there for more than six months but I can see that from that moment I started losing my passion for art. It started when I was 18, now I'm 27 and I'm almost not drawing at all, with every year I draw less and less and I can't help it. In the meantime of this almost 10 years gap I've got my visual art diploma, I used to draw while being at university but not as much as while being in high school. My mental health problems started because I could't find a job in art industry, I couldn't find any job that was satisfying for me. Depression started slowly killing my joy and passion foreverything. I've lost most of the time playing games and procrastinating. and for what? For nothing. It sucks, I hate myself for that, I cannot help but think that it's my fault. It's my fault I couldn't find a job in art industry, it's my fault to chicken out about even trying to find it. It's my fault I was too scared to lazy to stay focused and work on my skill. I was always like "I'll start next week, next month, next year" and guess what? I never did. By now I'm still struggling with my depression, I wasn't feeling good on meds (which is not the reason you should not take them, talk to your doctor) and I had to quit them, now due to Covid it's very hard, almost impossible to get free therapy here in Poland and the private one is to expensive for me to afford. I've lost my job and I thought about trying drawing again but still struggling. It's like I've lost all my interest and it breaks my heart because I don't want to give up, not yes. I don't want to admit I won't be an artist one day, I don't want to admit I won't draw ever again. I don't want to admit I do not like drawing. Somehow I just cannot find a joy in it anymore and I don't know why. I miss the feeling when I had this urge to draw something back in school, I got bad grades due to that but man, that made me so happy back then.
I'm the same. But i force myself to create nearly everyday. Doesn't mean its better, just a different way to keep hold of that dying dream or idea of what my life should be. We are just detached from this world and thinking that creating will give us acceptance from this world. Truth is, there are many many things we could be doing in life. Not just being labelled as an artist.
Oh, Trent! Thank you. You made me cry man, I became that catch 22 as you say, I am 44 now, for a time I got so lost doing very successful things that eventually I hated in every second, a total exploited and unhappy art mercenary, even had a couple of nerve crisis, worse I don't even remember when it all started to change. I was supposed to be grateful for the opportunity. Then I stopped drawing for a time, and started all over again, after several years, now I just know that I enjoy every step and I feel like coming back home, reviving the dream I once had as a child 🔥, and this video came to me like a summary of my story. Again, gracias!
Trent, you probably won’t see this but I want to thank you. You have helped me a lot with this video. I used to love to just draw but recently I have been too worried about growing up and getting a career. Watching this video was a slap in the face to tell me stop giving a shit, just keep working at it and enjoy it. Know I feel like I can make it again cause I don’t even have to care I just have to draw. So Trent, from the bottom of my heart thank you so much for helping enjoy my art again.
in all honesty this channel is so incredibly underrated, i feel like before hearing some of your tips i didn't really know what i wanted to do. i just, knew i liked doing art and kind of mindlessly thought "oh well i guess I'll do art related stuff or something in the future" but i realized... that's so incredibly vague it almost isn't even a real goal. i belive i managed to find a more "proper" goal, and that's thanks to you. dunno if you'll read this but keep up the good work.
The only thing more relaxing than listening to you give me art advice is watching you draw. Your style is BEAUTIFUL. I love the use of lines and solid patches of colors.
In the end, it's all about the joy of creation. If you aren't happy in doing art then it would be best to stop, or you might end up hurting yourself in some ways. Just my 2 cents.
it's been over a month since I finished a personal project. I only draw on the sides so I can't make as much art as most artists do, so the longer I don't draw, the more frustrated I become as to why i'm not drawing enough, which is true apparently. But then you said something like "focus on something that you popped open your laptop because you want to look at it again, 'cause 'aww man, I can't believe I did that'..", which I did just a couple of days ago, looking at that fanart I did that I still can't freakin believe that I pulled off no matter how simple it is, and it hit me.. I guess I should just really chase that feeling I get on finishing something rather than worrying if people will even like it or even see it.. It's a really nice thing to think about. Thank you.
I am a 3D artist at a AAA game studio and what I have come to realize is that I much more enjoy doing my own personal projects than work. Work is what it is: work. Its oftentimes is monotonous and requires you to do mundane tasks on a daily basis and there is usually no room for discussion. Lately I find myself gravitating more towards stylized hand painting and low poly art projects because they pique my interest and they remind me of why I love doing 3D art in the first place... Fun. Do it because you love it, and do it for yourself. Thanks Trent for your wonderful advice.
That's the thing.. I haven't grown to hate doing 3d Art. What I do hate is doing stuff for other people. People who will push their personal subjective opinion on you. Yeah there are principles in Art that we all agree on, but there is always this element of.. no I want it to be a slightly different colour because who knows why. After redoing things over and over for an indecisive (but perfectionistic) boss I've just grown tired. And the fact that jobs are found in exotic places. But starting your own thing feels extremely daunting and risky. Working a different career might get me more excited about my art again.
There are a lot of days that when i woke up i was like "i dont wanna do this art thing anymore i feel like im not improving at all, my work is not that good" mentality. But, there's also a part of me that i really wanted to work as a concept artist. That pushes me to draw everyday. The fact that i want to have my dream job is enough to push me to draw and improve. When i heard you said that "artists think they are not good at all" i think maybe i should change my mindset. Instead that i think i suck, i should think that my current work is better than my pasts ones. Maybe i should also be stop being so harsh on myself, and go with the flow, keep grinding and keep doing art :) Nice video man! Idk how but this one really motivates me more
You're honestly a legend. I got tears in my eyes just from hearing you talk about some really crucial things. As my own goals for the future slowly got blurry over the past few years, listening to this video made me realize once again where my passion stems from and when I got the most energy. To me time pressure is a big thing. On the one hand it helps me to stay focused but on the other hand if it's too frequent it just turns into pure stress and makes me want to disappear. Which then leads to missing deadlines, risiking your job, disappointing others including (mostly) myself and in general becoming a hurtful thing to even think of. It's crazy how something you loved doing ever since you first took a pen into your hand, can crumble so easily in a matter of a few months. I truly try to stick to your advice here and start over again with my own pace, hopefully developing a healthier relationship with drawing once again. Thank you so much for making so many wonderful videos that can help artists grow and learn even on a personal level. Stay awesome and healthy :)
Hiya Trent this video really hit home and absolutely filled me with determination. I'm hyped and ready to keep climbing the mountain on my art journey. You may not be a therapist but you're definitely the seasoned adventurer with the scroll of wisdom. And hearing you address my doubts, made me realize that I'm definitely on the right path, 'cause sometimes you gotta hear it from someone else who's scaled the mountain before, to make you realize why you started scaling it in the first place.
Funny is that the people that are really successful artists, seem to only fixate in their art. And even doing studies is an enjoyable experience. Social media I feel is pernicious, because you see someone wanting to produce at the cost of their life, just for the likes, without experiencing real improvement or joy.
This is such a wonderful video! I took a break but I still draw but don't post it on social media that much but I do like showing to my family and getting what they think about the drawing like what comes to their mind when they see it. I make what I enjoy, Sometimes it's simple things that don't have much detail and sometimes it's things that have too much detail. Just make what you feel like making. *1 -* Don't force yourself to make something if you don't want to. *2 -* Don't expect approval from everyone. *3 -* Don't judge your art by how many likes it got. *4 -* Don't exaust yourself take breaks. Just keep making what you love. You're awesome and I hope you have a wonderful day and stay safe!
Hope you're taking care of yourself, Trent. It sounds extremely stressful to have all these people come to you with these awful problems you can't fix. As always, thanks for the video
i really needed to hear this man. i constantly belittle myself because the style im happy with is not mainstream and your just telling me that its ok to keep going down the path i want the way i enjoy it, thanks dude :)
Recently, I was getting discouraged because my art didn't look like what was always popular or featured on Pinterest or Instagram. I ended up changing my style and the way I drew things, but I just got more discouraged by the day until I ended up not drawing for weeks. This video reminded me to keep doing what I want to do, not what people expect or what people like, and it motivated me to start drawing again. Thank you so much for making this video!
Thank you for the words of encouragement and advice, I feel like more artists need therapeutic discussions like this to prevent further depression or succumbing into addiction.
I am barely starting -actually- trying to put out my drawings out there, instead of just secretly posting them, and I admit I was like "Oh noo! Am I making a mistake!?" when I read the title haha but I've been having SO much fun sharing and using that to drive myself into actually trying to get better at drawing, which I never did before! :) Awesome video! Thanks!
I refused to do that "steeven universe" kind of style that is very predominant in México, that's not what I wanted to do. So I looked outside the country and I found out that there's a decent market for the more realistic-ish style that I like to do.
thank you so much for this advice. i was looking at it from an approval perspective not for myself, didn't realize how toxic that mindset could be. I will definitely start drawing for me and what I am passionate about.
The great thing about being an amateur artist (and knowing I always will be) is that I don't have to force myself to do art. I can enjoy improving whenever I want to do art.
Thanks man. I've been in graphic design for a few years now and it's been torture. I've recently rediscovered making art on my own and for myself, and I'm loving it! This was way helpful :)
Yesterday I was being really confused, unhappy, frustrated that my post wasn't professional enough and I wasn't good enough. But if I don't compare to people who have more experience than me then the post brings joy to me. Thank you, I really needed that
I can relate, although I am in a different creative field (audio/music). If I'm feeling frustrated, it's not so much about the craft itself - it's usually a clue that I have something personal I need to work through with myself. The feeling of not being good enough isn't something you can practice away, it's a fundamental flaw in how you approach life. Competition and aspiration can inspire greatness, but if you're getting envious and bitter rather than inspired, when you look at great pieces that others have done, you're doing it wrong. Embrace, understand and accept yourself as you are, while still keeping an eye on and working towards where you want to go, and not holding it against yourself that you aren't there yet. - Or, as one might rather put it, you need to progress as a person before you can progress as an artist.
This video made me look up to you like a father figure... that tone was really comforting for such a topic like this, something I’d expect coming only from a very close person. Definitely hit your mark when you said you’re the type to tell someone straight whatever it is they need to hear. Thanks for the reminder!! Among the many hardships and disappointment I’ve had learning drawing and comparing myself to other artists, I almost forgot about the feeling of enjoying and learning new things and techniques too. I’ve never planned on pursuing a career in art, but as someone who still wants to make drawings and stuff, this is definitely a motivational video ❤️
Thank you so much Trent. I have been trying to "get out of my own head" about my art for a long time. I just need to get back to what's fun again. Focus on the fun. Great thank you.
Hey, you might not have fun and still work towards becoming an artist, you're not alone in that. People have to figure out if they want the "status" of being an artist or wanting to actually make art stuff for life, these things get easily mixed up. I knew I wanted to become and artist but I did not have fun practicing and doing art for years when I started in my mid twenties. I was not having fun because I knew I sucked and nothing I did turned out the way I wanted and I did not see my progress even thought I worked hard. I was downright miserable at times. And I accepted that (with some grievance)... because I knew I wanted to be able to do art and with some introspection I knew I was going to be unhappy with this path for a while. I think that was the key for me; understanding WHY I was not having fun, and then deciding to just deal with it. It took me about three years to get around the point where I started to enjoy what I was making. I'm now working as an artist and happy about choosing this direction, but it did come with pain and sacrifices that sucked real bad at times. My job is also still not easy by any means and I feel there's always more to learn. No fame nor riches here. I think it's important to acknowledge what you're getting into and also that you can quit at any point. It just depends on you if you actually really want from it.
i was kind of anxious to click on this video, but i’m glad that i did, cause at least now i know i should continue pursuing what i genuinely love doing: making stories with my art. thanks for this man, really appreciate it
Yeah the title of the video had me a bit worried but I'd actually say it's pretty motivational. I've definitely struggled with that "I need approval" and "I'll never be good enough" mindset, however I feel you hit the nail on the head when it comes with how to deal with it. It really is knowing how to love yourself and your work that helps clear up how to feel about an art career. So thanks for reinforcing that message and I hope any other new artists out there that see this are motivated by this message as well.
Everything was clinched as I watched this but nah I'm glad you talked about this Trent. It's important to get folks into the idea of loving to draw first before trying to make it your entire career. If you can't do that then you can find something you do love to do.
I hate to start, but love when I actually get to it. It´s the fear of pure failure that kicks me back all the time. But in the end I am always proud of what I created, especially when I go and look back at the others I´ve drawn and I see improvements. That´s what I love about it the most.
Thank you so much for this.. as an artist that feels like hasn’t had any luck on this path it really helps hearing your honest words... I’m glad I haven’t quit yet and don’t see myself quitting anytime soon!
Dude, you totally summarized the way i feel about my art in such an accurate way 😂 Although my practice sketches aren't "on-point" or "perfect" it's still close, and whenever I finish drawing, I tend to look at my page of crazy sketches that sometimes don't make atomical sense! And I feel so proud of my work, despite its flaws! Keep making these vids , Trent 😁 - love from the Philippines
This honestly really helps me to feel better about quitting. I don’t want to show anyone my art, I don’t ever intend to post it anywhere or make it a career or let my work see the light of day. I always welcomed the harshest criticism I could ask for because it was still much nicer than the way I already saw my work, and I took every suggestion, even if they seemed pointless or impossible. I was a daily painter for seven and a half years and just…never improved. If anything, I got worse. I tried countless of those drawbox, wingfox, youtube, etc. guides and classes for fundamental skills and it always just seemed like those people were living in a different world entirely if they were achieving such results. My brush strokes never did what they showed it was supposed to; I followed stroke by stroke but my colors didn’t do what theirs did, my shapes didn’t even go the same way as I thought I was making them, and even buying the same exact brushes as they used, they would just dab it down once and mine looked like I was using a completely different tool when I did the same thing. I would do the same class or tutorial every day for a couple months and never figured out what they were actually doing to get anything near those basic results. I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that I’m disabled and I know that there _are_ plenty of disabled artists out there, but I don’t think art is made for everyone. It’s sad because I really do want to paint, I feel driven to learn but after so many years of practicing the same exact skills and never even seeing a hint of progress it’s just become depressing to like art at all, if that makes sense. I stopped the daily stuff about two years ago and now I have to plan when to paint based on safe it is to feel any more suicidal than I already do every day, because that’s where it always lead me. I keep quitting but I always come back to it because I think if I give it just a little more time, I’ll find something that helps me, but it just isn’t happening. I don’t want to stop for good, but I also really do, and I know I need to-this really helped me to feel more encouraged that the depression of giving up is the better alternative to the misery that painting brings me. I really do appreciate it man ❤️
@@yopomdpin6285 from my experience, the ideas come through the process, and when you get better your ideas get better too, you cant have an awesome idea if you dont like the craft itself, most of the times this is an illusion, usually those people who say i have those cool ideas which i cant put down, they just dont have any cool ideas
Thank you for your words Trent. I'm not a guy at the level you describe in this video and I don't hate drawing, but some things that you say here touched me to the point to get my eyes a little wet, because despite I love to draw, somehow I have lost a bit the route of what I really want to draw or what to do with drawing. Well said words man, thank you so much! Please continue loving what you do and sharing it with the world.
This video is so good, what you are saying can help so many people, not just within art but if people take your questions and ask themselves and answer them honestly! this can be applied to any career choice.
I was a science student who went into an art college. I had never done art in my life (if you're wondering how I got in there, the entrance didn't judge you by art but by logic and creativity). I was bored with studying so I decided to take this decision, it was quite reckless. It was like a new world to me. Everybody there was into art some way or other. The first year was about basics in art and I was terrible at it. I'd look at other people and felt so bad about my art. I became hell depressed. Then pandemic came.. and i spent most of my time in art tutorials online. My art improved a lot, better than some people in my batch. As a studious person I am good at working hard and sitting in a place so I was able to improve. I started dreaming of becoming a fine arts artist and I loved what I did. But there was a problem... I couldn't do art for more than 3 hours a day maximum. In fact many days I'd just binge watch series and do nothing. Art burned me out like hell. If I did art regularly for a month, I'd take 2 months break after that. It was very unstable. I was tired most of the time or I was lazing out, unable to do anything. Soon it became clear to me I can't do this professionally. It was a pain to accept it, it took me another year to realize this. I still sometimes look at other artists and their arts and go into deep thinking and sad thoughts that I can't pursue this commercially but I think I don't really *love* art that way. Plus I can always do this in my free time which, ironically, is very therapeutic, especially inking.
I watched this video a while ago while drawing one of my last drawings, and your words have really stuck with me. I remember a couple tears staining the paper while I drew that night, but I really needed to hear it. I wasn’t happy trying to pursue an art career- which is something I’ve been told by everyone around me, it’s been drilled into me my whole life since I was a kid that I *need* to take advantage of my skill and if I don’t pursue art that it would be a massive waste, that I would be throwing away a dream job and that it’s something that I want- you want to do this. I never really asked myself if it was something I actually wanted to do though, and just followed and drifted along to what everyone was saying. And as I found myself more and more unhappy in art school and closer to actually pursuing an art career I realised how little I really enjoy it- what once was a fun hobby now was a painstakingly draining chore, and made me feel miserable. Because pursuing art was forced on me by my parents and they made all the decisions for me I was so confused when the time came of me hitting a wall mentally on what *I* actually wanted to do for so long, that led to self destruction and isolation Now I’ve found it and I’ve never been happier or confused ever since I dropped art. My future is no longer a white blur, thank you for being the first person in my life to tell me that not pursuing art even if you’re good at it is ok. Art is fun and beautiful and will always stay a part of me, but like a close childhood friend it was something I needed to let go to find my true self and wants in life
I expected this video to tear me down, but instead it did the exact opposite. This helped me a lot. Thanks man, I really needed someone to tell me this
thing is; after you grind and learn all the fundamentals, drawing suddenly becomes a very relaxing and fun experience. the grind is pretty hard, miserable even, but now I am really excited to work in art.
This guy is right, because once I posted an art on a social media and it broke me cuz I expect a lot about that art and it got only few reacts, that was my mistake right there and it serves to me as a lesson. Just keep doing the art that you're happy with and don't run after for the fame and appreciations of others.
I have the opposite problem. I enjoy art and I like how my drawings turn out but when I post them on social media I receive barely any feedback. I'd like to be a professional artist someday but it's hard when you don't get noticed
I would try not to focus on getting noticed just yet. Cultivate yourself as an artist, enjoy the process first, and then in time your voice will start attracting people. I started my own personal project in the past. No one cared about it and I was barely getting any eyes on me. Until suddenly I started staying consistent with it and soon enough a lot of people have known it now. So yeah, focus on building the skills first and then the following will come after
i felt this way and honestly hearing it being expressed in words is so incredibly helpful. the biggest advice I can give to anybody who felt this way is to buy a sketchbook. i splurged on a pack of 24 sketchbooks that were each around $1 and I had the most fun time in my life drawing. they weren't especially good but there was just that enjoyment that lead me to finish all of them in 3 months when i was planning to have them last a year. there were days i felt like i didn't want to draw but everyday i made sure to fill in at least 2 pages and soon i found myself lost in those moments. if anybody feels a similar way i just wanna say that art isn't as glamorous or as free-spirited as many people make it seem. it takes hard work and a lot of frustration but if you can make frustration your friend then nothing will stand in your way,
Thank you so much for this video, I really needed this today. I just started a full time job that leaves me very sore and tired, and I have very little time or motivation to draw anymore. My dream has always been to make a living off of my art, and today it felt like it just wasn't going to happen. This video made me open my eyes that while I draw things I enjoy, I'm also more focused on trying to get them out there to build clout, and getting disappointed when it doesn't happen. The part where you say something along the lines of make something you want to open your laptop and look at resonated with me. I really need to stop focusing on trying to gain traction with my art, especially if all I'm doing is running on ice. Thank you again, here's to hopefully finding solace and more peace of mind with my art!
wheeew, i was really scared about what he might say, but hate drawing? Nah man, we're here cuz we love holdin little sticks and making strokes on flat surfaces
Same, but considering I think about my comic idea and sketch characters or just sketch in general I feel I'm not being hurt by it
genuinely cant tell if this comment is full of sexual innuendo
@@Adriiell it sounds like it, but what would it even be though,😂
@@axserwz5022 flat chested girl kink
@@Adriiell yooooooo, why does that fit though🤦🏾♂️🤣
I was afraid at first when I read the title, but then this video helps me to remind myself to enjoy drawing even though I can't fulfil my own expectation. Thankyou for this video
No responses? Guess I’ll be the first- Hell yeah! Keep enjoying the process!
you art looks a lot like the Warhammer and or World Of Warcraft art I see
If you have to remind and force yourself to enjoy it, then you obviously dont.
@@ripper9112 Damn, didn't know YOU were an expert on Windia Nata.
@@ripper9112 Art is a journey, you can't be happy/enjoying it all the time. There's a lot of effort, patience and energy poured in each piece you create and sometimes we'll have those bad days, a lot and consecutively, lose it, love it, it has its ups and downs just like any passion you decide to pursue be it singing, dancing, acting etc.
I think a lot of people will hear just “give up if you don’t like it.”, but I think the more important takeaway is to figure out why you like the craft in the first place.
I think there's a limit. You can dislike, even hate, certain work you have to do. Like a certain style, or even a certain character but you 'have' to for a client. But if you literally despise it, like he says in the video, it's just not work it. Like any other career, you shouldn't force yourself to do something you despise.
I MAKE ART BECAUSE IT KEEPS ME ALIVE!!! wahahahaha
I've had so many moments when I wanted to quit. It took me a year to realize why I kept going back. I don't know if I'll experience that frustration once again but right now, I'm going strong and I love it.
Part of why I got interested in the first place is because I became entranced with the idea of producing beautiful strips the equal of say, Bill Watterson. And the desire for fame certainly is a motivation. I hate being a nameless, faceless nobody-I want to be part of the pantheon of famous disabled people. There are no cerebral-palsied comic strip cartoonists in newspapers. I’d like the glory of being first.
The message is more "if you don't like it, figure out why and change what has gone wrong along the way." Because it is sometimes enough. Sometimes it's not, but an art career isn't just one impossible goal to chase, it's a multitude of little paths that one can start to dismiss when they get obsessed with a single aspect of the craft.
That’s the best feeling ever: Going back to your look at your art and think, “Wow, I drew that?”
One day... I've gotten a few "well, I figured out something here"
sometimes it can be a hurtful thing, like when you see how good you were half a year ago and now you don't know how to pick a right color
Yeah I got that's feeling when I drew a charmander a month ago and picked really good lighting that made it pop. It gets me excited. I love learning these new things and seeing how it affects my art. I guess that's a good sign
"Wow i drew that? It looks like absolute shit"
@@Egorold i feel this
I used get frustrated but after almost a year of struggle, i have finally learnt to relax and focus on improving little by little.
Rome was not built in a day.
but the problem is all the guys at artcenter and fzd draw 10 hrs a day so how can we ever compete with them?
Jesus loves you :)
@@zondwhomlovesjesus8444 ?
@@shazarjavaid7838 I think the speed of creating a new artwork increases as you keep improving every day. Like the post said, Rome wasnt built in a day. Let's just keep on going.
@@shazarjavaid7838 u just have to have your own unique style to make u stand out you'll never be better than them if u copy their style
I don’t hate drawing, I just hate the fact that I have a hard time motivating myself to draw because whenever I see other people’s art, I get demotivated, and then when I look at my art, it doesn’t look like I want it to look, and then I get demotivated even more, and I try to force myself to draw to at least try and improve some or because I saw something I want to try and draw, and I can only draw a singular line before wanting to give up because I don’t have any motivation
I don’t know if this will help you but it helped me. I used to be the same. I would look at other people’s art and get demotivated and think “I’ll never be as good as that.” But then I watched a video, I forget the name of it though, that said to look at the art of people you admire and study from it, take from it, and learn from it.
So I did. I collected a bunch of art from artists I’m a fan of and studied them. I zoomed in on the line art and looked at how this did their lines, studied how they used color, studied how they draw faces, studied how they draw eyes.
And then when I did that I started to feel motivated again and started getting excited to draw. Eventually I ended up creating something that I was genuinely proud of.
@@ChamberK-1 true
damn i feel your frustration about this same.
You shouldn't feel pressured to draw, art doesn't work like that. My only advise it to -wherever you go- bring a sketchbook. Whatever can inspire you. And study from what inspire you. There's a good looking tree/dog/poster in front of you? Try draw it without thinking. Shut down your mind. Like when your in school and you're bored and draw. In school you don't care what will come out, you just let your hand do whatever it wants to do. An artist I know said: When you look at someone else's drawing, don't envy them, you'll never be them. You can't, cause you're you. Instead study their drawing and ask yourself "What I really like about this drawing? Why this is so good looking for me?" and answer yourself. Is it the way they draw eyes? Or maybe hands? Good, try copy their work. You wont wake up one day and immediately draw like Leonardo da Vinci. Not even him did it. Cause drawing is a skill and you need to work on it in order to improve. Also close Instagram, pinterest, twitter or whatever makes you feel like shit. It helps, it really does.
I feel the same..
I came here expecting to be discouraged left feeling more motivated than ever
I'm about as discouraged after watching it as I expected I was going to be
Same. Kinda gave me a slap in the face. Like “wake up”. Stop being miserable, I would be more miserable not striving to get into this industry.
same here
His skill has me discouraged because I realize I have a long way to go to get to that level. It was like that for me when I did architecture in grad school. I didn't have the drive to apply so much detail and precision to my work as my peers.
@@Kroh03 agreed time to be me again
I dont understand how people can "improve little by little." My mom put me in an art-focused class since she knows I like drawing. But the constant pressure of people being better than you makes me loose motivation and I get stressed when drawing. Unlike those days I could just grab my pencil and start drawing whatever. I cant seem to do that anymore.
Flip the script on that and look at those great artists as teachers that you can learn from. It should be exciting, not intimidating.
You improve little by little by consistently drawing and learning new things. These people aren't better than you so much as further ahead in their journey. And generally they'll be very happy to help you improve! The thing with art is there will almost always be some one you see as better than you. It needs to be motivating not scary. You can get better. Don't be afraid of drawing bad pictures. Drawing bad pictures is good. How are you meant to learn how to be better if you don't know what skills you need to work on?
I get your mom probably thought: “kid likes art! kid go to art school no more math just art, kid happy.” when in reality, art school is teaching you stress and the more technical, unfun way of drawing. Something I learned from an anime was to accept “defeat” and take the opportunity to learn from people who are on a higher level than you. Don’t just get frustrated and get mad at the people around you, but ask them what and why they took a certain approach to what they did. If you can absorb those techniques and etc., your art will improve and so will the quality of it. Practice mediums if you’re stuck too. One of my favorite stress relievers is drawing with a BIC ballpoint because you can’t erase and beat up your sketchbook with it with all of your frustration. It takes a lot of pride in yourself to admit you can take new things to make your art better from other people but it’s all part of the process. I don’t draw everyday, but I take minutes a day to look at techniques and analyze other people’s art process most days to keep my creativity going and absorb the information. That’s my “improving little by little” go-to. Every drawing I do, is drastically better than the one I did half a week ago.
Hobbies stop bringing fun and enjoyment when they become a responsibility. "Want" turns into a "must" or a "should".
Hope ya told your mom about your pressure so she could understand.
// how people can "improve little by little//
very simple. You learn foreign language: today you learned 5 new words, the next day more 5 new words... - and so you improve your foreign language little by little.
It works for everything. Drawing isn't something special.
So much this. I’ve been an illustrator for more than 20 years and I’ve literally worked in nearly every industry. I’ve been an inker in the comic book industry. I painted book covers, board game and tabletop game illustration. Illustrations for RPGs, concept design, murals, I’ve even done technical illustration for the US military. This message is one of the hardest things to learn as a career illustrator. Especially someone like me who became very adept at adjusting my style to fit any situation / client. At one point was even a ghost penciler for a fairly famous comic book artist who was way behind on a deadline because I could mimic his style so well even he had trouble telling my pages from his own. BUT, I fell into a trap. I was so focused on getting the next gig and convinced I had to completely push aside the styles I wanted to experiment with to keep those clients, I realized one day, I had no style. In fact after a 15 year career, my ability to draw had suffered because I no longer knew what or how to draw without a client telling me do this and we want it to match this artist or this style (like Art Nuveau)
Once I realized that, I was working for the Navy at the time, I quit doing commercial illustration. It was scary. Then I became a tattoo artist. In the 4 years since I’ve done that I began rediscovering my personal style and slowly I’m not only getting more and more tattoo clients who search out me for how I do things but I’m starting to get more and more illustration work based on my post-commercial art style choices. If you hate what your doing sometimes you just have to step back and make sure your not trying to artistically shove your round peg into a square hole.
That is very beautiful.
Thank you for sharing this,
Thanks for the story, man.
Well, I don't think it was necessarily a bad thing. It just took a long detour for you to realize what you wanted, but at the same time, can you honestly say you didn't have any fond memories of the whole journey ?
Congratulations on opening your own tattoo shop.
Wow thats one kind of a ride
This was a great read! Thanks for sharing.
do you have insta?
Just you bringing it back around to the point of "Focus on why you started in the first place" really sent me back to when I was a kid and just loved drawing for the sake of drawing, genuinely brought me back to wanting to draw again.
Same. Oh the memories
Dang. I feel that! I used to be into Automotive Design & Stock Car racing while I found out I knew how draw (almost) a replica of the Chrysler 300M. I still wanna be too
I like to draw, but I like to procrastinate more. Sigh.
Relatable
When one develops this habit over many years, I would say that it's probably one of the hardest habits to break free from. Very relatable in many, if not all aspects of personal life. It's like when a kid learns to like soda as a toddler and then continues to have it all the way into adulthood with no checks from an adult, then you or anyone else tries to tell him/her/it to not abuse it or consume it because it affects their health badly and then they either blow you off or lash out at you for "daring to say that to them". Until that person finds a way to change that habit or drop it, voluntarily, it's damn-near impossible for anyone else to help them or even show them the light, much less guide you there. It requires tons of self-worth, self-love, and self-brutal-honesty and determination to get out of that destructive lifestyle.
Same. Sometimes I wish I was in an art school. At least then I would be forced to do the art. I am very bad at managing stuff for myself. I love art. I love learning it too. But I am so lazy and procrastinate a lot.
@@sel4205 I too am terrible at time management. But at least I'm actually going to be in Art school after next month. I took a gap semester cuz COVID, I planned to do some self-study by reading some of the books and some online lessons that I bought but turns out that I haven't progressed at all and my gap semester is already almost gone. I'm sad that my "holiday" is gonna be over soon but at least I will be able to stop procrastinating. (Hopefully. Or at least do it less)
@@sel4205 Also, as a fellow procrastinator, I wish u goodluck in your art journey.
I read a quote that said "It's ok to change, even if that means disappointing a version of yourself you've outgrown." Been meditating on that a lot.
I miss those days when I just draw something that I can laugh at and not care about improving at all. Then everything changed when I actually try to improve and have been feeling like crap for the last 4 years.
Let go of the desire for approval, and embrace the pure love of drawing friend.
I'm in the same boat: back when I started drawing and could barely create anything I was having a blast, drawing 5 hours a day and I made so many drawings.
Now that I have reached a level way beyond anything I was hopping for when I first started, the fear of failure and of the white page is real. But when I get in the zone, I can stay there for quite some time, thinking "no, I won't stop now. 10 more minutes, I just want to polish this".
And suddenly, one hour went by, just like that.
just quit
@@bindir_dundat thanks
@@bindir_dundat
Ah, thank you so much! I feel so accomplished now
Art gets more fun the better you are. Don't feel bar you are frustrated after spending 10 hours on a picture and no one online even cares about it. Your time will come, just train.
trust me, i am good, but i dont like it.
hmm maybe thats true for some but the more you get better, the more you feel stressed to make something good. i mean i've gotten better, but it's not more fun at all. it's more stressful, and theres much much more pressure. and if you get more followers you'll feel more pressure to create sometrhing that pleases your fans
Well said I think this way
Makes it sound like its not worth tbh
hitler gave up on his art and found his passion in public speaking.
And few other things
@@dronoid4659 like baking?
@@BD-xf8ym close enough
Baking people?
@@Greatbylook i mean you're not wrong, but really?
As an artist, this is so important to understand. The art you produce will only be as great as your abilities at the time will allow you. You will always top your best art because you always evolve as an artist! Keep striving if you love art yall, its worth it.
If you struggle to find a force that pushes you. Try to do it every day for a while. Some times you just need to help yourself into new habbits! I've done it and after two weeks I didnt want to play video games or watch videos anymore I was much rather drawing.
Yeah you cant wait for motivation, you gotta step a bit out of your comfort zone and just start. Doesnt matter if its doodles, studies or whatever but its better to do stuff then to think about doing stuff.... Once you get into the habit and start making progress it wont be a chore anymore. Also the right mindset is important... personally i always approach projects as confident as possible, while not expecting any masterpieces at all - allow mistakes, but sometimes tricking yourself into thinking youre a pro actually helps self esteem and confidence a lot. And im not talking about arrogance or overestimateting yourself. But a lot of people are just way too insecure because of all the amazing other artists out there. But you gotta remember that if someone reaches a certain skill level it just means its possible to achieve - dont get discouraged but see it as a challange!
@@allanredhill8682
That is really well said. I wanted to say about the exact same thing. Because I have been fighting through my sudden unmotivated self after stopping art because of work so I had to gradually put it into my schedule again making an improvement plan for everything I was lacking in life in general. I'm still struggling even though I'm actually good at my art. But I know that there's some small things hindering me from getting out the full potential that lives in me.
Sometimes you got the knowledge but can't make yourself do the hard work for achieving it. And you have to struggle to avoid procrastination.
Because that's all it is, at least in my case. So confidence is something you have to work for.
I started out believing that I could do anything so if I go back to my past self but with more grown up knowledge it's going to work out.
And that's the attitude most people need to find. Their way of believing they can actually go up with trying again and again, knowing it will take time and that it should be of your own driving force not someone else's.
Even if you just draw 10 minutes a day as a start you will improve and feel more motivated to increase it and do more.
Find something you want to learn to draw. Practice on it. Find something that inspires you and try to find out what it is about that thing that makes it inspiring to you. Or just doodle blindly letting your hand go freely on the paper and see what it looks like in the end. If you see a figure you can draw that figure there. It will be a way of getting ideas on things you want to work on. Look at techniques that other people use instead of how well they do their art. It doesn't really matter if that person is a professional or not because what you need to work on is your own work not that person's work.
Start small and get bigger once the motivation rises. Which will make it easier if you're procrastinating.
Yea, I’m trying to make this a habit as well, proud of the 2 things I did even tho I didn’t draw yesterday but I plan to draw today tho, I don’t want to feel miserable doing this or having that feeling compared to doing chores, so I think this is a step in the right direction if I do follow through with pursuing a career in art
Exactly.
I honestly expected this video to tell me the whole "if you're bad at drawing, don't draw". But instead, it's "do whatever the hell you want as long as you like it". I kept seeing this in my recommended and kept ignoring it because of the title (it makes the video seem like it's something it isn't). But now I'm happy I watched the video.
I really needed to hear that, not for the reasons you might think though. Thank you.
noice hope u feel better
What reasons?
@@Selrisitai Maybe the fact that he was doubting if he/she really enjoys drawing or if he/she should quit.
@@adrielcapon8983 just use "they" lmao it's easier
@@ball_annihilator It’s probably a she because of the name
Not really looking at art as an career, but one thing that makes me quite mad is when I have an creation in my mind I wanna depict on paper, than right as I hold the pen or pencil my vision just keeps getting blurrier I create something that isn’t as satisfying as the thing in my mind.
Whatever you have in mind, just do really really dirty pencil sketches of its most basic structure/figure. That's what I do. It should never start as perfect. If it starts to be quite close to the thing on your mind, then you just add details little by little. There's no shame in Googling references for any object. You can only draw straight from imagination when you have already built a wide image vocabulary. If you haven't yet, then Google is your friend.
Try thumbnailing to get the general idea down super quick!!
I used to be like you, but now it's piece of cake just to draw precisely in vision, I just draw alot, but now I'm learning some other ways to draw, but my style
@@friedchicken3242 wait how does that work?
This video further proved to me I should embrace my love of stylized more cartoonish looking art rather than the typical house marvel and dc style
YES. if that's what you LOVE to do, then EMBRACE IT!
@@TrentKaniuga I so will be ty
@kennedyhair84 he is awesome
I have a question. I am not looking to continue art as a career but as a hobby. I really enjoy drawing these half animal half human creatures, sort of like centaurs and mermaids but a bit more animalistic. They're not anthro but a sort of mix that I find cool personally but I'm scared or more accurately, embarrassed, to show my art to anyone because I'm scared of their judgement. I also want to tell a more mature story with these characters but again, same issue. I feel like my insecurities get in the way. Is it normal to feel like this?
@@Sshoup... I think everyone is scared to show their art at first. Honestly you don’t have too. My advice is draw for yourself first. I also guarantee that there will be others who enjoy what you enjoy.
This is phenomenal advice. I think it can be applied to any career or even situations in general. Things don't always work out, that's just how life goes. I made the mistake of growing up wanting to be a professional artist and deciding that I wanted to be a graphic designer so I could have a better chance of job stability than a freelance studio artist.. I'm in my final year of college, burnt out beyond repair, and I dread every graphic design assignment because I see the work of my peers and it reminds me of my lack of confidence and passion that others exude and is expected of me. The only thing that is holding me back from dropping out is the fact that I only have 4 classes left and I have been approved to graduate, no student loan debt. I am hoping that this bachelor's will help me get my foot in the door somewhere, falling back on my minor in business, maybe going into marketing instead, but who knows. I think the most important thing I've learned from all of this is that flexibility, especially in these trying times, is extremely important. Live with purpose and intention. Do what you love. Don't be afraid to make mistakes along the way. If plan A doesn't work out, there are way more letters in the alphabet. To anyone reading this, I wish the best for you, and remember you're not alone in your struggles
I like drawing I just struggle with discipline and priorities. I also struggle with figuring out the type of art I want to do career wise.
Just practice. During the time it needs to become a professional artist you can figure out what you wanna do. If you struggle with discipline: tell yourself that art ist just not your priority right now and see how it sits with you. If you have a bad Feeling about it you have to change that. If you are okay with that, then you actually don't want it that bad
If it helps, set some deadlines with a friend or someone you trust! Like on a certain day you show them what you’ve come up with. Whatever you choose to do I wish you good luck :D
I have terrible discipline
Its time to find time, specially when we have other jobs. But whenever you have the time, practice, it will add up eventually if you keep at it.
I don't know what it is about this video but I have been thinking of dusting off my sketchbook and bought new supplies last night and this video popped up in my feed, and for some reason lit a fire under me.... Thank you, I truly mean that.
That's one smooth change of topic from "art therapy" to that book at the end. ; )
As a guy that tried to become a programmer and realised he doesn't really enjoy sitting and writing code all day I can tell you all: being good at something doesn't mean you have to do that thing. You can start hating something even though you're better than most in it so don't feel forced to become artists just because people tell you you're very talented. If someone forces you to do something you hate for long enough you'll hate him too, even if you're that person.
Wise words :)
I left Uni as a 4.0 GPA student because I was feeling really miserable pulling 30hr study weeks in my subject despite doing well. I’m happier now but found myself really wondering what I could make of myself at this point if I’m one of those people who love art as art but not as work.
@@johndoe69420 this honestly makes me feel better. I was the same as you- at some point I broke down, but instead of quitting, I just stopped making good grades. I'm depressed and can't find motivation to keep at it because I feel the need to be a 4.0 student and, you know, what's wrong with me if I'm not? But this high bar is of my own making. I'm in too far to quit now but maybe I don't have to be so hard on myself. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you found something you enjoy doing.
ALPINE MUSH I too decided to cut myself some slack and instead of being a tryhard at everything, I weigh every problem I tackle according how much they would benefit me in the long run and how truly interesting I find them. If you really feel the need to strive for perfection, maybe try logging all of your activities so at the end of the week you can feel better about what you managed to accomplish rather than what inflated standards you felt compelled to reach. Always looks for the silver lining in what you do if you’re in the deep of it but don’t be afraid of looking for opportunities to get out if you seriously feel trapped (I have a friend who turned a serious hobby into a career when he reached out to a big shot and landed a job that paid better than senior positions at the field he was studying in). Best of luck to you, friend.
That's so true! At school I was pretty good at foreign languages, and because teachers love kids who have already taught themselves their subject, I left high school thinking languages were all there was to me. This led me to getting my Bachelor's in Japanese Studies, even though I couldn't even try to imagine working as a translator or a lecturer. Hell, I don't even speak Japanese all that well in the end, in fact I'm absolutely terrified of it. :D Ended up becoming a 3D artist. Oh well.
Signs I should never ever quit chasing my career in art even tho it might not give enough money and my art sucks: I am even worse in everything else
Many things are easier to learn than arts. There's hope. ^^"
@@renookami4651 thx for the nice comment, I tried tho :D
So art it still is
Yeah, as long as you're enjoying it!
If this ain't me 😂
I was a background artist for one of the popular animation studio in my country for a year. I quit last month cos it was just tiring and overwhelming with just little pay. Now I'm just trying to find my foot again in what I love doing, illustrations and characters I relate with, and hope I can make enough for my in the process. It's kind of difficult because I've been used to getting directions, but now I have to think about everything myself all over again.
I know I will overcome this... Thanks so much Trent for being here and doing this.
Out of curiosity what do you do to keep yourself afloat now? Does unskilled labor in your country pay comparable wages? Or do you try to push out commissions or sell your paintings (I assume you can paint quite well since you were a background artist) to locals?
Thats thr probelm when you dont have a team with you. theirs this anxiety and realization that what you do at this point is entirley your fault any mistakes are at your fault .
i wish i had this advice earlier. I was obsessed with training for art school that it really drained me mentally. My teacher and mother were both coming from the creative industry. They had expectations too high but offer too little guidelines for me. I really wanted to get experimental but was anxious about whether or not i might be accepted into my university. After quitting, i really got better and finally tried to pursue mechanical engineering as something i truly enjoyed. It's ok if you decide art isn't your thing.
Thank you for making this. I've always felt the need to learn 3d and and draw realistically because that's what the industry needs and ive felt bad trying to learn it. I'm gonna focus on what I enjoy drawing as opposed to what I feel I should draw.
You will probably find more satisfaction in your life.
I know there is no chance of anyone seeing this, but dude you saved my life. Thinking your future opportunity is gone because you “lost” your skill, is almost enough to make someone suicidal. I appreciate the video, and the way you spoke. Not a lot of people have a magnetic charisma.
@Mario L.-S. I like your answer. I definitely think God gives some people the talent for art to touch people. It will not always appear "Godly", but God doesn't sugar coat life. Glad you shared your experience with someone else.
I think I needed this. Not because I don't enjoy drawing/creating (I'm about to do my Bachelor of Design soon) but because now I feel grounded. You just need to come down into reality and then keep encouraging yourself. If you're good, you'll know and you'll appreciate the good AND bad artworks - it's all part of your improvement.
This video made me realize that the thing holding me back isn’t the fact I don’t like drawing it’s just the longing for approval
I’ve posted nearly every drawing I’ve made online for about five years and I think it’s time to maybe take a long break and just draw for myself
Hey I'm not even an artist, but a composer and music producer. This video perfectly applies to that kind of art too, thank you very much sir!
But isn't composing art as well? Maybe not visual art, but imo all creation can be art
Ah, this is nice to hear - i gave up on an art career because of depression and self esteem issues I had as a teenager but I never stopped drawing and practicing.
@Siinyx I mean, you're on the right track if you're still going for art! I wish I'd compromised a bit. I basically thought, "well i'm never going to be good enough to make money as an illustrator or concept artist or anything fun like that" and went for biology instead off of a vague interest and desire to have a career. However, my college had a really good design program that in hindsight would have been fun and led to more opportunities.
Buuut I basically was too depressed to imagine myself having fun doing anything other than drawing pictures... so I went for something not fun at all. Nowadays I do work one of those "boring" tech jobs and genuinely love it.
I'm still young though and still drawing so who knows where I'll end up.
The thing that really helped my depression and self esteem after changing majors to be more creative was realizing I have ADHD and learning how to work with myself.
tl;dr know that you can pick a career path that will make you enjoy showing up to work every day, even if it isn't the "perfect" one you imagine
the 'maybe try to love yourself" part hits so fkkin haaaarddd duuuude ㅠ ㅇ ㅠ thanks so much
how do i even get into a mindset like that easily
I stopped drawing for 9 months and realized the reason why I was so hard on myself and hated everything I created was because I was comparing myself to other artists. Rushing the journey and wanted to be a pro overnight.
Honestly, even though I wanna go pro, sometimes I feel like Id be fine just working a regular job and doing art on the side and just improving. But of course, Id rather make money doing what I love
I used to want to be a professional concept artist and ended up being a data analyst. I’m 26, so relatively young I guess, getting older tho. I’m so happy I became an analyst, I can afford art supplies and still draw after work. Not only that I’ve learned so much about business and marketing at my job that I feel confident if I were to sell art, I’d go in with a solid mindset. (I haven’t yet, possibly will at some point lol). Anyways this isn’t to flaunt, but from my experience it’s ok to work a job that pays the bills and do art on the side. I have way more peace of mind. Highly recommend getting a tech job that’s remote
@@masteringillustration8811 its really cool youve found a way to sustain yourself and do art. Personally, the way I think about it is more like, if I make a living with art, I wont have to waste time doing jobs I hate. So its more of just me wanting more freedom to create art and spend most of my time on that. If you know about the artist Robaato, his lifestyle is like the one I invision for myself. But in the mean time, I can keep working my regular 9-5. I just dont want to stay there forever
I've never really wanted to go Pro. Indie is good enough. I'm practicing drawing because I want to make a web comic, if something good comes from it then that's fine but a goal of mine is to get a story out there. Even if it doesn't male me popular I want to be able to say "I followed through and told a story"
I love drawing but i don't want to make it my job. Still i don't know what to do with my life but i'm 14
I remember I was drawing almost all the time in school, suddenly stopped when I graduated high school and had to find my first job. I was out for all day, leaving for job at 7 a.m only to be back around 10 p.m I didn't last there for more than six months but I can see that from that moment I started losing my passion for art. It started when I was 18, now I'm 27 and I'm almost not drawing at all, with every year I draw less and less and I can't help it. In the meantime of this almost 10 years gap I've got my visual art diploma, I used to draw while being at university but not as much as while being in high school. My mental health problems started because I could't find a job in art industry, I couldn't find any job that was satisfying for me. Depression started slowly killing my joy and passion foreverything. I've lost most of the time playing games and procrastinating. and for what? For nothing. It sucks, I hate myself for that, I cannot help but think that it's my fault. It's my fault I couldn't find a job in art industry, it's my fault to chicken out about even trying to find it. It's my fault I was too scared to lazy to stay focused and work on my skill. I was always like "I'll start next week, next month, next year" and guess what? I never did. By now I'm still struggling with my depression, I wasn't feeling good on meds (which is not the reason you should not take them, talk to your doctor) and I had to quit them, now due to Covid it's very hard, almost impossible to get free therapy here in Poland and the private one is to expensive for me to afford. I've lost my job and I thought about trying drawing again but still struggling. It's like I've lost all my interest and it breaks my heart because I don't want to give up, not yes. I don't want to admit I won't be an artist one day, I don't want to admit I won't draw ever again. I don't want to admit I do not like drawing. Somehow I just cannot find a joy in it anymore and I don't know why. I miss the feeling when I had this urge to draw something back in school, I got bad grades due to that but man, that made me so happy back then.
I relate too hard to too much stuff you said but…
Has it gotten any better? I hope ur okay
I'm the same. But i force myself to create nearly everyday. Doesn't mean its better, just a different way to keep hold of that dying dream or idea of what my life should be. We are just detached from this world and thinking that creating will give us acceptance from this world. Truth is, there are many many things we could be doing in life. Not just being labelled as an artist.
@@andyjart5063 “just an artist”? There are many things I could be doing but I’d be most proud to call myself an artist
I feel like this too. Procrastinating and self destructive behaviors
art is the only thing that gives direction and determination in life. i would be so hollow without it...
@@marxgalacticambition7023 prehaps that is true
@@marxgalacticambition7023 any advice where to start looking? I feel so lost
Oh, Trent! Thank you. You made me cry man, I became that catch 22 as you say, I am 44 now, for a time I got so lost doing very successful things that eventually I hated in every second, a total exploited and unhappy art mercenary, even had a couple of nerve crisis, worse I don't even remember when it all started to change. I was supposed to be grateful for the opportunity. Then I stopped drawing for a time, and started all over again, after several years, now I just know that I enjoy every step and I feel like coming back home, reviving the dream I once had as a child 🔥, and this video came to me like a summary of my story. Again, gracias!
Being an artist and the idea of being one
Trent, you probably won’t see this but I want to thank you. You have helped me a lot with this video. I used to love to just draw but recently I have been too worried about growing up and getting a career. Watching this video was a slap in the face to tell me stop giving a shit, just keep working at it and enjoy it. Know I feel like I can make it again cause I don’t even have to care I just have to draw. So Trent, from the bottom of my heart thank you so much for helping enjoy my art again.
in all honesty this channel is so incredibly underrated, i feel like before hearing some of your tips i didn't really know what i wanted to do.
i just, knew i liked doing art and kind of mindlessly thought "oh well i guess I'll do art related stuff or something in the future" but i realized... that's so incredibly vague it almost isn't even a real goal.
i belive i managed to find a more "proper" goal, and that's thanks to you.
dunno if you'll read this but keep up the good work.
I read every comment. Thank you!
The only thing more relaxing than listening to you give me art advice is watching you draw. Your style is BEAUTIFUL. I love the use of lines and solid patches of colors.
In the end, it's all about the joy of creation. If you aren't happy in doing art then it would be best to stop, or you might end up hurting yourself in some ways. Just my 2 cents.
I came in to feel sad, left feeling happier and more content. Thank you.
You : stop, get some help
The artist that asked u for advice: I like ur funny words, magic man
The thing is, if i quit art, I have absolutely no idea what else there is to do. Is there a paid Netflix viewer job out there? :D
Write lots of TH-cam comments - get rich quick!!
No. You could be a reviewer but that takes work and time to build an audience.
Programming, engineering, construction work, landlord, doctor, manufacturing, technical design
Adapt and overcome
it's been over a month since I finished a personal project. I only draw on the sides so I can't make as much art as most artists do, so the longer I don't draw, the more frustrated I become as to why i'm not drawing enough, which is true apparently. But then you said something like "focus on something that you popped open your laptop because you want to look at it again, 'cause 'aww man, I can't believe I did that'..", which I did just a couple of days ago, looking at that fanart I did that I still can't freakin believe that I pulled off no matter how simple it is, and it hit me.. I guess I should just really chase that feeling I get on finishing something rather than worrying if people will even like it or even see it.. It's a really nice thing to think about. Thank you.
I am a 3D artist at a AAA game studio and what I have come to realize is that I much more enjoy doing my own personal projects than work. Work is what it is: work. Its oftentimes is monotonous and requires you to do mundane tasks on a daily basis and there is usually no room for discussion. Lately I find myself gravitating more towards stylized hand painting and low poly art projects because they pique my interest and they remind me of why I love doing 3D art in the first place... Fun.
Do it because you love it, and do it for yourself. Thanks Trent for your wonderful advice.
That's the thing.. I haven't grown to hate doing 3d Art. What I do hate is doing stuff for other people. People who will push their personal subjective opinion on you. Yeah there are principles in Art that we all agree on, but there is always this element of.. no I want it to be a slightly different colour because who knows why. After redoing things over and over for an indecisive (but perfectionistic) boss I've just grown tired. And the fact that jobs are found in exotic places. But starting your own thing feels extremely daunting and risky.
Working a different career might get me more excited about my art again.
There are a lot of days that when i woke up i was like "i dont wanna do this art thing anymore i feel like im not improving at all, my work is not that good" mentality. But, there's also a part of me that i really wanted to work as a concept artist. That pushes me to draw everyday. The fact that i want to have my dream job is enough to push me to draw and improve.
When i heard you said that "artists think they are not good at all" i think maybe i should change my mindset. Instead that i think i suck, i should think that my current work is better than my pasts ones. Maybe i should also be stop being so harsh on myself, and go with the flow, keep grinding and keep doing art :)
Nice video man! Idk how but this one really motivates me more
You're honestly a legend. I got tears in my eyes just from hearing you talk about some really crucial things. As my own goals for the future slowly got blurry over the past few years, listening to this video made me realize once again where my passion stems from and when I got the most energy. To me time pressure is a big thing. On the one hand it helps me to stay focused but on the other hand if it's too frequent it just turns into pure stress and makes me want to disappear. Which then leads to missing deadlines, risiking your job, disappointing others including (mostly) myself and in general becoming a hurtful thing to even think of. It's crazy how something you loved doing ever since you first took a pen into your hand, can crumble so easily in a matter of a few months.
I truly try to stick to your advice here and start over again with my own pace, hopefully developing a healthier relationship with drawing once again.
Thank you so much for making so many wonderful videos that can help artists grow and learn even on a personal level.
Stay awesome and healthy :)
Drawing and painting can be great for your well being, but it can also become a nightmare. Take good care of yourself first.
Hiya Trent this video really hit home and absolutely filled me with determination. I'm hyped and ready to keep climbing the mountain on my art journey. You may not be a therapist but you're definitely the seasoned adventurer with the scroll of wisdom. And hearing you address my doubts, made me realize that I'm definitely on the right path, 'cause sometimes you gotta hear it from someone else who's scaled the mountain before, to make you realize why you started scaling it in the first place.
"Layer 121" fills me with an indescribable anxiety.
Funny is that the people that are really successful artists, seem to only fixate in their art. And even doing studies is an enjoyable experience. Social media I feel is pernicious, because you see someone wanting to produce at the cost of their life, just for the likes, without experiencing real improvement or joy.
This is such a wonderful video!
I took a break but I still draw but don't post it on social media that much but I do like showing to my family and getting what they think about the drawing like what comes to their mind when they see it.
I make what I enjoy, Sometimes it's simple things that don't have much detail and sometimes it's things that have too much detail.
Just make what you feel like making.
*1 -* Don't force yourself to make something if you don't want to.
*2 -* Don't expect approval from everyone.
*3 -* Don't judge your art by how many likes it got.
*4 -* Don't exaust yourself take breaks.
Just keep making what you love.
You're awesome and I hope you have a wonderful day and stay safe!
Hope you're taking care of yourself, Trent. It sounds extremely stressful to have all these people come to you with these awful problems you can't fix. As always, thanks for the video
i really needed to hear this man. i constantly belittle myself because the style im happy with is not mainstream and your just telling me that its ok to keep going down the path i want the way i enjoy it, thanks dude :)
Every aspiring artist needs to watch this video.
Recently, I was getting discouraged because my art didn't look like what was always popular or featured on Pinterest or Instagram. I ended up changing my style and the way I drew things, but I just got more discouraged by the day until I ended up not drawing for weeks. This video reminded me to keep doing what I want to do, not what people expect or what people like, and it motivated me to start drawing again. Thank you so much for making this video!
Thank you for the words of encouragement and advice, I feel like more artists need therapeutic discussions like this to prevent further depression or succumbing into addiction.
I am barely starting -actually- trying to put out my drawings out there, instead of just secretly posting them, and I admit I was like "Oh noo! Am I making a mistake!?" when I read the title haha but I've been having SO much fun sharing and using that to drive myself into actually trying to get better at drawing, which I never did before! :) Awesome video! Thanks!
I refused to do that "steeven universe" kind of style that is very predominant in México, that's not what I wanted to do. So I looked outside the country and I found out that there's a decent market for the more realistic-ish style that I like to do.
thank you so much for this advice. i was looking at it from an approval perspective not for myself, didn't realize how toxic that mindset could be. I will definitely start drawing for me and what I am passionate about.
The great thing about being an amateur artist (and knowing I always will be) is that I don't have to force myself to do art. I can enjoy improving whenever I want to do art.
That video actually gave me motivation to draw more, thank you.
Thanks man.
I've been in graphic design for a few years now and it's been torture. I've recently rediscovered making art on my own and for myself, and I'm loving it!
This was way helpful :)
Yesterday I was being really confused, unhappy, frustrated that my post wasn't professional enough and I wasn't good enough. But if I don't compare to people who have more experience than me then the post brings joy to me. Thank you, I really needed that
Yep
I can relate, although I am in a different creative field (audio/music). If I'm feeling frustrated, it's not so much about the craft itself - it's usually a clue that I have something personal I need to work through with myself. The feeling of not being good enough isn't something you can practice away, it's a fundamental flaw in how you approach life. Competition and aspiration can inspire greatness, but if you're getting envious and bitter rather than inspired, when you look at great pieces that others have done, you're doing it wrong.
Embrace, understand and accept yourself as you are, while still keeping an eye on and working towards where you want to go, and not holding it against yourself that you aren't there yet.
- Or, as one might rather put it, you need to progress as a person before you can progress as an artist.
This video made me look up to you like a father figure... that tone was really comforting for such a topic like this, something I’d expect coming only from a very close person. Definitely hit your mark when you said you’re the type to tell someone straight whatever it is they need to hear. Thanks for the reminder!! Among the many hardships and disappointment I’ve had learning drawing and comparing myself to other artists, I almost forgot about the feeling of enjoying and learning new things and techniques too. I’ve never planned on pursuing a career in art, but as someone who still wants to make drawings and stuff, this is definitely a motivational video ❤️
Thank you so much Trent. I have been trying to "get out of my own head" about my art for a long time. I just need to get back to what's fun again. Focus on the fun. Great thank you.
Good to know i shouldn’t stop chasing.
Also that master klu drawing is awesome
Hey, you might not have fun and still work towards becoming an artist, you're not alone in that.
People have to figure out if they want the "status" of being an artist or wanting to actually make art stuff for life, these things get easily mixed up. I knew I wanted to become and artist but I did not have fun practicing and doing art for years when I started in my mid twenties. I was not having fun because I knew I sucked and nothing I did turned out the way I wanted and I did not see my progress even thought I worked hard. I was downright miserable at times.
And I accepted that (with some grievance)... because I knew I wanted to be able to do art and with some introspection I knew I was going to be unhappy with this path for a while. I think that was the key for me; understanding WHY I was not having fun, and then deciding to just deal with it. It took me about three years to get around the point where I started to enjoy what I was making. I'm now working as an artist and happy about choosing this direction, but it did come with pain and sacrifices that sucked real bad at times.
My job is also still not easy by any means and I feel there's always more to learn. No fame nor riches here.
I think it's important to acknowledge what you're getting into and also that you can quit at any point.
It just depends on you if you actually really want from it.
“You will never feel ‘good enough.” So true. This applies to any career.
i was kind of anxious to click on this video, but i’m glad that i did, cause at least now i know i should continue pursuing what i genuinely love doing: making stories with my art. thanks for this man, really appreciate it
Yeah the title of the video had me a bit worried but I'd actually say it's pretty motivational. I've definitely struggled with that "I need approval" and "I'll never be good enough" mindset, however I feel you hit the nail on the head when it comes with how to deal with it. It really is knowing how to love yourself and your work that helps clear up how to feel about an art career. So thanks for reinforcing that message and I hope any other new artists out there that see this are motivated by this message as well.
Everything was clinched as I watched this but nah I'm glad you talked about this Trent. It's important to get folks into the idea of loving to draw first before trying to make it your entire career. If you can't do that then you can find something you do love to do.
Honestly this is one of the best advices I've heard... 😁 I'm fired up
I hate to start, but love when I actually get to it. It´s the fear of pure failure that kicks me back all the time. But in the end I am always proud of what I created, especially when I go and look back at the others I´ve drawn and I see improvements. That´s what I love about it the most.
Thank you so much for this.. as an artist that feels like hasn’t had any luck on this path it really helps hearing your honest words... I’m glad I haven’t quit yet and don’t see myself quitting anytime soon!
Dude, you totally summarized the way i feel about my art in such an accurate way 😂 Although my practice sketches aren't "on-point" or "perfect" it's still close, and whenever I finish drawing, I tend to look at my page of crazy sketches that sometimes don't make atomical sense! And I feel so proud of my work, despite its flaws! Keep making these vids , Trent 😁 - love from the Philippines
This honestly really helps me to feel better about quitting. I don’t want to show anyone my art, I don’t ever intend to post it anywhere or make it a career or let my work see the light of day. I always welcomed the harshest criticism I could ask for because it was still much nicer than the way I already saw my work, and I took every suggestion, even if they seemed pointless or impossible. I was a daily painter for seven and a half years and just…never improved. If anything, I got worse. I tried countless of those drawbox, wingfox, youtube, etc. guides and classes for fundamental skills and it always just seemed like those people were living in a different world entirely if they were achieving such results. My brush strokes never did what they showed it was supposed to; I followed stroke by stroke but my colors didn’t do what theirs did, my shapes didn’t even go the same way as I thought I was making them, and even buying the same exact brushes as they used, they would just dab it down once and mine looked like I was using a completely different tool when I did the same thing. I would do the same class or tutorial every day for a couple months and never figured out what they were actually doing to get anything near those basic results.
I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that I’m disabled and I know that there _are_ plenty of disabled artists out there, but I don’t think art is made for everyone. It’s sad because I really do want to paint, I feel driven to learn but after so many years of practicing the same exact skills and never even seeing a hint of progress it’s just become depressing to like art at all, if that makes sense. I stopped the daily stuff about two years ago and now I have to plan when to paint based on safe it is to feel any more suicidal than I already do every day, because that’s where it always lead me.
I keep quitting but I always come back to it because I think if I give it just a little more time, I’ll find something that helps me, but it just isn’t happening. I don’t want to stop for good, but I also really do, and I know I need to-this really helped me to feel more encouraged that the depression of giving up is the better alternative to the misery that painting brings me. I really do appreciate it man ❤️
How its even possible to want to be a concept artist and hate drawing?!
Right?! It seems so nonsense
Because they love the idea of creating something, but not the idea of crafting it. They love the result but hate the process
@@yopomdpin6285 from my experience, the ideas come through the process, and when you get better your ideas get better too, you cant have an awesome idea if you dont like the craft itself, most of the times this is an illusion, usually those people who say i have those cool ideas which i cant put down, they just dont have any cool ideas
@@dimifisher you have given me something to think about, thanks.
@@jakkdlaw glad i did, cheers! 🙂
I'm glad that you're exist trent. When I'm blocked by enormous mountain in my art journey, your words always helped me :)
Thank you for your words Trent. I'm not a guy at the level you describe in this video and I don't hate drawing, but some things that you say here touched me to the point to get my eyes a little wet, because despite I love to draw, somehow I have lost a bit the route of what I really want to draw or what to do with drawing. Well said words man, thank you so much! Please continue loving what you do and sharing it with the world.
This video is so good, what you are saying can help so many people, not just within art but if people take your questions and ask themselves and answer them honestly! this can be applied to any career choice.
I really needed this video. The timing is perfect and feels almost like a cosmic intervention from the ethereal and unknown.
I was a science student who went into an art college. I had never done art in my life (if you're wondering how I got in there, the entrance didn't judge you by art but by logic and creativity). I was bored with studying so I decided to take this decision, it was quite reckless.
It was like a new world to me. Everybody there was into art some way or other. The first year was about basics in art and I was terrible at it. I'd look at other people and felt so bad about my art. I became hell depressed.
Then pandemic came.. and i spent most of my time in art tutorials online. My art improved a lot, better than some people in my batch. As a studious person I am good at working hard and sitting in a place so I was able to improve. I started dreaming of becoming a fine arts artist and I loved what I did.
But there was a problem... I couldn't do art for more than 3 hours a day maximum. In fact many days I'd just binge watch series and do nothing. Art burned me out like hell. If I did art regularly for a month, I'd take 2 months break after that. It was very unstable. I was tired most of the time or I was lazing out, unable to do anything.
Soon it became clear to me I can't do this professionally. It was a pain to accept it, it took me another year to realize this. I still sometimes look at other artists and their arts and go into deep thinking and sad thoughts that I can't pursue this commercially but I think I don't really *love* art that way. Plus I can always do this in my free time which, ironically, is very therapeutic, especially inking.
Scary seeing TH-cam send me a notif that just says "signs you should give up on an art career" ,not so scary watching the video.
I watched this video a while ago while drawing one of my last drawings, and your words have really stuck with me. I remember a couple tears staining the paper while I drew that night, but I really needed to hear it. I wasn’t happy trying to pursue an art career- which is something I’ve been told by everyone around me, it’s been drilled into me my whole life since I was a kid that I *need* to take advantage of my skill and if I don’t pursue art that it would be a massive waste, that I would be throwing away a dream job and that it’s something that I want- you want to do this. I never really asked myself if it was something I actually wanted to do though, and just followed and drifted along to what everyone was saying. And as I found myself more and more unhappy in art school and closer to actually pursuing an art career I realised how little I really enjoy it- what once was a fun hobby now was a painstakingly draining chore, and made me feel miserable. Because pursuing art was forced on me by my parents and they made all the decisions for me I was so confused when the time came of me hitting a wall mentally on what *I* actually wanted to do for so long, that led to self destruction and isolation
Now I’ve found it and I’ve never been happier or confused ever since I dropped art. My future is no longer a white blur, thank you for being the first person in my life to tell me that not pursuing art even if you’re good at it is ok.
Art is fun and beautiful and will always stay a part of me, but like a close childhood friend it was something I needed to let go to find my true self and wants in life
Tbh, I'm on this page, I hate the process of learning daily without seeing results. But I will persevere through till I can draw something decent.
I expected this video to tear me down, but instead it did the exact opposite. This helped me a lot. Thanks man, I really needed someone to tell me this
I sketch as therapy you are right, there is a great therapeutic value in art, when you get in the zone and the world melts away.
This is very enlightening, thank you. This makes my goal clearer. Enjoyed your content man
thing is; after you grind and learn all the fundamentals, drawing suddenly becomes a very relaxing and fun experience. the grind is pretty hard, miserable even, but now I am really excited to work in art.
This guy is right, because once I posted an art on a social media and it broke me cuz I expect a lot about that art and it got only few reacts, that was my mistake right there and it serves to me as a lesson. Just keep doing the art that you're happy with and don't run after for the fame and appreciations of others.
I have the opposite problem. I enjoy art and I like how my drawings turn out but when I post them on social media I receive barely any feedback. I'd like to be a professional artist someday but it's hard when you don't get noticed
I would try not to focus on getting noticed just yet. Cultivate yourself as an artist, enjoy the process first, and then in time your voice will start attracting people. I started my own personal project in the past. No one cared about it and I was barely getting any eyes on me. Until suddenly I started staying consistent with it and soon enough a lot of people have known it now. So yeah, focus on building the skills first and then the following will come after
This is so important. I'm glad to see a video that acknowledges these problems!☺
i felt this way and honestly hearing it being expressed in words is so incredibly helpful. the biggest advice I can give to anybody who felt this way is to buy a sketchbook. i splurged on a pack of 24 sketchbooks that were each around $1 and I had the most fun time in my life drawing. they weren't especially good but there was just that enjoyment that lead me to finish all of them in 3 months when i was planning to have them last a year. there were days i felt like i didn't want to draw but everyday i made sure to fill in at least 2 pages and soon i found myself lost in those moments. if anybody feels a similar way i just wanna say that art isn't as glamorous or as free-spirited as many people make it seem. it takes hard work and a lot of frustration but if you can make frustration your friend then nothing will stand in your way,
I really agree with you on that one.
Thank you so much for this video, I really needed this today. I just started a full time job that leaves me very sore and tired, and I have very little time or motivation to draw anymore. My dream has always been to make a living off of my art, and today it felt like it just wasn't going to happen.
This video made me open my eyes that while I draw things I enjoy, I'm also more focused on trying to get them out there to build clout, and getting disappointed when it doesn't happen. The part where you say something along the lines of make something you want to open your laptop and look at resonated with me. I really need to stop focusing on trying to gain traction with my art, especially if all I'm doing is running on ice.
Thank you again, here's to hopefully finding solace and more peace of mind with my art!