Tips to Improving: If you need it, read it

Feb 7, 20144 min read

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Published: Feb 7, 2014

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This is gonna be lengthy.

I've asked and been asked this question before. Usually the response you get is "Tons and years of practice and practice and practice!"

I cant say this isn't true, because it is. BUT, I think it is the WAY you practice that really helps speed up your improvement to get you where you want to be So I'm going to give you those tips to help you improve :3

1. TAKING CRITICISM (THE CONSTRUCTIVE KIND)

You've all probably heard this one before. But it is important. Turn any suggestion, or even insult by a troll into criticism. Ask for it! If the criticism other people give doesn't fit what you have in mind then...

2. CRITICIZE YOURSELF

Yup I said it. Criticize yourself. If you dont like what others think you should do, do what you think you should do. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

But how? How do you do that? Here's how:

1. Make a simple doodle. Your own style. I recommend just a headshot or a small thing of whatever you draw or whatever you think you need to improve on (face, hand, leg, arm, head).

Ex: Lets say I drew a headshot of a random girl.

2. Make a list of everything you don't like about it. Maybe even how you want it to look.

Ex: My list:

I don't like how chubby the head looks, makes her look too childish

Hair too chunky, make more detailed instead of blob

Eyes too rounded, want to make her look older

...and so on.

3. Redraw what you drew, only this time fixing every little detail that bothered you, AKA what you put on your list. Pay attention to that list you made, and the image in your head that you want your drawing to be.

Ex: Head shape more defined

Hair more detailed

Eyes more angular

andddd so on.

I gotta say, this one helped me bunches. You get to draw the way YOU want to. I only hope i explained it correctly.

3. DRAW WITH A PEN (YOU'D BE SUPRISED)

I swear, it really works. Draw with a pen. Do it. This way, you kinda get used to how you draw. If you make a mistake, either keep going or cross it out. Improvise, compensate, otherwordthatmakesmesoundsmaterthaniprobablyam whatever. Just try it.

I honestly do this all the time still, and again, it helped me get used to how i draw. Because of this, i know my style. The head shape, eyes, how i do the body, the hands, feet. EVERYTHING. My hand knows what its doing

4. DONT BE AFRAID TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Don't like your style? Try a new one. Everyone likes your style but you don't? Who cares- do it. Its your art, draw it the way you want. What is art if not freedom--- in some cases. Like a style? Try it. Try new things. Try new ways of drawing emotions, poses, etc. If you just stay with drawing headshots or something you'll never know how to draw full body- is kind of what im trying to say. Get out of that dark corner and live! You'll love coloring outside the lines.

5. TURN YOUR LONGING INTO MOTIVATION

You know we've all been there- longing to have your favorite artist's style, unintentionally making all your inspirations enemies by being jealous at how good they are. C'mon, admit it. You wanted their style sooooo bad, huh?

Well, don't just sit there and stare at their art like its gonna do something. Make it something to hope for. Tell yourself that youre gonna be that good someday. Be patient. And if theyre at pro level, then dumb it down a bit. Stay within your standards. Stick with the people who draw at the same level as you and work your way up. That way, no more 'competion' or longing. Theres only one person fighting, and that's you.

Well I congratulate you if you made it all the way down here