Q&A for How to Become a Better Artist

Just look at people! My favorite technique for drawing anything, but especially portraits and sketches, is called blind contour drawing. That's an exercise where you look at your subject, and you cannot look at your paper or lift up your pencil while you draw. Then, you'll notice that what you've actually drawn is how it looks rather than how you think it's supposed to look. So, to me, that's a really fundamental skill

Stop sitting around complaining about how you're not a good digital artist. I mean, to me, truly it's a struggle. I haven't figured out how I can translate my physical manual drawing skills into a digital environment. Just find simple tools and play with them. Technology has really improved in the last ten years and it's much more accessible, so, find other digital artists and see what they're doing.

Use this as an opportunity to improve your listening skills. Even more important than being a good artist, being able to listen and follow directions from others are skills you will absolutely need for your whole life. Just be patient and focus your attention. Ask questions when you need clarification.

You can be anything you want to as long as you put your mind to it and put in all of the effort required to achieve this. Knowing that this is what you want to do is a great start.

Think to yourself: At least I'm still practicing. Also, compliment yourself on whatever drawing you do. It takes a lot of self motivation to become an artist.

You have to keep practicing! Try looking up a picture of something and draw/paint it. Make multiple drawings and compare them to see what mistakes you made.

This rests squarely on practice, constant and proper practice. There is no escaping trying again and again until you perfect the style you're seeking; there are no shortcuts to great work.

Learn from your favorite drawings. Look at the artist's style and observe what you like best about it. As you draw more you will automatically start developing a new style that you love.

Pick a subject easy to sketch, like a hand or a pot. You can even practice just drawing guidelines, like circles and lines, then make it into whatever you want to draw.

Save for the supplies or use what you've got. Look at sales on auction sites or go to garage sales and rummage through their stationery section. Ask for the supplies as gifts for birthdays, etc.

Never give up on your dream. The more you practice, the better you will become. Take art classes, go to museums, and look for drawing and painting groups in your area through sites such as Meetup.com. Art is subjective; while it may never be as good as you might want it to be, you may find that you gather a following.

Search anime pictures and note what most anime pictures have. Common features include big intense eyes, huge hair, and colorful clothing.

No. People will give you respect when they see your art, not when you brag about it. So, try to be humble.

Well, it all depends on the skills you have naturally and how much you practice. In general, it takes years of practice to become a skilled artist, but it depends on your definition of "good". You can certainly improve in two weeks.

If you like/love drawing it, you don't have to stop. Just make some time to try to draw new things, too, so you can keep improving your skills.

If you think that it'll ruin the entire thing, then don't put it in. You can try to think of different objects or people to add in, which may help you find the best fit for your work.

You can't stop people from hating your art. It's something that always happens, and not everyone will love your art. I myself am an artist and I know this. In this case, more people will love your art then hate it.

Ask your parents if you can borrow their phone or laptop for a while or go to a friend's house and ask them to draw with you. You could always ask your parents if you could use their phone or laptop for a while. You can also go to your friend's house and ask them to draw with you.

Sometimes, you have to just compliment yourself on the little things. You could also start practicing little pieces of the entire picture, like practicing the mouth before anything else on a face.

No, you should continue to do the best that you can. You will get better with more practice. Don't worry if your drawings don't look like everybody else's. Being different and creative is a good thing for an artist.

30 days is generally not enough time to become a good artist. It usually takes years of practice to become really good. However, you could become good at something specific (e.g., drawing an eye, painting a flower) if you practice doing that thing a lot over those 30 days. The best thing, though, would be to take your time and build your skills gradually and comprehensively, as most artists do, starting with simple drawings, gradually moving on to more complex drawings once you've mastered simpler ones, and practicing drawing a wide range of things. For most people, it's easier to master painting after they've mastered drawing - and it will make your paintings better, as most painting involves some amount of drawing and follows some of the same artistic principles. If you need help with painting, or any other type of art, there are lots of resources online, including articles on this site (like this one) and videos on YouTube. Taking a class can also be helpful.

Try searching YouTube for tutorials, there are a lot!

Try drawing negative space. Set up a still life and instead of drawing the objects, draw the spaces between the objects. This teaches you how to really draw what you see, instead of what you think you see.

Don't compare yourself to other people. You just need more practice. Look up some drawing tutorials on YouTube and try to learn the basics, then move on to more difficult techniques.

You suffer because you compare yourself to others. Instead be grateful for the opportunity to get inspired by them and compare yourself to your younger self, being happy with the progress you've made.

As long as you’re drawing something, you’re practicing, which will make you better at drawing. Never give up!

For the art style, patience works best. Look at all of your favorite artists and note what you like about them, and just work until you like it. Let your hand do whatever it wants. For anatomy, use references! Pull up a picture and look at it, like really look. Note the shapes that make it up. Do that again and again until you get it.

Work hard on your artwork and try to sell it to galleries.

Copying and saying it isn't a copy but your own is wrong. Selling them as your own is illegal. However, trying them out just for fun or enhancing your skill is all right, provided you only do this privately.

Yes. Everybody has ideas as beginners that evolve with more attempts. Showing other people is good as they can give you feedback. Try to see the message in their feedback. Also, show the drawings to those who will respect what you're trying to do and be kind about you being a learner.