How Practice May Be Killing Your Joy

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  • Опубликовано: 7 окт 2024
  • "If you wanna get good, just practice!" You may have heard this advice, but is it really the best way to improve? My view is that there is a better way, and in this video I'll tell you about how I've moved from a 'practice to improve mindset' to a 'create a project mindset' and where I think continuously practicing can be a trap that's best avoided.
    You can support me on Patreon at: / sycra
    Check out my webcomic, Space Waitress Kei, here:
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    Tools I Use:
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    -Procreate on iPad Pro 12.9" with Apple Pencil for sketching digitally.
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    -Open Broadcaster Software to record my videos: obsproject.com/
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Комментарии • 946

  • @Telepurte
    @Telepurte Год назад +1309

    You really are one of my favorite secret stallions.
    It's a lot easier to keep something you learned inside your brain when what you learned is necessary to do something you love and are passionate about.
    It's certainly possible to learn things doing stuff you hate, and later using that knowledge to do what you love, but it's better to just do what you love and learn only what you need to learn to do what you love.
    Thanks Sycra, for everything, over the years, now, and the future.

  • @sinixdesign
    @sinixdesign Год назад +257

    Great video, definitely agree that practice usually only leads to more practice instead of the thing you were practicing for.

    • @ugestacoolie5998
      @ugestacoolie5998 Год назад +10

      yeah, you even might forget what the original purpose for all this practice is

  • @manakumaru5267
    @manakumaru5267 Год назад +1342

    I've been paralyzed by the mindset of "I need to get good first before I can draw the things I want" such that I've nearly given up on drawing. But seeing so many cool art still sparks some sort of inspiration in me. Really all it takes is for me to actually do it, and keep on doing it. Thanks for clearing some of the things that have been on my mind with this vid. Hopefully I find the motivation to pick up a pencil again 😅

    • @raychell1
      @raychell1 Год назад +48

      I'm in the same train, i can't believe the hobby that used to help me now feela like homework

    • @Tech-bagmash24
      @Tech-bagmash24 Год назад +25

      You don't need motivation bud. What you need is small momentum types of action to be occuring during the day and overtime you have motivation with you.
      Read the book motivation myth by Jeff haden and your perspective on the matter will start to make sense.
      Cheers

    • @renealbrechtsen9743
      @renealbrechtsen9743 Год назад +1

      @@raychell1 me too

    • @manakumaru5267
      @manakumaru5267 Год назад +5

      @@Tech-bagmash24 Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely take a look

    • @kurtcocaine8336
      @kurtcocaine8336 Год назад +4

      You are literally me

  • @tg5613
    @tg5613 Год назад +316

    The biggest problem I've had for a very long time is when I get stuck in a loop of perpetual practice because I'm afraid of under preforming on all the cool ideas that I don't want to "waste." I've been suffering from a pretty strong burnout for over a month because of this. I've taken this time to just really think about what I want or what I should do and this video just showing up really reaffirmed the things I had been thinking. Personally I think anatomy is interesting and I'd love to learn it but just studying anatomy is kind of boring. Whereas, applying it to the things I want to draw and not being afraid of doing the ideas I keep holding on to is really just what I want and feel like I should do. This goes for so many things that I find visually interesting. It's been so frustrating to have a literal buffet of interests but not exploring any for some inexplicable reason. In the end I've just found that I've kind of been viewing it all as just "practicing" to prepare for some grand idea, but that bar, as it should, just keeps moving higher and prevents me from ever reaching that point that I want to be at to execute those ideas. My new years resolution has been to try and break into a new and better mindset to change how I think about the things I want to do. I really appreciate you having voiced your thoughts about these things. It may very well have at least helped me.

    • @Sycra
      @Sycra  Год назад +94

      You know, it just occurred to me that learning anatomy is sort of like learning a language. You learn some major muscle groups, the same way you might learn some basic vocabulary... But it's a lot of use it or lose it, and if you're just spending your time learning lots of difficult vocabulary, but not really using it, you aren't really spending your time wisely. But when you are using it on a daily basis, and you start with the basic stuff, but then add more words as you go, you, over time, develop fluency. I would say my knowledge of anatomy is sort of at a street level of understanding. I know the basics, that I use, and maybe a few extra 'words', but I definitely don't have that high level of fluency that an expert might possess (even if at times I did learn that 'vocabulary' and then proceeded to forget it). But I know enough to have a conversation, and in anatomical terms that means, I know enough to draw a body, and I don't think people will be confused as to whether the arm is on backwards or if the torso is upside down. :D Anyway, sorry for going off on a tangent, just, reading your comment made me think of this idea. Thanks!

    • @paulwilson6357
      @paulwilson6357 Год назад +7

      There are ways of learning anatomy in a more fun way, but it really depends on what you're going for. Lovelifedrawing on here is a wonderful channel for life drawing, and they cover anatomy without going into the (in my opinion) needless naming and extreme details of each muscle. It's more about getting shapes and gesture down, and I recommend it over the more dry material out there.

    • @arsenal4444
      @arsenal4444 Год назад +20

      what saved me from the trap of 'wasted' ideas is "In the future, I can come back and do a remaster, and it will be a truly glorious version by comparison, no matter how good I make it right now"

    • @khaleoscope
      @khaleoscope Год назад +3

      This perfectly illustrates what I'm going through atm, am glad I'm not the only one that feels this way 🥲

    • @ZaiDrizzleDrop
      @ZaiDrizzleDrop 3 дня назад

      @@paulwilson6357 It honestly feels like people learn all the names of muscles just to show off.

  • @Tanglangfa
    @Tanglangfa Год назад +187

    This happens to musicians all the time. They’re made to only play scales and then lose interest. I think the answer is somewhere in the middle. Some practice work is good and some project work. There is definitely a point where you have to stop with the basics or even intermediate practice and make some music/art. Otherwise you’re just going to play scales while everyone asks you to play songs and you’ve got none. But I can play a terrific G Major.

    • @clementfilancia3053
      @clementfilancia3053 Год назад +4

      That’s a really good comment, ty for that

    • @megaangryvl
      @megaangryvl Год назад +10

      Yeah, many artists say that applying the 50/50 (practice/personal) rule is the best path. That way you can apply the things that you learned and don't feel stuck when you jump to do stuff after a year of practice or so

    • @sunderednight
      @sunderednight Год назад +1

      lol I think I'm the only one who loves practicing scales, the satisfaction of playing them faster and faster smoothly and cleanly motivates me a bunch. The practice I actually despise are long tones T-T

    • @Tanglangfa
      @Tanglangfa Год назад +2

      @@megaangryvl I also think the way people are taught to practice scales isn’t as beneficial as it could be (G to G). They aren’t usually taught to play the notes independently (i call this playing the scale sideways) and musically. They aren’t taught how to apply scales to music and vice versa. People who self teach get even less of that which I’m sure also applies to art, since I’ve found it applies to every other thing I’ve learned.

    • @snowbird7254
      @snowbird7254 Год назад +1

      as a musician i really only play basic scales to warm up and then i get on with the piece(s) im currently playing. you get better the more pieces you play to the fullest, and the more challenging pieces you play as well.

  • @Gabrielolsa
    @Gabrielolsa Год назад +403

    I found the secret stallion. You aren’t dumb, Sycra, you are an amazing artist, i’m really glad for all of your videos and content, you helped not only me but tons of artists. I hope you are okay man.

    • @TreFoxR3
      @TreFoxR3 Год назад +6

      ^Def gave me the push to get as strong as i am. Was the best influence on my mindset going forth honestly.

    • @maya_void3923
      @maya_void3923 Год назад +7

      What the hell is a seceet stallion

    • @imcrimson8618
      @imcrimson8618 2 месяца назад

      @@maya_void3923i think he’s referring to the mindset? Idk a stallion is strong so I interpreted secret stallion as an underrated artist with a strong mindset

  • @1984hacked
    @1984hacked Год назад +39

    Glad to see you here in 2023!

  • @spffy
    @spffy Год назад +25

    this knowledge is GOLDEN. this has been the backbone of my improvement over the years and the MAIN reason I would burn out and have major crash periods with drawing. I sort of had to make the decision for myself that practice would come slowly with iterations on things that I was ACTUALLY interested in finishing. FUN IS KEY. If you aren't enjoying drawing as a hobby, if you feel stressed about it to the point of avoidance, like you don't feel like you want to draw... you're TOTALLY approaching it wrong. It doesn't mean that you aren't good at art, it doesn't mean that you dont have what it takes to finish the dream project you had in mind. You just have to draw FOR YOU before ANYTHING else. That should be your #1 priority IMO. That comes before "needing to improve as fast as possible" or "what if it just isn't good enough". Draw so that you'll WANT to draw more in the future!

  • @ayan4697
    @ayan4697 Год назад +196

    This is honestly true and I wished I realized it earlier on, but this is what living is: experiencing things and knowing what really helps us the most to grow. We obsess over practicing to get good enough at the things we want to do or should do for a job that we don't really ever get to those because we just keep on 'practicing', when really we are just procrastinating and afraid of the actual work we must do. It's better to actually work on projects itself so we can have actual things we can present to possible clients or just show on the net that will actually land us a job, and in any case that experience helps us become actual artists that have finished presentable artworks instead of sketches, practices or whatever. But putting it into actual 'practice' is hard and scary. Nothing worth doing is easy.

    • @TheArthurxz
      @TheArthurxz Год назад +7

      Thank you I needed to hear that.

    • @ayan4697
      @ayan4697 Год назад +7

      @@TheArthurxz You're welcome. Even though each of us is our own person, the journey and experiences we take as artists to achieve our ambitions aren't really that much different, are they? Being able to heard words of wisdom like from this video just helps us realize the things we may be doing right now aren't really helping us grow to our fullest potential.

    • @sourgreendolly7685
      @sourgreendolly7685 Год назад +3

      @@ayan4697 You're on a wisdom dispensing roll right now, no joke. That's very true, and it's another thing worth remembering so double thanks

  • @louievelwest7164
    @louievelwest7164 Год назад +57

    the cat example feels like an evolution of your iterative drawing video. that was about practice but with a purpose, but this feels like putting the purpose first and it will lead to the best practice FOR YOU. love it

  • @lawnmower16
    @lawnmower16 Год назад +189

    Lately I've been practicing a lot, almost to my own detriment. I'm genuinely enjoying it, and I don't plan to stop, but this video has definitely got me thinking. There are things I want to do, but I kinda don't feel like I'm ready to do them. I only finish a piece like maybe once a month, but I spend most of my time sketching, copying artists I like, stuff like that. For me it's not so much that I feel like I _have_ to practice. It's more like that's all I want to do because when I finish something I'm never satisfied, but when I sketch something and it comes out well, I am satisfied and it motivates me to continue.

    • @annoyingnessbeginswithme5698
      @annoyingnessbeginswithme5698 Год назад +32

      See the thing is about drawings is that you can always remake them, if you put off the full drawings to the side because you feel like you aren't good enough to attempt it yet just go at it even if you don't like the end product as much, your full drawings will become your practice, and there's nothing wrong with quick full drawings because it's not so much of a time sink, you'll learn faster that way
      Besides it's your art and you should decide what you want to do with it, it's about having fun while learning so don't worry about "where your art skill should be at" and if quick sketches make you happy then continue with words of advice in mind

    • @lawnmower16
      @lawnmower16 Год назад +6

      @@annoyingnessbeginswithme5698 yeah, that rings true. I think I do want to start "finishing" more things. Since watching this video I've started using pen on my sketches, and I think it's starting to get me into a different headspace. I'm gonna try working up from there, maybe using colored pencils, maybe pulling out my tablet and trying to make something quick and fun and not worry too much about it being perfect, etc

    • @johnvermintide
      @johnvermintide Год назад +1

      in my case i get constant art blocks but for me its okay since u cant really force yourself to draw anything everyday it jst becomes a chore then

    • @imcrimson8618
      @imcrimson8618 2 месяца назад

      Honestly, you described my experience so well

  • @clara1291
    @clara1291 Год назад +54

    I am a big big believer in being intrinsically motivated as an artist! Honestly, as someone who loves to "practice" drawing, that's what I'm hearing in this video; the importance of maintaining sincere and genuine interest in and curiosity of what we're doing. Personally, figure studies turn my brain on in a way that nothing else does and I love seeing bodies as a series of problems to be solved on the page. But if someone doesn't feel that way, they should spend their time on whatever does create that feeling instead!

  • @Jugem16
    @Jugem16 Год назад +59

    This has had me stalled for such an unbelievably long time. I practise practise practise, drill hands, drill figures, drill cubes for the millionth time, get a bit better, but I don't do anything substantial because "something something, not good enough yet". Indeed, when I look back on the really difficult attempts I made at doing drawings of things that I actually liked, I ended up doing what I didn't even know I could, and always learned the most intensely. These sessions were never a regret. I don't know why I'm like this exclusively with the ventures I'm most driven to succeed in. Maybe I think drawing is too "sacred" to mess up? Is it a matter of setting strange expectations? I play piano as a hobby, but I never thought I needed to learn a bunch of music theory before attempting a piece way above my level. It *always* worked out.

    • @Sycra
      @Sycra  Год назад +28

      I'm the same way with piano... I am at a very crap beginner level, but I never was as harsh as I am with art. I think the idea that I'd identified as an 'artist' became crippling, because it led me to fear doing anything that would contradict that idea. So if I tried, but failed, doesn't that mean I'm a failed artist? Even if I could rationally understand that that was illogical, emotionally and egotistically, I was still held captive by the label I had adopted. In the end, it took really appreciating failure as the greatest teacher, and that failures meant I was one step further along my journey of improvement, that I was able to overcome some of what was holding me back. Currently, I no longer hold onto the label of being an 'artist'. I think of myself as a hobbyist, someone who draws for fun, because I want to. I also draw for a living, but I think of myself as just a labourer, nothing fancy, someone using a skill to achieve an end, money. This helps uncomplicate my life and when I do things for myself, I truly do them for myself, and not to make money or to please an audience. And then, when I do work, I do it only to satisfy the client and the brief I'm given, without letting my own personal vision get in the way.

    • @dementisse
      @dementisse Год назад +6

      This is an expectation trap. I've been collecting these over the course of my life for a very long time. It all comes down to the phantoms your ego creates to protect you from percieved harm. As long as you have any sort of ambition it leads to construction of this expectation versions of what you should be and how you should act. Failure is painful and harmful. It makes you believe your ideal is less achievable with every setback. This mindset inevitably leads to prioritising avoiding falure over achieving your goals. Even more, it makes success dependent (in your head) on lack of falure. Unravelling this knot can take a very long time. This fear of falure was one of the big reasons I stopped drawing and playing guitar. I can't say I've conquered my ego's maladaptive practices, yet. I tried to bruteforce it, but it proved to get me into even worse state. This video both reminds me of a similarly brilliant and insightful one by Matias Pillhede (it's called art is fun) and shows what was wrong in my attempts to fix my aquired resentment towards drawing. Also, the difference between "screwing up" art and a music piece stems from difference in their permanence. Unless you record or do a live performance in front of an audience (and even then people tend to forget things) music sort of fades out of reality once it's over. Drawings and paintins on the other hand are going to stay there forever, with all their flaws and missed opportunities to haunt and scorn you. That too, of course, is just another angry ghost, that can be banished with a correct mindset. However, so far, I'm still in the dark. I'll find my way out, eventually.

  • @huntshutch7541
    @huntshutch7541 Год назад +29

    Getting sucked into education and practice burned me out of why I began drawing in the first place, which is crafting story. The improvement grind never stops, like you will never feel you hit that goal because a new one will fall into place before you even realize it. So i really needed this reminder of, yea maybe I have good gesture, but what do I want to do with it.

  • @PinkPlume
    @PinkPlume Год назад +96

    Your coil technique guide all those years ago was an epiphany for me my dude, you are like the wise old man that occasionally comes down from his mountain hut to share some knowledge with the village people while stocking up on eggs.
    On this video: I like to "practice" with still human figure,and always end up getting really into it, but not with animation. Motivation quickly plummets when you have to draw a shitton of frames of something that doesn't interest you, like bouncing balls and bags of flour.

  • @nekko6852
    @nekko6852 10 месяцев назад +2

    ngl really needed to hear this. Been doing practice a lot without actually improving and whenever i ask for advise on art servers all i get is "well practice more". Thanks for the advice!

  • @Zedrinbot
    @Zedrinbot Год назад +14

    The thing I've always said: art's primary purpose is to transmit ideas. The ability to get your story across in a way that people can understand or contemplate is just as important as understanding how a cat's eye is shaped. (Not that popularity should be a deciding factor in anything, but It's also why sketches about a relatable moment tend to get more attention than technically impressive but otherwise static pieces. Don't sleep on expressiveness.)

    • @d0pesmoker
      @d0pesmoker Год назад

      This is why I decided to do it. That’s why it’s really frustrating to have these said ideas but have no way of putting them into any medium. Such cool, really personal ideas that I really need to get into writing and into a drawing and it’s just not really close to being there yet man.

  • @adventureisntfar
    @adventureisntfar Год назад +47

    As someone who never had fun practicing my fundamentals... thank you for this video. It's very easy to chase perfection and improvement but sometimes it's just a secret stallion that can't be caught.

  • @teravega
    @teravega Год назад +11

    This confirms how I got better at drawing when I was younger. I just drew things I want even though everyone was telling me to go to basics. I used a lot of inspiration to help me understand what I wanted to draw. I would say doing what you want is the best way to learn because you’ll remember it more.

  • @gifdar
    @gifdar Год назад +12

    This may just be a completely personal experience but I overcame this hurdle by thinking about how I build in minecraft. I have been playing for close to a decade on and off, I've improved as a builder immensely. When I started I didn't sit there and practice roofs and different styles of walls I just built the approximation of what was in my head. Over the years I got better at putting what was in my head into the game. Though I am only starting to draw at 22 so it feels harder to not be good at something, but as long as I'm proud of what I do I feel like I'm improving

  • @starbutter2730
    @starbutter2730 Год назад +55

    I do this alot. Ill study and practice so much bc my mind keeps hammering this thought that "Im not good enough for this yet" so it causes me to feel intimidated. I mean dont get me wrong ive been really studying and focusing and ive been improving but this is definitely an eye opener in terms of making me realize i need to actually implement things and make my own stuff with the things I learn. Idk if you read comments but i just wanted to say ty from the depths of my heart bc this really helps❤️

  • @ryrai3782
    @ryrai3782 Год назад +46

    This is something that I stress so much and had to learn the hard way, I had an obsession with my art being everything I wanted and to do that I had to do what everyone said and that was practicing. But as I spend more years and years into my art journey I realize how troubling that is and that in reality you should never practice for the sake of practicing.

  • @Naveen-tx8be
    @Naveen-tx8be Год назад +14

    I think training is just a useful tool in order to quickly figure out what’s “wrong,” and exactly what adjustments need to be made to “fix” it. That being said, it can lead to a slippery slope of being too self critical from comparing yourself to artists on social media…which then causes u to lose confidence to explore new ideas you once never struggled with producing 😅😩

  • @ItsPBUH
    @ItsPBUH Год назад +18

    Mate, I've been trying to learn art for the longest time and I've been half arsing it the whole way. The amount of times I've wanted to give up due to very minimal progress and watching dry ass videos on technique and anatomy, is crazy. I hear you, I need a project to spark the passion and I need to be ok with my art being bad for now. I have no problem drawing cubes honestly, but drawing them and seeing no progress feels like scratching a chalk board. It's the lack of purpose that's killing me. I need a project that'll kick my ass in a good way!
    Thanks for this :)

  • @danielgrezda3339
    @danielgrezda3339 Год назад +9

    YESSSSSS!!!!!!! I was "practicing" manga for a year, but when I made my first manga oneshot, I learned how inadequate I was. But now that it's a week after posting that oneshot, I am working on the next oneshot and I can say that I have learned as much in a week as in a year. Anyone who want's to make manga MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO!!!!! I wish I had known this before I started.

  • @sunwupen5264
    @sunwupen5264 Год назад +2

    I don't practice to get better at something as abstract as anatomy or gesture. I practice to increase what many artists call their "visual library." There are many things I either don't think about drawing or don't want to draw that will benefit me later on having experienced it before.
    I guess you're right. You can't practice for the sake of getting better, you need a focus. When I need to draw a portrait, I study my Asaro head in different lights. When I want to paint a flower, I take my sketchbook outside and start drawing what I see as a form of practice.
    I think the best way to sum up this philosophy is this: Don't practice to get better, practice to simply do.

  • @BlueKazuki
    @BlueKazuki Год назад +12

    Something I've been seeing a lot in regards to learning anything is comparison to how kids learn. As a kid you just learn things unbiased. Everything is new and it feels good to show people what you learned. Now that I'm older, there's this fear of making mistakes, looking stupid, and wasting too much time. I feel like it's the expectation of being an "adult". I remember you mentioned it in an older video. It's like, as a kid, you think you'll do "this" by 20 and "that" by 22 and you end up setting up these expectations for yourself. Then, when it doesn't happen and you see someone around that age as a professional, it feels like you're super behind because you end up comparing yourself.
    The fear of mistakes makes it feel like "I must practice. I'm not ready to draw a picture yet." I've wondered when should I stop looking at tutorials. I'll practice all these different body parts, proportions, perspectives, etc. and I can't piece them together into a complete drawing because I almost never do complete drawings and only practice. On the other hand, if I just drew without practicing as much, I'd be worried about building unbreakable bad habits and turd polishing.
    I don't know what the most efficient way to learn is but between being interested in learning different things (like art and languages), you start to learn "how to learn". What you say in the video reminds me of that pottery class story about the students who actually made multiple pots being more successful than the ones who spent their time studying how to make the perfect one. I think deliberate practice is still good and I find I learn a lot in short bursts but I think practicing after you've attempted it is better like you're saying or rather practicing once you've identified what it is you're having trouble with rather than doing it because you're *supposed to*. I found the secret stallion!

  • @euclxd8033
    @euclxd8033 Год назад +89

    The last time you uploaded, I was still passionate about drawing... I've been trapped on this and now I've completely given up on it and took up 3D Animation instead haha. Not blaming you ofc, I just had a bad go of it. Glad to see you're doing well, Sycra. Your videos have shaped my view on getting into art in general. I also found the secret stallion lol.
    EDIT: Wow I definitely resonated with that last point.

    • @mariadanielalavia8877
      @mariadanielalavia8877 Год назад +2

      dont give up mate, you can still draw as a hobby (just posting your stuff online here and there) while working on 3d animation :D

    • @silverblaize
      @silverblaize Год назад +1

      I've been in a similar situation recently. I started thinking my drawing skills would never be good enough for a job in the industry as a storyboard artist for animation. But I've always had a huge interest in all things 3D. So I started learning 3D animation, and while I think it's pretty awesome, yet challenging, I could see myself getting good at it if I put in the time and effort into learning it.... But I missed drawing. I was spending all of my time on learning 3D animation and I wasn't getting any time to draw, and now I'm thinking of just going back to drawing and pursuing my original dream. For some reason, as someone who has been drawing all of my life, working with a 3D character rig just doesn't feel the same. I still think it's awesome, but as a 2D artist, it just doesn't feel genuine. I feel i can express myself better and put out a better result with 2D drawings, as opposed to posing out a 3D character in a virtual 3D space. So, I'm back to drawing and it feels so good to be back!

    • @euclxd8033
      @euclxd8033 Год назад +1

      @@mariadanielalavia8877 I'd love to, but I still have remnants of negative thought patterns and experience depression and anxiety whenever I even think of drawing, to the point that I don't think that it's worth pursuing, at least at the moment. I just had an extremely bad attempt at learning, is all. I'll definitely pick it up sometime in the future, however. I cannot call myself an artist/animator with a clear conscience without being at least a passable draftsman hahaha.

  • @wow4everyo
    @wow4everyo Год назад +3

    SYCRA? its been so long since I've seen you.
    Good video, definitely the mindset that's let me be most productive. For a long while I was in "I need make better concept art for these projects I want to do" rut, but I wasn't actually working on the project. I've gotten way more done since focusing on actually making the comic

  • @Skyloftt
    @Skyloftt Месяц назад +2

    You have no idea how much this video helped me. I lost touch with my usual art groove because I stopped doing finished pieces and projects so I can practice things like anatomy and perspective. Well things got real boring real quick and in addition to the comparison game and social media, I went on a decline and found drawing boring. I'm taking a break, but all the stories I want to work on are still there, ready to be laid out. But I'm realizing now everyone learns differently and you have to critically think what works for you and what doesn't.

  • @intergalacticspacewizard1966
    @intergalacticspacewizard1966 Год назад +10

    Back in August last year I had motivation to make a 3d model for one of my OC's from scratch in blender, instead of going through the hundreds of tutorials that show you how to make donuts or whatever I hit up a tutorial which shows you how to just make a character model step by step. My character has a lot different going on but the tutorial taught me enough to do things on my own. After a month and probably 50-80 hours later of me pouring myself over this project it was done, I had it working in vrchat and everything, I had gone from knowing nothing about blender to having a good grasp on how to turn a cube into anything I wanted along with rigging, uv unwrapping and weight painting, I would never have gotten there if I had just made "donuts" and other objects just to learn the basics of the program.
    This was a very eye opening experience and I've started to approach art in the same manner, I have embraced my creative process a lot more and don't worry too much about "practice"

    • @recordalbums
      @recordalbums 10 месяцев назад

      can you send the link to the tutorial? cuz i kind wanna do it too

  • @AltairYoshi
    @AltairYoshi Год назад +6

    This video really confirms how I've been feeling in regards to practicing art. During my short time in art school I followed stuff like figure drawing to improve my anatomy, something I've always struggled with, and while I was improving fast I wasn't enjoying it as much. At some point art became more about practicing than... well, art. It felt like homework, not just because I was actually doing it for grades, but because I had this mindset of constant practicing that I felt I needed to actually get to do the things I wanted to do. There are so many projects that remain in my mind because I've locked myself into this mindset for so long. So many things I denied myself of even trying because I felt I needed to be at a certain skill level to do them. But then I asked myself "At what point will I be better enough to do the things I want to do?", and it seriously got me thinking.
    For the past few months I've decided to lay off the more traditional practice and simply... draw the things I wanted to draw. I'm again enjoying the process while also improving, even if at a slower rate. I still look up references and tutorials, but like you said they feel more purposeful because I can actually apply them to something right here, right now. Something I have lots of interest in. For example, struggling with hands on a piece? Look up some refs or tutorials on the specific way I want to draw the hand. Want to paint something a certain way? Let's see what others have done and apply it now. It's been incredibly relieving and has made art feel like a hobby again, and not homework. I also do 3D modeling, and realized that over my time doing it I improved precisely in this way; if I work on something I actually want to do, the problems and learning process will feel easier to tackle. Great video and artwork!

    • @AnimationGuy07
      @AnimationGuy07 7 месяцев назад

      Bro
      I literally hanging in this mindset right now.
      Thank god i found this video and your comment❤

  • @teal2111
    @teal2111 Год назад +8

    Man, you made me realize that's what I've been doing for the past months and I've been putting out projects that I actually like.. while it's not exactly like the image in my head, but it's my best attempt to get to the image as close as possible and so far.. in those moments I didn't get this feeling of it being to repetitive or boring. Those projects drove me to keep learning and finding where I can improve on.

  • @threshasketch
    @threshasketch Год назад +7

    Love everything you're saying here. I think this is why drawing fanart got my art to evolve when practicing randomly did not. I was invested in learning to draw the characters I loved well, so I worked hard to improve at it. Technically working on any art is practice, and when you're working on something with some meaning to you, it's practicing in a way you feel is worth the effort. Also, I found the secret stallion!

  • @NeIIy
    @NeIIy Год назад +6

    This really resonated with me. I stopped drawing a few years ago, I just got burnt out. Later I realized it was this same thing youre talking about here - practicing and never "performing". While I did improve lots during the practicing, I just lost everything that made me want to draw. I have been wanting to get back to drawing for a while now and your video reminded me what I've figured out. The thought of seriously drawing small projects I have interest in already makes me want to draw
    P. S. Welcome back Sycra, your videos helped me lots in the past!

  • @wattothegreedytoydarian9783
    @wattothegreedytoydarian9783 Год назад +6

    THE RETURN OF THE KING

  • @joshuablake5610
    @joshuablake5610 Год назад +12

    I graduated in 2019 and I've been watching your videos since middle school. I love your tutorials, you're a huge part of my journey as an artist

  • @teomanlc1584
    @teomanlc1584 Год назад +1

    Yes!! You are so right. It is so easy to fall into the trap of essentially gatekeeping ourselves because we think "we're not good enough yet".

  • @JoonJuby
    @JoonJuby Год назад +4

    Yep agree, as someone without a guide or art education. The most effective way to do what you want to do, is to just do what it is that you want to do, to identify problems and then finding a solution for those problems. This is where you are able to create questions tailored to you instead of a generic question that will net you a generic answer and that wont really solve your problem when you do get the opportunity to ask.
    Find the problem > Look at textbook answer > Look at other artist work and look at there answer > Create your own answer

  • @dittoditto2042
    @dittoditto2042 Год назад +4

    This video changed my perspective on my own art. I’ve been caught in a cycle of wanting to draw, then getting discouraged by not having the technical skill and practicing to try to improve, only to burnout and make the practice pointless by not remembering any of it. But, this video reminded me of what I started art for: not to practice, or impress others, but just for fun. I think I lost that after a while, but this has given me a fresh view of things. I think I speak for all of the people who’ve followed you over the years when I say you are truly one of the best Secret Stallions out there. Thanks for all the work you’ve put in to help others, and I hope you’re doing okay.

  • @lisadikaprio
    @lisadikaprio Год назад +10

    sycra coming out from his hybernation and starts spitting straight up facts 👍 good day to witness. also that intro hits with such nostalgia!

  • @426F6F
    @426F6F Год назад +1

    Your point makes a lot of sense. Instead of just spending a bulk period of time practicing certain aspects, if you gather tips from resources along the way as your creating your own projects you will inevitably be putting those pieces of advice into practice in a much more engaging, productive way, rather than burning yourself out by just doing things that you aren't very interested in. I think practice is important, but practice shouldn't be the main focus of building upon your skill. Thanks for sharing man, I had this in the back of my mind for some time now but this has made me think of it in a new light and I appreciate your honest opinion on the topic.

  • @ywlumaris
    @ywlumaris Год назад +15

    Hey, hope things are going well. Thank you for this video. I actually...didn't know I needed something like this. It makes so much more sense that you need to have a project you're obsessed over to actually hit the milestones (depending how you learn.) I've been making leaps since having more direction in my work. And lately been weighing doing a comic, but a short one for practice, because I'm worried about my anatomy and storytelling visually skills - but this video's making me rethink it. Thank you, hope to see work from you soon!

    • @hell0mega
      @hell0mega Год назад +3

      I'm also really glad he used the comic analogy because I've been putting off my idea for almost a decade, mostly because i didn't think i was ready or able. but just like you I'm reconsidering that... maybe i should just go for it, and I'll improve overtime, just by doing it. i don't think I'll ever be in a place where i think I'm ready so might as well start now!

  • @mradan2093
    @mradan2093 Год назад +1

    I only draw and paint occasionally, but I find your videos apply to my main passion: creative writing. There's writing practice that's suggested in many workshops where you get a prompt and write for 20 minutes or so. It can be helpful in some ways, like establishing a daily writing habit or focusing on description. But mainly what you get out of it is a lot of flash fiction. If you want to write a novel, you should start writing a novel. There are elements to a novel that you can't learn from writing practice, so many different moving parts, and how they work together is part of learning how to write novels.
    I feel like the same is true of different types of art. You might practice shading and then later practice composition, but it's not until you work on something where you care about the finished project that you really think about how shading and composition interact.
    There's also the feeling of accomplishment that comes from finishing something you care about. The double-edged sword of practice is that it doesn't feel real. This can be comforting when you're afraid of your imperfections and don't want your work to count towards anything. But it also can lead to discouragement because you practice and practice and at the end of it all, you have no finished project to show for it.

  • @hodstrat3722
    @hodstrat3722 Год назад +10

    Very interesting video! Anatomy has been a big struggle since I started drawing because not a single advice that many artists mentions on a day to day basis is compelling enough to stick with me, or give me a lot of motivation to break through my struggle, until I saw a popular artist on twitter that explained their reasoning and their process on how they came to learn anatomy. Then I started to gain an interest of this fundamental and learned with personal drawings on the way. It's with this kind of instinct that I started to see the "power of personal interest" like you said and dangerously rejected some art advices that didn't stick to me. Although if I feel sometimes trapped, I feel like its still necessary to bite the bullet in some occasion and practice a little while before ditching the mindset.
    Nice to see you back, and happy new year :)

    • @CH-or4fe
      @CH-or4fe Год назад

      any chance you still have the link to that post? I've been trying to learn anatomy for a very long time but it's never stuck.

  • @derpatzer6874
    @derpatzer6874 Год назад +2

    So I think you definitly got a point. "Practice what you wanna practice" is the idea I get here. But I gotta say that, I believe building up the fundamental stuff as a beginner and from there thinking about: what comes next or what do I wanna focus on ( maybe hands for example). As an artist I learned that you never are fully aware of all techniques and tricks, that are in the art world. But just practicing because someone told me to would be boring for me so with this point youre right

  • @hell0mega
    @hell0mega Год назад +7

    i realized this recently. i was in an art rut for months, probably longer, hating everything i drew and knowing that, if i came across art that looked like mine in the wild, i would not like it. and i was tired of feeling that way. i wanted to be excited about what i was creating, but i kept holding onto the "learn the rules before you break them" idea. problem is, i hated learning the rules. i have a REALLY hard time simplifying from realism so all my stuff was too realistic, too stiff, too technical. only recently did i decide to say fuck it and find styles i liked and copied stuff. im still working on it but im making art i like again because im focusing on making stuff i WANT in the way that i want, practice be damned.
    what you said about people learning the rules made their art boring and standard really resonated with me because that is EXACTLY what happened to me. except it didnt even look decent, because i hated it so much that my rendering was less than half assed lmao. i cant wait to further develop this new exaggerated cartoony style and get life and passion back into my art!
    also, secret stallion and whatnot lol. i don't think you're dumb at all ❤️

  • @Levongrova
    @Levongrova 10 месяцев назад +2

    I love this video and all your points you mentioned. When I got back into drawing after not doing it since childhood, I thought I HAD to draw people and I HAD to do those boring art fundamental practices, or else I would never improve nor do it right. For years this mindset killed my desire to create anything. I do not want to draw boxes, I do not want to spend hours on end doing the fundamentals. I have tried and it only made me stop art all together.
    I only came to the realization recently that all I want to do is draw animals and nature. I want to work on my own ideas and projects for various paintings and finished pieces. I enjoy the process of working on an art piece or something that the goal is to finish, much much more than just "okay, I will now sketch a bunch of boxes in perspective till I understand everything. Once I know how to do that, then I am allowed to do my stuff", like what? Sketching and practicing that way is not wrong, but different things work for different people. I learn better by focusing on doing finished pieces of what I love to draw, and "practice" stuff whilst I work on a specific thing, just as you mentioned in your video. If I do not know how to draw a scared looking horse, I will find various references on how the expression of a fearful horse looks like and learn through that way by drawing it better than what my first attempt was.

  • @moonlaiy4280
    @moonlaiy4280 Год назад +5

    dude you're changing lives. really inspiring and comes with perfect timing. thank you sycra !

  • @DG-LG
    @DG-LG Год назад +8

    Awesome to see you posting Mr Stallion. I had been trapped in that practice cycle for years, and Ive come to be thankful, Im kinda glad I went through it and now im out the other side. Just making things, experimenting, just doing the next thing :3

  • @aaRept
    @aaRept Год назад +3

    That's such a valuable advice! Like so many in the comments I was stuck in the "practice to get good before you start drawing what you want to draw". It made me question my interest in making art. Your advice made me think of the time when I was a child and I would draw whatever I felt like drawing. Yeah it looks bad now, but back then I was so proud of it. I haven't had that feeling in a while now.
    I'm happy to see a new video of yours! I hope you're doing well!

  • @niftyskates85
    @niftyskates85 Год назад +1

    ya i realized this after doing inktober seeing what I'm capable of which was more than I thought and learned so much and also what I should focus on. I reflected on myself procrastinating by just doing lifeless anatomy over and over. Doing an illustration for inktober and posting it online with that slight peer pressure made me actually want to try every stroke and line I made.
    I was engaged and hyper focused. I'd say drawing boxes and im doing drawabox now has helped as my squares were out of portion yet can draw detailed anatomy figures without reference. It's all in realizing what works and what you need but to also keep creating masterpieces in quantity over quality I tell myself meaning to try all I can but also realize I need to make a thousand crappy illustrations before I get my momentum and craft down

  • @slumber.prince937
    @slumber.prince937 Год назад +5

    Life long practitioner of art here. It doesn't help when people have told me my concepts don't seem fleshed up or "complete", it changes your relationship with your art and finalized pieces. It's a god of the gaps you keep changing the tail of solving as you say. There is a desire that gets snuffed out by practice. There is almost no room for artists to build up on their skills organically without being buried by the expected skill sets. It's a strange catch 22. As a self taught artist I'll be far away from those things too. I have made it a point lately to put out work whether it's by other standards. Now I just transitioned to full-time work in art and there is an expectation of what people want out of paid work, not an issue, but for personal work why should we be toiling away! Why should artists have the same discipline when they want to create and idea. There's no saying we can't go back to it. I'm really taking what you're saying here to heart, thanks as always for the valuable video

  • @voltsm_
    @voltsm_ Год назад +2

    I always beat myself up for not practising enough, because I don't have patience for that, I want to get my hands dirt I want to actually make stuff! Sometimes it's good to humble myself with some anatomy lessons, some gestures drawings, specially when I'm with an art block, but most of the time I want to make stuff. It helps I usually underestimate the difficult of anything really, I'm always like "meh I'll do it, it won't be that hard (it is)". Recently I've been doing game dev after yeaaaars of trying to follow some easy tutorials, but I finally went and said "I'm done, I'm going to make the game I dream of and fuck around and find out" and yes it's hard. yes I remade a bunch of stuff because it was garbage since I made it without knowing better. But I learned sooooo much

  • @marvin_vdd
    @marvin_vdd Год назад +10

    Hello Sycra! i really love your videos. I Hope you don't stop sharing your knowledge

  • @priscilavazquez3422
    @priscilavazquez3422 Год назад +5

    Honestly, is so good to see you back Sycra, your channel has been a treasure to me since i found it 5 years ago, i think i have a lot to learn still, but i ve learned a lot from you, specially from the videos in which you explain how to learn and how to practice. I found the secret stallion!

  • @Elia__M
    @Elia__M Год назад +3

    I watched your channel many years ago, when I wanted to become an artist. Now I’ve been working as a programmer for six years, and still love your videos. Thank you! Hope you’re good

  • @Maxax16
    @Maxax16 Год назад +5

    You're back! Big inspiration when it comes to drawing, my man, thanks for everything you do and have done.

  • @NovardNoodle
    @NovardNoodle Год назад +3

    Listening to a new video from you is like a huge breath of fresh air.
    Welcome back!
    And the topic definitely resonates with me as a person you struggles to motivate themselves due to perfectionism.

  • @jamesthomas1123
    @jamesthomas1123 Год назад +1

    Doing a project IS a type of practice; it’s practice with a purpose that leaves you with a finished product when it’s complete. Good advice.

  • @nyarktolegna4889
    @nyarktolegna4889 Год назад +3

    I agree so much with the "have a project" advice. Since I developed a love for writing stories and then had the idea to create a comic, I draw so much more, with no frustration anymore, and im improving so fast...

  • @dzed5579
    @dzed5579 Год назад +2

    This is an eye opening video. I got burned out with art after I graduated from college and have taken a break from it for a couple years to get myself together. I'm ready to start getting back into it because I've discovered it is something I love to do. But, I didn't enjoy the process nor results of "practice" after going through the same process like you. So thank you. You have cleared my head and given me direction now.

  • @DotJus
    @DotJus Год назад +2

    I had no trouble learning 3D because I just went from project to project, problem to problem. Then with drawing I immediately fell into “the practice trap”. After 1 year of about 1 hour a day following courses I haven’t really made any progress. I see now I need to just do what I did with 3D! Thank you!

  • @curtdc8779
    @curtdc8779 Год назад +3

    Wow. This is literally exactly what I've been struggling with. Wanting to make a comic but feeling like I need to practice first. But I had a hunch I should be doing what you're saying. You making this video totally validates that hunch.
    Thanks Sycra!
    🙏🙏🙏

  • @Bangy
    @Bangy Год назад +5

    Glad to see that you're back chief.
    You've been one of my main motivations to draw in recent years.

  • @Xerophun
    @Xerophun Год назад +1

    I agree with the project-based approach. It's how I've learned pretty much everything. A concrete goal is better than checking off from a course list.
    I also like the concepts of construction and never would have pieced together using basic 3d shapes without something like Draw A Box.
    Right tool for the right job.

  • @Moejoejin
    @Moejoejin Год назад +2

    This advice really clicks with me. Until very recently I had been stressing myself for years with dull robotic practice with the hopes of getting "good" enough one day to do what I like. I started to notice that I was improving more when I had been "learning on the job" working on things that I was more interested in or having fun with. I wish I had realized this sooner haha

  • @microgrom1736
    @microgrom1736 Год назад +1

    im so happy you're back your videos have helped me so much

  • @stratovolcano7813
    @stratovolcano7813 Год назад +4

    Honestly as someone who enjoys practice I still really enjoyed this video bc it made me think about being selective with where I put my passion. While I like doing studies I still find myself just doing exercises for the sake of taking art seriously. Thanks for the video, it’s good to see you again

  • @kenapiece6212
    @kenapiece6212 Год назад +1

    GODDDD THIS IS SO REAL TO ME especially as a guy with adhd! It took me soooo long to realize that my motivation, inspiration and productivity runs almost entirely on my personal interest, and while practicing fundamentals is personally a good grounding thing for me when I'm reaching a creative low, in my HIGHS, I rly try to just do and make the stuff I'm interested in!

  • @blerygriltt206
    @blerygriltt206 Год назад +6

    This matches my experience and I agree, I had kinda independently come to this conclusion... with one possible exception. Sometimes when I start my day and launch straight into the project proper, I get a bit overwhelmed and I will have to draw a bunch of cubes in perspective etc until I get "warmed up", to ease into the actual drawing. But in general I wish I had discovered the value of projects and having an intense interest in the subject matter sooner (obvious in hindsight).

    • @Sycra
      @Sycra  Год назад +1

      Ah, yeah, I sometimes draw ellipses and things to warm up, so I can relate. It feels different from 'practice' though, even though I mean, I guess whenever you put pencil to paper you're 'practicing' but I get what you mean. :)

  • @xiaa
    @xiaa Год назад +2

    Oh! I was rewatching your sycrastreams the other day, missing your videos, and worried where you might have gone or if you're doing ok. I'm glad to see this video, and I agree with you so much on this too. I was always told to draw realism to help my anime drawings, and so I did. And it did help a little bit, but I noticed I had so much more fun and improved so much more when I made stupid fanart comics of my favorite series.
    I got a lot of practice drawing hands, backgrounds, different poses, learning to make compositions etc. It also helped me pay more attention when I read comics to see what type of techniques artists use to portray movements like punches or walking etc. It also gave me the courage to try blender to help me with drawing backgrounds and compositing backgrounds, which in turn is helping me with light / shadow because of the 3d engine and lighting.
    Thank you for making so many of your videos sycra, they taught me so much and I like to rewatch them from time to time to keep me company while I draw as well.

  • @cory99998
    @cory99998 Год назад +16

    I feel like this is easy to say when you've abstracted away most of the difficulty. People who grow up drawing habitually probably don't need to work on practices much, but if you're getting into it later in life it can help immensely to put time into perspective and anatomy. A little bit goes a long way.

    • @flaviayasin
      @flaviayasin Год назад +17

      As someone who did start drawing later in life… I can say that’s not been my experience. I did not draw habitually at all in the beginning, and, even nowadays, I will only choose to ‘practice’ drawing a pose, or learn about a piece of anatomy, if I’m aware of its purpose. I’ll first decide on what the problem is, and then, any ‘practice’ drawings become part of finding a solution. One of the most painful art experiences I’ve had was doing a plain study of a pair of shoes… after all the trouble, I can’t say I retained much from it, really. If you’re drawing studies for an image you have in mind, or thumbnailing for a comic, you’re engaging your sense of purpose, which will help you a lot in retaining the information you’re accumulating. There’s a big temptation to go for a sequence of preset goals, where you can more easily get the dopamine fix… but, like with other addictions, it runs the risk of keeping you in an endless cycle of ‘practice’, away from your initial goal.

    • @cory99998
      @cory99998 Год назад +2

      @@flaviayasin Yeah that's my approach as well, but with a bigger budget for practice. Part of what I focus on is practicing ideas in a way that's still creative and interesting which lets me develop creative muscles and foundational muscles at the same time.
      For example I really want to be good at heads and faces to make my characters more appealing for myself to enjoy, so I've spent most drawing time over the last two months on heads / faces. It stays fun for me because I try to make every head unique and interesting in some way. Always trying new things.
      Now when I go back to my more creative work, I have this awesome new tool to leverage.

    • @happy_crustacean7104
      @happy_crustacean7104 2 месяца назад

      @@cory99998 This is it. This is why I study the fundamentals because you gain new tools from it. You can also have the ability to scale from the basics into different regions such as anime

    • @cory99998
      @cory99998 2 месяца назад

      @@happy_crustacean7104 just remember to not spend too long there, make sure to create

  • @419chris419
    @419chris419 Год назад +1

    This is like a total contrast to your iterative drawing video. Both were helpful!

  • @MMOStein
    @MMOStein Год назад +13

    There are two major breakthroughs you will experience as an artist.
    1) Your strokes with the pen become swift and confident (The muscle breakthrough).
    2) You *Truly* start seeing/constructing 3D forms *with basic 2D shapes* (The Mental breakthrough).
    The second breakthrough being especially powerful. For me, the first one happened about 7ish months into my journey. The second happened around 2-3 years into my journey (and was after a long period of burnout). Both of these are points where my skill and confidence improved massively, seemingly overnight. It's when lot a concepts that confused me suddenly "clicked".
    Once you've reached these breakthroughs, you've basically fully matured your "artist eye" on a subconscious level. That's when you start drawing shit without even thinking about it. Even if it's something you never drew before, you just kinda instinctually know how to break it down and "deal with it".
    I do think it is important for absolute beginners to make an effort to practice the basics in their first year (discovering the "science" behind drawing for the first time should be very interesting for beginners). I see it like learning the Alphabet before learning how to read. However, people tend to standardize everything into routines that may become arbitrary with time. After a certain point, you need to stop drawing Loomis heads, and start drawing Naruto's head. Draw more the thing you WANT to be good at.

  • @olitaw45
    @olitaw45 Год назад +1

    glad you back...you're definitely one of my favorite artists

  • @cynxmanga
    @cynxmanga Год назад +3

    I totally agree with the comic example, I started to write and draw my own comic series and it finally feels like learning things has actual PURPOSE, the knowledge and skills are needed bc of this project that I want to make as good as possible. I was never really this kind of person who would strictly follow tutorials but I was catching myself sometimes on focusing too much on doing some drawing exercises just bc I thought I had to do them, like a lesson in school, not bc I was genuinely interested in learning this specific thing and needing to use it for smth very important to me.

  • @tarnsmith8573
    @tarnsmith8573 Год назад +1

    Ah I've missed you and your outlook so much! This is a concept I've been talking to people about for years and it's always taken negatively when yes, skill needs to be developed but, more importantly, passion for the subject should be explored. Thank you for this :)

  • @kupotenshi
    @kupotenshi Год назад +3

    Sycra you're always spitting 100% facts. This is why webcomic artists naturally get better at everything from anatomy, to perspective, to coloring, they are working on their passion project and want to make it good. The people working on their own projects are Also practicing, but their practice is going into creation, not into a glorified homework assignment. Btw I found the secret stallion!

  • @KhalilSiddeeq
    @KhalilSiddeeq Год назад +1

    Literally I'm just thankful you're alive

  • @NekoEnforcer
    @NekoEnforcer Год назад +13

    The only thing I really wanted to do was make a comic and a story, I wasn't interested in just making pieces of art, and I've created and recreated redesigned characters and redrew pages over time and it made me improve as an artist because I always felt like I was moving towards something even though I was so far from a finished product. It gave me motivation to draw because these are my characters and they mean something more than just random sketches, I even learned anatomy and perspective like this and so many things. You practice by doing something you love and it won't feel like practice. Also Sycra glad you are back you are the only art youtuber I could relate to, and wow that topic of interest is spot on I've always shared that exact view. Btw in my opinion the art scene on RUclips is terrible at the moment there are some decent RUclipsrs but most of them are trying to fit a certain mold and everyone is copying each other, the thing I keep seeing right now are these fake personas that try to keep you interested by constantly making jokes and being whacky and it's actually exhausting to watch a couple seconds of their videos it's not even genuine most of the time. Anyway I'm glad you are making videos again.

    • @rzeka
      @rzeka Год назад +1

      In my mind there's a big difference between art youtubers who want to help their audience and art youtubers who just want views. Sycra is a wonderful example of someone who really wants to help his audience.

    • @Sycra
      @Sycra  Год назад +2

      @@rzeka That's really kind of you to say so. I've felt lost for years now because I feel like there are better people offering better presented information than I do... I never liked slick presentation, because it felt like someone was trying to sell me something, and I couldn't figure out what it was (sometimes I'd find out when the soft sell became hard). But I didn't know if I was the only one who felt this way, and if really the video making should be left to those who can use the fancy editing, and who have worked for studios and who have the skills that show they're really at the top. I'm grateful to you, and all the others, who have shown me that there is something (even if I'm not sure what) that I can provide that others may not be providing, and so I should keep producing instead of feeling like there's no place for me anymore. Thank you!

    • @NekoEnforcer
      @NekoEnforcer Год назад +1

      @@Sycra I was actually thinking during your absence that you might have felt that way, I was also thinking that maybe you felt you said all you could or you thought people were doing it better but that's not the case! Sycra I don't know about other people but I've learnt a lot from your videos for some reason the way you present information clicks in my head I'm not sure why and it's hard to explain. You definitely still have a place in RUclips, people that make these flashy and nicely edited videos are sometimes using it to mask the fact that they don't really have much to say it's just cool art and maybe a short process video, there isn't much to it. But you treat videos differently and it's a lot more phycological too which I always appreciate because drawing is not just drawing it's very mental, I've been a fan for a long time and I've watched every video and podcast so I'm excited to see new content. Also I don't really like the people that work in studios I respect them but to me it feels like they are looking down on me and they are trying to tell me factual information and tell me "this is how I got to work with Disney" "this is how you do it!" And people flock to them because they think they hold the big answers but it's not true and it doesn't make them more qualified than you. Anyway please keep going Sycra!

  • @yavnrh
    @yavnrh Год назад +1

    This video is pure gold. I got this advice before, but could never put it into practice due to various mental blocks. I was thinking: "I know I'm not good enough to get a result I would be satisfied with", or even weirder: "Even if I pull off something good, it will be disingenuous, it won't reflect my real ability". It's so helpful to hear this again from a veteran artist.
    I'm happy this popped up in my recommended, no doubt a secret stallion of good fortune sent me here. I need to check out your older videos.

  • @seraaron
    @seraaron Год назад +3

    I'm one on those artists that only really works on art when I have inspiration, and never did much practise for the sake of practise, but my art has improved at roughly the same rate despite not actually making that much art over the last few years. I think I draw in my head a lot, which probably helps, but it also means I have very little to show for myself when I finally actually draw again and suddenly make massive leaps and bounds in improvement. It does make me wonder how much more I would improve if I could just draw every day like some artists claim to

  • @matthewporter7871
    @matthewporter7871 Год назад +1

    honestly, I really agree. Tbf I've only been drawing a couple of weeks, but at least for me in most things I do, getting better can only keep me interested so long. Eventually, there has to be an intrinsic motivation to get the thing done, especially when it's something that requires a lot of thought and time like drawing. I can't bring myself to practice construction and loads of anatomy and making people out of boxes, but I can bring myself to imagine a person or scene and try to bring it to life. That's why I started anyways, because I want to create the things I can't see in my head. Might not be the fastest way to improve, but it sure is the most enjoyable.

  • @jawsmcmurphy2760
    @jawsmcmurphy2760 Год назад +5

    I found the secret stallion!

  • @hanareader
    @hanareader Год назад +1

    When I'm down I always remember this quote from Scott Robertson's How to Render book.
    "Students who master fundamentals become empowered by their ability to communicate their design ideas more clearly." (pg. 100)

  • @plaguedfrost1753
    @plaguedfrost1753 Год назад +6

    I don’t comment much but…
    Thank you Sycra!
    You’re one of the most beautiful speakers I’ve heard!
    You’re thoughts on art and motivation and life are always impactful and mean a lot to me, I’m happy you’re made this video, but please make sure to take time for yourself, you matter!
    I really like practicing anatomy, I love the concepts and science behind biology and the form that comes with learning art… but I do think it has slowed down my drive.
    You’re awesome Sycra! I found the secret stallion ;)
    (Also link your webcomic in the comments I think a lot more people come here then they do anywhere else…

  • @dsamurai4725
    @dsamurai4725 Год назад +1

    Thanks you for this video, I was distracting myself with tons of useless tutorials, because I don't need those specific solutions. Instead you should focus on what interests you the most to learn the most and get even faster. Afterwards you will identify your mistakes and want to have a solution. It's not one test where you fail or not, but an iterative process where you want to fail as often as possible in a way that wants you to continue

  • @CaptainFishEye
    @CaptainFishEye Год назад +4

    as someone who works similar to you i love using the term practice, but in reality im actually tricking myself to explore more. its weird but my art improves alot when its just me exploring shiz, not sure if thats practice itself bit i treat practice as playtime. the rest of what i draw for is work related anyways

  • @TheOpytimusEX
    @TheOpytimusEX Год назад +2

    I really like these videos where you just talk and expand upon a particular subject. You are always very insightful and it helps me think about things differently, thank you.

  • @valimtheredviper9362
    @valimtheredviper9362 Год назад

    I started drawing last year and after some personal works, I identified my difficulties (anatomy, perspective, proportion). I watched a ton of tutorial on the net. Some gave me valuable advice that significantly contributed to my progress, but most were too extensive, or too complex and I quickly forgot them.
    Your videos have always been a step above the others (Personnal opinion). In comparison, you weren't the most "accessible" for a beginner... And yet! Your advice, your practice, and your mentality have been the most powerful engines for me in the drawings. I adhere to your thinking, because after dozens of pages of exercises, it is in the works that are close to my heart that I progress best, undoubtedly.

  • @AymanAntri7
    @AymanAntri7 Год назад +4

    I disagree. It does sound like a cope honestly, it makes no sense to me how the hell just focusing on your personal projects will actually make you a better artist. As far as I am concerned, you need to practice basics for a while before you even move on to higher concepts. I don’t know I may be wrong but it does not seem like a good use of your time to just focus on creating your project when you don’t have the enough experience and skills to actually get the lost out of crafting whatever personal projecting you have in mind.

    • @ItzJuanG
      @ItzJuanG Год назад +1

      See what fundamentals I need to make my project > Spend time getting those fundamentals > Start my project
      Start my project > See that I lack fundamentals > Spend time getting those fundamentals
      There is no difference. Where's the cope here exactly?

  • @vampire_5785
    @vampire_5785 Год назад

    This video was extremely eye opening for me, never has a video like this resonated with me so hard. I've been banging my head against the walls of everything I want to be good at, feeling like I must not be cut out for this because the methods I've been using haven't produced any real results, but implementing this I'm confident I could get results. It's so simple but the brain is quick to say it's not ready for whatever task and that task never gets done. This is a really practical way of applying the student mindset and I love it, thanks for sharing.
    All I know is that I know nothing

  • @j_m90
    @j_m90 Год назад +3

    Classic Sycra rambling, countering his own statements and arguments in different parts of the videos. He never even really defines what he means by "practice" nor does he seem to have an understanding of the realm that it can encompass.
    There's nothing wrong with practice, studying technique, or any of that. You can easily do sketch, piece, copy, or project-based practice that entails different focuses. You can also study techniques in various ways. Finding various, interest based ways to learn, and of course learning how you learn best, is key. Sounds to me like Sycra still has his experiences with shitty teacher's tainting his viewpoint and lack of understand of a lot of things in the art field.
    If it helps people that had similar experiences, that's good I guess. But still a lot of poor information and lack of direction in his videos.

    • @realce666
      @realce666 Год назад

      Classic autist comment

  • @elliot4471
    @elliot4471 Год назад +2

    A New Years treat! Welcome back. I found the secret stallion 😊

  • @zestyshark1
    @zestyshark1 Год назад

    Amen brother! 👏👏👏Learning something with a purpose is exactly how we learn most effectively.

  • @jmitchell3431
    @jmitchell3431 Год назад

    thank you for speaking your mind, because these thoughts have paralyzed me for so long. don’t get me wrong i’m actually quite passionate about studying, but my passion for creating and bringing life on to the page just slipped away. it’s so true about just doing the things you enjoy regardless if they’re “good” or not. it’s funny but i’ve recently gotten super into one piece and it’s sparked such a joy of creation back into me. drawing things because you love them is a much more powerful force than drawing them because they need to look good. i’ve been thinking about this idea quite a lot and this video really solidifies it for me. who cares about how your art doesn’t fit into a certain standard of what “good” is. just create and learn from that:) thank you so much

  • @SavMortem
    @SavMortem Год назад +2

    This resonates with me and how I've been feeling lately so much. I got back into art in the last year and realized how passionate I was about it and just started making things. Studying what I wanted to get better at and trying to improve with each piece and growing as I went and I've grown.
    I still have a lot to learn for sure! But I kept feeling like I was learning wrong because I'm not cranking out tons of sketches or practicing a lot of simple forms. It's not that I never have or do but compared to how people say I should learn I felt way behind. But every time I try to do that I lose my passion for it and I don't enjoy it or get anywhere anyway.
    I don't know what's "better" and like you are saying I think that's subjective. It doesn't work for me to do it in the stereotypical way and I'd rather be creating and learn that way than feel stuck because I don't feel the drive for it.
    Really needed to hear this right now, thank you!

  • @efiowe
    @efiowe Год назад +1

    this is literally what i needed to hear! i cant thank you enough for this video!!

  • @anthonymejia6703
    @anthonymejia6703 Год назад

    I agree with this because as soon as I switched the thinking to creating a project that I am interested in then I get my drive with full sails open. I care about how every little detail that is laid out and how I want it to be told each word to word, each value to value, each note to note. It becomes something very special way more than any practice I do in any session. Thanks for this video, Sycra, it motivates me further and heightens more of my passions. Create your vision!