Personally when I look back at my art I never cringe. My first reaction is never ugh that’s so bad, but memories from when I made it. And I guess those are precious to me those little stories or moments in time. The only time I ever cringe at my art is when I was merely trying to make something that looked cool by other peoples standards. Well those are my thoughts on the matter lol. Thanks for the video Adam!
I relate to this so much! Every artwork carry a little bit of the artist's soul. I allways felt so frustrated that people would not get interested in my pieces, or they would understand something else I was thinking, but then I realized: art is so subjetctive that it works as a mirror of feelings. People would understand what they're feeling, as a reflex (that's why we love to hear sad music when we are sad). That thought made me change from black to white the way I see my own artwork. For me, my art is memory, a way to remember what I was thinking, feeling, why stuff happened, and why am I here :)
I sometimes have that. I know it looks not good but I remember how my creative I was in the moment and the feeling that went into it. It tells its own story and I feel really proud of it. They’re usually doodles that look crappier than my studies, but I end up cringing at my studies. It’s really weird.
When I first started this video I thought: “this I going to make me feel bad.” I’m an adult and only started taking art seriously about a year ago now. I’m not a young adult, nor middle aged, but old enough to regret not taking art more seriously when I was younger and looking at people my age who are working for Disney. But the more I listened, the more I realized how it does apply. When I was younger, a high schooler, things were out of my control where I couldn’t take art in school, and at the time, I couldn’t afford technology to do digital art. My circumstances were so different than many people in my age group who took art from junior to high school, who were able to get decent tablets and art programs. In the same sense, i have to look at things differently. Even in the past year I have improved so much it’s a bit confounding. I can’t compare myself to others my age who are more skilled; they’ve still had a decade and more to improve. So I guess let me be a lesson for adults who want to try. There’s no wrong time. There’s no lost time. There’s only the time we still have. I can’t compare myself to others because our starting points are different. In a way, artists my age are still “ten years older” than I am. Just in a different way
There’s only the time we still have Beautifully said. Completely agree with you. I know people who won't begin to draw because they never did enough or at all when they were younger. I think they're punishing themselves, in a way.
The journey is the *only* thing that matters because no matter what milestone you hit, it's only going to bring you satisfaction for a super short amount of time. Enjoy the journey because it's really all there is imo.
So I was proud of myself for making it through 19 minutes and some without crying and then came the waterworks. Celebrating our own successes and even just being kind to ourselves can totally accelerate our growth! Instead of pushing ourselves down every time something doesn't work out. All that comparing and critical inner voice, ugh.
I agree that children's/amateur art has such incredible creativity and free thinking, and honestly I'm envious! I focus so much on improving form and color, and while it's good to practice and improve, it has a way of dimming the heart's expression if focused on too much. I look back to my crappy drawings, and remember them for the idea I had behind them. The crazy, wild idea that still sparks excitement decades later. And I miss them. I don't know yet if I would trade artistic skill with boundless expression, but I'm sure I would in the future. So glad your channel is back! I hope everything's safe!
I went from feeling like I HAD to do landscapes because I use watercolors to being all “screw it, I’m doing SWTOR character portraits and cute mushrooms with eyes”.
@@Alexden96Channel I am! I have a whole series of little mushroom guys, and have done four SWTOR character commissions! I have to ship the paintings out this week!
Artistic growth feels incredibly slow for me, but I'm also starting to appreciate every step of this long life journey. Because, in the end, NOW is the most important moment in our lives. Even if some days suck, even when life just loves throwing rocks at you, sometimes it's a relief realizing that every day you improve, just a little step at a time. x)
Wise words like always Adam ! Michelangelo start art seriously at 14 years old. He works ass off during more than 10 years and be discovered for his first masterpiece at around 25. When someone compliments their works, he can't take it and refuse it. "I'm worked to hard for get this level...". Work hard is good but don't overwhelmed and lose your passion, you will probably regret it...
Ive been having a really rough time, artistically and with life, but this vid actually made me feel a bit better about both. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your art.
Hey man here to remind you that it will get better and time always heals. If you wanna talk with someone most people at RUclips comments won't have any problem listening, including myself.
I noticed that doing things for others not only makes me feel miserable, but also undermines my capabilities, I don't even have fun doing what I'm doing if I think about others, not only in art but even in reading, studying and other facets of life.
Holy shit. It's exactly like you said. I've always been attached to my drawings, when I was younger, it was because I was arrogant and thought they looked awesome. Then social media became a thing and I started to realize I couldn't do 10% of the stuff I saw online. That's when I stopped drawing. I just felt like I was a delusional kid. After that art completely left my life. And it only came back because I took a hard look at where I was going and realized it wasn't a direction I really wanted to go. So I did something art adjacent, but didn't go full on illustration focused. I'm still not brave enough to quit my job and have the same confidence I had in my art when I was younger. Today I look at my old sketches, from 10, 15 years ago and I think they may be technically terrible, but oh boy, the idea is so good. It was full on experimentation, I didn't care about "finding my style", I just wanted to draw something cool. I came to the conclusion that it's not that every single one of them was a brilliant piece of art, but because I was just creating stuff all the time, some of them ended up would inevitably end up being really good. So now I'm trying to just create stuff and take out the pressure of external stuff that didn't have anything to do with me in the first place.
This video really hit me Home, I think as artists we always compare ourselves as if it’s an Olympic game, trying to be the number one and reaching that position as fast as possible. But ironically we end up torturing ourselves to reach that position.
I had to do a lot of mindset exercises to recognize my own growth. To get over obsessing over perfectionism, I had to force myself to do vent art where I did a bunch of sketches quickly, with no erasing allowed. It sucked because I had such a fatalist mindset when it came to myself and everything I did, but honestly doing these self-imposed exercises broke something free in me eventually, where I could recognize an actual change and improvement. Now I catch myself believing in others who think their stuff isn't good, with all my heart, and wanting to encourage them. Because I know it can be done. I'm still not perfect... depression is a helluva buzz kill and motivation drainer... but I can see change, and that honestly makes a world of difference.
tears literally fell. i dont know man, maybe because im getting all the support from people ive never met or havent seen my art . its amazing but sad at the same time. thank you
ayo me, guess what, you've learned to embrace your mediocrity and is now living the best life, earning more than ever you could've imagined through art. the key stuff you learned was that, you're not the best, you'll never be the best, but most importantly, you DON'T HAVE TO BE.
So true, that's why i really love it when those great name artist share their old works. Sometimes when we admire somebody so much that we forgot they are also humans just like you and I. It's a gradual process
Welcome back and thank you THANK YOU!!! I started learning to draw this year and I am fuckin 38... and it's so difficult for a person of my age to look at all those kids who are so good at it, while I just started the journey they started at the age of 5. This week I actually gave up.... But here you came and told me not to... So, here I am. Ready to fight again! THANK YOU
I started at 3 and it didn't mean jack shit I can tell you that. Do it because it adds meaning to your life. Good or not I hope you'll see your drawings as small journeys that are worthwhile.
Take those steps, no matter how smal or how slow! I’m 27 and while I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, I only went and took what I learned in art class as a kid when my mom taught and used it to build on it. I feel like I just started drawing, but I’m using the boldness I had as a kid to try things
I was not aware of how much I needed to listen to this video. It's amazing to hear something about "You can't see you're growing because you can't see your life in timelapse", and it's such an important thing, but we can hardly realize such a thing on our own.
Well the second part about the childlike creativity resonates so well for me. I always feel like I'm "lost" in all of these technicals that I begin to forget what made me want to draw in the first place. It becomes less of a fun activity and more into a "chore". I feel like I have lost all that, those pure unadulterated imagination and creativity because I was just trying to improve or getting better... because I started comparing my works to everybody. Sometimes looking back at my old artworks it makes me rather sad because I have lost that part of me, the bonkiru that made those works without all the care in the world. While I have gotten far better I feel like I haven't even moved an inch.The improvements feels empty and it's what I'm trying to "regain" nowadays, those parts of me who has lost and missing. Thank you for the insightful video as always.
I left this video in my Chrome tab bar for quite a while. I left it for a night like this one. My eyes are shit and I struggle to learn anatomy to improve stories in images I draw. Today I re-drew a pair of arms at least 20 times each time feeling even more and more defeated. I felt that after 3 years of learning art, I learnt nothing. It's not like I was trying to do be accurate, I just wanted it to be good enough. I got sad, looked around at my walls filled with posters while listening to this video. And I smiled through tears. Because I am not giving up. And I hope I will never give up on my dreams. I am 23, RUclips won't probably exist in 10-20 years, but If it does and I will see my comment, I hope I will be in a place where I can smile about what I am just reading, a smile that I never gave up, regardless of the outcome. That 10-20 years from now, I'll keep on trying and failing. Thank you, I needed that ;)
I really struggled a lot with the question if I even get better or just waist my time. I'm "already" 26 now. It often times kept me away from drawing, because the thoughts of doing art might be pointless and just frustrating for me was just to overwhelming. at some point I just tried to redraw something I drew a year or so before and it helped me to see, that my drawing looked different and did change. It's calming to here, that to people, who are way better then I am, it feels like this too. Great video, thank you :)
Adam always made me tear up a bit... what a struggle, what a lovely, painful and beautiful struggle art is, I'm so thankful that you make this videos and share a bit of yourself, I don't know you personally but I love you man... what a blessing.
This video came in the right time after I completely broke down a few days ago about the progression of my art. Though I see improvements, I thought I'd be good enough by the time I graduated to be satisfied with myself, but I was far from that. Though this video may not solve my problems like magic, it still reassures me to continue to push on and maybe be less harder on myself. Graduating during the pandemic is both troubling and relieving, but I suppose we all have to make use of the situation. I have instead focused on personal health and exercising since I figured a healthy body is a healthy mind. All in all, thank you for the videos, and glad you got your account back.
Totally agree, I've been feeling this way about my art journey too! And because I felt like I wasn't making any progress I was feeling sad & distraught. But after taking sometime to learn about myself as a creative and taking my time too, I thank Yahuwah that I'm starting to feel better.
When you said "be the kid that shoots their hand up way up in the air and says 'me'" I just stopped in my tracks and listened. And I truly listened to the rest of the video and something about the message and the tone and the delivery just stuck to me. Thank you. I am the most brilliant artist in the world and I'm making the decision to not care how anyone else feels about that. I'm going to choose me.
I needed to hear this, I am at the moment where I am trying to build myself artistically and creatively, I am fashion designer and my family criticize me that I am not doing much with my life, when all I do is to invest in my career and skills, but my family doesn't see that and they think I don't wanna do anything with my life, it's soul crushing. Coz it makes me hopeless and not motivated. because all this criticism makes me feel like I am not moving fast enough, and they don't understand that it takes time and Sattle improvement and I have to learn so much to improve or implement things, they want this grand spectacles of evolution and I can't give them that. And it feels like my progression is slow, and they not patient, they always say I don't want to do anything, but everyday I wake up and put effort in this and it's all I do.but they don't see it happen coz it happens very slowly. Thank you for this video
I feel this way recently… And so I now enjoy the slow growth instead of forcing things like I used to. Time is an illusion, anyway. Might as well enJOY the process of growth. I’m just starting my art career in my 40’s. 👩🏼🎨😃🍀🇨🇦
I had that childlike mindset about my art up until age 21....i used to fill multiple sketchbooks. Now at 23,i feel like I'm not good enough at anything I do and I'm trying my best to not give up. My current goal, is to finish at least one illustration. I haven't been able to go past the sketch phase for a while but seeing all the colors on my current illustration, i feel a bit like myself again. The best advice I've heard, is to go into your drawing with no expectations.
40 year old here starting deep dive into art. For the first time I'm allowing myself to do this simple pleasure I've wanted since I was a child, but for "practical reasons" [read: adult discouragement] didn't even try... and these type of videos just wrap me in soft pillows as I plod along. Thanks for this 💛
The one thing that got in the way of my progression the most was being in a hurry to "get there". When I became a father I had to slow down and that's when things finally started falling into place. Thanks for the reminder to keep an even tempo - you're the best at pep talks and I really love what you're doing to help the art community ❤️
I always cry when I hear your videos-- not because it makes me feel bad, but because it's true and it resonates with me. Thank you Adam for being the tender and caring artist-father to us little artists.
I am in a point of my life where I am transitioning in all aspects of my life. But the most important to me, is picking up my art supplies again. I've spent too long of my life being berated by others that I have lost my way. Your words are an inspiration to me. Thank you.
It happened again! Every time I think about the topic you're talking about, I find it was something that I myself was thinking about recently. This is so important for artists to do. TO keep our art even if we don't like it at the time. I actually found that the more progress I made, the less I wanted to keep my art. And when looking through my older art, I actually found a few pieces that I remember feeling proud about at the time, and in a small way I still do today. Because I was just having fun and didn't compare my art with others as much at the time. As always, thank you for the talk, so glad that your channel is back up and running! Can't wait for more, love from MD!
My deepest gratitude for all these videos. My life is crazy, and art is my sanctuary. However, visiting said sanctuary can not happen nearly as often as I wish (thus resulting in frustration over my slowed progress). Your videos have truly been an encouragement for years. Again... you have my thanks.
i have ADHD, i never had much of a hard time at school or learning certain things, as long as i was intrested in them, and i was told that would be good to find a way to express myself. as i grew i started taking more intrest in drawing, i started taking classes with my uncle, he was nice enough to give those classes to me for free i had a tough time keeping schedules and stablishing time for practice, i wont lie that it was most likely my lazyness that got the better of me. The first drawing i made was one of archimedes the owl from sword and stone, i always hated it, not because it was particularly bad, but i always had this idea in me that i only accomplished it because my teacher was good, not because i accomplished anything, the same went for every piece i did after that. after some tiime i saw peoples progress along me people improving, growing into begginner, to medium and some to great artists, i was hapy for them but im ashamed to admit that i always felt deep jealousy in me., and that jealousy mybe the reason why i never really improved. after two years i produced a particularly bad drawing, on a streak of several ones, i was 24, a boy who was in the same class as me reprodued really well a sscene from the disney movie Alladin, he was 13, and after roughly the same time studying and the same experience at start he evolved so much, he put a lot of effort into it and he deserved it. i however felt no progres at all, i felt ahshamed and jealous, that finaly consumed me and i came to the realization that i was just wasting my uncles good will and his time. i dropped the classes and ever came back, despite my uncle trying to encouraging me and saying i will always have a spot there, i threw all my artwork away and for some time i just stewed in my own resentment. recently my significant other bought me a sketchbook, often i pick it up and start to sketch a few things, i always tear the pages for drawings i didnt like and thow them away, it makes me feel ashamed and ealous of those around me, and i think i might be hurtingpeople around me, it brings me nothing ut pain ut its something i want to do, sometimes it just seems like its impossible. sorry if i got a bit ranty there, i just wanted to share my frustration with artistic life, thats all.
it really helps to hear this coming from someone. I'm at a point where I feel so slow at progressing. Seeing younger people than me progress so much more convinced me that I was being lazy. That the year i took a break from art was a mistake.
Thank you adam, I'm easily discouraged. Usually, I would stop whenever I saw a mistake. After your video, I would try to keep pushing through to finish the idea I have no matter how bad it would look.
I never comment on videos, but... damn. I don’t think I realize how negative I can be to myself, all the time. Every time I draw. And I always feel so crappy thinking that it isn’t good enough or it’s not how I envisioned it. But it’s not even like I’m really thinking it- it’s almost like an instinct, I don’t NEED to think it, I just feel it. And whenever I watch art videos nothing really speaks to me like this did. I felt like you were really talking to ME. Even mentioning things like ergo josh which I have watched a couple times. And what was I doing ten years ago? boy, I don’t even know... I was only three years old back then... thank you for making this video, it made me realize some things that I think could prove to be important. P.S. I know I don’t type like a 13 year old, but- ok really I don’t have any excuse, I honestly don’t know why I type so properly. Also I’m sorry if my comment seemed a bit sappy or something similar, I just get like that sometimes when something really touches me.
Glad you're back :D - woah yes this is why I'm showing off the most stuff I'm doing on my channel. There is much crap in it but every crappy piece gives me the missing part to an improvement. Thank for your thought, sometimes it is hard and self-doubt comes along. Then - out of nowhere - a video from you comes in my notifications. :D Thank you!
I'vee only been drawing seriously for 8 months but I've been drawing altogether for 6 years in these 8 months I went from not even being able to draw a stickman properly on a drawing tablet to drawing full recognizable human beings, and having a rather good understanding of perspective, I'm 14, so why am I beating myself up, I'm doing great, I'm not even moving slowly, I went from only being able to draw (traditionally) tube like figures with zero anatomy for the past 6 years to now drawing an okay human being with actual forms and shapes, this stuff takes time, so don't stress yourself out even if you've been doing it seriously for 2 years, you will get there, doubting yourself isn't gonna make that any easier
I have been binge watching your videos while I sketch or draw . Really feels like a brother and mentor just giving you his wisdom and experience . You put me in a relaxed trance where I could just paint carefree . Thank you !
Thank you, this is what i feel right now, thank god also youtube recommends this to me. I've been drawing since Middle School, but it looks like i already hit a wall, thinking to myself. Learning by yourself without teacher only goes so far, but looking back to 10 years ago, and now. The improvement is there, you just have to see it by comparing. Glad i didn't toss everything away, i'm going to make an artstation account and post my shitty drawings there. Maybe i can laugh about it in 10-20 years later with my grandkids, and reminiscing about the journey.
i played this on the tv so i could watch/listen to something while working out, but i ended up ugly crying (and i RARELY cry). thanks for this! this made me feel A LOT better about myself 😭
For real this is my fuel that keep me going on my jorney. Every time when I have bad day with drawings I just listening to your videos and it help me every time! Thanks for doing this.
I suddenly wanna call you "art dad" :'< The way you speak is just like you're speaking to a child who has been disappointed of him/herself. Like, IDK how to explain but yeah it suddenly feels like I'm hearing an important thing and the way you say it and give examples and such like, you're giving an eye opener for a kid and well yeah I'm a 19 year old artist and am entering college animation program. Welp this ended up to be a long comment, definitely subscribe
When the point in the video where the discussion about "10 years ago" came up, I thought about it. 10 years ago, I was just entering middle school. I had just barely got into art, more as a hobby but never yet considering it as a profession. Now, I'm in my fourth year of college and while yes, my art has made progression from how it was 10 years ago, it feels very lacking compared to my peers. Or at least, the level of skill that they possess. It sometimes feels very overwhelming. I realize that I still have a long time to go, to develop my art much further, but sometimes I wish the process was faster. But I know that all I can do is to just be patient and just keep painting. Thank you for sharing this video with us. It honestly could not have come at a better time. And I'm happy to see you back. I've certainly missed your videos, and I'm happy you got your account back. :)
Honestly couldn't have been grateful enough to see this channel back up again. With every video I've seen so far it has really helped me to realize alot more about not only what art is about but also how it really ties into alot of the struggles & obstacles in order to get to that point in time where you finally become satisfied and happy with your progress and ability to inspire others, knowing that you really did make it far without seeing it clearly as you could've even after having those past doubts about yourself. Gifts like these will come when you least expect them to, and underestimation towards yourself will be the enemy that drags you away from those life-changing oppertunities.
I missed your art talks so much, happy your back Adam 💕💜 this one definitely helped me realize that I need to be more patient with myself, thank you for sharing ❤
Loved this so much, and I know you get this a lot but the amount of appreciation I have for you is immeasurable. I don't even have 2 years of drawing behind me yet, but I've been pretty good at keeping my bad drawings. I want to be able to look back and laugh at them years from now. At the same time, I'm not "rushing" to get good fast, or "good enough" so that somebody would pay me to do it. There's only so much practice and study I can do before I get super bored, and I REALLY want to continue drawing... So basically what I'm trying to say is, I'm slowly but surely learning how to just draw without constantly judging myself. It's still important to do so in order to improve, but it was getting unhealthy for me to the point I would actually draw less. It's all thanks to you Adam, thank you so much for being the support that I needed.
The increasing desire to sacrifice reason in favor of emotions is a source of many problems. The feels are more often than not ALL ABOUT THE PERSON, all about the self which the feelings evolve around. Then there is the distorted effect emotions have. If one pictures a moon and the reflection of the moon in the ocean, the latter is how emotions would describe the moon. Yes, emotions are not for accuracy. Many artists and people are so wrapped up in their own emotions and so out of touch with reality they do not how to separate reason from emotion and thus they say feel when they are actually thinking. Bottom line, touchy feely is not a good guide nor an accurate measuring stick. Touchy feely does not make one a good person, good deeds do (that which benefits others without ulterior motives).
Its really really true, I think there's a lack of education or such that helps people learn and identify that both emotions and reason can be of 2 different states and techniques in dealing and living with everyday life, and teaching actionable tools and mindsets in trying to balance the 2.
My man. It's nuts how similar our journeys were. I also had an APSC Canon, and felt like my life changed when I got the 18-35mm Sigma, and I didn't use anything else after that. Still kind of at that point, haha. I relate to this, it was a very cool listen. Thanks Adam.
As a new artist I think I needed to hear this, because a question always in my mind has been "but when will my art be better? when will it be something I can be proud of?" and I can easily hide away all my sketches and things I've been trying to learn out of fear because I don't already know them and am ashamed of that, like I'm comparing myself to a non-existant "other" And while the question certainly hasn't 'gone away', I can look at my very first drawings from my off-and-on practice over the years and see that my confidence has grown, as well as my understanding of the material. Idk how, but I've done something right! I hope it's just the first of man Thanks, An aspiring art girl
Man, I can't find enough words to thank Borro for sharing your channel with audience. You are truly wonderful, thank you for every bit of experience and advice you share. Love ya! :3
I’m finally almost done with high school and I’m really anxious about the future. I don’t feel like I’ve improved at all, but watching this video made me realize that I did improve. I’ve been spending the last hour digging through my old art and realizing that I’ve improved massively, from month to month even. I’d picked up gesture drawing, charcoal, learning the planes of the head, anatomy, and it’s going amazing. I can’t believe I’ve never noticed how much I’ve changed. I’m still anxious about the future, about money problems and applications, and falling behind in classes, but I’m now equipped with the realization that I am improving as time goes on, even if I can’t see it myself. Thanks for the video
The artistic journey has taught me one thing. (At least from someone who is still trying to get better and I only consider myself subpar.) Things take time. And ever time you practice, that's something to celebrate. And that's not just about art either, anything worth learning. As someone who was forced to learn by my parents, and got yelled at everyday I didn't improve. (Which was basically all the time) Learning this was almost more important than the journey itslef.
thank you for talking about these things. I paint some miniatures for a hobby but, your words resonate far beyond just art. the lessons and ideas you share are true of most aspects of life and I always find great relief about my life when I watch your videos and feel a new sense of direction, motivation, and insight. I am truly a better person because of you and I can't thank you enough for that.
at what point did we stop drawing for us and started drawing for a career? Just draw for yourself. Same as the gym, you don't do it for them you do it for yourself. I am starting to learn that and when I get anxious about finishing a piece so I can post it so everyone can see it. I stop drawing and focus on something else. I can relate to the time running out, and I guess we feel that way because we feel pressured to compete in the industry. Today more than ever we see what's out there and what artist are doing so its a constant reminder of how much you are lacking in comparison. Who cares? I am willing to bet the artist you are comparing yourself with took them a long ass time to get where they at.. I believe artist are like horses, they need to wear those side blinders to stay focus on what's ahead.
when I feel bad because my skills don't grows I try new technic aside as painting, watercolors, paper pen, ink, cartoon, animation, blacknwhite, scenes... everything I can imagine to keep the euphoria of doing new things that surprises me, and forget the fact I grow less fast now. I started doing that in march and that allowed to improve somes of my skills I didn't even know I had to improve, also I discovered lot of new cool way to draw and it made my imagination works a lot. Now i'm back stuck into it and I have to find a new thing to not fall in the deep abyss of art block. I think it's fun to do. Also I'm still a student, maybe I don't know nothing about the slowness of artistic growth but I feel like trying new stuffs allow to discover/understand new things and it helps me a lot. Thank you so much for your videos, it helped me a lot during the lockdown in may.
I didn't know I needed this video but I did. I have been in a rut for a long time now, barely able to produce any art and basically ready to throw in the towel because I can't keep up with anything, least of all myself and my own expectations. Thank you for your kindness, Adam.
I felt that all the time, even after I worked on a professional level, I still have this feeling "I didn't improve much this year." or years before that. Thank you for always making relatable contents, thank you.
I'm glad you're back, Adam :) I'm having a small leap of faith moment in my life right now... I just quit my café job to invest all my time into art and commission work and I am so incredibly nervous about it... But your wise words helped me calm down and get things back into perspective. Thank you :)
I feel like I cry every single damn time I listen to your videos 😂 I want to believe them very badly. And I’m trying very hard to. Thank you for your words and advice
The thoughts in this video have been INCREDIBLY helpful to me in all kinds of areas of my life. Thank you for making and publishing these talks (especially this one!).
It's really tough to remember that growth happens slowly with how everything is presented quickly on any platform. Thank you for the reminder that it takes time and where we are now is a lot different than years ago. I needed to hear this message to keep creating. Thank you so much for this video.
You are truly an excellent person, you are the kind of people that is a beautiful experience to disagree with!!! Keep pushing it. This is a great channel!
Welp, I did not realize that I needed to hear this. I know that the concept of comparing yourself to others can be harmful to your personal and artistic wellbeing, but I always forget I'm doing it subconsciously. I like the word that you use to desribe childrens drawings: 'fearless'. I want my current art to be 'fearless' too xD. Less worrying about whether it is good enough, and more enjoying the act of drawing itself.
Personally when I look back at my art I never cringe. My first reaction is never ugh that’s so bad, but memories from when I made it. And I guess those are precious to me those little stories or moments in time. The only time I ever cringe at my art is when I was merely trying to make something that looked cool by other peoples standards. Well those are my thoughts on the matter lol. Thanks for the video Adam!
I relate to this so much! Every artwork carry a little bit of the artist's soul.
I allways felt so frustrated that people would not get interested in my pieces, or they would understand something else I was thinking, but then I realized: art is so subjetctive that it works as a mirror of feelings. People would understand what they're feeling, as a reflex (that's why we love to hear sad music when we are sad). That thought made me change from black to white the way I see my own artwork. For me, my art is memory, a way to remember what I was thinking, feeling, why stuff happened, and why am I here :)
I sometimes have that. I know it looks not good but I remember how my creative I was in the moment and the feeling that went into it. It tells its own story and I feel really proud of it. They’re usually doodles that look crappier than my studies, but I end up cringing at my studies. It’s really weird.
I relateeee ah
As a wise fish once told me. ''Just keep swimming''
Was that fish Mac Miller? (RIP)
@@SPACECOWBOY705 No it was Dory XD
Oh hail the great and powerful Dori!
@@AdamDuffArt Dori is very powerful indeed
Aw, I'm going to remember that one.
When I first started this video I thought: “this I going to make me feel bad.” I’m an adult and only started taking art seriously about a year ago now. I’m not a young adult, nor middle aged, but old enough to regret not taking art more seriously when I was younger and looking at people my age who are working for Disney. But the more I listened, the more I realized how it does apply. When I was younger, a high schooler, things were out of my control where I couldn’t take art in school, and at the time, I couldn’t afford technology to do digital art. My circumstances were so different than many people in my age group who took art from junior to high school, who were able to get decent tablets and art programs. In the same sense, i have to look at things differently. Even in the past year I have improved so much it’s a bit confounding. I can’t compare myself to others my age who are more skilled; they’ve still had a decade and more to improve. So I guess let me be a lesson for adults who want to try. There’s no wrong time. There’s no lost time. There’s only the time we still have. I can’t compare myself to others because our starting points are different. In a way, artists my age are still “ten years older” than I am. Just in a different way
❤
How old are you
Well said. 👍🏽
There’s only the time we still have
Beautifully said. Completely agree with you. I know people who won't begin to draw because they never did enough or at all when they were younger. I think they're punishing themselves, in a way.
The journey is the *only* thing that matters because no matter what milestone you hit, it's only going to bring you satisfaction for a super short amount of time. Enjoy the journey because it's really all there is imo.
So I was proud of myself for making it through 19 minutes and some without crying and then came the waterworks.
Celebrating our own successes and even just being kind to ourselves can totally accelerate our growth! Instead of pushing ourselves down every time something doesn't work out. All that comparing and critical inner voice, ugh.
Glad I'm not the only one who gets emotional with motivational stuff like this.
I agree that children's/amateur art has such incredible creativity and free thinking, and honestly I'm envious! I focus so much on improving form and color, and while it's good to practice and improve, it has a way of dimming the heart's expression if focused on too much.
I look back to my crappy drawings, and remember them for the idea I had behind them. The crazy, wild idea that still sparks excitement decades later. And I miss them. I don't know yet if I would trade artistic skill with boundless expression, but I'm sure I would in the future.
So glad your channel is back! I hope everything's safe!
I went from feeling like I HAD to do landscapes because I use watercolors to being all “screw it, I’m doing SWTOR character portraits and cute mushrooms with eyes”.
@@labaccident2010 DO IT BROOO!!!
@@Alexden96Channel I am! I have a whole series of little mushroom guys, and have done four SWTOR character commissions! I have to ship the paintings out this week!
The moment I'm looking into the abyss questioning my ability to perform... Adam drops this. You always pop up at exactly the right time haha
Artistic growth feels incredibly slow for me, but I'm also starting to appreciate every step of this long life journey. Because, in the end, NOW is the most important moment in our lives. Even if some days suck, even when life just loves throwing rocks at you, sometimes it's a relief realizing that every day you improve, just a little step at a time. x)
Never clicked so fast! So happy to have you back, Adam!
Well thank you - it's a breath of fresh being able to be part of this awesome community as well :)
Wise words like always Adam !
Michelangelo start art seriously at 14 years old. He works ass off during more than 10 years and be discovered for his first masterpiece at around 25. When someone compliments their works, he can't take it and refuse it. "I'm worked to hard for get this level...". Work hard is good but don't overwhelmed and lose your passion, you will probably regret it...
Ive been having a really rough time, artistically and with life, but this vid actually made me feel a bit better about both. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your art.
Hey man here to remind you that it will get better and time always heals. If you wanna talk with someone most people at RUclips comments won't have any problem listening, including myself.
I noticed that doing things for others not only makes me feel miserable, but also undermines my capabilities, I don't even have fun doing what I'm doing if I think about others, not only in art but even in reading, studying and other facets of life.
Holy shit.
It's exactly like you said.
I've always been attached to my drawings, when I was younger, it was because I was arrogant and thought they looked awesome.
Then social media became a thing and I started to realize I couldn't do 10% of the stuff I saw online.
That's when I stopped drawing.
I just felt like I was a delusional kid.
After that art completely left my life.
And it only came back because I took a hard look at where I was going and realized it wasn't a direction I really wanted to go.
So I did something art adjacent, but didn't go full on illustration focused.
I'm still not brave enough to quit my job and have the same confidence I had in my art when I was younger.
Today I look at my old sketches, from 10, 15 years ago and I think they may be technically terrible, but oh boy, the idea is so good.
It was full on experimentation, I didn't care about "finding my style", I just wanted to draw something cool.
I came to the conclusion that it's not that every single one of them was a brilliant piece of art, but because I was just creating stuff all the time, some of them ended up would inevitably end up being really good.
So now I'm trying to just create stuff and take out the pressure of external stuff that didn't have anything to do with me in the first place.
This video really hit me Home, I think as artists we always compare ourselves as if it’s an Olympic game, trying to be the number one and reaching that position as fast as possible. But ironically we end up torturing ourselves to reach that position.
I had to do a lot of mindset exercises to recognize my own growth. To get over obsessing over perfectionism, I had to force myself to do vent art where I did a bunch of sketches quickly, with no erasing allowed. It sucked because I had such a fatalist mindset when it came to myself and everything I did, but honestly doing these self-imposed exercises broke something free in me eventually, where I could recognize an actual change and improvement. Now I catch myself believing in others who think their stuff isn't good, with all my heart, and wanting to encourage them. Because I know it can be done. I'm still not perfect... depression is a helluva buzz kill and motivation drainer... but I can see change, and that honestly makes a world of difference.
i think we as your audience, can feel your emotions in your videos because you actually talk to your daughter.
tears literally fell. i dont know man, maybe because im getting all the support from people ive never met or havent seen my art . its amazing but sad at the same time. thank you
hi past me, i've improved a lot in art now, but i still feel shitty cos im still not good enough lol
ayo me, guess what, you've learned to embrace your mediocrity and is now living the best life, earning more than ever you could've imagined through art. the key stuff you learned was that, you're not the best, you'll never be the best, but most importantly, you DON'T HAVE TO BE.
So true, that's why i really love it when those great name artist share their old works. Sometimes when we admire somebody so much that we forgot they are also humans just like you and I. It's a gradual process
Welcome back and thank you THANK YOU!!! I started learning to draw this year and I am fuckin 38... and it's so difficult for a person of my age to look at all those kids who are so good at it, while I just started the journey they started at the age of 5. This week I actually gave up.... But here you came and told me not to... So, here I am. Ready to fight again! THANK YOU
I started at 3 and it didn't mean jack shit I can tell you that. Do it because it adds meaning to your life. Good or not I hope you'll see your drawings as small journeys that are worthwhile.
Take those steps, no matter how smal or how slow! I’m 27 and while I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, I only went and took what I learned in art class as a kid when my mom taught and used it to build on it. I feel like I just started drawing, but I’m using the boldness I had as a kid to try things
I was not aware of how much I needed to listen to this video. It's amazing to hear something about "You can't see you're growing because you can't see your life in timelapse", and it's such an important thing, but we can hardly realize such a thing on our own.
Needed to hear this. It's just so difficult not to constantly compare yourself to other people.
Well the second part about the childlike creativity resonates so well for me. I always feel like I'm "lost" in all of these technicals that I begin to forget what made me want to draw in the first place. It becomes less of a fun activity and more into a "chore". I feel like I have lost all that, those pure unadulterated imagination and creativity because I was just trying to improve or getting better... because I started comparing my works to everybody.
Sometimes looking back at my old artworks it makes me rather sad because I have lost that part of me, the bonkiru that made those works without all the care in the world. While I have gotten far better I feel like I haven't even moved an inch.The improvements feels empty and it's what I'm trying to "regain" nowadays, those parts of me who has lost and missing.
Thank you for the insightful video as always.
I left this video in my Chrome tab bar for quite a while. I left it for a night like this one. My eyes are shit and I struggle to learn anatomy to improve stories in images I draw. Today I re-drew a pair of arms at least 20 times each time feeling even more and more defeated. I felt that after 3 years of learning art, I learnt nothing. It's not like I was trying to do be accurate, I just wanted it to be good enough.
I got sad, looked around at my walls filled with posters while listening to this video. And I smiled through tears. Because I am not giving up. And I hope I will never give up on my dreams. I am 23, RUclips won't probably exist in 10-20 years, but If it does and I will see my comment, I hope I will be in a place where I can smile about what I am just reading, a smile that I never gave up, regardless of the outcome. That 10-20 years from now, I'll keep on trying and failing.
Thank you, I needed that ;)
Adam is the Art Dad we all need
I really struggled a lot with the question if I even get better or just waist my time. I'm "already" 26 now. It often times kept me away from drawing, because the thoughts of doing art might be pointless and just frustrating for me was just to overwhelming. at some point I just tried to redraw something I drew a year or so before and it helped me to see, that my drawing looked different and did change.
It's calming to here, that to people, who are way better then I am, it feels like this too.
Great video, thank you :)
Adam always made me tear up a bit... what a struggle, what a lovely, painful and beautiful struggle art is, I'm so thankful that you make this videos and share a bit of yourself, I don't know you personally but I love you man... what a blessing.
This video came in the right time after I completely broke down a few days ago about the progression of my art. Though I see improvements, I thought I'd be good enough by the time I graduated to be satisfied with myself, but I was far from that. Though this video may not solve my problems like magic, it still reassures me to continue to push on and maybe be less harder on myself. Graduating during the pandemic is both troubling and relieving, but I suppose we all have to make use of the situation. I have instead focused on personal health and exercising since I figured a healthy body is a healthy mind. All in all, thank you for the videos, and glad you got your account back.
Totally agree, I've been feeling this way about my art journey too! And because I felt like I wasn't making any progress I was feeling sad & distraught. But after taking sometime to learn about myself as a creative and taking my time too, I thank Yahuwah that I'm starting to feel better.
Your words make me cry. I'm realising how pure you are. Thank you.
When you said "be the kid that shoots their hand up way up in the air and says 'me'" I just stopped in my tracks and listened. And I truly listened to the rest of the video and something about the message and the tone and the delivery just stuck to me. Thank you. I am the most brilliant artist in the world and I'm making the decision to not care how anyone else feels about that. I'm going to choose me.
I needed to hear this, I am at the moment where I am trying to build myself artistically and creatively, I am fashion designer and my family criticize me that I am not doing much with my life, when all I do is to invest in my career and skills, but my family doesn't see that and they think I don't wanna do anything with my life, it's soul crushing. Coz it makes me hopeless and not motivated. because all this criticism makes me feel like I am not moving fast enough, and they don't understand that it takes time and Sattle improvement and I have to learn so much to improve or implement things, they want this grand spectacles of evolution and I can't give them that. And it feels like my progression is slow, and they not patient, they always say I don't want to do anything, but everyday I wake up and put effort in this and it's all I do.but they don't see it happen coz it happens very slowly. Thank you for this video
I feel this way recently… And so I now enjoy the slow growth instead of forcing things like I used to.
Time is an illusion, anyway.
Might as well enJOY the process of growth.
I’m just starting my art career in my 40’s. 👩🏼🎨😃🍀🇨🇦
I had that childlike mindset about my art up until age 21....i used to fill multiple sketchbooks. Now at 23,i feel like I'm not good enough at anything I do and I'm trying my best to not give up. My current goal, is to finish at least one illustration. I haven't been able to go past the sketch phase for a while but seeing all the colors on my current illustration, i feel a bit like myself again.
The best advice I've heard, is to go into your drawing with no expectations.
40 year old here starting deep dive into art. For the first time I'm allowing myself to do this simple pleasure I've wanted since I was a child, but for "practical reasons" [read: adult discouragement] didn't even try... and these type of videos just wrap me in soft pillows as I plod along. Thanks for this 💛
The one thing that got in the way of my progression the most was being in a hurry to "get there". When I became a father I had to slow down and that's when things finally started falling into place.
Thanks for the reminder to keep an even tempo - you're the best at pep talks and I really love what you're doing to help the art community ❤️
I always cry when I hear your videos-- not because it makes me feel bad, but because it's true and it resonates with me. Thank you Adam for being the tender and caring artist-father to us little artists.
"Think of a word that rhymes with screw and starts with an F"
Flew
hahahahahaha Frew!
Flu
Well...your video and words were so meaningful that some tears started collecting in my eyes. I just don't have words.
I am in a point of my life where I am transitioning in all aspects of my life. But the most important to me, is picking up my art supplies again. I've spent too long of my life being berated by others that I have lost my way. Your words are an inspiration to me. Thank you.
It happened again! Every time I think about the topic you're talking about, I find it was something that I myself was thinking about recently. This is so important for artists to do. TO keep our art even if we don't like it at the time. I actually found that the more progress I made, the less I wanted to keep my art. And when looking through my older art, I actually found a few pieces that I remember feeling proud about at the time, and in a small way I still do today. Because I was just having fun and didn't compare my art with others as much at the time. As always, thank you for the talk, so glad that your channel is back up and running! Can't wait for more, love from MD!
In the long run it hasn't been so long, but damn I missed you so much. Thank you for everything.
My deepest gratitude for all these videos. My life is crazy, and art is my sanctuary. However, visiting said sanctuary can not happen nearly as often as I wish (thus resulting in frustration over my slowed progress). Your videos have truly been an encouragement for years. Again... you have my thanks.
Oh, where would I be if I never discovered you and your videos... It's wonderful to have you back. Thank you for sharing your thoughts !
i have ADHD, i never had much of a hard time at school or learning certain things, as long as i was intrested in them, and i was told that would be good to find a way to express myself.
as i grew i started taking more intrest in drawing, i started taking classes with my uncle, he was nice enough to give those classes to me for free
i had a tough time keeping schedules and stablishing time for practice, i wont lie that it was most likely my lazyness that got the better of me.
The first drawing i made was one of archimedes the owl from sword and stone, i always hated it, not because it was particularly bad, but i always had this idea in me that i only accomplished it because my teacher was good, not because i accomplished anything, the same went for every piece i did after that.
after some tiime i saw peoples progress along me people improving, growing into begginner, to medium and some to great artists, i was hapy for them but im ashamed to admit that i always felt deep jealousy in me., and that jealousy mybe the reason why i never really improved.
after two years i produced a particularly bad drawing, on a streak of several ones, i was 24, a boy who was in the same class as me reprodued really well a sscene from the disney movie Alladin, he was 13, and after roughly the same time studying and the same experience at start he evolved so much, he put a lot of effort into it and he deserved it.
i however felt no progres at all, i felt ahshamed and jealous, that finaly consumed me and i came to the realization that i was just wasting my uncles good will and his time. i dropped the classes and ever came back, despite my uncle trying to encouraging me and saying i will always have a spot there, i threw all my artwork away and for some time i just stewed in my own resentment.
recently my significant other bought me a sketchbook, often i pick it up and start to sketch a few things, i always tear the pages for drawings i didnt like and thow them away, it makes me feel ashamed and ealous of those around me, and i think i might be hurtingpeople around me, it brings me nothing ut pain ut its something i want to do, sometimes it just seems like its impossible.
sorry if i got a bit ranty there, i just wanted to share my frustration with artistic life, thats all.
man you have no idea how much I needed this today
it really helps to hear this coming from someone. I'm at a point where I feel so slow at progressing. Seeing younger people than me progress so much more convinced me that I was being lazy. That the year i took a break from art was a mistake.
Thank you adam, I'm easily discouraged. Usually, I would stop whenever I saw a mistake. After your video, I would try to keep pushing through to finish the idea I have no matter how bad it would look.
I never comment on videos, but... damn. I don’t think I realize how negative I can be to myself, all the time. Every time I draw. And I always feel so crappy thinking that it isn’t good enough or it’s not how I envisioned it. But it’s not even like I’m really thinking it- it’s almost like an instinct, I don’t NEED to think it, I just feel it. And whenever I watch art videos nothing really speaks to me like this did. I felt like you were really talking to ME. Even mentioning things like ergo josh which I have watched a couple times. And what was I doing ten years ago? boy, I don’t even know... I was only three years old back then... thank you for making this video, it made me realize some things that I think could prove to be important.
P.S. I know I don’t type like a 13 year old, but- ok really I don’t have any excuse, I honestly don’t know why I type so properly. Also I’m sorry if my comment seemed a bit sappy or something similar, I just get like that sometimes when something really touches me.
Glad you're back :D - woah yes this is why I'm showing off the most stuff I'm doing on my channel. There is much crap in it but every crappy piece gives me the missing part to an improvement. Thank for your thought, sometimes it is hard and self-doubt comes along. Then - out of nowhere - a video from you comes in my notifications. :D Thank you!
I needed to hear something like that right now, thank you ^^ and thank you for all those awesome video too, I'm glad you're back !
Guys. We're gonna raise our hands in the air and wave them like we JUST DON'T CARE!!
Thank you for another inspiring video
Your channel is therapy for artists
I'vee only been drawing seriously for 8 months but I've been drawing altogether for 6 years in these 8 months I went from not even being able to draw a stickman properly on a drawing tablet to drawing full recognizable human beings, and having a rather good understanding of perspective, I'm 14, so why am I beating myself up, I'm doing great, I'm not even moving slowly, I went from only being able to draw (traditionally) tube like figures with zero anatomy for the past 6 years to now drawing an okay human being with actual forms and shapes, this stuff takes time, so don't stress yourself out even if you've been doing it seriously for 2 years, you will get there, doubting yourself isn't gonna make that any easier
I have been binge watching your videos while I sketch or draw . Really feels like a brother and mentor just giving you his wisdom and experience . You put me in a relaxed trance where I could just paint carefree . Thank you !
Thank you, this is what i feel right now, thank god also youtube recommends this to me. I've been drawing since Middle School, but it looks like i already hit a wall, thinking to myself. Learning by yourself without teacher only goes so far, but looking back to 10 years ago, and now. The improvement is there, you just have to see it by comparing. Glad i didn't toss everything away, i'm going to make an artstation account and post my shitty drawings there. Maybe i can laugh about it in 10-20 years later with my grandkids, and reminiscing about the journey.
i played this on the tv so i could watch/listen to something while working out, but i ended up ugly crying (and i RARELY cry). thanks for this! this made me feel A LOT better about myself 😭
I woke up this morning feeling incredibly anxious about my progress and saw this. Awesome timing
thanks adams I feel comfortable hearing it from someone with experienced, that things will change especially when iam strugling throught rough patch.
For real this is my fuel that keep me going on my jorney.
Every time when I have bad day with drawings I just listening to your videos and it help me every time!
Thanks for doing this.
I suddenly wanna call you "art dad" :'<
The way you speak is just like you're speaking to a child who has been disappointed of him/herself. Like, IDK how to explain but yeah it suddenly feels like I'm hearing an important thing and the way you say it and give examples and such like, you're giving an eye opener for a kid and well yeah I'm a 19 year old artist and am entering college animation program. Welp this ended up to be a long comment, definitely subscribe
When the point in the video where the discussion about "10 years ago" came up, I thought about it. 10 years ago, I was just entering middle school. I had just barely got into art, more as a hobby but never yet considering it as a profession. Now, I'm in my fourth year of college and while yes, my art has made progression from how it was 10 years ago, it feels very lacking compared to my peers. Or at least, the level of skill that they possess. It sometimes feels very overwhelming. I realize that I still have a long time to go, to develop my art much further, but sometimes I wish the process was faster. But I know that all I can do is to just be patient and just keep painting. Thank you for sharing this video with us. It honestly could not have come at a better time. And I'm happy to see you back. I've certainly missed your videos, and I'm happy you got your account back. :)
Honestly couldn't have been grateful enough to see this channel back up again. With every video I've seen so far it has really helped me to realize alot more about not only what art is about but also how it really ties into alot of the struggles & obstacles in order to get to that point in time where you finally become satisfied and happy with your progress and ability to inspire others, knowing that you really did make it far without seeing it clearly as you could've even after having those past doubts about yourself. Gifts like these will come when you least expect them to, and underestimation towards yourself will be the enemy that drags you away from those life-changing oppertunities.
I missed your art talks so much, happy your back Adam 💕💜 this one definitely helped me realize that I need to be more patient with myself, thank you for sharing ❤
YOu sound soooo soothing I feel blessed.
You always seems to chat about the most important thing in my life each time I listen to you. Even if I am 43. (Great Painting Sir)
My god, is it good to have you back. 🖤
I’m so thankful for this video, it just appeared when I most needed it, thank you so much
I couldn't help but smile after finishing this, thank you Adam.
Loved this so much, and I know you get this a lot but the amount of appreciation I have for you is immeasurable. I don't even have 2 years of drawing behind me yet, but I've been pretty good at keeping my bad drawings. I want to be able to look back and laugh at them years from now. At the same time, I'm not "rushing" to get good fast, or "good enough" so that somebody would pay me to do it. There's only so much practice and study I can do before I get super bored, and I REALLY want to continue drawing...
So basically what I'm trying to say is, I'm slowly but surely learning how to just draw without constantly judging myself. It's still important to do so in order to improve, but it was getting unhealthy for me to the point I would actually draw less. It's all thanks to you Adam, thank you so much for being the support that I needed.
The increasing desire to sacrifice reason in favor of emotions is a source of many problems. The feels are more often than not ALL ABOUT THE PERSON, all about the self which the feelings evolve around. Then there is the distorted effect emotions have. If one pictures a moon and the reflection of the moon in the ocean, the latter is how emotions would describe the moon. Yes, emotions are not for accuracy. Many artists and people are so wrapped up in their own emotions and so out of touch with reality they do not how to separate reason from emotion and thus they say feel when they are actually thinking. Bottom line, touchy feely is not a good guide nor an accurate measuring stick. Touchy feely does not make one a good person, good deeds do (that which benefits others without ulterior motives).
Its really really true,
I think there's a lack of education or such that helps people learn and identify that both emotions and reason can be of 2 different states and techniques in dealing and living with everyday life, and teaching actionable tools and mindsets in trying to balance the 2.
Thanks for intro'ing to Vincent and a Secret - So good
Your videos always bring me so much joy and peace. Thankyou for your wise words!! They are gift that is an honor to hear!
My man. It's nuts how similar our journeys were. I also had an APSC Canon, and felt like my life changed when I got the 18-35mm Sigma, and I didn't use anything else after that. Still kind of at that point, haha. I relate to this, it was a very cool listen. Thanks Adam.
As a new artist I think I needed to hear this, because a question always in my mind has been "but when will my art be better? when will it be something I can be proud of?" and I can easily hide away all my sketches and things I've been trying to learn out of fear because I don't already know them and am ashamed of that, like I'm comparing myself to a non-existant "other"
And while the question certainly hasn't 'gone away', I can look at my very first drawings from my off-and-on practice over the years and see that my confidence has grown, as well as my understanding of the material. Idk how, but I've done something right! I hope it's just the first of man
Thanks,
An aspiring art girl
Man, I can't find enough words to thank Borro for sharing your channel with audience. You are truly wonderful, thank you for every bit of experience and advice you share. Love ya! :3
I’m finally almost done with high school and I’m really anxious about the future. I don’t feel like I’ve improved at all, but watching this video made me realize that I did improve. I’ve been spending the last hour digging through my old art and realizing that I’ve improved massively, from month to month even. I’d picked up gesture drawing, charcoal, learning the planes of the head, anatomy, and it’s going amazing. I can’t believe I’ve never noticed how much I’ve changed. I’m still anxious about the future, about money problems and applications, and falling behind in classes, but I’m now equipped with the realization that I am improving as time goes on, even if I can’t see it myself. Thanks for the video
The artistic journey has taught me one thing. (At least from someone who is still trying to get better and I only consider myself subpar.)
Things take time. And ever time you practice, that's something to celebrate. And that's not just about art either, anything worth learning.
As someone who was forced to learn by my parents, and got yelled at everyday I didn't improve. (Which was basically all the time) Learning this was almost more important than the journey itslef.
thank you for talking about these things. I paint some miniatures for a hobby but, your words resonate far beyond just art. the lessons and ideas you share are true of most aspects of life and I always find great relief about my life when I watch your videos and feel a new sense of direction, motivation, and insight. I am truly a better person because of you and I can't thank you enough for that.
Ahhh, time to pop this in the background again while drawing. Good to see you back.
Your voice speaks directly to my soul, man.
Thanks for always posting the positive...your videos are always a detox for me especially when I beat myself up.
at what point did we stop drawing for us and started drawing for a career?
Just draw for yourself. Same as the gym, you don't do it for them you do it for yourself.
I am starting to learn that and when I get anxious about finishing a piece so I can post it so everyone can see it. I stop drawing and focus on something else.
I can relate to the time running out, and I guess we feel that way because we feel pressured to compete in the industry. Today more than ever we see what's out there and what artist are doing so its a constant reminder of how much you are lacking in comparison. Who cares? I am willing to bet the artist you are comparing yourself with took them a long ass time to get where they at.. I believe artist are like horses, they need to wear those side blinders to stay focus on what's ahead.
when I feel bad because my skills don't grows I try new technic aside as painting, watercolors, paper pen, ink, cartoon, animation, blacknwhite, scenes... everything I can imagine to keep the euphoria of doing new things that surprises me, and forget the fact I grow less fast now. I started doing that in march and that allowed to improve somes of my skills I didn't even know I had to improve, also I discovered lot of new cool way to draw and it made my imagination works a lot.
Now i'm back stuck into it and I have to find a new thing to not fall in the deep abyss of art block. I think it's fun to do. Also I'm still a student, maybe I don't know nothing about the slowness of artistic growth but I feel like trying new stuffs allow to discover/understand new things and it helps me a lot. Thank you so much for your videos, it helped me a lot during the lockdown in may.
Your channel is a must have resource for everyone's mental art development. Thank you so much.
The ending moved me to tears. Wonderful video.
My weekly therapy is available again heh heh nice to have you back.
I didn't know I needed this video but I did. I have been in a rut for a long time now, barely able to produce any art and basically ready to throw in the towel because I can't keep up with anything, least of all myself and my own expectations. Thank you for your kindness, Adam.
Im glad you're back, friend.
I felt that all the time, even after I worked on a professional level, I still have this feeling "I didn't improve much this year." or years before that. Thank you for always making relatable contents, thank you.
I'm glad you're back, Adam :) I'm having a small leap of faith moment in my life right now... I just quit my café job to invest all my time into art and commission work and I am so incredibly nervous about it... But your wise words helped me calm down and get things back into perspective. Thank you :)
RUclips always seem to recommend you just as I need it. I appreciate your videos and I appreciate you Adam. Have a blessed week and stay safe
These videos are so honest and important. It's always something that I need. Really appreciate the work that you do Adam. Thanks
I feel like I cry every single damn time I listen to your videos 😂 I want to believe them very badly. And I’m trying very hard to. Thank you for your words and advice
I don't know what would i do if you didn't continue with RUclips, so good to have you back
The thoughts in this video have been INCREDIBLY helpful to me in all kinds of areas of my life. Thank you for making and publishing these talks (especially this one!).
It's really tough to remember that growth happens slowly with how everything is presented quickly on any platform. Thank you for the reminder that it takes time and where we are now is a lot different than years ago. I needed to hear this message to keep creating. Thank you so much for this video.
You are so incredibly comforting. Exactly what I needed to hear tonight. Thank you.
Thanks for the video. Glad you're back, and glad to hear your son draws Mega Knight, he's the best.
Someday I'll have words to convey how much these have helped
Thank you and I'm glad to have you back ❤️
You are truly an excellent person, you are the kind of people that is a beautiful experience to disagree with!!! Keep pushing it. This is a great channel!
this made me tear up a little bit, thank you so much for what you're doing
Welp, I did not realize that I needed to hear this. I know that the concept of comparing yourself to others can be harmful to your personal and artistic wellbeing, but I always forget I'm doing it subconsciously. I like the word that you use to desribe childrens drawings: 'fearless'. I want my current art to be 'fearless' too xD. Less worrying about whether it is good enough, and more enjoying the act of drawing itself.