0:08 - That's my video up there. Just to clarify, I still and always have found 'Drawing Everyday' to be a GREAT piece of advice. I follow it myself and encourage others to do so. What I was communicating in the video was to not "should" yourself into it. I.e strong rules that causes you have an "all or nothing" mentality. As a result of that thinking, I've found people get into these "art blocks" which are infact a result of their own unrealistic expectations. And not the act of daily drawing. I also found it strangly odd when a lot of these folks started saying it was "bad advice" without any solid arguments to back it up. I agree with what you are saying in this video and super happy to see a voice thats sharing a valid argument for what I consider to be a profound piece of advice. "Drawing Everyday" not only taught me the skill that I have now, but also the wisdom of doing hard things that matters.
Thank you! I admit... I didn't get to watch all of the videos. So, I'm SO happy to hear that you were communicating that artist's need to give themselves a break. That's wonderful advice. By the way... your thumbnails are SO good! I'm just starting to make long form videos and the thumbnails are the hardest part. You make it look so easy.
@@ssavaart hey thats alright! We share similar perspectives and it's nice to know how you think about this. Mine has evolved so much from that video as well. At the end of the day, people find and reveal their own ways and convos like these give many the option to explore. And thank you! About the thumbnails, I definitely am learning as well😅. Let me know if I can help in any way. I can share what has worked for me :)
I agree that in art, nothing helps you more than practice. However I feel like drawing everyday can lead to burnout or art block. So I try to practice a lot but still with a bit of caution as to not overwork and burn out.
I totally agree! Not that drawing every day is bad advice, but we gotta be careful about that, especially if we tend to get bored of things quickly or if we have a tendency to pressure ourselves too much. When I decide to draw every day I get anxious, because not every day do I have the energy to draw (which is ok), but I feel guilty for not drawing, so it just makes me stressed. So, I've been learning to take things more naturally. If I feel like going a few days without drawing, that's fine. I love art, so I'll get back to it anyways. I just need time to get some energy and motivation. Of course, drawing is about practice, but I think being too worried about consistency takes away some of the fun in making art.
@@rafaelatakami8019 I resonate a lot with what's been said here. I have my good days and bad weeks with art and pushing myself to draw everyday can often be very taxing after completing a piece I like. I usually like to spend 2-3 days working on a piece I'm liking and then step away from the pencils for a bit to let the high die down so I don't expect a masterpiece with my next venture
If you have a bad habit, though, you may not be able to see it if you keep doing it. Or if you have migraines, it can screw up your perception- most of the time, my art looks like picasso thanks to my migraines. Pushing through creates muscle memory- which is extremely difficult to correct. You need to take breaks. If you are struggling, you need to step away. If you don't, you'll f yourself over.
@@rafaelatakami8019 When I first started drawing everyday, I'd get frustrated and it was very hard. It was like I was forcing my hand to move but my brain didn't want to move. Nowadays I am finding it easier. I didn't say easy though, just easier. I think the point is that you don't have to make masterpieces everyday. I personally don't draw all the time in a day. I might do timed life drawing in the morning, then draw a man from imagination in the afternoon. And that's it. On some days I might just draw something like a flower and then not draw again for the entire day. What matters to me is to move my hands. Sometimes I just draw lines and shapes as part of my practice to enhance my line quality and freehand shape drawing since lines and shapes are building blocks in all drawings.
@@rafaelatakami8019 I found an easy solution for that uk. If I would get bored of something then I would switch the colour mediums cause mastering them is also imp. I would draw totally different things two consecutive day or I would draw my old painting in a new style. These things can keep u from burning out and feeling forced to draw.
I get both sides, drawing everyday helps build a habit + practice while at the same time it could possibly lead to burnout. I know personally when I first heard the 'draw everyday' phrase I felt pressured to try and do a masterpiece everyday, which I got really overwhelmed by. So I really like what you said about just doing sketches, doodles and observations. That's a much better way at looking at it!
Yup, people who get burnout are usually those who don't really like drawing or those who put too much pressure on themselves to do better. In reality, like in any other creative avenue, you just have to do what makes you happy or what entertains you. Sometimes you just wanna use that medium to get rid off or plaster your frustrations and stress too. But pressuring yourself to keep going and to improve no matter what rather than just trying to enjoy your hobby is what leads to burnout, especially when your livelihood is on the line, which is what we see with all the anti "AI art", instead of blocking off typical morons and just keep doing what you want, there is a certain frustration that shouldn't be there in the first place.
I agree, just saying "draw every day" can put pressure or hinder people. Some days you might not be in a good head space or dont have the time and this could lead to being disappointed with yourself and your work. What has helped me is learning that I can just draw gesture or life drawings when I don't feel creative or just draw something that's not meant to be "good" when I feel pressured to create something perfect and just fuck around with colours like I did as a kid to remember that it's the act of creating that's the point not creating a masterpiece. So I think it's important to adapt the advice to your life and remember that it won't work for everyone and getting burned out doesn't mean you don't like art enough and it's okay to take a break.
I really like how this channel doesn't treat drawing as someting sacred that only the elite can do (which i feel like most channels do), but as an actual hobby that anyone can get into. Great video, Scott! Really inspired me to go and draw something! (After you said to go draw a vampire, I think i'm gonna go do that)
Had an art teacher that treated art like it was some sort of elite exclusive club. "If you suck you suck. You'll never get better so don't waste your (my) time" for too long I've listened to her. Point is do what you love, art is art its not exclusive to any style.
@@sincorazon9920some people treat drawing like you must have an expensive drawing tablet or expensive watercolour paints to make “real” art and truly be an artist, i think that’s what he meant. while scott (ssavaart) is friendly and shows that you can draw even with cheap materials, focusing on what REALLY matters: make art
I burned myself out so badly by following this sentiment for six years straight that I eventually couldn't draw anymore. In my case I bought thick sketchbooks with several hundred and I set the goal to finish one each year. First four went smoothly, but then it got worse and worse and I had to force myself the last two before I hit the wall completely in 2019. It stressed me out so badly that I would cry if I missed more than a day of drawing. I'm only just now getting back into drawing and I'll never push myself that hard ever again. I realise it works great for some people, and during those years I did enjoy myself and improved tremendously, but pushing yourself when it's not enjoyable anymore just causes harm in the long run, in my experience.
In my experience drawing what you want to is best for everything. For example I love to draw nature and animals and once I feel comfortable I will try different things and I do draw everyday.. but the everyday drawings can be a simple sketch, a pen doodle, just anything actually!
I doodle in my sketchbook, I make comics in it, I also started new mediums (gouache and ink recently) in sketchbooks because I can be free with it. And you really don't need a very nice sketchbook! Most of mine cost 1 or 2 dollars! Yeah! If it is not costly you won't be afraid to just mess up!
I had this problem with Duolingo :D I had a good streak going, but then I got overwhelmed with life, couldn't actually do the lessons and started redoing old lessons just to maintain my streak. It ended up just piling more stress onto my day. Take a break when you need to, especially when it comes to hobbies. They're supposed to give you joy, not burnout.
Honestly I can't push myself to do anything at all, I tried to make a schedule on when to practice anatomy and other stuff but it only takes 2-7 days until I completely forget about it, but I really can't imagine pushing myself to the point where it's not enjoyable anymore, I can't even do that with my studies which are way more important. I hope you're doing okay right now and don't push yourself too hard and remember to take breaks regularly.
I've seen some of these "dont draw every day" videos - the ones I've seen talk mostly about burnout, wrist issues, and I remember seeing some that recommended alternative methods for those who can't draw every day for whatever reason. As an aside, I'm one of those "almost always draws their ocs" artists! my characters are what bring me joy and are ultimately what help me branch out lol. it's a lot harder to make myself draw something i don't care about, but if one of my silly guys is involved it immediately becomes easier.
My characters are also what bring me joy. Luckily, it's not a one or the other thing, or all or nothing thing. If I miss some days working or living life, that's just fine. I also practice drawing what I see around me, and in turn that can help our character art! It's great to be able to plop my character on a bike or at a restaurant with what I learned from life drawing
It happens to me sometimes too, huh I need to practice backgrounds, but I absolutely hate drawing a forest... Oh, if I insert an oc somewhere (even if it's in a little tiny corner like he's just admiring the forest) suddenly I feel motivated to make that forest the best scenery I've drawn in years!
I think different people may need different versions of the same advice. Drawing everyday can be good for some, but for others, depending on their situation. They may take it too far and burn out. The brain is a muscle so I think when people hear that advice they may overwork themselves or felt guilty for not drawing just one day. “Draw regularly, as much as you can.” is a variation on it which I personally like. Though I agree with what you’re saying Scott. Love these longer videos!
Hm, I'd say draw regularly or everyday as much as you like. You won't improve if you don't enjoy the challenge, but "as much as you can" will lead many to burnout, as there will come times where they could draw but don't want to
The typical advice to draw every day is still unhelpful if your brain is different and you don’t have the interest. My autistic adhd brain won’t be forced, persuaded or tricked. I know I’m not alone in neurodivergence here. I’m done after a few days and need a break, it is indeed about what works for you. I’ve also dealt with stress, pain and fatigue for years, and none of them help get things done.
It clearly isn't directed at you. The "draw everyday" advice is for those wanting to improve at a certain rate. The more you draw, the more frequently you draw, the better you will be at it, provided you practice a variety of drawings and styles and you enjoy doing it. After all, drawing is a skill, there are no cheat codes to suddenly improve if you don't put enough effort into it. There are ways to use your ADHD to your advantage in other types of hobbies, but drawing is practice.
Except when advice is given without mentioning exceptions then it does feel like it's directed at you. Rarely do people mention those exceptions when giving advice, therefore people it's not meant for struggle and feel like a failure when they can't utilize the advice given to "everybody" until they, hopefully realize that they have to do what works for them.@@rRekko
@@ZeallustImmortalpeople with autism and ADHD experience executive dysfunction which means that they have a hard time doing and prioritizing tasks even if they need to do them. I recommend watching videos about that and Pathological Demand Avoidance to understand us more. There's a video from How To ADHD about the great wall of awful that discusses this for example. My way of describing it is that for it's like that scene in Turning Red where Mei is going through a portal that separates herself from her Panda. Sometimes when I try to do a task even if it's one I really enjoy, I will struggle like she did in that scene. It is genuinely a lot of effort and struggle against my brain and sometimes I make it through and enjoy the task. And other times, the effort drains me so much, I don't do as well as I would have if I just waited the next day for a "good brain day" as How To ADHD puts it.
I had an artist recommend doing any amount every day, even if its just for a minute. The advice was for habit forming first, and this is a good next step for when I have the habit of daily drawing down better. Thanks for the advice!
"Draw everything" to me means keep your practice "experimental" and "fun" to keep your creativity flowing and alive. I'm a rather new artist, so I'm just so glad you clarified this. 😊
I get overwhelmed by the amount of possibilities of things I can draw. Recently, I've started using a colour palette generator before every drawing. The pallet I'm given dictates what I am going to draw. Already I have drawn a landscape and an animal, which is something I never drew before doing this. I always focused so specifically on humans. This has been the best way I have found so far to force my art to branch out without feeling overwhelmed.
Learning art is like working out Some people work out everyday and go to the gym frequently, these guys get the most results compared to casuals who only go every other day Same goes with art, frequency really changes how fast one can improve, and how *much* they can improve That goes to say tho, CONSISTENCY is also important. You cant just draw everyday for 2 weeks then suddenly stop then do it again a month later
Yeah but we also need rest so we don’t burn out! I think being consistent is better than anything. Someone who goes to the gym every other day or every week might not improve as fast as the person who goes to the gym everyday, but they might not be able to go to the gym everyday without burning out. They might have other stuff to do. Not doing it as often I don’t think is better or worse than the other option, just different. As he said, do what works for you! And as you draw consistently, you might start wanting to draw more often.
@@pixelzebra8440 yup, my cousin told me that too She gave me the recommendation to work out every other day but I was like "Why not everyday?" And it's exactly as you said. It's to ease in, doing it everyday too much will be hard to keep up for someone new and will reach burnout quick, losing all the progress. It's only when people pick up the pace where doing it everyday is feasible I remember when I was new and tried to draw as much as I can I really struggled and it felt like a chore that I didnt enjoy. Now I strive to draw everyday because art is now a hobby that Im used to and enjoy passionately
Not a good analogy actually, your muscles can't recover from training everyday and lots of people end up growing more on a 3 or 4 day split. But yeah most people who make it far in the gym are learning something about it everyday even if they're not in the gym, like how to not overtrain.
a major problem I have is that my art is very inconsistent because of my stupid ass brain not wanting to sometimes n having issues with academics is there any help on these situations, or do I hav to hav to wait till graduation n deal with this effectively?
This is actually a really good video because of the idea of draw everything around you. For a while I have only been drawing same-ish stuff but this is my wake up call that there is so much other cool things I could be drawing. As for the draw everyday part while I do understand that it is important to help build the skill, it is also important not to push yourself too hard and to balance the fun and the skill in it But this was genuinely such a great message, thank you for making this.
To each their own, if people don't want to practice every day and that works for them, that's fine. I find that in my case, whenever I don't draw daily, my skills starts to slip and I have to work my way up again. Things like line quality, ability to see proportions, etc, everything seems to reset to a lesser level than where I left off.
The best art I've made came after periods of resting and indirectly looking at references and other art and of course enjoying myself with movies and books and comics and more. To force yourself to draw every single day would lead to burn out, but also to ONLY draw when you want "searching for a muse" will lead to a self-conscious bad habit for the mind and body. Just try to have fun, even if its work and even if it doesn't always come out great!
I used to draw my original characters and from imagination but it got boring and I barely saw improvement but when I started actually drawing random things in my surrounding, I started seeing the improvement after just a short time so I definitely agree
"Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour". This quote from a 1785 poem by William Cowper. Scott, this is exactly the point you make in this video. In order to learn and expand those pathways in your creative brain, one has to explore through drawing different subjects and trying different medium, if possible. Go off the well worn path and explore! Wonderful video.
That’s why I prefer the Practise with Smart Strategy approach I know , an essential skil that every artist should Master is Colour theory , sketching , inking and colouring but know how to built and control a concept and not to be overwhelmed by it , also an important skill that artist should have , if you have a strong concept then you can create a good art
Could you draw the olympic gods next? Or the heros of the trojan war or the odyssee? I'm a fan of greek mythology and I wish there would be more cool and epic art of them in new styles, not just old statues... but I can never realy find annything I like, exept fot the art of wolfy the witch and viria. I tryed drawing a family tree of the 12 olympians once, but I would realy love to see it in your style... 🥺🙏
I think what those peeps mean by "You don't have to draw everyday" is "You don't have to feel like you have to make a big piece or masterpiece every day"; which I agree with. Doing sketches and studies every day (without pushing yourself all the time, mind you) is a really nice way to approach it (at least for me). Your video is really spot on, though. Learning to draw a variety of things is really important and can be useful to have in your artsy tool kit (and is something I have to get myself to do 😅 ). Great video, dude 👌!
This is the advice I apply to myself. I draw everyday as a freelancer, but I don't finish an art piece everyday lol. Most of the time I feel content just to see an idea sketched out cleanly, even if it's just a character close-up, and then tomorrow I sketch something else when there's another idea to get started on. If ever I don't have ideas I like to draw everyday, I work on completing an artpiece by splicing its drawing process throughout the week: sketching one day, base colors tomorrow, shading the day after that, and refining it on the next day, etc.
ive been drawing my characters (and still do) for 3+ yrs now consistently and very recently i started digitally painting buses! and now my background game is stronger than ever so big vouch for this tip 😊 have a nice day Scott
The idea that you shouldn't draw often or practice a lot confused me at first because the one thing that has helped my art improve the most over the past year is drawing consistently. (And RUclips tutorials). I wholeheartedly agree that you should draw everything, everyday if you can, but would also recommend to go back to your old skills from time to time so that you don't end up like me, who temporarily forgot how to draw side profiles, lol; and to take a break if you're burnt out or have art block.
I think a lot of people do miss that point in the advice. It sounds shallow, if you only stop at the surface of it. It's meant to urge you to draw with intention, and to do a little bit each day. Either pick something to study for a few days, draw from reference, or just draw the things around you. [Edit: I also see several videos that I have watched in the initial crawl: Trent Kaniuga, Brookes Eggleston, and Mohammed Agbadi. I think their main point is usually burnout. Just drawing with no focus can demotivate you from continuing.]
As a professional pianist, I know from experience. The essence of all art is spontaneity, and nothing kills spontaneity faster than working at it too hard.
Also, improvement isn't necessarily about constant practice. You can suddenly understand how to play a piece of music *because* you allowed yourself to unwind (All big discoveries *only* emerge during stillness. That's why pauses or times to unwind are the most productive times of the day)
Hard disagree. You think those giant paintings from hundreds of years ago were anything close to spontaneous? Most were planned out meticulously, and the same thing happens today with a lot of art. Lot's of brainstorming about it, measuring, sketching. Playing a piano piece that is composed beforehand is like looking at a painting that's already done. But composing the piece didn't happen overnight.
@@ZTRCTGuy maybe it’s more accurate to say the root of art is expression, rather than spontaneity? Though even with brainstorming etc, sometimes that comes from having an idea out of the blue that you just have to get down on paper, and it develops even more as you work.
This is why i have hundreds of ocs. Each one has helped me learn how to draw different thing and are all inspired by different things as well. I may not be able to draw every day, but i can try my best to learn every day.
The gym analogy is one that could be compared to this. Some people who are not used to it or are taught that all art must be perfect get really tired, burned out, and when they cannot do it every day they think there is something wrong with them. like people who just started at the gym and expect are expected to do the same as those who are trained for it, they get burned out and quit. They think that they are not enough. Like going to the gym, whether it is because of work or mental/physical illness, some people have a much harder time then others. I draw everyday because it is a way for me to safely cope and become free of my own physically crippled body, creating endless worlds and doodles. It also loosens me of the expectations that every drawing must be good, so I am finally able to practice things I am really bad at, and also draw thinks just for fun. When I'm filling up at least 15 sketch pages a day, art finally becomes fun for me because I don't have to be perfect, any thing is good enough for me. However it is different for every person. Finding what works the best for you varies from one person to another; if you are trying to pursue freedom of the mind, whether it is in art, music, gaming, writing, or simply communicating with others, I think that you are doing wonderful. You are continuing moving forward, no matter where you are at. And it is okay to be proud of that. In fact, it is very good to be proud of that. Because often time success and pride are a VERY good motivator when you have lived your life afraid/full of what is seen as failure.
This is why I love Fantasy Genesis, it's an art instruction book whose main thing is a dice rolling system to pick what to draw, and the end result often winds up combining things that forces you to learn to draw a different real-life things while still maintaining the allure of "drawing from the imagination" because you're combining them to make fantasy creatures and magic items. Like getting sheep, pinecone, bubbles, and shovel, so you try to make a sheep made out of bubbles getting popped by pinecones, maybe while trying to defend itself with a shovel? So now you've got a fun idea, and several real-life things you can work on in the drawing without the "boring" aspect many people ascribe to still lifes and studies. It's also got a couple of optional roll tables for things like poses as well.
* behold the cone of shame * 😅. Thank you for this video. I've been trying to incorporate art back into my life, and i may take your advice from this video.
I've currently been animating everyday since about a week ago, and I've seen tremendous improvement in line confidence, decision making, and efficiency!! I totally felt a bit burnt out at times, but for those days I just did a bit of a project and left it for the next day. Definitely understand what you can do for today, and how you can continue it tomorrow! (Even a little doodle counts!!)
@@Watchmedothatfor.unot all viewers are going to be active artists. Either they’re in a slump, or sometimes they’re new, or whatever else. Being a member really only says this person supports this creator in what they do, it doesn’t automatically mean they’re actively creating art themselves. Good luck on the journey btw! I also just got back to it after a years-long slump.
When I was still a beginner, I thought "draw every day" meant I had to draw something GOOD every day, and it actually kept me from drawing at all. Which is why I love your perspective on this! Draw EVERYTHING! Even if you end up with a drawing you dont like, you still created something. And every bad drawing is another step to making more good drawings 😁
You don't need to draw exactly what you see, nor do you even need to find inspiration from your surrounding. That's not the point he was trying to make. The point is, you need to branch out to improve. You need to draw different things. If you draw nothing but people, you're soon gonna find that you can't draw a background, or a buildings, or objects. Art is not just one skill, but multiple different skills that come together to create art itself. Whether you like it or not, the skills that go into drawing buildings and towns, also go into drawing people. The same applies to styles. Realism helps you understand abstraction. I'm just spitballing at this point, but I hope you understand what I'm saying.
so, i have recently transitioned to mke art my full time, and despite always having to work with people, being in the service indu7stry, i am an extremely introverted person, and i feel like i am comfortable around people only when i'm doing something i don't really care about (Like serving or organizing the groceries store). But in these 5 months of basically pure isolation, despite drawing everyday, i feel like my art is kind of stuck in a limbo where it's not bad, but it neither is any good, i was thinking of taking my time to actually go outside, touch some grass and sketch around, maybe have a plain air session too. This video gave me the motivation to actually go do it. Thank you sir for always being a huge inspiration.
I think the danger of a "Draw Everyday" mentality is the expectation that you must have a result or even a finished drawing every day. That sort of pressure can actually inhibit your motivation and creativity. But if you approach it differently, drawing everyday just means drawing ANYTHING every day. It could be something small, ugly, stupid, "uncreative" and most importantly unfinished. The important part is the habit, the consistency.
I absolutely agree. I remember last year I had practiced drawing everyday after not drawing for months and filled a lot of sketchbooks throughout the year. I noticed that maybe I'm not as bad at art as I thought, it's just my art style needed more practicing. I wish to do the same this year but with digital art although I find it difficult.
you just flipping through your sketchbook was the most awesome thing i have ever seen. your art is absolutely amazing and i dont think i realized how good you are at making simple things look spectacular until you flipped through it
I.. this hits hard. I usually try really hard to draw my OC, and ONLY my OC. I’ve been drawing seriously for around 4 years and only drawing my OC. Maybe it’s time to try and draw stuff different. I barely know how to draw objects, animals and scenery. Thank you for this message for me :D
Suggestion: draw your Oc in an environment! Here are some ideas: Swimming Getting lunch On a swing Laying on the beach In a treehouse Or any place in your oc’s story, think about their personality and where they’d like to go. I hope this helps you. (:
Going outside really helped me when I was practicing human proportions, because it forced me to remember how someone was standing before they moved. So in a sense, it also helped me learn how to sketch faster!
When I try to draw/paint every day it feels like a task and that is stress, but I want it to be a relaxing hobby. A break is good for inspiration and even after one year without any practice I got better at making art
Scott always has the best advice I have been drawing since 6 grade and inspired some of my friends to draw, I always told them draw something you haven’t before challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone so you try something different and may even like it 🙂
My take is that it just isn't possible to draw every day for some people. I have problems with my hands and if I drew every day, it would wreck my hands and put me in so much pain. While for some people this advice is fine, but it is very defeating for others. I think we really need to stop making large sweeping advice or remember at least that some people have difficulties that require different options.
For me personally, I think drawing everyday helps me (mainly because I always like to and can’t get tired of it) Even if I get low on ideas, I can always think of how to draw maybe my favorite characters or older ocs of mine. I feel like it’s different for each person: Some people can benefit from everyday drawing while others simply cannot see themselves doing that, so I believe it just depends on the person. Not everyone learns the same way. However, for myself personally, I choose to draw every day. Simply because I like drawing enough to try working on something each day, though not to an excessive amount where I experience burnout.
Also important to understand “draw everyday” does NOT mean “all day”. It’s good just to draw for 20minutes every day. Don’t overdue it by drawing for 12hrs day. Don’t burn yourself out. Just be consistent (like working out tbh) Also don’t feel like you can’t draw fun stuff. Yes draw boots and clocks and people on the bus. But draw your OC too so you are reminded why you draw!!
And to not always want to draw a finished piece, but instead just draw! Sure sometimes you want to finish it, and that’s good, but sometimes you don’t and that’s fine too.
Before late 2023 I never used to draw ocs but after I started I realized that my ability to make two drawings in different styles has greatly improved so do what's best and don't force it
This. 100%. It's also immensely helpful to just do it and not worry about being perfect every time. That's a recipe to give up before you start. Creating art should be enjoyable. If you put too much pressure on it to be perfect every time, you'll never improve, because you'll be too discouraged. IMO. Love your channel, btw.
I agree. I used to tackle everything in middle school when I realized I wanted to be a professional comic-artist. I drew trees, furniture, practiced sketching and all that jazz. the pencil was my instrument. once you understand the anatomy of drawing you'll be able to draw anything that your mind projects inside your skull. i'm rusty nowadays lol
I was given this advice during my time as a middle schooler, my parents saw that i liked to draw and sent me to an art course. This absolutely fried my passion for drawing and until now i rarely even pick up a sketch book or open up a drawing application. I practically almost gave up, thankfully the pandemic happened and that spiraled me into absolute boredom that i picked up art again, in another form this time which is 3d modelling. Drawing and practicing everyday may be a good advice to some but most advices i hear and see almost everywhere kept forgetting one thing and that is to keep your passion and motivation in check, because if you lose that motivation you'll eventually just get stuck. Only until i picked up art again i finally understand why i stopped and that's because it felt like a chore. I was given deadlines, objectives and by the end of the day i had no time to make what i want. I asked for help why i'm stuck there and why i'm starting to lose it and people spewing the same advice over and over again just broke the camels back for me. My advice is just to do whatever YOU want first then try new things as a secondhand because you will discover new things eventually at your own pace, some might get there faster than others, not everyone is the same. This will give you the practice you need as an artist while also keeping your motivation in check. Also take breaks, trying to practice everyday without stop is like training by punching a wall over and over until your knuckles bleed without giving it time to heal.
One of my favourite things to do recently is draw my lecturers. Sounds unproductive in terms of my lecture, but it actually keeps me focused and grounded so I don’t daydream, and I get to practice drawing faces and bodies from a moving subject. It also means I’m doing 5 minute sketches every day and I’m loving it!
I’m the type of artist that needs to feel like my art has purpose. So I only really got out of my ten year artist block and started improving when I started working on an indie project. I stepped completely out of my comfort zone and started drawing monsters. I’ve never drawn monsters. I’m very into romantic fantasy stuff. But monsters were a nice change of pace for me!
thank you, you are just an online stranger but you have helped me much much more then most people, i have undiagnosed autism / adhd (i’m sure of it) and i always was the weird kid, but you are awesome i love you and your art style thanks for everything :)
Scott, two things. 1. One of my sister’s sculptures was featured in an art show a couple weeks ago, and another girl had made a watercolor portrait of you. It warmed my heart to see it. You really are inspiring so many young artists! 2. I crochet stuffed animals, and I’ve been careful to preserve the fun I have doing it. So many people have been encouraging me to open an Etsy shop (which I want to at some point), but right now, I’m just having fun making whatever comes across my Pinterest feed. For a lot of the same reasons you’ve listed in this video, it’s allowed me to do a greater variety of things and try new techniques I wouldn’t be able to if I was trying to mass-produce bees and leggy frogs. I’ve made things from a tiny Loch Ness Monster to a 4-foot-long goose! I’m still able to do commissions on an individual basis, most of which have also given me the freedom to experiment and make something truly special. The learning and making something new is what keeps me invested in my hobby! Thanks, as always, for your amazing advice!
Oh. I love to hear that. So happy you're enjoying crochet. And congratulations to your sister! That's amazing. And someone did a portrait of me in watercolors? Wow!
Thank you so much for your advice and inspiration! You definitely have a point. Most of my life I didn’t like to leave my comfort zone of drawing “flying heads”, because «nah I can’t draw “this object”», however I even didn’t try. It was such a great kick for me to finally draw more and draw different things and to finally say «wow, I can do that». I’m really glad that I found your channel some years ago, Scott. You are an important part of my journey as an artist and I learned a lot from you 💛
The everything part is important i think also because the problem with "draw every day" advice is it can really feel like a chore. Many people do also advise beginners to draw what they want to draw, but often what happens is we end up drawing what we think we should be enjoying instead of actually being open to exploring. Especially with cultural influences and social media we can get tunnel vision to draw the cool stuff always. Drawing even the most boring stuff can be fun if you're open to it. So draw everything every day, and openly approach new subject matter. But also since exercise metaphors are popular with art, you don't go to the gym if you're sick or injured trying to do the normal routine. So if you are burnt out, have emotional distress, anything that would affect your performance then don't hold yourself to the same standard as you would on a good day. Take care of yourself, you can't expect to do your best if you're not doing well
Been trying out acrylic paint in a somewhat similar style as your gouaches (because your guache paintings are truly amazing) and as frustrating as it is i can tell im improving as i go along. Thank you for your inspiration, kind words, and truly jaw dropping art. Your humanity is contagious and i wish you nothing but the best.❤
I read the video title and thought it’s about not having to draw *everyday,* that in the busy day to day life „as often as possible“ is enough and that you don’t have to beat yourself up if you only manage to draw, for example around every second instead of *every* day. 2:04 Maybe that is what I *wanted* to hear 😅, but yeah, I agree with the premise of the video, even though it’s something I already know.
That specificity about defining “everything” is so important. I realize a lot of those RUclipsrs are saying something similar, like learn to do art that makes you improve more efficiently, but I like that artistic joy is at the center of your teaching. You’re such a lovely teacher. (From a fan, follower, and queer cartoonist) 💙
That sketchbook is an art uni professor's dream come true lmao - but fr this video just summarizes what first-year art majors have to come to grips with. It’s either understand and do this or change major. So, if art is a serious path you want to take, then this video isn’t just advice, it’s fact.
i agree with this, also dont try to force to draw everday if your mood is not in the right time, it can let you out into an artblock or negative thinking. just draw when your mood is perfect, if you dont have it, just dont. take a time and relax or do some other things (gaming, cooking, cleaning, workout, etc). i always use this method like this, and it always worked everytime for me
Thank you for the way you bring your thoughts and advice and just... everything... to us in such a gentle way. You, and Donna too, have really made me see some things from a whole new perspective.
I just love to draw that's why I've been doing that for a month now. I just started and I really think that's a good advice especially for beginners like me
I feel that this is one of those cases where as an artist you gotta find what works better for you, I still try to draw everyday, and some days I just can't draw anything, when I get like that I take a break so I don't burnout or go crazy. Some of the tips I got from other artists, it was to find the fun in the process and don't let the frustration of past works get in my head when I'm doing new work, the frustration of other works can end up building up to the point of you just not wanting to draw anymore
I haven't drawn in years. I tried to learn illustration for two years (which in the drawing medium is basically nothing), and gave up after immense frustration. I've seen people always tell me that I should draw every day, draw regularly, draw as much as you can because that mean you will improve much faster... And that just made me hate drawing. The more I forced myself to draw, the more I dreaded the idea of practicing. It got to a point where I, years after stopping, every time I considered starting drawing again, I just remembered all of the circle and lineart practices, all of the anatomy study, gesture, shading, pencil pressure, and I associated all of that with immense dread and pain. So I never tried again. In the end, I think that not only drawing, but any skill you develop, doesn't HAVE to be a job. It can be something you do for yourself only. From that perspective, it doesn't matter the frequency that you draw, or what kind of things you draw, as long as you're aware and accepting of the consequences of taking things at a slow pace. Now I've been doing graphic design and game programming, at my own pace... and I've never been happier with how far I've come. Drawing is easily one of the most devastatingly hard skills you could ever try to develop. So don't push yourself too much if that would cost your passion.
this is a really interesting point and I understand both sides. this year I found a middle ground and am taking part in the daily doodle diary challenge, this way I'm drawing everyday but as it's a 'doodle diary', it could literally just be a minute long doodle some days, I think this way will help form a routine whilst avoiding burnout 🥰
I don’t draw every day, but I always try to be creative every day. Sometimes the process of drawing feels a little daunting when I have low energy and motivation, and I usually just draw full pieces rather than small practice sketches. So sometimes other creative practices like customizing one of my figures and painting it sometimes feel easier and simpler since the piece is technically done and I’m just doing final retouches, even if my skill and efficiency at it may make it take longer and be more difficult than drawing. So I may not draw every day, but I do try to sculpt, paint, craft, customize, and be creative in any way I can each day
for me, taking a day or two off from the week really helps with my motivation. First of all, when I'm creating more means that I have to consume less, and it can leave me without inspiration. taking those days off allows me to kind of... look at the reasons why I wanted to be an artist. secondly, life isn't just art and I like to focus on doing other stuff too. doing this also makes me to miss drawing, which like I said it's helpful for the motivation thing.
I drew a fully finished illustration everyday on my tablet everyday last year and it was fun, very challenging but fun. I highly recommend everyone to do it and see what happens ❤
This really helped me. I've been drawing my original character constantly for a few weeks now and it just doesn't feel right. I wasn't improving and it reminded me how much i hated my art course I'm taking with my incompetent teachers. But I'll do this. I'll slug through my art course and draw everything when i can to make up for it. I already have a quote of yours on my sketchbook, "make bad art so you can be good" so now I'll have to add "draw *everything*"
You will improve, trust me. My advice would be to progress from easier things to more complex and more detailed subjects, but than also challenge yourself sometimes and try drawing things you have no idea how to draw and be fine if it doesn't look super good at first ... Try not to criticise yourself but look at the picture and objectively observe what works, what doesn't and why ... Hope this was a bit helpful ...
This really brightened my mood and opeene my mind a bit on ehst to draw. Ive bren shving a little bit of art block this week and now i got a bit of an idea on ehat to draw now. Thank you for another lovely video!
thank you scott for this advice, I've only recently caught up to things in art and I'm trying to learn some basics by myself. i haven't really drawn for a long time (2 years or so) and I'm trying to learn the best I can through both digital and traditional art, I normally just did sketches of heads and all but I'm escalating that these days by drawing characters, forming things into simple shapes for ease, and sketching anatomy (and I plan to do much more in the future). I'm still a young artist and you really helped me when I started, thanks man! Also, I do semi-realism for the most part, i haven't done that much but you helped me reignite my passion for just, doing things that I like to do! :]
Depending on the situation and the intelligence of each person, I'm myself a full-time artist who currently is working on several storybook projects, so I have no other choice, but to draw everyday, as quick as possible I have to get them done, usually takes over 12-14 hours of work time a day n then I must learn other subjects n also do home chores. I do it for living, not for fun, for the most part, however I can enjoy the process, I'm pretty encouraged to do that every single day, doesn't worsen my art at all. 😂
0:08 - That's my video up there. Just to clarify, I still and always have found 'Drawing Everyday' to be a GREAT piece of advice.
I follow it myself and encourage others to do so.
What I was communicating in the video was to not "should" yourself into it. I.e strong rules that causes you have an "all or nothing" mentality.
As a result of that thinking, I've found people get into these "art blocks" which are infact a result of their own unrealistic expectations. And not the act of daily drawing.
I also found it strangly odd when a lot of these folks started saying it was "bad advice" without any solid arguments to back it up.
I agree with what you are saying in this video and super happy to see a voice thats sharing a valid argument for what I consider to be a profound piece of advice.
"Drawing Everyday" not only taught me the skill that I have now, but also the wisdom of doing hard things that matters.
Thank you! I admit... I didn't get to watch all of the videos. So, I'm SO happy to hear that you were communicating that artist's need to give themselves a break. That's wonderful advice.
By the way... your thumbnails are SO good! I'm just starting to make long form videos and the thumbnails are the hardest part.
You make it look so easy.
Pinning this so people can check out your video as well. ♥
Yeah I tried doing an art study every day, but I ended up a little burned out by a week and lost my streak lol
@@ssavaart hey thats alright! We share similar perspectives and it's nice to know how you think about this. Mine has evolved so much from that video as well. At the end of the day, people find and reveal their own ways and convos like these give many the option to explore.
And thank you! About the thumbnails, I definitely am learning as well😅. Let me know if I can help in any way. I can share what has worked for me :)
Hi kesh ❤
I agree that in art, nothing helps you more than practice. However I feel like drawing everyday can lead to burnout or art block. So I try to practice a lot but still with a bit of caution as to not overwork and burn out.
I totally agree! Not that drawing every day is bad advice, but we gotta be careful about that, especially if we tend to get bored of things quickly or if we have a tendency to pressure ourselves too much. When I decide to draw every day I get anxious, because not every day do I have the energy to draw (which is ok), but I feel guilty for not drawing, so it just makes me stressed. So, I've been learning to take things more naturally. If I feel like going a few days without drawing, that's fine. I love art, so I'll get back to it anyways. I just need time to get some energy and motivation. Of course, drawing is about practice, but I think being too worried about consistency takes away some of the fun in making art.
@@rafaelatakami8019 I resonate a lot with what's been said here. I have my good days and bad weeks with art and pushing myself to draw everyday can often be very taxing after completing a piece I like.
I usually like to spend 2-3 days working on a piece I'm liking and then step away from the pencils for a bit to let the high die down so I don't expect a masterpiece with my next venture
If you have a bad habit, though, you may not be able to see it if you keep doing it. Or if you have migraines, it can screw up your perception- most of the time, my art looks like picasso thanks to my migraines. Pushing through creates muscle memory- which is extremely difficult to correct. You need to take breaks. If you are struggling, you need to step away. If you don't, you'll f yourself over.
@@rafaelatakami8019 When I first started drawing everyday, I'd get frustrated and it was very hard. It was like I was forcing my hand to move but my brain didn't want to move. Nowadays I am finding it easier. I didn't say easy though, just easier.
I think the point is that you don't have to make masterpieces everyday. I personally don't draw all the time in a day. I might do timed life drawing in the morning, then draw a man from imagination in the afternoon. And that's it. On some days I might just draw something like a flower and then not draw again for the entire day. What matters to me is to move my hands.
Sometimes I just draw lines and shapes as part of my practice to enhance my line quality and freehand shape drawing since lines and shapes are building blocks in all drawings.
@@rafaelatakami8019 I found an easy solution for that uk. If I would get bored of something then I would switch the colour mediums cause mastering them is also imp. I would draw totally different things two consecutive day or I would draw my old painting in a new style. These things can keep u from burning out and feeling forced to draw.
I get both sides, drawing everyday helps build a habit + practice while at the same time it could possibly lead to burnout. I know personally when I first heard the 'draw everyday' phrase I felt pressured to try and do a masterpiece everyday, which I got really overwhelmed by. So I really like what you said about just doing sketches, doodles and observations. That's a much better way at looking at it!
I think that’s where I went wrong whilst trying to draw everyday for a month
Yup, people who get burnout are usually those who don't really like drawing or those who put too much pressure on themselves to do better.
In reality, like in any other creative avenue, you just have to do what makes you happy or what entertains you. Sometimes you just wanna use that medium to get rid off or plaster your frustrations and stress too. But pressuring yourself to keep going and to improve no matter what rather than just trying to enjoy your hobby is what leads to burnout, especially when your livelihood is on the line, which is what we see with all the anti "AI art", instead of blocking off typical morons and just keep doing what you want, there is a certain frustration that shouldn't be there in the first place.
@@rRekkoI mean AI images are theft. People and especially artists are justified in being against it.
I agree, just saying "draw every day" can put pressure or hinder people. Some days you might not be in a good head space or dont have the time and this could lead to being disappointed with yourself and your work. What has helped me is learning that I can just draw gesture or life drawings when I don't feel creative or just draw something that's not meant to be "good" when I feel pressured to create something perfect and just fuck around with colours like I did as a kid to remember that it's the act of creating that's the point not creating a masterpiece. So I think it's important to adapt the advice to your life and remember that it won't work for everyone and getting burned out doesn't mean you don't like art enough and it's okay to take a break.
@@ellislahtinen7799 Well said!
I really like how this channel doesn't treat drawing as someting sacred that only the elite can do (which i feel like most channels do), but as an actual hobby that anyone can get into. Great video, Scott! Really inspired me to go and draw something! (After you said to go draw a vampire, I think i'm gonna go do that)
Have fun vampiring!
Which channels treat drawing as something only the elite can do??
Had an art teacher that treated art like it was some sort of elite exclusive club. "If you suck you suck. You'll never get better so don't waste your (my) time" for too long I've listened to her. Point is do what you love, art is art its not exclusive to any style.
@@sincorazon9920some people treat drawing like you must have an expensive drawing tablet or expensive watercolour paints to make “real” art and truly be an artist, i think that’s what he meant.
while scott (ssavaart) is friendly and shows that you can draw even with cheap materials, focusing on what REALLY matters: make art
When did drawing become an elite thing? Wasn't it a loser thing for the past 100 years, at least? O_o
I burned myself out so badly by following this sentiment for six years straight that I eventually couldn't draw anymore. In my case I bought thick sketchbooks with several hundred and I set the goal to finish one each year. First four went smoothly, but then it got worse and worse and I had to force myself the last two before I hit the wall completely in 2019. It stressed me out so badly that I would cry if I missed more than a day of drawing. I'm only just now getting back into drawing and I'll never push myself that hard ever again. I realise it works great for some people, and during those years I did enjoy myself and improved tremendously, but pushing yourself when it's not enjoyable anymore just causes harm in the long run, in my experience.
In my experience drawing what you want to is best for everything. For example I love to draw nature and animals and once I feel comfortable I will try different things and I do draw everyday.. but the everyday drawings can be a simple sketch, a pen doodle, just anything actually!
I doodle in my sketchbook, I make comics in it, I also started new mediums (gouache and ink recently) in sketchbooks because I can be free with it.
And you really don't need a very nice sketchbook! Most of mine cost 1 or 2 dollars! Yeah! If it is not costly you won't be afraid to just mess up!
Just remember that only draw when you want and what you want! Don't draw because you have to! Draw because you want to!
I had this problem with Duolingo :D
I had a good streak going, but then I got overwhelmed with life, couldn't actually do the lessons and started redoing old lessons just to maintain my streak. It ended up just piling more stress onto my day. Take a break when you need to, especially when it comes to hobbies. They're supposed to give you joy, not burnout.
Honestly I can't push myself to do anything at all, I tried to make a schedule on when to practice anatomy and other stuff but it only takes 2-7 days until I completely forget about it, but I really can't imagine pushing myself to the point where it's not enjoyable anymore, I can't even do that with my studies which are way more important. I hope you're doing okay right now and don't push yourself too hard and remember to take breaks regularly.
I've seen some of these "dont draw every day" videos - the ones I've seen talk mostly about burnout, wrist issues, and I remember seeing some that recommended alternative methods for those who can't draw every day for whatever reason.
As an aside, I'm one of those "almost always draws their ocs" artists! my characters are what bring me joy and are ultimately what help me branch out lol. it's a lot harder to make myself draw something i don't care about, but if one of my silly guys is involved it immediately becomes easier.
My characters are also what bring me joy. Luckily, it's not a one or the other thing, or all or nothing thing. If I miss some days working or living life, that's just fine. I also practice drawing what I see around me, and in turn that can help our character art! It's great to be able to plop my character on a bike or at a restaurant with what I learned from life drawing
This is the most real comment ever.
It happens to me sometimes too, huh I need to practice backgrounds, but I absolutely hate drawing a forest... Oh, if I insert an oc somewhere (even if it's in a little tiny corner like he's just admiring the forest) suddenly I feel motivated to make that forest the best scenery I've drawn in years!
I think different people may need different versions of the same advice. Drawing everyday can be good for some, but for others, depending on their situation. They may take it too far and burn out. The brain is a muscle so I think when people hear that advice they may overwork themselves or felt guilty for not drawing just one day. “Draw regularly, as much as you can.” is a variation on it which I personally like. Though I agree with what you’re saying Scott. Love these longer videos!
Hm, I'd say draw regularly or everyday as much as you like. You won't improve if you don't enjoy the challenge, but "as much as you can" will lead many to burnout, as there will come times where they could draw but don't want to
@@rRekko thats a very good take on it :]
@@rRekko I'd say "days where you could but don't want to" are not days where you "can" tbh :P
The typical advice to draw every day is still unhelpful if your brain is different and you don’t have the interest. My autistic adhd brain won’t be forced, persuaded or tricked. I know I’m not alone in neurodivergence here. I’m done after a few days and need a break, it is indeed about what works for you. I’ve also dealt with stress, pain and fatigue for years, and none of them help get things done.
It clearly isn't directed at you. The "draw everyday" advice is for those wanting to improve at a certain rate. The more you draw, the more frequently you draw, the better you will be at it, provided you practice a variety of drawings and styles and you enjoy doing it.
After all, drawing is a skill, there are no cheat codes to suddenly improve if you don't put enough effort into it.
There are ways to use your ADHD to your advantage in other types of hobbies, but drawing is practice.
Except when advice is given without mentioning exceptions then it does feel like it's directed at you. Rarely do people mention those exceptions when giving advice, therefore people it's not meant for struggle and feel like a failure when they can't utilize the advice given to "everybody" until they, hopefully realize that they have to do what works for them.@@rRekko
If you dont have the interest, why would you focus on it in the first place?
@@justmeherethereandeverywhere yes, this.
@@ZeallustImmortalpeople with autism and ADHD experience executive dysfunction which means that they have a hard time doing and prioritizing tasks even if they need to do them. I recommend watching videos about that and Pathological Demand Avoidance to understand us more. There's a video from How To ADHD about the great wall of awful that discusses this for example. My way of describing it is that for it's like that scene in Turning Red where Mei is going through a portal that separates herself from her Panda. Sometimes when I try to do a task even if it's one I really enjoy, I will struggle like she did in that scene. It is genuinely a lot of effort and struggle against my brain and sometimes I make it through and enjoy the task. And other times, the effort drains me so much, I don't do as well as I would have if I just waited the next day for a "good brain day" as How To ADHD puts it.
I had an artist recommend doing any amount every day, even if its just for a minute. The advice was for habit forming first, and this is a good next step for when I have the habit of daily drawing down better. Thanks for the advice!
“Don’t just draw everyday , draw with intension everyday” Emily artful
a fellow RUclipsr artist
"Draw everything" to me means keep your practice "experimental" and "fun" to keep your creativity flowing and alive. I'm a rather new artist, so I'm just so glad you clarified this. 😊
I get overwhelmed by the amount of possibilities of things I can draw. Recently, I've started using a colour palette generator before every drawing. The pallet I'm given dictates what I am going to draw. Already I have drawn a landscape and an animal, which is something I never drew before doing this. I always focused so specifically on humans. This has been the best way I have found so far to force my art to branch out without feeling overwhelmed.
Learning art is like working out
Some people work out everyday and go to the gym frequently, these guys get the most results compared to casuals who only go every other day
Same goes with art, frequency really changes how fast one can improve, and how *much* they can improve
That goes to say tho, CONSISTENCY is also important. You cant just draw everyday for 2 weeks then suddenly stop then do it again a month later
Yeah but we also need rest so we don’t burn out! I think being consistent is better than anything. Someone who goes to the gym every other day or every week might not improve as fast as the person who goes to the gym everyday, but they might not be able to go to the gym everyday without burning out. They might have other stuff to do. Not doing it as often I don’t think is better or worse than the other option, just different. As he said, do what works for you! And as you draw consistently, you might start wanting to draw more often.
@@pixelzebra8440 yup, my cousin told me that too
She gave me the recommendation to work out every other day but I was like "Why not everyday?"
And it's exactly as you said. It's to ease in, doing it everyday too much will be hard to keep up for someone new and will reach burnout quick, losing all the progress. It's only when people pick up the pace where doing it everyday is feasible
I remember when I was new and tried to draw as much as I can I really struggled and it felt like a chore that I didnt enjoy. Now I strive to draw everyday because art is now a hobby that Im used to and enjoy passionately
I’ve found there has been improvement over a few years even if I’ve taken weeks to come back to it.
Not a good analogy actually, your muscles can't recover from training everyday and lots of people end up growing more on a 3 or 4 day split. But yeah most people who make it far in the gym are learning something about it everyday even if they're not in the gym, like how to not overtrain.
a major problem I have is that my art is very inconsistent because of my stupid ass brain not wanting to sometimes n having issues with academics
is there any help on these situations, or do I hav to hav to wait till graduation n deal with this effectively?
This is actually a really good video because of the idea of draw everything around you. For a while I have only been drawing same-ish stuff but this is my wake up call that there is so much other cool things I could be drawing. As for the draw everyday part while I do understand that it is important to help build the skill, it is also important not to push yourself too hard and to balance the fun and the skill in it
But this was genuinely such a great message, thank you for making this.
To each their own, if people don't want to practice every day and that works for them, that's fine. I find that in my case, whenever I don't draw daily, my skills starts to slip and I have to work my way up again. Things like line quality, ability to see proportions, etc, everything seems to reset to a lesser level than where I left off.
The best art I've made came after periods of resting and indirectly looking at references and other art and of course enjoying myself with movies and books and comics and more. To force yourself to draw every single day would lead to burn out, but also to ONLY draw when you want "searching for a muse" will lead to a self-conscious bad habit for the mind and body. Just try to have fun, even if its work and even if it doesn't always come out great!
0:52 crying with animator's tears
I used to draw my original characters and from imagination but it got boring and I barely saw improvement but when I started actually drawing random things in my surrounding, I started seeing the improvement after just a short time so I definitely agree
A good habit to draw everyday but not good when you fall of it. So back with my art journal and Blackwing pencils and Donna journal wisdom.
"Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour". This quote from a 1785 poem by William Cowper. Scott, this is exactly the point you make in this video. In order to learn and expand those pathways in your creative brain, one has to explore through drawing different subjects and trying different medium, if possible. Go off the well worn path and explore! Wonderful video.
I draw every day
That’s why I prefer the Practise with Smart Strategy approach
I know , an essential skil that every artist should Master is Colour theory , sketching , inking and colouring but know how to built and control a concept and not to be overwhelmed by it
, also an important skill that artist should have , if you have a strong concept then you can create a good art
Could you draw the olympic gods next? Or the heros of the trojan war or the odyssee? I'm a fan of greek mythology and I wish there would be more cool and epic art of them in new styles, not just old statues... but I can never realy find annything I like, exept fot the art of wolfy the witch and viria. I tryed drawing a family tree of the 12 olympians once, but I would realy love to see it in your style... 🥺🙏
I think what those peeps mean by "You don't have to draw everyday" is "You don't have to feel like you have to make a big piece or masterpiece every day"; which I agree with. Doing sketches and studies every day (without pushing yourself all the time, mind you) is a really nice way to approach it (at least for me).
Your video is really spot on, though. Learning to draw a variety of things is really important and can be useful to have in your artsy tool kit (and is something I have to get myself to do 😅 ). Great video, dude 👌!
This is the advice I apply to myself. I draw everyday as a freelancer, but I don't finish an art piece everyday lol. Most of the time I feel content just to see an idea sketched out cleanly, even if it's just a character close-up, and then tomorrow I sketch something else when there's another idea to get started on. If ever I don't have ideas I like to draw everyday, I work on completing an artpiece by splicing its drawing process throughout the week: sketching one day, base colors tomorrow, shading the day after that, and refining it on the next day, etc.
ive been drawing my characters (and still do) for 3+ yrs now consistently and very recently i started digitally painting buses! and now my background game is stronger than ever so big vouch for this tip 😊 have a nice day Scott
The idea that you shouldn't draw often or practice a lot confused me at first because the one thing that has helped my art improve the most over the past year is drawing consistently. (And RUclips tutorials). I wholeheartedly agree that you should draw everything, everyday if you can, but would also recommend to go back to your old skills from time to time so that you don't end up like me, who temporarily forgot how to draw side profiles, lol; and to take a break if you're burnt out or have art block.
I think a lot of people do miss that point in the advice. It sounds shallow, if you only stop at the surface of it. It's meant to urge you to draw with intention, and to do a little bit each day. Either pick something to study for a few days, draw from reference, or just draw the things around you.
[Edit: I also see several videos that I have watched in the initial crawl: Trent Kaniuga, Brookes Eggleston, and Mohammed Agbadi. I think their main point is usually burnout. Just drawing with no focus can demotivate you from continuing.]
As a professional pianist, I know from experience. The essence of all art is spontaneity, and nothing kills spontaneity faster than working at it too hard.
Also, improvement isn't necessarily about constant practice. You can suddenly understand how to play a piece of music *because* you allowed yourself to unwind (All big discoveries *only* emerge during stillness. That's why pauses or times to unwind are the most productive times of the day)
@@Kyouma. The same way muscles only develop after the workout, not during it
Hard disagree. You think those giant paintings from hundreds of years ago were anything close to spontaneous? Most were planned out meticulously, and the same thing happens today with a lot of art. Lot's of brainstorming about it, measuring, sketching. Playing a piano piece that is composed beforehand is like looking at a painting that's already done. But composing the piece didn't happen overnight.
@@ZTRCTGuy maybe it’s more accurate to say the root of art is expression, rather than spontaneity? Though even with brainstorming etc, sometimes that comes from having an idea out of the blue that you just have to get down on paper, and it develops even more as you work.
i don’t draw everyday for practice, i draw everyday because it’s just fun
Keep these long form videos coming!!
This is why i have hundreds of ocs. Each one has helped me learn how to draw different thing and are all inspired by different things as well.
I may not be able to draw every day, but i can try my best to learn every day.
This video opened up my prospect on art. Thank you!
The gym analogy is one that could be compared to this. Some people who are not used to it or are taught that all art must be perfect get really tired, burned out, and when they cannot do it every day they think there is something wrong with them. like people who just started at the gym and expect are expected to do the same as those who are trained for it, they get burned out and quit. They think that they are not enough.
Like going to the gym, whether it is because of work or mental/physical illness, some people have a much harder time then others. I draw everyday because it is a way for me to safely cope and become free of my own physically crippled body, creating endless worlds and doodles. It also loosens me of the expectations that every drawing must be good, so I am finally able to practice things I am really bad at, and also draw thinks just for fun. When I'm filling up at least 15 sketch pages a day, art finally becomes fun for me because I don't have to be perfect, any thing is good enough for me.
However it is different for every person. Finding what works the best for you varies from one person to another; if you are trying to pursue freedom of the mind, whether it is in art, music, gaming, writing, or simply communicating with others, I think that you are doing wonderful. You are continuing moving forward, no matter where you are at. And it is okay to be proud of that. In fact, it is very good to be proud of that. Because often time success and pride are a VERY good motivator when you have lived your life afraid/full of what is seen as failure.
Thank you for this inspiring comment, I really wish you the best !
Artists aren't only inventors, we are thieves. If we aren't then we will never improve.
This is why I love Fantasy Genesis, it's an art instruction book whose main thing is a dice rolling system to pick what to draw, and the end result often winds up combining things that forces you to learn to draw a different real-life things while still maintaining the allure of "drawing from the imagination" because you're combining them to make fantasy creatures and magic items. Like getting sheep, pinecone, bubbles, and shovel, so you try to make a sheep made out of bubbles getting popped by pinecones, maybe while trying to defend itself with a shovel? So now you've got a fun idea, and several real-life things you can work on in the drawing without the "boring" aspect many people ascribe to still lifes and studies.
It's also got a couple of optional roll tables for things like poses as well.
Thank you so incredibly much, needed to hear this 💖
* behold the cone of shame * 😅. Thank you for this video. I've been trying to incorporate art back into my life, and i may take your advice from this video.
I've currently been animating everyday since about a week ago, and I've seen tremendous improvement in line confidence, decision making, and efficiency!! I totally felt a bit burnt out at times, but for those days I just did a bit of a project and left it for the next day. Definitely understand what you can do for today, and how you can continue it tomorrow! (Even a little doodle counts!!)
Thank you for that advice. I started drawing again recently and didn't know where to begin with. ❤
But you are a member ...
@@Watchmedothatfor.u why that comment?
@@Watchmedothatfor.unot all viewers are going to be active artists. Either they’re in a slump, or sometimes they’re new, or whatever else. Being a member really only says this person supports this creator in what they do, it doesn’t automatically mean they’re actively creating art themselves.
Good luck on the journey btw! I also just got back to it after a years-long slump.
Totally agree, also drawing will enrich my time and make me so motivated and positive everyday, art is a blessing for me in my life!!!
this is why i havent drawn in 5 months
When I was still a beginner, I thought "draw every day" meant I had to draw something GOOD every day, and it actually kept me from drawing at all. Which is why I love your perspective on this! Draw EVERYTHING! Even if you end up with a drawing you dont like, you still created something. And every bad drawing is another step to making more good drawings 😁
You’re so real for this, Scott. Adding this to my “art shit” playlist.
For me
The most important for improved in Art is too see a lot of references and draw them, and drawing more hard references while you do it
I find it so boring to draw from life
You don't need to draw exactly what you see, nor do you even need to find inspiration from your surrounding. That's not the point he was trying to make. The point is, you need to branch out to improve. You need to draw different things. If you draw nothing but people, you're soon gonna find that you can't draw a background, or a buildings, or objects.
Art is not just one skill, but multiple different skills that come together to create art itself. Whether you like it or not, the skills that go into drawing buildings and towns, also go into drawing people. The same applies to styles. Realism helps you understand abstraction.
I'm just spitballing at this point, but I hope you understand what I'm saying.
@@kidsto2612 Personally I would draw more backgrounds but I use my phone to draw so I lose patience and just draw characters
a
I think, the idea is just "draw different things, not the same"
Same
so, i have recently transitioned to mke art my full time, and despite always having to work with people, being in the service indu7stry, i am an extremely introverted person, and i feel like i am comfortable around people only when i'm doing something i don't really care about (Like serving or organizing the groceries store). But in these 5 months of basically pure isolation, despite drawing everyday, i feel like my art is kind of stuck in a limbo where it's not bad, but it neither is any good, i was thinking of taking my time to actually go outside, touch some grass and sketch around, maybe have a plain air session too. This video gave me the motivation to actually go do it. Thank you sir for always being a huge inspiration.
I think the danger of a "Draw Everyday" mentality is the expectation that you must have a result or even a finished drawing every day. That sort of pressure can actually inhibit your motivation and creativity. But if you approach it differently, drawing everyday just means drawing ANYTHING every day. It could be something small, ugly, stupid, "uncreative" and most importantly unfinished. The important part is the habit, the consistency.
I absolutely agree. I remember last year I had practiced drawing everyday after not drawing for months and filled a lot of sketchbooks throughout the year. I noticed that maybe I'm not as bad at art as I thought, it's just my art style needed more practicing. I wish to do the same this year but with digital art although I find it difficult.
you just flipping through your sketchbook was the most awesome thing i have ever seen. your art is absolutely amazing and i dont think i realized how good you are at making simple things look spectacular until you flipped through it
Thank you so much 😀
@@ssavaart i love how your sketchbook is also like a visual diary !!
Thank you. I needed to hear this❤
I.. this hits hard. I usually try really hard to draw my OC, and ONLY my OC. I’ve been drawing seriously for around 4 years and only drawing my OC. Maybe it’s time to try and draw stuff different. I barely know how to draw objects, animals and scenery. Thank you for this message for me :D
Suggestion: draw your Oc in an environment! Here are some ideas:
Swimming
Getting lunch
On a swing
Laying on the beach
In a treehouse
Or any place in your oc’s story, think about their personality and where they’d like to go. I hope this helps you. (:
Going outside really helped me when I was practicing human proportions, because it forced me to remember how someone was standing before they moved. So in a sense, it also helped me learn how to sketch faster!
When I try to draw/paint every day it feels like a task and that is stress, but I want it to be a relaxing hobby. A break is good for inspiration and even after one year without any practice I got better at making art
Scott always has the best advice I have been drawing since 6 grade and inspired some of my friends to draw, I always told them draw something you haven’t before challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone so you try something different and may even like it 🙂
My take is that it just isn't possible to draw every day for some people. I have problems with my hands and if I drew every day, it would wreck my hands and put me in so much pain. While for some people this advice is fine, but it is very defeating for others. I think we really need to stop making large sweeping advice or remember at least that some people have difficulties that require different options.
You helped me think up a new word (for me, anyway) Artventuring = giving your art adventures
Thank you Scott. I’ve been struggling with art for years, but your videos help me not get discouraged.
For me personally, I think drawing everyday helps me (mainly because I always like to and can’t get tired of it) Even if I get low on ideas, I can always think of how to draw maybe my favorite characters or older ocs of mine. I feel like it’s different for each person: Some people can benefit from everyday drawing while others simply cannot see themselves doing that, so I believe it just depends on the person. Not everyone learns the same way.
However, for myself personally, I choose to draw every day. Simply because I like drawing enough to try working on something each day, though not to an excessive amount where I experience burnout.
Also important to understand “draw everyday” does NOT mean “all day”. It’s good just to draw for 20minutes every day. Don’t overdue it by drawing for 12hrs day. Don’t burn yourself out. Just be consistent (like working out tbh)
Also don’t feel like you can’t draw fun stuff. Yes draw boots and clocks and people on the bus. But draw your OC too so you are reminded why you draw!!
And to not always want to draw a finished piece, but instead just draw! Sure sometimes you want to finish it, and that’s good, but sometimes you don’t and that’s fine too.
Before late 2023 I never used to draw ocs but after I started I realized that my ability to make two drawings in different styles has greatly improved so do what's best and don't force it
This. 100%. It's also immensely helpful to just do it and not worry about being perfect every time. That's a recipe to give up before you start. Creating art should be enjoyable. If you put too much pressure on it to be perfect every time, you'll never improve, because you'll be too discouraged. IMO. Love your channel, btw.
I agree. I used to tackle everything in middle school when I realized I wanted to be a professional comic-artist. I drew trees, furniture, practiced sketching and all that jazz. the pencil was my instrument. once you understand the anatomy of drawing you'll be able to draw anything that your mind projects inside your skull. i'm rusty nowadays lol
I had a stroke reading the title 😭 but yeah I totally agree! I love your videos Scott❤ btw fellow autistic artist here!
I was given this advice during my time as a middle schooler, my parents saw that i liked to draw and sent me to an art course. This absolutely fried my passion for drawing and until now i rarely even pick up a sketch book or open up a drawing application. I practically almost gave up, thankfully the pandemic happened and that spiraled me into absolute boredom that i picked up art again, in another form this time which is 3d modelling.
Drawing and practicing everyday may be a good advice to some but most advices i hear and see almost everywhere kept forgetting one thing and that is to keep your passion and motivation in check, because if you lose that motivation you'll eventually just get stuck.
Only until i picked up art again i finally understand why i stopped and that's because it felt like a chore. I was given deadlines, objectives and by the end of the day i had no time to make what i want. I asked for help why i'm stuck there and why i'm starting to lose it and people spewing the same advice over and over again just broke the camels back for me.
My advice is just to do whatever YOU want first then try new things as a secondhand because you will discover new things eventually at your own pace, some might get there faster than others, not everyone is the same. This will give you the practice you need as an artist while also keeping your motivation in check. Also take breaks, trying to practice everyday without stop is like training by punching a wall over and over until your knuckles bleed without giving it time to heal.
One of my favourite things to do recently is draw my lecturers. Sounds unproductive in terms of my lecture, but it actually keeps me focused and grounded so I don’t daydream, and I get to practice drawing faces and bodies from a moving subject. It also means I’m doing 5 minute sketches every day and I’m loving it!
I’m the type of artist that needs to feel like my art has purpose. So I only really got out of my ten year artist block and started improving when I started working on an indie project. I stepped completely out of my comfort zone and started drawing monsters. I’ve never drawn monsters. I’m very into romantic fantasy stuff. But monsters were a nice change of pace for me!
thank you, you are just an online stranger but you have helped me much much more then most people, i have undiagnosed autism / adhd (i’m sure of it) and i always was the weird kid, but you are awesome i love you and your art style thanks for everything :)
Absolutely My Pleasure ♥
Scott, two things.
1. One of my sister’s sculptures was featured in an art show a couple weeks ago, and another girl had made a watercolor portrait of you. It warmed my heart to see it. You really are inspiring so many young artists!
2. I crochet stuffed animals, and I’ve been careful to preserve the fun I have doing it. So many people have been encouraging me to open an Etsy shop (which I want to at some point), but right now, I’m just having fun making whatever comes across my Pinterest feed. For a lot of the same reasons you’ve listed in this video, it’s allowed me to do a greater variety of things and try new techniques I wouldn’t be able to if I was trying to mass-produce bees and leggy frogs. I’ve made things from a tiny Loch Ness Monster to a 4-foot-long goose! I’m still able to do commissions on an individual basis, most of which have also given me the freedom to experiment and make something truly special. The learning and making something new is what keeps me invested in my hobby! Thanks, as always, for your amazing advice!
Oh. I love to hear that. So happy you're enjoying crochet.
And congratulations to your sister! That's amazing.
And someone did a portrait of me in watercolors? Wow!
Thank you so much for your advice and inspiration! You definitely have a point. Most of my life I didn’t like to leave my comfort zone of drawing “flying heads”, because «nah I can’t draw “this object”», however I even didn’t try. It was such a great kick for me to finally draw more and draw different things and to finally say «wow, I can do that». I’m really glad that I found your channel some years ago, Scott. You are an important part of my journey as an artist and I learned a lot from you 💛
I'm actually using Spider-Man as a muse to help me learn to draw muscles and various angles and cool contortions. Also i like Spider-Man
The everything part is important i think also because the problem with "draw every day" advice is it can really feel like a chore. Many people do also advise beginners to draw what they want to draw, but often what happens is we end up drawing what we think we should be enjoying instead of actually being open to exploring. Especially with cultural influences and social media we can get tunnel vision to draw the cool stuff always. Drawing even the most boring stuff can be fun if you're open to it. So draw everything every day, and openly approach new subject matter.
But also since exercise metaphors are popular with art, you don't go to the gym if you're sick or injured trying to do the normal routine. So if you are burnt out, have emotional distress, anything that would affect your performance then don't hold yourself to the same standard as you would on a good day. Take care of yourself, you can't expect to do your best if you're not doing well
Been trying out acrylic paint in a somewhat similar style as your gouaches (because your guache paintings are truly amazing) and as frustrating as it is i can tell im improving as i go along. Thank you for your inspiration, kind words, and truly jaw dropping art. Your humanity is contagious and i wish you nothing but the best.❤
I read the video title and thought it’s about not having to draw *everyday,* that in the busy day to day life „as often as possible“ is enough and that you don’t have to beat yourself up if you only manage to draw, for example around every second instead of *every* day.
2:04 Maybe that is what I *wanted* to hear 😅, but yeah, I agree with the premise of the video, even though it’s something I already know.
Everyone needs to watch this video. Thanks!
That specificity about defining “everything” is so important. I realize a lot of those RUclipsrs are saying something similar, like learn to do art that makes you improve more efficiently, but I like that artistic joy is at the center of your teaching. You’re such a lovely teacher. (From a fan, follower, and queer cartoonist) 💙
That sketchbook is an art uni professor's dream come true lmao - but fr this video just summarizes what first-year art majors have to come to grips with. It’s either understand and do this or change major. So, if art is a serious path you want to take, then this video isn’t just advice, it’s fact.
I’ve really been enjoying the longer form videos!
i agree with this, also dont try to force to draw everday if your mood is not in the right time, it can let you out into an artblock or negative thinking. just draw when your mood is perfect, if you dont have it, just dont. take a time and relax or do some other things (gaming, cooking, cleaning, workout, etc). i always use this method like this, and it always worked everytime for me
Thank you for the way you bring your thoughts and advice and just... everything... to us in such a gentle way. You, and Donna too, have really made me see some things from a whole new perspective.
I just love to draw that's why I've been doing that for a month now. I just started and I really think that's a good advice especially for beginners like me
I feel that this is one of those cases where as an artist you gotta find what works better for you, I still try to draw everyday, and some days I just can't draw anything, when I get like that I take a break so I don't burnout or go crazy. Some of the tips I got from other artists, it was to find the fun in the process and don't let the frustration of past works get in my head when I'm doing new work, the frustration of other works can end up building up to the point of you just not wanting to draw anymore
I haven't drawn in years. I tried to learn illustration for two years (which in the drawing medium is basically nothing), and gave up after immense frustration.
I've seen people always tell me that I should draw every day, draw regularly, draw as much as you can because that mean you will improve much faster...
And that just made me hate drawing. The more I forced myself to draw, the more I dreaded the idea of practicing. It got to a point where I, years after stopping, every time I considered starting drawing again, I just remembered all of the circle and lineart practices, all of the anatomy study, gesture, shading, pencil pressure, and I associated all of that with immense dread and pain. So I never tried again.
In the end, I think that not only drawing, but any skill you develop, doesn't HAVE to be a job. It can be something you do for yourself only. From that perspective, it doesn't matter the frequency that you draw, or what kind of things you draw, as long as you're aware and accepting of the consequences of taking things at a slow pace.
Now I've been doing graphic design and game programming, at my own pace... and I've never been happier with how far I've come. Drawing is easily one of the most devastatingly hard skills you could ever try to develop. So don't push yourself too much if that would cost your passion.
this is a really interesting point and I understand both sides. this year I found a middle ground and am taking part in the daily doodle diary challenge, this way I'm drawing everyday but as it's a 'doodle diary', it could literally just be a minute long doodle some days, I think this way will help form a routine whilst avoiding burnout 🥰
I don’t draw every day, but I always try to be creative every day. Sometimes the process of drawing feels a little daunting when I have low energy and motivation, and I usually just draw full pieces rather than small practice sketches. So sometimes other creative practices like customizing one of my figures and painting it sometimes feel easier and simpler since the piece is technically done and I’m just doing final retouches, even if my skill and efficiency at it may make it take longer and be more difficult than drawing. So I may not draw every day, but I do try to sculpt, paint, craft, customize, and be creative in any way I can each day
for me, taking a day or two off from the week really helps with my motivation.
First of all, when I'm creating more means that I have to consume less, and it can leave me without inspiration.
taking those days off allows me to kind of... look at the reasons why I wanted to be an artist.
secondly, life isn't just art and I like to focus on doing other stuff too. doing this also makes me to miss drawing, which like I said it's helpful for the motivation thing.
I drew a fully finished illustration everyday on my tablet everyday last year and it was fun, very challenging but fun. I highly recommend everyone to do it and see what happens ❤
Absolutely... Thank You for sharing.
I’m so glad I subscribed, thanks for the art tips :)
This really helped me. I've been drawing my original character constantly for a few weeks now and it just doesn't feel right. I wasn't improving and it reminded me how much i hated my art course I'm taking with my incompetent teachers. But I'll do this. I'll slug through my art course and draw everything when i can to make up for it. I already have a quote of yours on my sketchbook, "make bad art so you can be good" so now I'll have to add "draw *everything*"
You will improve, trust me. My advice would be to progress from easier things to more complex and more detailed subjects, but than also challenge yourself sometimes and try drawing things you have no idea how to draw and be fine if it doesn't look super good at first ... Try not to criticise yourself but look at the picture and objectively observe what works, what doesn't and why ... Hope this was a bit helpful ...
When I'm tired drawing digitally I want to sketch out on paper sometimes paper and a pen helps to fight boredom or fatigue on practicing 😊
“In case anybody needs to hear it”
I really did, I have been wanted to for a while but this finally pushed me to do it ❤❤❤❤ thank you
How is your voice giving me so much motivation? It's so soothing to hear. 😂
Thank you ❤ i needed to hear this
This really brightened my mood and opeene my mind a bit on ehst to draw. Ive bren shving a little bit of art block this week and now i got a bit of an idea on ehat to draw now. Thank you for another lovely video!
speaking facts like a master
thank you scott for this advice, I've only recently caught up to things in art and I'm trying to learn some basics by myself. i haven't really drawn for a long time (2 years or so) and I'm trying to learn the best I can through both digital and traditional art, I normally just did sketches of heads and all but I'm escalating that these days by drawing characters, forming things into simple shapes for ease, and sketching anatomy (and I plan to do much more in the future). I'm still a young artist and you really helped me when I started, thanks man! Also, I do semi-realism for the most part, i haven't done that much but you helped me reignite my passion for just, doing things that I like to do! :]
But what happens if you happen to undergo an art burnout after drawing everyday?
Take a break.
@@ssavaart i mean that's not really drawing everyday, is it?
@@slimetank394 It's not a mandate. It's just an example of what you can do.
Depending on the situation and the intelligence of each person, I'm myself a full-time artist who currently is working on several storybook projects, so I have no other choice, but to draw everyday, as quick as possible I have to get them done, usually takes over 12-14 hours of work time a day n then I must learn other subjects n also do home chores. I do it for living, not for fun, for the most part, however I can enjoy the process, I'm pretty encouraged to do that every single day, doesn't worsen my art at all. 😂
0:17 is that Link Neal?
The hair? That was George Michael
@@ssavaart LOL oops, I guess Link's look is just inspired
I waited for the first half of the video for a punchline, but then I realized he was being serious and that he actually had a good point