for those who are on phone: 1. comparing yourself with others - 0:47 2. caring too much to please others - 2:24 3. fear of failures - 3:54 4. success = popularity 5:24 5. easy to be hurt by criticism - 8:31 6. thinking you aren't good enough - 10:31
No There's nothing wrong with watching markcrilley's videos. This comment should have been written something like " 7th BAD HABIT of creative people: watch markcrilley but don't work",right?😅
Or not saving at all during your work. You can't imagine how many times Adobe Illustrator crashed on me while working and I had to create the whole job from the ground up AGAIN and getting REALLY mad 😂😂😂
While that is hilarious, it is also very important to know that one can always very much enjoy their own work and also accept that there are currently bigger fish out there in the world.
One problem I have is drawing & writing in the way I'm "supposed to", instead of how I would naturally. These imaginary expectations have made me forget how I used to do things, when I did it my way... :(
I think it depends on what are you trying to achive in your work. Like...if you have simple characters in your story and than you have 1 super detailed character he is going to feel a bit out of place. I think you need to establish the style of the story before hand. If you make a realistic story in a real setting, you should create realistic characters and landscapes.
Your white gouache technique is like magic, Mark. It's almost like you're adding an extra perspective that makes whatever drawing you create pop out even more. 👍👍👍👍
You have seriously helped me through my whole process of the project I'm working on...and i really appreciate it...i have never met you and i feel like you are my sensei...thank you
first we make our habits and then our habits make us... our habits determine our future... The thing about bad habits is that they never go away from themselves, it's kind of an undo-it-yourself-project, it takes work and commitment. More often then not successful artists do consistently what others do occasionally. And the other way around successful artists do occasionally what others do consistently. Like comparing yourself to others and wasting time doing so... Art in the end is going left when everybody else is going right I guess... Such an important topic Mark, great to see it covered.
It is easier switching habbits than breaking it. Lile for a person who smokes, stop smoking by switching the cigarettes with carrots. Maybe instead of forcing yourself to draw more and stop watching youtube for example, just mix the habits so warching youtube doesn't harm you. Idk I don't have a good example right now
@@driesketels yeah, as I said. I had no good example ^^" Still people who want to stop smoking first try to find something to switch the cigarettes with. I know there is much more to it ^^"
Some bad habits I can think of: -Making an excuses as to why you don't have time to do your craft. -Not working on the fundamentals/basics of your craft (practice) -Overworking/becoming obsessed with a project until you come to dislike it. -Ignoring everything such as social and personal needs (food and drink) etc as you're in your own creative bubble.
I battle #3 (fear of failure) every time I face a blank paper or canvas, and #6 when those efforts fall short of my expectations. ** sigh ** Happy Birthday, Joy!
I’m so glad you’re still here, it’s been 6 or 7 years since I first started watching your channel, and though I don’t watch your videos as regularly as I used to - it’s still so wonderfully familiar to see your still here :) thank you
It's all about perspective tho. I always swing from discouragement to motivation.🤣 It always amazes me that there are so many different ways to accomplish something. Remember IN THIS WORLD OF 7 BILLION PEOPLE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE BETTER AT SOMETHING THAN YOU! This is a good thing. There is no ceiling, no mastering, be thanthankful that your art has so much depth and is one you can always learn from!
For me, the more I look at my drawings the more I end up hating them. I feel so proud of them when they're done, I see the odd little flaws, and what I could've done better, but over all I'm really happy with them. I have to pop them away in my folder while I'm happy with them otherwise, if I look at them too long, I start to hate them and end up wanting to throw them away.
Yup, really common caveats for me to fall into as well. Here's a few more off the top of my head: 1. Thinking your art needs to be "unique" every time. Drawing without references because you feel like you're copying someone else's work. Goes without saying that references are immensely helpful, and you shouldn't be afraid to take influences from other artists and the world around you. Nobody draws perfectly from memory. 2. Trying to find your own "style". This comes with time and experience, not by forcing yourself down one particular path. Experimentation and failure will get you there eventually. 3. Multitasking to a fault. If your medium is written text, and you hate watercolour but really want illustrations done in that style, reach out to other artists for help! Networking can help you get comfortable with mediums you never thought you could do in a passable way (to yourself), or at the very least help you get in touch with someone who can ease your workload. There's no need for every creative person out there to do everything themselves, think how many writers are involved with a single episode of a TV series for example! 4. Shunning an audience. This means you practise a ton, but never show any of your work to anyone. Kind of tags along with fearing criticism, but is even more harmful to your progress, as you could end up learning stuff that you'll spend years trying to learn out of when you eventually find out a better way (say, you draw really good, but your hand posture is terrible, and you end up hurting your wrist to an almost irreparable state). Thanks for reading :)
I’m probably guilty of all of these and I haven’t finished the video yet... (EDIT) Yep! I fit all 6 of these “mental tendencies.” I’ll try to work on them... Also, can you do the 6 GOOD HABITS Of Creative People? Cuz I need that! 😂
Happy Birthday Joy! Also there is something I always try to remember. I don’t remember where I heard it from but: “Comparison is the thief of happiness.”
It's always reassuring when someone of your calibre tackles these subjects. When we see the amazing, seemingly flawless art of other, more established artists, we tend to forget that they were once beginners themselves and weren't always as good as they are now. If I were to allow myself to be bothered or intimidated by the sky-high skill level of these much more experienced artists, I may as well just burn every brush, pencil and sketch book I have right now. I refuse to be discouraged. I refuse to let the joy be sucked out of creating art just because there are thousands better than I. I have faith that one day I too will reach that level. Right now, I'm having too much fun just practicing and fooling around with different media etc to let anything or anyone stop me. Every piece of art is begun with a sense akin to dread. I love that feeling. It's exciting, having no idea whether I'm going to fail or succeed. For the time being, my skills and techniques are no match for my imagination and ideas but to be honest, if it came down to a choice between the two, I'd much rather have the latter. One you can learn, the other you can't. The goal, of course, is to have both! So to all you fledgeling artists out there who erroneously think you suck: YOU DON'T. Don't let your creativity be stifled.
In one of your lessons where you teached some kids how to draw chibis, you said that you hope, everyone would get a teacher that takes his special time for the person. With your videos, your work, your books I just got, I feel you so much. You took your special time for us all and I want to thank you so much ! You are such a good person :)
I used to fall into all of these categories at one point or another. But not really anymore, maybe with the exception of equating success with popularity. While I do still compare myself to other artists, not typically in a way to beat myself up over, but more as a way to learn because I know I can still improve and always will have room to improve. But ya, #4 is honestly extremely hard to ignore because sometimes if it's your job, being popular is pretty essential at least enough so for it to keep you on your feet. It's hard to call yourself successful if you are having difficulty in life because your artwork isn't keeping you afloat. But I do agree that lack of popularity doesn't mean your work doesn't have value or isn't good.
I listened to some of Steve Rude's contemplations on these issues on his website recently, and it really was a great help to an art newbie as myself, that he said the best artists actually are art students, and that he still considers himself an art student. He also said he sometimes had setbacks, challenges, and what worked yesterday may not necessarily work today. But when we struggle and overcome the adversities, we usually succeed in the end. It's like being at the gym and accepting that everybody there are at their individual phases in getting in better shape. The same applies to art: we are all at different stages in the life long journey of improving our artistic skills.
Thank you for sharing these! With this day and age, social media is probably the reason why I don't really like my art. Social media has become nothing but a popularity contest...sometimes as artists, we could get jealous about other people's artwork and the number of likes and followers they have...and it's hard to keep up with the algorithm.
@Hannah Raymond-Jones Everyone starts there I think. I know very few people with original art pieces. They almost always start with fan art and such and when they are finally confident they try to invent somenthing new
number 6 is why I have bruises all the time. and don't forget not to procrastinate. I know this because I tried to become a manga artist late in life and no one wanted to know because I'm old. 10 years has gone by and I'm still struggling with my art. Just keep at it.
I think another important thing to note is setting achievable goals along with your bigger, ambitious goals. I told myself next year I want to have 3 enamel pin designs ready to go so I can have a real, physical product from my art. These days instead of catering my portfolio to studios, I prefer to draw on my own time, make videos, and travel with friends and family. It's helped out quite a bit with my mentality when it comes to my own creativity!
You know the great thing about you Crilley? (Aside from your soothing voice ;) Your advice not only aids artists, but it extends far beyond the titles attributed to you. That just makes your content that much better!
In any ART form....there are two things... 1).successful from inner you...where your creative juices surged up ...despite commercial success 2) pure social success Ask any artist ....what keeps them alive is more of the first thing ....but second one is important for survival
The problem with arr is, that ig is a live style. And you always ask yourself: "Am I suitable for this live style?" When you don't feel like an artist, it may ruin your whole life, because you don't know who you are. It is sad that when you do everything to be so good at art, it doesn't mean you really get good at it. During the process you never know if it is enough. Living yout life, like it isn't enough. Other professions may be easier. When you want to be a mechanic, you can learn and will DEFINITELLY become one when you learn and there is no competition, so it is fine as long as you can repair. But as an artist you never know if learning makes you a good artist or an artist at all. The fear of not being enough. Not only that your skill is not enough, but also your whole being isn't enough, it destroys you. I study design and my profs are already warning me. If I don't change anything about my self esteem, or my workflow or my lifechoices (like actually reading magazines and meeting up with other designers), I will not be a designer.
I'm a computer technician (but Asperger makes things harder), i like drawing and i'm trying to learn to draw but i noticed that i can like that but not being good, practiving is not enough...it's matter of having an innate talent. As i discover and i say always "first is yout natural or innate talent, then practicing". i excuse myself for my poor english, because it's not my native language.
I clicked on this not only for the tips, but also to see how he made that miniature temple. I am sort of disappointed that it’s a drawing, not a miniature model, but more impressed by how realistic it is! 💖
I feel the same. But i learnt something also really painful. First, you have to explore yourself if drawing (or anything you want to be/develop) is your thing (natural talent). If not, you're wasting your time. "Innate talent first, then practice"
I think this is excellent advice for people in general, specially youths who are just starting out. This is a behavioral thing that affects you when you are growing up. I personally have gone through all of these stumbling blocks. I have learned to develop skin like an armadillo to help protect my inner artist. My first challenge as a young adult was to actually honor myself as an artist and to believe in myself. Good subject!
Thank you so much for this!!! I really wish I had found this video earlier because I feel like almost everything you mentioned was applicable to me and you addressed these things so well
Oh my god when I was younger I used to watch your videos you really inspired me to improve my art!i don’t think I would be where I am today if it weren’t for you,I got so happy when I saw you uploaded,I haven’t really been keeping up with you but I’m so happy I ran cross your videos again.
Somehow after I wrote down all the list you have of these bad habits on a cue card, I was suddenly reminded of a quote I read somewhere: "How you do anything is how you do everything." Sometimes we do things that overtime becomes a habit that we don't realise is more of a hindrance than a support to our personal development. And I know I have these habits that are hard to overcome at times once I get to a point where I want to do more, to be better than I was before, and yet for some reason the fears of failing and taking risks start to invade my mind and I become paralyzed. Sometimes I just get to a point where I don't even want to try so that I don't worry about those things, the disappointments and the criticism that may follow, either from others or even from myself. What I really like about one of the habits listed is #4 Equating success with popularity. I feel like that's something people who are striving to maintain that level of achievement start to feel the pressure.. which is something I don't know if I'll even get to... Popularity, something I never strive to achieve and work hard for but I recall at one point, very rare moments in life where I did get popular for my work and then slowly but surely start to vanquish. I guess I should call it somewhat blessing in disguise as I experienced that early in my youth knowing that I did acquire a small number of admirers and I was praised for my talents and abilities and made me see to myself that this is a path I was born to take yet it was not going to be paved without twists and turns nor was the ground stable enough to leave me without cuts and bruises.
And... I just realised that the last sentence in the 2nd paragraph there is a crazy run-on sentence and youtube will not allow me to Edit my last comment 😠
I'm always amazed how you're able to discuss such deep topics is a structured and informative way while focusing on your drawing at the same time. I'd have no mental space doing anything else while I'm focusing on making something. 🙏 But to touch on some of the points you raised I'd say unfortunately imposter syndrome is a plague that affects a great many of us. I, for one have yet to figure out a cure for it 😕
If I find someone better than me, it motivates me to do better. For example: I am a guitarist and I am the best guitar player in my class. Since I knew I was good at playing it, I didnt try to pay much attention to get better at it. My level of progress was neither going up nor going down. It was just a flat line in progress. But one day, I saw someone from a higher class playing guitar. He was Amazing at it (Waaaaaaay better than me)and I felt the challenge. I put more interest, more effort, more passion in learning guitar than ever. I will have to say. If you want to get better at something, first things first do it right and put your heart and soul into it.😉 BTW if you're wondering why I'm here if I play guitar, I am also interested in drawing( I'm an anime fan). Drawing, music, reading etc are my hobbies
Addendum to 3): Failure is always an option. If it doesn't work out the way you want, don't beat yourself up on it, try to figure out why you went wrong, and try doing something else, or getting in extra practise to become better at it before reattempting it or moving on.
I see work that's better than mine, it doesnt make me feel bad about my art. Im in a constant state of development and knowing im not as good as someone else gives me hope and inspires me to get better. They were at my level at some point, and they saw art that was better than theirs.
How about things artists and people to tell creative people what we need to be successful? Like needing a degree to work either independent or in the industry. I've wanted to work as an artist. But after going through a few semesters in a multimedia course, I feel that I'd rather focus on illustrations and become a comic illustrator. As interesting as it is to do different mediums, I enjoy drawing more than video editing and all that. Plus they feel more taxing to my mental energy.
Thank you for the video! I’ll admit that I’ve caught myself doing these things, though fortunately I’ve been able to set myself straight and not be so mean to myself. But sometimes it comes back, and then you really start to have doubts about yourself. Having someone as professional as you remind us to snap out of it is a reminder to never give up. It is a journey we all share 👏
I really struggle with the last one. It caused me to quit drawing about 11 or 12 years ago. And it almost happened again just a few days ago. I want to get where I enjoy what I do no matter how flawed it may come out. Getting there hasn’t been easy. I’ve always had a pencil in my hand drawing since I first remember. And I’ve always been extremely hard on myself all my life.
All of these habits are my habits... it is so crippling for an artist. I even want to start a channel (I already have an instagram and deviant) portraying my art and yet my bad habits are keeping me from doing it. I find it can be more difficult as an artist, but since I recognize the bad habits, it shows that I have space for improvement. Thanks for the video!!
I'm a "novice" artist but i'm not that good (learning to draw for three and a half years)...it can be painful to open a channel or a page and receiving so few interactions.
Happy birthday Joy! I hope you gave her lots of love and treats for her 3rd birthday, Mark... Edit If criticism is CONSTRUCTIVE and POLITE you should at the very least keep it in the back of your mind when you’re working on your art, but if the person criticizing your art is being rude, or trying to tear you down, ignore it Example if someone says “... the character’s neck looks a little too long... maybe try shorting it a tad” Or “The eyes are a tough too big / two different sizes, maybe try using a ruler for your guild lines next time” keep it in the back of your mind but if you’re hearing “... neck’s too long, fix it or you’ll never get better!” Or, “Eyes too big / two different sizes, do better or you’ll never get anywhere!”
People who are creative should try other art forms when they experience artists block. Try an instrument or writing something! Creative people are just the same as everyone else, the difference is that they actively look for ways to express that creativity😀
I have a terrible habit of trying to make something good when I'm angry or frustrated. My life is really stressful right now, and I tend to carry that into my drawing session. I get really picky and hold myself to ridiculous standards, and I won't let go of the idea I had in my head when I started, or even just let it change. When I inevitably fail to make what I'm trying to, I get even more frustrated, angry, and demotivated, and I start thinking that I've made no progress, or even that I'm WORSE than I was when I started drawing, which is simply not true. When you're stressed or angry but want to make art, try to just DO something without any real idea of what you're doing. Something loose and relaxing to make, rather than something that needs to be precise or something for a project. Now is the time to relax and unwind with your art rather than working on your graphic novel or trying to record a song for your new album or whatever. Just doodle/sketch or play little tunes on your keyboard. Better yet, take a moment to calm down, get a drink of water, and just breathe before you even touch your art. It'll go so much smoother that way.
I love your music choices! Cultural instrumental music is the best when i'm creating charaters & stories. I need to just show my art. Improvement becomes a trap if your convinced people won't support your current technical level. I've drawn mainly from imagination for decades. However i want my art to be worth what someone pays,& it's hard to believe people would want to buy art of my random characters. At least thats what my mind's struggling with.
Hi, I wanted to say. I love your videos. My favorite video. Is when you fell down the stairs, while drawing. You had me in stitches. For a good 20 mins. It was the funniest video. I have seen for a long time on RUclips. I am with you liking Studio Ghibli and Death Note Manga series. My favorite Ghibli films are Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro. Keep up the good work. I always enjoy your videos every week. A good topic for your next video. Might be, how to avoid procrastination and artist block. All the best, Thanks.
@@Phil9874Hi, those films are good. A new studio is making new Ghilbi type films. Called studio Ponoc. The first film in the new series. Of films they are making is called. Mary and the Witch's Flower. You can watch a trailer on RUclips. For this film, just in case you haven't seen it yet. The film has already been released. But I don't know if it has been released worldwide yet. You will have to check local streaming services. Like Amazon Prime. If you want to watch it.
I wanted to add, when it comes to "popularity" versus "success" if you plan to go into art as a career you can be hugely successful yet because you work "in the background" you may never get that public popularity.
Many times the popularity takes time. I think of movies that didn't have great reviews and/or didn't have the box office success that the studio was hoping for, but gained popularity later.
i am guilty of all those 'habits' its really a pain to let go of these cuz i feel like these habits follow me around for almost 20 years. and these are the reasons i dont try to make something out of my art or artistic stuff.
Happy Birthday Joy! I happen to be guilty of a lot of these things. It's difficult to stop, and it's gotten to the point where I'm unmotivated to draw. I hope to fix that soon, but it's hard to approach it again and feel _good_ about my art. Lack of ideas to draw mixed with little motivation has plagued me for a month. I'm guessing THIS is art block.
Thank you for your words of wisdom. I’ve been watching your videos for a while and I really look up to you. Thank you for giving us viewers the advice you have because it really helps people like me grow mentally. I feel I have a much better view of the world because of you. I always feel I pass on your advice to others and they are always thankful for this advice. Please keep doing what you do.
hey mark! you've made a lot of videos giving insights into drawing, have you ever thought of making a video around your schedule? how to you find time to upload weekly, AND work on books at the same time? what is a day like in the life of mark?
I had it happen when I was writing a comic and I had a friend that basically compared it to his book and bashed my comic saying his is like an oak tree and mine is a sapling. I'm like how is this supposed to help me exactly? So I decided to ignore him because at that point it wasn't valid criticism just something to put my dreams down, now I've got a story that I'm working on. Its basically the same one I just amped it up for my standards, not caring what anyone thinks of it, I feel if I like my own story, other people will also like it while not willing to please anyone with it. Also this friend is not my friend anymore because he ended up stealing some of my concept art and having a friend of his redraw my concepts and using it as his own. Almost like he's jealous of my own work, it kind of makes me sad honestly because I don't really have high expectations for my work, I just do what I like or makes me happy.
![Chlöe - Shake (Feat. Jeremih) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aDs_1ufpfv8/mqdefault.jpg)
for those who are on phone:
1. comparing yourself with others - 0:47
2. caring too much to please others - 2:24
3. fear of failures - 3:54
4. success = popularity 5:24
5. easy to be hurt by criticism - 8:31
6. thinking you aren't good enough - 10:31
Shadow Rosita thanks for the time stamps... I like your profile picture and your name
Thanks for summarizing this fellow's meandering and distracted ramblings.
@@voodoogroove8209 Although its a very calming experience to watch this guy's videos if you have time....
I was not ready for the personal attack brought by 1,2,3 and 6. 😂
I literally have all of them thats why I stopped drawing and even watching art channels. Am I that weak? :/
7th BAD HABIT of Creative People: watch markcrilley
videos instead of work
No
There's nothing wrong with watching markcrilley's videos. This comment should have been written something like " 7th BAD HABIT of creative people: watch markcrilley but don't work",right?😅
Yo , you completed the seven deadly habits. XD
Everybody gangsta untill Markcrilley pulls out the white guash
Umm...that's gouache, sir 🙂
@@rachelm7525 Actually it's guacamole.
I should know, I'm Mexican.
@@mankomamada2545 😂😂😂 that one got me jesus
it sounds like gwosh to me ...
Are you sure it’s not gwarsh?
Habit 7, forgetting to save before exiting your drawing software.
Or not saving at all during your work. You can't imagine how many times Adobe Illustrator crashed on me while working and I had to create the whole job from the ground up AGAIN and getting REALLY mad 😂😂😂
Oof size: *LARGE*
@@IlNamelessKinglI Tha happened to me in blender when I was trying to render something and it crashed and I realized I hadn’t saved
Mark: Dont Compare Yourself To Other People
Also Mark: Now This Just a Little Sketch I Did , Its Nothing Much....
He's challenging you to not compare yourself with him. He's testing you.
While that is hilarious, it is also very important to know that one can always very much enjoy their own work and also accept that there are currently bigger fish out there in the world.
He's probably been making art for as long or longer than you've been alive.
give to Caesar what is Caesar's, give to God what is God's ;)
@@jessicaburroughs5763 what does that even mean
The worst part is I know. I KNOW I shouldn't compare myself to other artists... And yet. I consistently have to stop myself from doing it.
One problem I have is drawing & writing in the way I'm "supposed to", instead of how I would naturally. These imaginary expectations have made me forget how I used to do things, when I did it my way... :(
Can you make a How Not to Overdesign Characters (etc.) and why it might be unappealing?
are you in a certain situation with your creation? :
DemonFox369 I like your profile picture and your name
Emerald Queen Thanks :P haven't changed it in like 8 years
I think it depends on what are you trying to achive in your work. Like...if you have simple characters in your story and than you have 1 super detailed character he is going to feel a bit out of place. I think you need to establish the style of the story before hand. If you make a realistic story in a real setting, you should create realistic characters and landscapes.
You should check out Brookes Eggleston's channel. He talks about that a lot, especially in his critique videos.
Your white gouache technique is like magic, Mark. It's almost like you're adding an extra perspective that makes whatever drawing you create pop out even more. 👍👍👍👍
You have seriously helped me through my whole process of the project I'm working on...and i really appreciate it...i have never met you and i feel like you are my sensei...thank you
Mark Crilley is basically an art therapist :0). Also, happy birthday Joy!
first we make our habits and then our habits make us... our habits determine our future... The thing about bad habits is that they never go away from themselves, it's kind of an undo-it-yourself-project, it takes work and commitment. More often then not successful artists do consistently what others do occasionally. And the other way around successful artists do occasionally what others do consistently. Like comparing yourself to others and wasting time doing so... Art in the end is going left when everybody else is going right I guess...
Such an important topic Mark, great to see it covered.
It is easier switching habbits than breaking it. Lile for a person who smokes, stop smoking by switching the cigarettes with carrots.
Maybe instead of forcing yourself to draw more and stop watching youtube for example, just mix the habits so warching youtube doesn't harm you. Idk I don't have a good example right now
@@MaryArts haha switching the cigarettes with carrots.... Perhaps I should try that.
@@driesketels yeah, as I said. I had no good example ^^"
Still people who want to stop smoking first try to find something to switch the cigarettes with. I know there is much more to it ^^"
I really love the way you put it like that
@@zele4476 thanks zenzele
Some bad habits I can think of:
-Making an excuses as to why you don't have time to do your craft.
-Not working on the fundamentals/basics of your craft (practice)
-Overworking/becoming obsessed with a project until you come to dislike it.
-Ignoring everything such as social and personal needs (food and drink) etc as you're in your own creative bubble.
I battle #3 (fear of failure) every time I face a blank paper or canvas, and #6 when those efforts fall short of my expectations. ** sigh ** Happy Birthday, Joy!
I’m so glad you’re still here, it’s been 6 or 7 years since I first started watching your channel, and though I don’t watch your videos as regularly as I used to - it’s still so wonderfully familiar to see your still here :) thank you
Happy birthday, Joy! A human's life is often incomplete without the love of a dog.
Kay Fish facts
love the video mark! I've been watching your vids for 7 yrs
It's all about perspective tho. I always swing from discouragement to motivation.🤣 It always amazes me that there are so many different ways to accomplish something. Remember IN THIS WORLD OF 7 BILLION PEOPLE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE BETTER AT SOMETHING THAN YOU! This is a good thing.
There is no ceiling, no mastering, be thanthankful that your art has so much depth and is one you can always learn from!
For me, the more I look at my drawings the more I end up hating them. I feel so proud of them when they're done, I see the odd little flaws, and what I could've done better, but over all I'm really happy with them. I have to pop them away in my folder while I'm happy with them otherwise, if I look at them too long, I start to hate them and end up wanting to throw them away.
Yup, really common caveats for me to fall into as well. Here's a few more off the top of my head:
1. Thinking your art needs to be "unique" every time. Drawing without references because you feel like you're copying someone else's work. Goes without saying that references are immensely helpful, and you shouldn't be afraid to take influences from other artists and the world around you. Nobody draws perfectly from memory.
2. Trying to find your own "style". This comes with time and experience, not by forcing yourself down one particular path. Experimentation and failure will get you there eventually.
3. Multitasking to a fault. If your medium is written text, and you hate watercolour but really want illustrations done in that style, reach out to other artists for help! Networking can help you get comfortable with mediums you never thought you could do in a passable way (to yourself), or at the very least help you get in touch with someone who can ease your workload. There's no need for every creative person out there to do everything themselves, think how many writers are involved with a single episode of a TV series for example!
4. Shunning an audience. This means you practise a ton, but never show any of your work to anyone. Kind of tags along with fearing criticism, but is even more harmful to your progress, as you could end up learning stuff that you'll spend years trying to learn out of when you eventually find out a better way (say, you draw really good, but your hand posture is terrible, and you end up hurting your wrist to an almost irreparable state).
Thanks for reading :)
I’m probably guilty of all of these and I haven’t finished the video yet...
(EDIT) Yep! I fit all 6 of these “mental tendencies.” I’ll try to work on them...
Also, can you do the 6 GOOD HABITS Of Creative People? Cuz I need that! 😂
Do we have any, though?
7:13 "So many times, artist's work is discovered after they dead and gone..." Here, it's scary...totally out of my comfort zone ( ఠ ͟ʖ ఠ)
So he's like saying that everyone only remembers a certain person when they're no longer with us
@@mcp7158 Or people understand your vision only after a long time.
Happy Birthday Joy!
Also there is something I always try to remember. I don’t remember where I heard it from but: “Comparison is the thief of happiness.”
Kim Hoffman “comparison is the thief of joy” - Theodore Roosevelt.
Thanks lol. My memory hasn’t been the best these days.
Kim Hoffman no problem - it’s one of my favourite quotes.
It's always reassuring when someone of your calibre tackles these subjects. When we see the amazing, seemingly flawless art of other, more established artists, we tend to forget that they were once beginners themselves and weren't always as good as they are now. If I were to allow myself to be bothered or intimidated by the sky-high skill level of these much more experienced artists, I may as well just burn every brush, pencil and sketch book I have right now. I refuse to be discouraged. I refuse to let the joy be sucked out of creating art just because there are thousands better than I. I have faith that one day I too will reach that level. Right now, I'm having too much fun just practicing and fooling around with different media etc to let anything or anyone stop me. Every piece of art is begun with a sense akin to dread. I love that feeling. It's exciting, having no idea whether I'm going to fail or succeed. For the time being, my skills and techniques are no match for my imagination and ideas but to be honest, if it came down to a choice between the two, I'd much rather have the latter. One you can learn, the other you can't. The goal, of course, is to have both! So to all you fledgeling artists out there who erroneously think you suck: YOU DON'T. Don't let your creativity be stifled.
In one of your lessons where you teached some kids how to draw chibis, you said that you hope, everyone would get a teacher that takes his special time for the person. With your videos, your work, your books I just got, I feel you so much. You took your special time for us all and I want to thank you so much ! You are such a good person :)
I used to fall into all of these categories at one point or another. But not really anymore, maybe with the exception of equating success with popularity. While I do still compare myself to other artists, not typically in a way to beat myself up over, but more as a way to learn because I know I can still improve and always will have room to improve.
But ya, #4 is honestly extremely hard to ignore because sometimes if it's your job, being popular is pretty essential at least enough so for it to keep you on your feet. It's hard to call yourself successful if you are having difficulty in life because your artwork isn't keeping you afloat. But I do agree that lack of popularity doesn't mean your work doesn't have value or isn't good.
I listened to some of Steve Rude's contemplations on these issues on his website recently, and it really was a great help to an art newbie as myself, that he said the best artists actually are art students, and that he still considers himself an art student. He also said he sometimes had setbacks, challenges, and what worked yesterday may not necessarily work today. But when we struggle and overcome the adversities, we usually succeed in the end. It's like being at the gym and accepting that everybody there are at their individual phases in getting in better shape. The same applies to art: we are all at different stages in the life long journey of improving our artistic skills.
Thank you for sharing these! With this day and age, social media is probably the reason why I don't really like my art. Social media has become nothing but a popularity contest...sometimes as artists, we could get jealous about other people's artwork and the number of likes and followers they have...and it's hard to keep up with the algorithm.
Two more bad habits are procrastinating and hoarding art from the internet instead of making art yourself.
Floating Sunfish 👍
I think procrastination has something to do with self-depreciating tendencies, but what do you mean by "hoarding art from the internet"?
@Hannah Raymond-Jones Everyone starts there I think. I know very few people with original art pieces. They almost always start with fan art and such and when they are finally confident they try to invent somenthing new
number 6 is why I have bruises all the time. and don't forget not to procrastinate. I know this because I tried to become a manga artist late in life and no one wanted to know because I'm old. 10 years has gone by and I'm still struggling with my art. Just keep at it.
I think another important thing to note is setting achievable goals along with your bigger, ambitious goals. I told myself next year I want to have 3 enamel pin designs ready to go so I can have a real, physical product from my art. These days instead of catering my portfolio to studios, I prefer to draw on my own time, make videos, and travel with friends and family. It's helped out quite a bit with my mentality when it comes to my own creativity!
You know the great thing about you Crilley? (Aside from your soothing voice ;) Your advice not only aids artists, but it extends far beyond the titles attributed to you. That just makes your content that much better!
This video was such a blessing to me. Not just about art. It came up at just the right time.
In any ART form....there are two things...
1).successful from inner you...where your creative juices surged up ...despite commercial success
2) pure social success
Ask any artist ....what keeps them alive is more of the first thing ....but second one is important for survival
The problem with arr is, that ig is a live style. And you always ask yourself: "Am I suitable for this live style?" When you don't feel like an artist, it may ruin your whole life, because you don't know who you are. It is sad that when you do everything to be so good at art, it doesn't mean you really get good at it. During the process you never know if it is enough. Living yout life, like it isn't enough.
Other professions may be easier. When you want to be a mechanic, you can learn and will DEFINITELLY become one when you learn and there is no competition, so it is fine as long as you can repair. But as an artist you never know if learning makes you a good artist or an artist at all. The fear of not being enough. Not only that your skill is not enough, but also your whole being isn't enough, it destroys you.
I study design and my profs are already warning me. If I don't change anything about my self esteem, or my workflow or my lifechoices (like actually reading magazines and meeting up with other designers), I will not be a designer.
I'm a computer technician (but Asperger makes things harder), i like drawing and i'm trying to learn to draw but i noticed that i can like that but not being good, practiving is not enough...it's matter of having an innate talent. As i discover and i say always "first is yout natural or innate talent, then practicing". i excuse myself for my poor english, because it's not my native language.
I clicked on this not only for the tips, but also to see how he made that miniature temple. I am sort of disappointed that it’s a drawing, not a miniature model, but more impressed by how realistic it is! 💖
This is perfect timing, considering I just uploaded my first story to Wattpad just minutes before I saw this
Guilty of #1. Even though I practice I always feel like it isn't as good as others. Which is bad ofc but it really is a bad habit
It hurts
I feel the same. But i learnt something also really painful. First, you have to explore yourself if drawing (or anything you want to be/develop) is your thing (natural talent). If not, you're wasting your time. "Innate talent first, then practice"
I think this is excellent advice for people in general, specially youths who are just starting out. This is a behavioral thing that affects you when you are growing up. I personally have gone through all of these stumbling blocks. I have learned to develop skin like an armadillo to help protect my inner artist. My first challenge as a young adult was to actually honor myself as an artist and to believe in myself. Good subject!
Thank you so much for this!!! I really wish I had found this video earlier because I feel like almost everything you mentioned was applicable to me and you addressed these things so well
Oh my god when I was younger I used to watch your videos you really inspired me to improve my art!i don’t think I would be where I am today if it weren’t for you,I got so happy when I saw you uploaded,I haven’t really been keeping up with you but I’m so happy I ran cross your videos again.
Ah also the profile pic is from like two years ago so it’s pretty bad compared to my art now
None of these apply to me.
None.
Not a single one.
...
I feel called out.
The Reapers Scypher Good for you!😁 I fit a few. My biggest one is to be afraid of failing.😭😂
@@stilljustawalrus8135 Same omg
Amazing choice of profile picture lol
I can relate to number 6 because a lot of times I want my art to be perfect and I get mad when It's not coming out the way I want it to.
@@pugmommy9865 yeah no 6 is common for me too and it is difficult. i guess that's why Mark left it last.
Somehow after I wrote down all the list you have of these bad habits on a cue card, I was suddenly reminded of a quote I read somewhere: "How you do anything is how you do everything." Sometimes we do things that overtime becomes a habit that we don't realise is more of a hindrance than a support to our personal development. And I know I have these habits that are hard to overcome at times once I get to a point where I want to do more, to be better than I was before, and yet for some reason the fears of failing and taking risks start to invade my mind and I become paralyzed. Sometimes I just get to a point where I don't even want to try so that I don't worry about those things, the disappointments and the criticism that may follow, either from others or even from myself.
What I really like about one of the habits listed is #4 Equating success with popularity. I feel like that's something people who are striving to maintain that level of achievement start to feel the pressure.. which is something I don't know if I'll even get to... Popularity, something I never strive to achieve and work hard for but I recall at one point, very rare moments in life where I did get popular for my work and then slowly but surely start to vanquish. I guess I should call it somewhat blessing in disguise as I experienced that early in my youth knowing that I did acquire a small number of admirers and I was praised for my talents and abilities and made me see to myself that this is a path I was born to take yet it was not going to be paved without twists and turns nor was the ground stable enough to leave me without cuts and bruises.
And... I just realised that the last sentence in the 2nd paragraph there is a crazy run-on sentence and youtube will not allow me to Edit my last comment 😠
Mark just spoke directly to my soul by some points
I'm always amazed how you're able to discuss such deep topics is a structured and informative way while focusing on your drawing at the same time. I'd have no mental space doing anything else while I'm focusing on making something. 🙏
But to touch on some of the points you raised I'd say unfortunately imposter syndrome is a plague that affects a great many of us. I, for one have yet to figure out a cure for it 😕
Thank you for the beginner videos and ones like this I am 70 year old that has always said I can't do that. Thanks to you I can do some of it
If I find someone better than me, it motivates me to do better.
For example: I am a guitarist and I am the best guitar player in my class. Since I knew I was good at playing it, I didnt try to pay much attention to get better at it. My level of progress was neither going up nor going down. It was just a flat line in progress. But one day, I saw someone from a higher class playing guitar. He was Amazing at it (Waaaaaaay better than me)and I felt the challenge. I put more interest, more effort, more passion in learning guitar than ever.
I will have to say. If you want to get better at something, first things first do it right and put your heart and soul into it.😉
BTW if you're wondering why I'm here if I play guitar, I am also interested in drawing( I'm an anime fan).
Drawing, music, reading etc are my hobbies
Thank you for sharing your experience.
@@ingridcoke1360 It's my pleasure😁
This is what I really needed to hear, thank you Mark!
The 7th bad Habit of a Creative person: sketching with a lot of pressure on a pencil and then it breaks but you dont have a sharpener.
Not having a sharpener is probably even worse..
Not having a eraser is the worst tho.. And not using an eraser is the 8th habit.
if depression is not on the list this is full of lies
depression is not a habit, you crazy!
I tried to kick the habit, but when everyone else around you does it, you pick it back up so easily...
This is like the consequence of all 6 habits he listed
The habits on this list CAUSE depression.
@@LadyDragoncat Or maybe depression causes these? :')
Addendum to 3): Failure is always an option. If it doesn't work out the way you want, don't beat yourself up on it, try to figure out why you went wrong, and try doing something else, or getting in extra practise to become better at it before reattempting it or moving on.
Been dealing with #6 recently and I need to learn to be easier on myself. I'm happy you talked about it.
I see work that's better than mine, it doesnt make me feel bad about my art. Im in a constant state of development and knowing im not as good as someone else gives me hope and inspires me to get better. They were at my level at some point, and they saw art that was better than theirs.
How about things artists and people to tell creative people what we need to be successful? Like needing a degree to work either independent or in the industry.
I've wanted to work as an artist. But after going through a few semesters in a multimedia course, I feel that I'd rather focus on illustrations and become a comic illustrator.
As interesting as it is to do different mediums, I enjoy drawing more than video editing and all that. Plus they feel more taxing to my mental energy.
Really needed this video right now. I was just in the moment of dreading my artwork, feeling like i'm no longer improving. Thanks Markcrilley.
Your an amazing artist 👩🎨, thanks for advice , it’s hard to not fall into those traps
Thank you for the video! I’ll admit that I’ve caught myself doing these things, though fortunately I’ve been able to set myself straight and not be so mean to myself. But sometimes it comes back, and then you really start to have doubts about yourself. Having someone as professional as you remind us to snap out of it is a reminder to never give up. It is a journey we all share 👏
I really struggle with the last one. It caused me to quit drawing about 11 or 12 years ago. And it almost happened again just a few days ago.
I want to get where I enjoy what I do no matter how flawed it may come out. Getting there hasn’t been easy. I’ve always had a pencil in my hand drawing since I first remember. And I’ve always been extremely hard on myself all my life.
Happy Birthday Joy! Thanks Mark!
I like that he tells stories while drawing ♥ goodluck !
Thank you Mark Crilley for creating this video! ☺ I find this very helpful! ☺
Now that is a fantastic artwork, i really love this drawing :)
All of these habits are my habits... it is so crippling for an artist. I even want to start a channel (I already have an instagram and deviant) portraying my art and yet my bad habits are keeping me from doing it. I find it can be more difficult as an artist, but since I recognize the bad habits, it shows that I have space for improvement. Thanks for the video!!
I'm a "novice" artist but i'm not that good (learning to draw for three and a half years)...it can be painful to open a channel or a page and receiving so few interactions.
Happy birthday Joy! I hope you gave her lots of love and treats for her 3rd birthday, Mark...
Edit If criticism is CONSTRUCTIVE and POLITE you should at the very least keep it in the back of your mind when you’re working on your art, but if the person criticizing your art is being rude, or trying to tear you down, ignore it
Example if someone says “... the character’s neck looks a little too long... maybe try shorting it a tad” Or “The eyes are a tough too big / two different sizes, maybe try using a ruler for your guild lines next time” keep it in the back of your mind but if you’re hearing “... neck’s too long, fix it or you’ll never get better!” Or, “Eyes too big / two different sizes, do better or you’ll never get anywhere!”
Please release a new comic book series,PLZ! I have been waiting for it for more than a year!
People who are creative should try other art forms when they experience artists block. Try an instrument or writing something!
Creative people are just the same as everyone else, the difference is that they actively look for ways to express that creativity😀
I'm certainly guilty of number #1 and I've fallen into number #4 and #6 a couple of times but usually manage to pull myself out of it.
Happy birthday Joy!!!!! 🐶🐶🎂🎂 and when it comes to my paintings I do all of those bad habits all the time!!!!
Thanks Mark !.. 👍 💖 🕊
I really appreciated this video. Thank you for making it. 😊
Didn’t think you’d call us out like that
I have a terrible habit of trying to make something good when I'm angry or frustrated. My life is really stressful right now, and I tend to carry that into my drawing session. I get really picky and hold myself to ridiculous standards, and I won't let go of the idea I had in my head when I started, or even just let it change. When I inevitably fail to make what I'm trying to, I get even more frustrated, angry, and demotivated, and I start thinking that I've made no progress, or even that I'm WORSE than I was when I started drawing, which is simply not true.
When you're stressed or angry but want to make art, try to just DO something without any real idea of what you're doing. Something loose and relaxing to make, rather than something that needs to be precise or something for a project. Now is the time to relax and unwind with your art rather than working on your graphic novel or trying to record a song for your new album or whatever. Just doodle/sketch or play little tunes on your keyboard. Better yet, take a moment to calm down, get a drink of water, and just breathe before you even touch your art. It'll go so much smoother that way.
Really beautiful picture,I love that technique you use!and very interesting topic,too!🤩
I love your music choices! Cultural instrumental music is the best when i'm creating charaters & stories.
I need to just show my art. Improvement becomes a trap if your convinced people won't support your current technical level.
I've drawn mainly from imagination for decades. However i want my art to be worth what someone pays,& it's hard to believe people would want to buy art of my random characters. At least thats what my mind's struggling with.
Hi, I wanted to say. I love your videos. My favorite video. Is when you fell down the stairs, while drawing. You had me in stitches. For a good 20 mins. It was the funniest video. I have seen for a long time on RUclips. I am with you liking Studio Ghibli and Death Note Manga series. My favorite Ghibli films are Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro. Keep up the good work. I always enjoy your videos every week. A good topic for your next video. Might be, how to avoid procrastination and artist block. All the best, Thanks.
My favorites are spirited away, howls moving castle, and castle in the sky.
@@Phil9874Hi, those films are good. A new studio is making new Ghilbi type films. Called studio Ponoc. The first film in the new series. Of films they are making is called. Mary and the Witch's Flower. You can watch a trailer on RUclips. For this film, just in case you haven't seen it yet. The film has already been released. But I don't know if it has been released worldwide yet. You will have to check local streaming services. Like Amazon Prime. If you want to watch it.
Thank you very much for this video. I’m now realising all the mistakes I make while creating art.
I wanted to add, when it comes to "popularity" versus "success" if you plan to go into art as a career you can be hugely successful yet because you work "in the background" you may never get that public popularity.
Many times the popularity takes time. I think of movies that didn't have great reviews and/or didn't have the box office success that the studio was hoping for, but gained popularity later.
Happy birthday Joy! ❤️
Happy Birthday Joy!
i am guilty of all those 'habits' its really a pain to let go of these cuz i feel like these habits follow me around for almost 20 years. and these are the reasons i dont try to make something out of my art or artistic stuff.
Happy Birthday Joy!
I happen to be guilty of a lot of these things. It's difficult to stop, and it's gotten to the point where I'm unmotivated to draw. I hope to fix that soon, but it's hard to approach it again and feel _good_ about my art. Lack of ideas to draw mixed with little motivation has plagued me for a month. I'm guessing THIS is art block.
Thank you for your words of wisdom. I’ve been watching your videos for a while and I really look up to you. Thank you for giving us viewers the advice you have because it really helps people like me grow mentally. I feel I have a much better view of the world because of you. I always feel I pass on your advice to others and they are always thankful for this advice. Please keep doing what you do.
I don't have any of the bad habits but I'll give them each a try over the next six weeks and see if my art improves.
Can actually relate to everything!
I do had all of this habits, right know I'm in process to correct it... it's take a lot of courage and energy...
hey mark! you've made a lot of videos giving insights into drawing, have you ever thought of making a video around your schedule? how to you find time to upload weekly, AND work on books at the same time? what is a day like in the life of mark?
Enjoy the process....journey...Very intense involvement...automatically...you will have good results
Some really wise words here. As an aspiring writer and artist, it was nice to hear these things 🙂
I had it happen when I was writing a comic and I had a friend that basically compared it to his book and bashed my comic saying his is like an oak tree and mine is a sapling. I'm like how is this supposed to help me exactly? So I decided to ignore him because at that point it wasn't valid criticism just something to put my dreams down, now I've got a story that I'm working on. Its basically the same one I just amped it up for my standards, not caring what anyone thinks of it, I feel if I like my own story, other people will also like it while not willing to please anyone with it. Also this friend is not my friend anymore because he ended up stealing some of my concept art and having a friend of his redraw my concepts and using it as his own. Almost like he's jealous of my own work, it kind of makes me sad honestly because I don't really have high expectations for my work, I just do what I like or makes me happy.
i apply to most of these... thank you for making the video. It's like an eye-opener for me.
I'm curious about your opinion on this since you mentioned it in your video, what do you see as value?
Number 2 and 6 = me in a nutshell.
It's hard to get out of these mentalities once your in them, that's for certain.
Ooooh, this one is gonna be good. I can already tell!
Happy belated birthday Joy! My little one also turned 3 this year :)
happy birthday joy you precious doggo !!!
This is exactly what I needed today Mark!! Thank you 💖💖
I’ve had students who are lazy and do crap and think it’s genius... but then there’s the other end of the spectrum.
Dunning-Kruger effect. Over confidence for imbeciles.
Creating Julie Silversmyth I am creative because my mommy said so lol that should be a ComEBack when your work is being criticized lol
Get out of my head! Jesting aside this is very true and I can completely relate. Thank you for the video :)
Without watching yet, I know at least 3 will probably apply to me.