Every video you've made is every question I've asked myself this last year while I've been trying to figure out who I should be artistically and I really and truly thank you for making these... I'm from a small town that's full of art but comic books and illustration is what I've always wanted to do and there aren't too many folks around here I can go to for help with that so these vids are a HUGE help, keep em coming
Jake, I have just come across you in the past month or so, and I have to say that your videos and work are very inspirational. So this is just a quick thank you. I look forward to continuing looking into your work and videos and following you on your journey as I continue on mine.
I'm an artist who has been drawing since high school. (How quickly time flies!) I honestly think all of Mr. Jake Parker's advice is sound and solid. I have watched my art change over the course of 18 years. It started with a few doodles on my school homework folders, which then was encouraged by friends, relatives and teachers. I then joined the military and didn't do much aside from doodling in an art journal for about 8 years. Then I was injured and left the military and I picked it up again as a form of therapy and natural healing/meditation all while finishing my college degree in Criminal Justice. Why did I get my degree in that and not in art? Well, my family told me I'd never make a living as an artist. How wrong they were. I continued to explore different styles of art, and then I found watercolor and fell IN LOVE. I love the challenge of it. I continue to learn and grow. I love going "to work" everyday! If I could piggy-back on Jake's advice I would say that finding your style or niche is only something you can do by being true to yourself. Copying others work is fine, and good practice but to really find your style I think you just need to let it flow from the depths of your own imagination down your arm to your pen and paper. It the things that you want to draw that really make you happy- the things that satisfy you once completed and developing those ideas over time that helped me.
During the years i noticed my style turned into a sketch style from a regular kids style.And then i saw your drawings,style and ideas that had a huge influence on me.Made me work hard,order brush pens,copics and i also tried drawing your robot detailed kind of style.And just three weeks later i think my style is still chaning while im learning,i hope it continues to change.Thanks Jake,so much
Yeah Miyazaki!!! Great inspiring video Jake! I'm told that "style" is a unique magical property that every artist has that will organically spring out of their work with practice and come to be attributed to them eventually. (Essentially, everyone will draw your midnight dog example differently because of style that's inherently a part of them.) But I think style is actually a series of conscious or subconscious decisions an artist makes about how to draw something. When a decision is made consistently, the artist has a recognizable style. Without consistency, the style may not emerge. And the artist can make different but consistent decisions in future for new styles. With artistic training, we can draw an apple in a myriad of ways for example, so it comes down to which way we choose to draw it - even without thinking about it. (Essentially everyone will draw the midnight dog differently because of choices and skill levels, not because our style is how we draw when not observing or thinking.) That's just me. Thanks for sharing your philosophy with us!
Hi Jake! I know this video was 6 years ago... But it really means a lot to me today thank you very much for this very well said. Have followed you on Flickr many years ago would still love to see you in person someday for that fist bump👊
Thanks for the video! Another great one. I hope you don't mind me putting this out there, but I tend to think of "style" as your artistic voice and language. It's how a person as an artist communicates. It's your vocabulary and syntax and all that. And when you think about it that way, it's definitely something that takes time to develop, like you mentioned. It's like the mannerism of how you talk and that doesn't happen over night.
Hi Jake. Don't know if this is already resolved for you, but one way to keep track of these questions (or pretty much anything) would be Evernote. If you install the Evernote webclipper as plugin in your browser, you'll be able to take quick screengrabs or download the text of the question itself to Evernote. You can do this from your phone, too. This way, when it's time to search for your questions, they are all pooled in one place. One alternative use for Evernote (and something I use it for), is to keep track of expenses and receipts. Anytime I buy supplies, for example, I just snap a picture of the receipt with my Evernote app on my phone, add a few tags, and Evernote syncs the receipt and automatically performs optical character recognition -- which means your receipts become searchable within the Evernote app. This is a HUGE help when it comes to keeping track of expenses for your yearly tax deductions. Anyway, great stuff you have here! I'm a working illustrator and even I find these videos to be a great resource.
I've really enjoyed your insights on art and the industry. Not sure what the heck my artistic vision is, but I know I struggle with focus and motivation. One of the things I struggle with is only wanting to put "good stuff" in my sketchbooks, which is kind of self-defeating, I know. I'm making headway on that one though. One thing I did to help get me jumpstarted a bit was a variation of your Scribble Until You Find Something video. I posted the results on my FB page, in case, because doing so helped to keep me on task.
Jake! I found this video from a search for Artistic Vision and love it. I'm a photographer but this is good info for any artist. I thought I recognized you and then realized we both worked on Titan A.E. I was in the Ink & Paint department. Small world!
Hey Jake, I am really looking forward to seeing your new graphic novel. I didn't get in on the Kickstarter, but I love your work. Your comment on style is spot on. I have been drawing since I was little and I was always looking for a style to use. One day, in my 30's no less, it just happened. I wanted to draw something and I didn't think about how I wanted to draw it, I just drew it and that's when I had my "Aha" moment. It was awesome. Thanks for making these videos and keep it up.
Jake thank you verry much. I can draw a little mostly technical. You and 2 other artists have aided me in my work. I am an inventer and my drawings should inprove thanks to you three artists. At best my drawing side. Thanks.
Subscribed because you mentioned yukito kishiro- I'm not even a big manga fan but that man could draw-he and Ketsuhiro Otomo are up there in the ranks of Moebius IMO.
Hey jake, you should do a video on being afraid to go outside your comfort zone. I myself often get stuck drawing the same character in the same pose from the same perspective over and over again, and I just realized it's because I'm always scared the drawing is gonna suck if I try something new. Even now that I know about this problem I still find it difficult, but I'm looking to increase my progression speed from now on :)
You always bring us relevant topics.Im not a artist(yet ^^) but its very interesting to see your perspective of things related to art..delevopment and etc.Keep up the good work !U have a fan(s) in Brazil haha !
talking about 80s-90's cartoons.. did you watch swat kats, centurions and johnny quest? Now that i think about it I feel a lot of my mechanical designs are based of the structures i saw in these cartoons growing up as a kid.
I Dont wanna sound like a fan boy, but you rock in the artistic world ! You make me create more and more, its a butt kickin for me in a good way ! always inspiring , keep up the good work !
Thank you for this video. My biggest problem with my current style is how much it changes according with the supplies I use, specially the kind of paper. For example, my soluble graphite drawings are way different than my normal ones. The other thing is what I want to show with it. I, too, am creating some kind of "universe" with my somewhat abstract style, meaning every drawing I make belongs to the same world, but I want it to have a message. I'm still figuring that out.
Hi Jake really love your work but here is a question that you probably had and answer many times how did or do you balance work and family and how do you schedule your day to day work but still have time for your kids. I’m a 40 year old dad with twin boys and I have a day job 9-6 Monday to Saturday when I get home I’m tiered and spend like a few hours with my boys before bed time after that I’m so drained to do any personal work. Got any advice.
Hey Jake, Love your videos and I always find your outlooks and advise helpful and inspiring. Thanks for doing what you do on top of making amazing art. Questions regarding this topic: Do you have any advise if you find that you don't necessarily LIKE the style your developing. i find i can be aware that i'm slowly developing my own style and that it often peaks through in the work i do most naturally. But i often worry that it's not a look i actually like! but its developing none the less. Thoughts?
Ever try pixel art? I quite like working close to the pixels, I feel like its more honest, like with traditional mediums each one has its own characteristics that make it unique and to me the pixels are like the grain of the paper, also I'm inspired by early 3d video games so there's that. The artist that has really inspired me in that direction is actually a local artist , if you look up cutlaska there should be a blog/tumblr called carrion.
I think style can be forced to some extent but more often it just happens naturally because that's what we're more comfortable with anyway. It's way harder to force yourself into a style that may not be as natural to create. But if you really wanted to, or even needed to, I think you could train yourself into a different style. My 2 cents..
Jake, thanks for the heaps of useful information. I wanted to ask you something. Is that possible to combine the two drawing styles. Currently I do some freelance as an illustrator and a draw in a semi-realistic style, trynig to render the characters so that they are close to real-life. But at the same time I always enjoyed sketching and drawing comic characters in ink. How do you think the two styles can intertwine with no harm to each other, and is it possible at all? Did you have such an experience?
My youngest wanted my to sketching an star wars astral droid. Never done one before. So I had an go and coloured it with ink intense pencils.its on my Instagram page
Hey Jake, What are your thoughts on mentorships and seeking them out? Being a professional in the illustration field, what would you say is the most effective way to communicate with them, or to make yourself known to them? Thanks!
Thanks for another awesome vid mr Jake Parker. I just have a question on building mileage. Is it better to just draw on loose leaves of paper while building mileage? Maybe use a sketchbook for just your own ideas? Or is it ok just do everything in a sketchbook? Thanks
Also, something i think would help, which i am thinking about doing, is getting what i call "project books". Project Books would be some sketchbook/pad that have a small amount of sheets. I would do that for stuff like "Hey, i want to draw some more anime/robots/mechs/vehicles/anything, so i'll get a project book, and fill it up with JUST draw {insert previous mentioned stuff} in that book" I feel that might help if you want to do a specific area of art, maybe that just me, but it's an idea i want to implement since i want to get better at anime drawings.
So are we able to have more than one art style, especially depending on the "story" we're telling? Cuz I draw both in a more realistic anime style and then this round "Song of the Sea" kind of style.
hope you reply to this whenever you have time but, did you first start out using reference for you drawings or did you copied like an artist or any other thing?
not sure it this would help you keep track of your questions. You could build several recipes that would take your # and put it where you can keep track of them be it instagram, twitter or youtube. ifttt.com/
+Jake Parker I'm just here to add a huge AMEN to ifttt. I use it a lot. You could set up recipes that drop information into a spreadsheet in google drive or something. Really powerful tool.
#AskMrJakeParker Hi Jake your videos are amazing and I'm constantly checking to see if you have posted! I can always relate to them! My question is: I can always draw character faces great but really struggle with drawing bodies and poses and i feel this is whats really holding me back:( I know the obvious is go to a figure drawing class, but there isn't really any nearby, so was just wondering if there were any other tips? thanks!
#askmrjakeparker Hi Jake, i'm a recent fan and hope that u can help me w my question. I already know that i want to become an animator or an illustrator later on because art is what i do the best at and enjoy the most. But, i'm still afraid about choosing this path because i'm not confident about my skills and what if i can't make money or find a decent job later on...The reason for this worry of mine is because my family said "You r our only hope and so, r not allow to mess up". Should i keep pursuing my dream or find a more stable, safer career (my family thinks that being an animator or illustrator can't make much money and is not stable, so they r kind of against it)? thank u :)))
+ghost59able Style is not necessarily rely on your mystakes. The way you hold a pencil, the way you do cross hatch, your line weight. That can also be a style that makes you recognizable. Even two hyper realistic portraits can be made with different styles. You just need to observe closely to see that.
Style can't change. But you can still fix all your mistakes. Even if you do a 100% accurate drawing, people will still recognize you. I once drew smurfs accurately, and it was still recognizable that was me at drawing them.
Every video you've made is every question I've asked myself this last year while I've been trying to figure out who I should be artistically and I really and truly thank you for making these... I'm from a small town that's full of art but comic books and illustration is what I've always wanted to do and there aren't too many folks around here I can go to for help with that so these vids are a HUGE help, keep em coming
Visions are worth fighting for
A style is like your soul, inimitable and all your own. Discovering a style is like a hero's journey in a way.
Jake,
I have just come across you in the past month or so, and I have to say that your videos and work are very inspirational. So this is just a quick thank you. I look forward to continuing looking into your work and videos and following you on your journey as I continue on mine.
I'm an artist who has been drawing since high school. (How quickly time flies!) I honestly think all of Mr. Jake Parker's advice is sound and solid. I have watched my art change over the course of 18 years. It started with a few doodles on my school homework folders, which then was encouraged by friends, relatives and teachers. I then joined the military and didn't do much aside from doodling in an art journal for about 8 years. Then I was injured and left the military and I picked it up again as a form of therapy and natural healing/meditation all while finishing my college degree in Criminal Justice. Why did I get my degree in that and not in art? Well, my family told me I'd never make a living as an artist. How wrong they were. I continued to explore different styles of art, and then I found watercolor and fell IN LOVE. I love the challenge of it. I continue to learn and grow. I love going "to work" everyday! If I could piggy-back on Jake's advice I would say that finding your style or niche is only something you can do by being true to yourself. Copying others work is fine, and good practice but to really find your style I think you just need to let it flow from the depths of your own imagination down your arm to your pen and paper. It the things that you want to draw that really make you happy- the things that satisfy you once completed and developing those ideas over time that helped me.
jake , you've taught me sooo much in the past few months and for that I thank you , keep up the good work
During the years i noticed my style turned into a sketch style from a regular kids style.And then i saw your drawings,style and ideas that had a huge influence on me.Made me work hard,order brush pens,copics and i also tried drawing your robot detailed kind of style.And just three weeks later i think my style is still chaning while im learning,i hope it continues to change.Thanks Jake,so much
Yeah Miyazaki!!! Great inspiring video Jake!
I'm told that "style" is a unique magical property that every artist has that will organically spring out of their work with practice and come to be attributed to them eventually. (Essentially, everyone will draw your midnight dog example differently because of style that's inherently a part of them.)
But I think style is actually a series of conscious or subconscious decisions an artist makes about how to draw something. When a decision is made consistently, the artist has a recognizable style. Without consistency, the style may not emerge. And the artist can make different but consistent decisions in future for new styles.
With artistic training, we can draw an apple in a myriad of ways for example, so it comes down to which way we choose to draw it - even without thinking about it. (Essentially everyone will draw the midnight dog differently because of choices and skill levels, not because our style is how we draw when not observing or thinking.) That's just me. Thanks for sharing your philosophy with us!
Hi Jake! I know this video was 6 years ago... But it really means a lot to me today thank you very much for this very well said. Have followed you on Flickr many years ago would still love to see you in person someday for that fist bump👊
Wow, thanks so much Dan. 👊
I really adore you intro and outro melody, Jake! Nice work. Of course, many thanks for the advices as well.
Great advice, I think you answered his question wonderfully. He will be using your name when someone asks who influenced him.
Thanks for the video! Another great one.
I hope you don't mind me putting this out there, but I tend to think of "style" as your artistic voice and language. It's how a person as an artist communicates. It's your vocabulary and syntax and all that. And when you think about it that way, it's definitely something that takes time to develop, like you mentioned. It's like the mannerism of how you talk and that doesn't happen over night.
That really is a great question, have that problem often.
Brilliant artist and tutor -thanks for sharing Jake
I'm always able to rely on your videos for some awesome motivation/advice. Thank you so much and best wishes! Keep doing what you're doing.
You're the man, thank you for the quality content and transparency.
Hi Jake. Don't know if this is already resolved for you, but one way to keep track of these questions (or pretty much anything) would be Evernote. If you install the Evernote webclipper as plugin in your browser, you'll be able to take quick screengrabs or download the text of the question itself to Evernote. You can do this from your phone, too.
This way, when it's time to search for your questions, they are all pooled in one place.
One alternative use for Evernote (and something I use it for), is to keep track of expenses and receipts. Anytime I buy supplies, for example, I just snap a picture of the receipt with my Evernote app on my phone, add a few tags, and Evernote syncs the receipt and automatically performs optical character recognition -- which means your receipts become searchable within the Evernote app. This is a HUGE help when it comes to keeping track of expenses for your yearly tax deductions.
Anyway, great stuff you have here! I'm a working illustrator and even I find these videos to be a great resource.
Oh wow! I had no idea you could do all that with Evernote. I'm looking into it. Thanks!
You're quite welcome!
Evernote or Wunderlist are great. I know Wunderlist can be downloaded on to your PC or phone.
biggggggggggest fan of your art
I've really enjoyed your insights on art and the industry. Not sure what the heck my artistic vision is, but I know I struggle with focus and motivation. One of the things I struggle with is only wanting to put "good stuff" in my sketchbooks, which is kind of self-defeating, I know. I'm making headway on that one though. One thing I did to help get me jumpstarted a bit was a variation of your Scribble Until You Find Something video. I posted the results on my FB page, in case, because doing so helped to keep me on task.
Jake! I found this video from a search for Artistic Vision and love it. I'm a photographer but this is good info for any artist. I thought I recognized you and then realized we both worked on Titan A.E. I was in the Ink & Paint department. Small world!
Thanks Mr. Jake. This video gave a lot of answers to my confusions iv'e been facing for last couple of days.
Hey Jake, I am really looking forward to seeing your new graphic novel. I didn't get in on the Kickstarter, but I love your work. Your comment on style is spot on. I have been drawing since I was little and I was always looking for a style to use. One day, in my 30's no less, it just happened. I wanted to draw something and I didn't think about how I wanted to draw it, I just drew it and that's when I had my "Aha" moment. It was awesome. Thanks for making these videos and keep it up.
Love the insight Jake. Keep it up. Such an inspiration.
Appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences. Kudos :)
This was an awesome video. Super helpful stuff. I’ve been thinking a lot about my style lately and this really cleared some of my questions.
Jake thank you verry much. I can draw a little mostly technical. You and 2 other artists have aided me in my work. I am an inventer and my drawings should inprove thanks to you three artists. At best my drawing side. Thanks.
Subscribed because you mentioned yukito kishiro- I'm not even a big manga fan but that man could draw-he and Ketsuhiro Otomo are up there in the ranks of Moebius IMO.
Good luck in Denver, Jake! Have fun!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and ideas! 👍🏼
Such a great talk Jake, you've cleared up at least a couple of nagging concerns I've had.
Hey jake, you should do a video on being afraid to go outside your comfort zone. I myself often get stuck drawing the same character in the same pose from the same perspective over and over again, and I just realized it's because I'm always scared the drawing is gonna suck if I try something new. Even now that I know about this problem I still find it difficult, but I'm looking to increase my progression speed from now on :)
Check out Jazza's Arty Games app! It's awesome and its developed by another another artist on youtube, Jazza, from DrawWithJazza
thanks :)
You always bring us relevant topics.Im not a artist(yet ^^) but its very interesting to see your perspective of things related to art..delevopment and etc.Keep up the good work !U have a fan(s) in Brazil haha !
talking about 80s-90's cartoons.. did you watch swat kats, centurions and johnny quest?
Now that i think about it I feel a lot of my mechanical designs are based of the structures i saw in these cartoons growing up as a kid.
I Dont wanna sound like a fan boy, but you rock in the artistic world ! You make me create more and more, its a butt kickin for me in a good way ! always inspiring , keep up the good work !
before i start watching ur vids i didnt know how to come up with ideas but now im working on 3 projects
Thank you for this video. My biggest problem with my current style is how much it changes according with the supplies I use, specially the kind of paper. For example, my soluble graphite drawings are way different than my normal ones.
The other thing is what I want to show with it. I, too, am creating some kind of "universe" with my somewhat abstract style, meaning every drawing I make belongs to the same world, but I want it to have a message. I'm still figuring that out.
I think it was Will Terrell who said style is learning to work with your mistakes.
Awesome video Jake. Now I've finished flirting with your artwork I'm off to draw something!
Thank you
Hi Jake really love your work but here is a question that you probably had and answer many times how did or do you balance work and family and how do you schedule your day to day work but still have time for your kids. I’m a 40 year old dad with twin boys and I have a day job 9-6 Monday to Saturday when I get home I’m tiered and spend like a few hours with my boys before bed time after that I’m so drained to do any personal work. Got any advice.
Hey Jake, Love your videos and I always find your outlooks and advise helpful and inspiring. Thanks for doing what you do on top of making amazing art.
Questions regarding this topic: Do you have any advise if you find that you don't necessarily LIKE the style your developing. i find i can be aware that i'm slowly developing my own style and that it often peaks through in the work i do most naturally. But i often worry that it's not a look i actually like! but its developing none the less. Thoughts?
Ever try pixel art? I quite like working close to the pixels, I feel like its more honest, like with traditional mediums each one has its own characteristics that make it unique and to me the pixels are like the grain of the paper, also I'm inspired by early 3d video games so there's that. The artist that has really inspired me in that direction is actually a local artist , if you look up cutlaska there should be a blog/tumblr called carrion.
I think style can be forced to some extent but more often it just happens naturally because that's what we're more comfortable with anyway. It's way harder to force yourself into a style that may not be as natural to create. But if you really wanted to, or even needed to, I think you could train yourself into a different style. My 2 cents..
he he hearing you talk about your creative dna :) mine is exactly the same :) cheers
Jake, thanks for the heaps of useful information. I wanted to ask you something. Is that possible to combine the two drawing styles. Currently I do some freelance as an illustrator and a draw in a semi-realistic style, trynig to render the characters so that they are close to real-life. But at the same time I always enjoyed sketching and drawing comic characters in ink. How do you think the two styles can intertwine with no harm to each other, and is it possible at all? Did you have such an experience?
What camera / rig set up are you working with?
My youngest wanted my to sketching an star wars astral droid. Never done one before. So I had an go and coloured it with ink intense pencils.its on my Instagram page
Hey Jake,
What are your thoughts on mentorships and seeking them out? Being a professional in the illustration field, what would you say is the most effective way to communicate with them, or to make yourself known to them?
Thanks!
How would you go about drawing in a creepy style? Im not really sure where to start, but i want to try it.
whoot whoot to my peeps in their 30's!!! its a beautiful thing. 😆
Thanks for another awesome vid mr Jake Parker. I just have a question on building mileage. Is it better to just draw on loose leaves of paper while building mileage? Maybe use a sketchbook for just your own ideas? Or is it ok just do everything in a sketchbook?
Thanks
I'd say use a sketchbook, as all your ideas are in one place and they can be easily referenced back to.
Thanks
Storme Paton Also, get a small pocket sketchbook, and carry some art supplies wherever you go. I find it helps build mileage A TON.
Also, something i think would help, which i am thinking about doing, is getting what i call "project books". Project Books would be some sketchbook/pad that have a small amount of sheets. I would do that for stuff like "Hey, i want to draw some more anime/robots/mechs/vehicles/anything, so i'll get a project book, and fill it up with JUST draw {insert previous mentioned stuff} in that book"
I feel that might help if you want to do a specific area of art, maybe that just me, but it's an idea i want to implement since i want to get better at anime drawings.
Thanks :)
So are we able to have more than one art style, especially depending on the "story" we're telling? Cuz I draw both in a more realistic anime style and then this round "Song of the Sea" kind of style.
13:22 he just marked a tick
hope you reply to this whenever you have time but, did you first start out using reference for you drawings or did you copied like an artist or any other thing?
Very nice :)
not sure it this would help you keep track of your questions. You could build several recipes that would take your # and put it where you can keep track of them be it instagram, twitter or youtube. ifttt.com/
Brian Reed Great idea! I'll look into it.
+Jake Parker I'm just here to add a huge AMEN to ifttt. I use it a lot. You could set up recipes that drop information into a spreadsheet in google drive or something. Really powerful tool.
#AskMrJakeParker Hi Jake your videos are amazing and I'm constantly checking to see if you have posted! I can always relate to them! My question is: I can always draw character faces great but really struggle with drawing bodies and poses and i feel this is whats really holding me back:( I know the obvious is go to a figure drawing class, but there isn't really any nearby, so was just wondering if there were any other tips? thanks!
***** aww thanks man, the site seems really cool. Total appreciate it
Stop naming my favorite things!!! :D 9:45
#askmrjakeparker Hi Jake, i'm a recent fan and hope that u can help me w my question.
I already know that i want to become an animator or an illustrator later on because art is what i do the best at and enjoy the most. But, i'm still afraid about choosing this path because i'm not confident about my skills and what if i can't make money or find a decent job later on...The reason for this worry of mine is because my family said "You r our only hope and so, r not allow to mess up". Should i keep pursuing my dream or find a more stable, safer career (my family thinks that being an animator or illustrator can't make much money and is not stable, so they r kind of against it)? thank u :)))
What If I don't want a style ?
Style is everything you do wrong in a drawing, habits that the artist make and repeat in their art. There is no such thing as no style. :)
MagentaVideos I guess the dream if having multiple styles is dead. . I don't want a style. I'll learn how to correct my bad habits
+ghost59able Style is not necessarily rely on your mystakes.
The way you hold a pencil, the way you do cross hatch, your line weight. That can also be a style that makes you recognizable.
Even two hyper realistic portraits can be made with different styles. You just need to observe closely to see that.
Alice Sacco alright, and ill be able to change my style by doing drawing a different way??
Style can't change. But you can still fix all your mistakes. Even if you do a 100% accurate drawing, people will still recognize you.
I once drew smurfs accurately, and it was still recognizable that was me at drawing them.
naked art bank!
my gut wants tacos.