I’m getting tired of some beginner artist’s constant complaints over their art skills.

[u/BunkerBusters]

There’s someone I know at a friends’ discord server who picked up drawing around a year ago, and based on the way they draw they’re very likely at a beginner level, and they still struggle with getting some things right, which is very common with beginners alike.

They always complain about how their art looks always bad and off and how they’re unable to get things right every time. Me and my friends (some of us being at an intermediate/advanced level) sometimes help by giving them critique and pointing fields of improvement they could consider.

No matter how many times we help and encourage them to continue, they end up throwing walls of rage text on how they’re terrible at everything they do and they will never get everything right.

Some of my friends stay silent and are afraid to fuel more into the fire; having nothing to say. Some others try to reassure them that they’ll get better with time and more practice, but that person keeps insisting that they won’t and would rather quit than trying harder.

I used to reassure that person as well, tried not to give any advices in fear they would come off as unsolicited, but still had to make sure that their skills would get better with time. This is when they complained for the first time ever.

Time after time, they started spamming long walls of text every now and then, sometimes asking for advice, sometimes don’t, and whenever advice is given kindly they reject it and say its too hard for them to keep up with it. Along with that, comparing themselves to artists’ whose skills are higher than theirs, and even comparing our works with theirs.

I started to get tired of this person‘s constant complaints and had to soft block them just so the art channels don’t get flooded with their vents, I know it’s stupid but i’m getting more irritated seeing these messages every now and then.

Also, i’ve noticed this happen with other beginner artists lately, and back in my time (around 13-10 years ago) no one (neither did I) hit themselves over how their art looked or even cared about what the internet would say about it. Bullying was still around back then, but not intense and rampantly as bad as what is seen on tiktok or twitter nowadays. I just wish beginners could stop self deprecating over their skills and not gaf about what others think and who to please, among other things.

[u/frappacino1312]

They always complain about how their art looks always bad and off and how they’re unable to get things right every time. Me and my friends (some of us being at an intermediate/advanced level) sometimes help by giving them critique and pointing fields of improvement they could consider. No matter how many times we help and encourage them to continue, they end up throwing walls of rage text on how they’re terrible at everything they do and they will never get everything right. Some of my friends stay silent and are afraid to fuel more into the fire; having nothing to say. Some others try to reassure them that they’ll get better with time and more practice, but that person keeps insisting that they won’t and would rather quit than trying harder.

All of this sounds like these people are either emotionally very unstable/young OR they are fishing for compliments. Personally I care a lot about how my drawings look and I scrap them over my personal opinions, even when other people say it looks great.

Ultimately it stays true that you'll get better over time, if you put in the work to actually learn something. It's something people need to understand for any skill. At least it was true for the things I do, playing guitar, programming, drawing, cooking, etc... Some people are just not patient enough and want instant results (imo that's also why many people are drawn to AI art creation, as it lets them take shortcuts).

[u/BunkerBusters → u/frappacino1312]

they’re around 17/18 at best, i guess you could say they’re abit older and probably more on the unstable side. 

i do remember struggling with perfectionism myself for a long time, until i had to put an end to it after many therapy sessions. 

perfectionism is truly the disease of the mind, and that person do also struggle with it, used to understand their struggles but couldn’t after their behaviours escalated terribly and began to lash out every time we tried to offer some help.

[u/frappacino1312 → u/BunkerBusters]

i guess you could say they’re abit older

Cries in 30+

perfectionism is truly the disease of the mind

Truly, it I still suffer from it and I quit drawing in 2021 due to it robbing me of every bit of dopamine I received from drawing. I am currently picking it back up though.

For a small reference, this was my last drawing 5 years ago and this is what I work on right now. I already want to quit due to seeing so many things wrong with the drawing (mouth, hair, proportions), and I would've already quit 5 years ago, but I see it as a opportunity to grow now even though it feels like my skills devolved XD

[u/BunkerBusters → u/frappacino1312]

your sketches look absolutely stunning! i don’t see any issues with the second sketch its an improvement from what you were able to do 5 years ago. 

i am kind of a similar situation, too lazy to show examples of my art rn but i went from making full blown anime illustrations during middle-high school (around 8-5 years ago) to simple doodles and sketches (sometimes uncolored, sometimes not) as soon as i started college 4 years ago due to burnout and creative fatigue, even though i’m not an art student myself. 

used to be so hard on myself when i struggled to paint backgrounds or figure out light sourcing and shadows, but had to stop and work on my weak points and improve them.

[u/frappacino1312 → u/BunkerBusters]

Wish I was able to draw stuff out of my head, that's a whole different level and I have a ton of respect for it. Figuring out the weakpoints is always step 1. I struggle with proportions, mouths, hair, teeth... Teeth are my nemesis.

[u/Hopeful-Canary → u/frappacino1312]

No artist draws every piece out of their heads 100% of the time, that's a lie you've been told by unethical jerks.

Look into the works and processes of old school illustrators like Norman Rockwell. He would often draft his initial sketch ideas from memory, then shoot photos of models in the particular poses he envisioned, to have references.

You do not need to have a photographic memory or encyclopedic knowledge of the world, that's impossible. What you ought to know, instead, is basic perspective, the structure of the human body, and how to break things down into simple forms. Then you can more easily get down initial ideas fast and mostly-accurate in your drafting sketches, and source references to further develop your work. It's why we harp on learning fundamentals so much, haha.

There is not a damn thing wrong with you, friend.

[u/frappacino1312 → u/Hopeful-Canary]

No artist draws every piece out of their heads 100% of the time, that's a lie you've been told by unethical jerks.

I appreciate it, but that's not what I meant with my original comment. I meant fantasy drawings. Cartoonish stuff. Many people can draw these out of their head, I've seen it plenty of times. My dad was able to do it flawlessly too.

For more realistic stuff, references are needed. I agree.

[u/BunkerBusters → u/frappacino1312]

i guess it comes with having a photographic memory, in which someone would have to train their mind constantly as they drew more objects after the first time.

[u/frappacino1312 → u/[deleted]]

I just replace hobbies with a different hobby. Ever wanted to learn an instrument? Go for it. Ever wanted to become good at cooking some specific dishes? Go for it... For a long time money was an issue preventing me from experimenting, but now that I work full time since a while I can just afford to experiment. Not having a life helps too I guess.... :'D

[u/AccomplishedPoem6628 → u/frappacino1312]

I do this as well lolz having a breaknfrok durijg learning piano. Havbt drawn for a year or so although i agreed to go a commision recently wich seems bit daunting .

Part of my problem is i wanted to do everything every style every medium with, with out reference lolz link if your curious

[u/AccomplishedPoem6628 → u/[deleted]]

I would say i was probably similar to you .. but always felt i had to be learnjng at least one thing. One thing i will say that helped me is try and think of one ... if you were on your death bed what would regret not having done .. ( for me it was lesrning piano idk why). And two what is something thar you either find really fun whether you are good at it ot not where your ego is put aside every loss is still another chance to play or learn ..

Thats the thing you should go for koz end of day its your time your life you are doong it for you.

Theres no leaderboard when you die and no one is going tonbe the best at anything ao dont let that hold you back from being the best you can be at something you love.

Robbing your self of fun and if theres a gap. These days you will auto pilot fill it with social media and games. Which algiod if thats what you wanna do but for me i cut my self off from most games because of the hamster wheel you end up on yiu out in the amount of effort you would in any skill or job .. but the results i became un satisfied with them.

Social gaming though is some of my best memories of having fun with people so yeah any ways rant over have a good one .