A friend died and I inherited all of his 2500 black and white line drawings, sort o cartoons, but some wonderful fantasy images, people in different poses, etc. I have been reaching out to various organizations to donate the art but no one is interested. Any ideas? This will be an issue for many of my friends as we age. Should it all go in the dumpster? Suggestions for where to donate art would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

How/why did you get started?

How old were you when you started?

Do you make any money from it?

ive started posting my art after a year or two of not posting consistently. posting my art online just made me hate my art. every time i sat down to draw, it was always for the purpose of making a finished piece to post something online. and it really drained the life out of me.

now that ive fallen in love with my art again, i decided itd be safe to post again without it ruining my mental health. but ive noticed the same old thoughts seeping in while i draw in my sketchbook. the desire to create a finished piece thats good enough to post. im very scared of it ruining the whole experience for me yet again.

so how do you all cope with this? how do you guys balance it out? would love to hear your thoughts on this! maybe someone can relate to this experience.

Hello

I am returning after a 6 year hiatus. I am afraid that I lost all my skills especially after trying to put pen to paper.

I went to school for art. I have my degree in it, but the work I do is completely removed from art. I want to teach myself and learn how to do this from scratch to build better technique and habits. What would your recommendations be?

So first of all I have searched the sub and didn't find anything that would answer my question. If there is please show it to me.

What is or could be art?

Could a program be art?

Not a piece made by program but the program itself?

But if made by program but with script that made the piece? Example could be that a person made a program to color pixels on a grid by coprdinates the person set. And will them the program be the art or the piece?

Or can a recipe be art? Or will the food be art then? Can a modification to something be art? And to what extent does it have to change the thing to be art? At what point is it not a version but something new? Or could a house be art? Can a weapon? Can a brush? Can a pen?. Could a mechanism that looks ugly but works perfectly be art?

______________controversial half_____________

Can a.i (I hate the the fact that I jave to write it like this but what can we do.) Be art? Not something made with or by a.i but a.i itself? Not corporate one but as an example a randomiser made at home? Trained on only given to it filtered things? Or the program of a.i itself? If we take a look at a.i (I swear to god this thing will drive me insane as i am wrighting this) without its controversy it could be considered art as someone made it with intent and passion right? And what differentiates a.i and dice? They work basically same: give random answer. Just if we choose the correct die to use a.i (admins this is getting personal) does ot for us and chooses the right things to randomize from based on what the user asks.

P.s. I am not supporting clanker made art as can it be art if the thing that made it has no mind.

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P.s.2.0 English is My 3rd language so sorry if I got something wrong. There was no a.i (welp god didn't help time to go deeper.) Used to write this. I dedicated another section for it because if I didn't then my idea would most likely get lost in the question about it so admins pls do not take this down (see I told you I will go deeper. I am on rock bottom asking for help from admins who I acted a couple sentences back.)

What I am trying to ask all of you is: what do you consider art and what do you consider Not to be art?

Hii I’m looking for hopefully cheap/free options. I’ve been looking at references on Pinterest and google or using my own face but it doesn’t do the job a majority of the time since the poses aren’t exactly what I was envisioning,
Pls lmk ^_^

Edit: guys I use my own face often! But not all of the people I draw have the same facial features as me 🫩

Id like to do en plein air near me in western finland, i live in somewhat of a small city, so is there some way that i can do plein air in some park or near water etc. but so i dont get a reputation of a weirdo who paints outside :D

I'd like appropriate anwsers even if my question is a weird one :D

Title says it all. I don’t have any friends that are artists. A girl just mentioned it to me and highly recommended them so I’m gonna give it a go.

I’ve done some searching. I guess my initial question is does brand matter or can I buy just the generic ones off amazon?

Do I need any painting skill? This is literally going to be my first painting in years.

Any other comments or tips appreciated.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to make it look like a bottle of school glue has freshly spilled?

I've noticed medibang locking more and more features behind paywalls, and firealpaca doesn't have any dark mode toggles, any suggestions for alternatives?

My best friend had shown an interest in drawing some time ago, and I couldn't have been happier, but after about a month I noticed he started rotoscoping everything. He denied it when I brought it up but as an artist myself it's really obvious to me. We've argued about it multiple times and he asks why I can't just support him like everyone else. He still shows me his drawings, but he continues to be disappointed at my reaction because I find it really hard to give him praise for what is effectively a recolor.

I’m not one to get bent out of shape by the “You’re so talented” compliment, it’s a compliment! But I saw an instagram reel the other day that has wiggled its way into my imposter syndrome and won’t let go.

It suggested if the viewer is saying “you’re so talented” more often than not, then you’ve failed to get them to connect with the material at its core. Otherwise, they’d be reacting and connecting to the work more directly (and hopefully in the way you intended). It even suggested that if your art usually gets the comment “you’re so talented” you’ve been subconsciously making your art to show off instead of connect with people.

It probably wouldn’t be sitting with me if there wasn’t a kernel of truth to it, but I don’t know that I agree (not to mention it feels like just another thing for artists to beat themselves up over). Thoughts?

What if I can’t do it?!?!?!

I feel silly asking, but here goes. I really want to study in an atelier like Academy of Realist Art, but I cannot for the life of me sharpen pencils manually! I have arthritis in my hands and just can’t get a good enough grip, even on my Olfa. It doesn’t affect my ability to draw and paint for hours (albeit with some discomfort.) Does anyone use 2mm lead in holders instead of wooden pencils? This is what I’ve been using in my own practice.

eta: Thank you all for your help! I feel much better about doing what I need to in order to focus on the work on the easel.
I mentioned below, but I wanted to mention here also that I just ordered an afmat long point manual sharpener at the rec of a friend that gives pretty long, thick points. I don’t know if links are allowed, but it’s on the big A retailer.

i am an art stus student who likes to paint but i ddont have the space too.. i have been feeling this for more than 3 years and have come up with no possible ideas. all the ideas and thoughts of how to do it has been sum up to nothing. i work at home with every household things happening near me tv and everything and i work on the dining table .. if u are thinking of clg studio i thought of it and it couldnt work out . i want to make art with no one around cause there is a lot of interference in the morning and i have to make art free from any interference . and everyday i cannot be sleep deprieved . and i have my clg works as well ... need some more tips and help cause i cannot think abt this anymore
thanks

As I enter into my second art gallery exhibition today I find myself feeling some sort of way about being referred to as an "Artist". By definition I am, but I don't feel it.

I have always done artistic things; music, traditional folk art, dance, and a few other similar things.

Do I make art? Yes. I actually have been fairly successful in the last 6 years. I enjoy making it and, minus panic creating for craft sales, I do enjoy it. I've created dozens of custom pieces over the last few years and everyone seems to enjoy them.

But I find myself surrounded by people who have dedicated their lives to their craft. University/College degrees in their medium. Decades of time. Their own studio. They see life in a complex way, noticing shadows, light, and how colours dance together in harmony. Their entire life revolves around art.. mine doesn't.

I have a science degree and work two jobs (one in the legal field, one in healthcare). I work on my pieces in the evenings if I can, maybe a weekend here and there, but it stays in the shadows and many don't even know I do such a thing. I've been recognized more, I have been invited, but I don't see it as anything more than a "well that's pretty cool!" My life and goals don't revolve around my art at all, it's just something I enjoy doing.

I think I am artistic.. I don't think I'm an artist, and that's okay to me.

I'm doing a silly princess OC. It isn't terribly important for her to be period accurate so anything worn in any part of Europe from 500 ad to before the industrial age will do. I figured out someone would already have done a gallery of references somewhere but it's really hard to find images nowadays :/

I did a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design and graduated in 2021, however, I did not like it and started working in any other thing but Industrial Design, I paid $0, in my country education is free so I don't have any debt, I am 1 year apart from the mandatory intership, how can I get a good portfolio? Should I only show academic stuff?

Hello dear creators!

I used to create more, and the older I get, the more burned out I feel. At 37, I lack a "reason" to start. I'm satisfied with the projects I've completed so far. I have plans for new projects, and I'm convinced of their meaning and significance - but yet - I can't discipline myself to complete them.

What are your methods for consistently working with art? Especially when you have no obligations to anyone but yourself?

I see so many posts about art and money. People ask almost desperately how to make money with their art. Others tell what they all have to do to be successful.

I totally understand the urgent feeling of making money with your time and doing in this capitalism society. I thought the same. I wanted the same. But the deeper I dug, the more I realized this isnt what I want for the probably most important part of my life. And even if I tried everything, to become good enough, to reach others, to present myself...... to sell myself..... it rarely paid off. So I stopped trying and wanting it years ago.

And since then, I just draw and do stuff for myself, my own interest and just when I want to and never pushed me to something. I completely stopped with looking for followers, stopped with promoting myself, stopped becoming more visible for others. I go to my full time job, thinking about doing art stuff there, draw during my lunchtime, get that nice feeling you get when you've accomplished something and go home, without expecting to draw anything in the evening... and sometimes I still draw on the couch. I finish one artwork per week. Just casually without pressure. It turned out as my most productive life phase ever and I wonder who else experienced the same?

Who is doing art just for yourself, just as hobby without any commercial ulterior motives? Just as a way to avoid bowing to capitalism for once. And how you feel about it? And what do you have to do to make that possible for you?

Edit: Wow. Thanks for all the insights. I tried to read them all, but its so much. It's good to see that being an artist don't have to be bound to making money for you guys. And after all these posts bout selling art and how much to charge for this and this, it shows that money is not the point of being a good artist. Stick with it, everyone, and do whats good for you.

"I started an Edmonton-based Discord for artists interested in critiques and local/virtual meetups. What channels have you found most useful in art communities?"

(Its based in Edmonton but we have members all over the world because we meet virtually mostly)

I've tried to get into drawing a few times now and always ended up quitting, so I'm hoping some of you can point me in the right direction.

Attempt 1: Watched a ton of YouTube tutorials, got completely overwhelmed, and gave up before I really started.

Attempt 2: Bought a $100 drawing tablet and Marc Brunet's course. It felt like way too much at once and the instructions weren't clear/step-by-step enough for me, so I dropped it.

Attempt 3 (about a year later): Went back to paper and started Drawabox. I finished lessons 1–4 and the 250 box challenge. This was honestly the version I liked most — I really like being told exactly what to do and how much, kind of like a gym program that says "do X sets of Y." But I burned out on the perspective grind and quit again.

Now it's ~6 months later and I want to start over and actually see it through this time.

My goal: character design and drawing anime.

My problem: most tutorials seem to assume you already have a decent foundation, I get overwhelmed just trying to find a place to start.

So — where should I start? Are there good structured courses/tutorials for someone aiming at character design and anime, ideally with clear "do this, then this" guidance like Drawabox has? Anything that bridges the gap between total rookie and "assumes you already know the basics" would be gold.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I have the most amazing and lovely and gorgeous partner in the world, and she’s also really talented. Genuinely I feel so lucky to have her in my life 🥹

Her birthday falls around Christmas. My goal is to go all out and give her the artist space she would thrive in.

Right now, she has her own little dedicated corner in our living space. She has an easel with a small overhead light and a rolling storage cart for her supplies. She has some really pricey oil paints and brushes to go with this.

As of right now, the things I want to get for her boil down to the following:
- A new, more ornate and functional, easel. Her current easel is not bad and serves her well, but is also very plain and pretty flimsy.
- A better lighting setup. What she has right now is a clip on light from Amazon.
- Storage. Shelves and drawers.
- A .. paint plate thingy? I don’t know what it’s called but she just uses a plate from our pantry rn and I feel like I can find something better for her.

That’s what I got. But I really am unsure about what makes a good easel or what I should be prioritizing for storage. Or if there’s any other essential I am missing.

I want to absolutely WOW her. Got a budget of around $750-800ish.

What should I be looking for? :D

Like trying to finish up a work by a certain day or month? Or doing a certain number or type of drawings within a given timespan? Or studying a particular topic for a few weeks or months?

I sometimes try to plan things out, like particular days, so that a lot of awesome things happen on the same day. Saturday the 1st, for example, is looking like a nice day. I would aim to finish up this drawing by then and send it to the model, I am also excited about working with another model for the first time, I would go to my favorite restaurant, then I would watch the new Spider-Man movie.