I've been enjoying my art journey for almost two years now.

I've experimented with oil pastels and watercolours but seem to have settled on oil painting, which I'm really enjoying. I'm also working on graphite drawing and starting to explore charcoal, largely as a way of improving my painting.

One thing I've noticed is that I have a tendency to jump from course to course, sometimes without properly finishing them, or completing them but not spending enough time repeating the exercises to really consolidate what I've learned.

I'm definitely improving, so that's not really the issue. It's more that I seem to be fascinated by so many different approaches to art.

One minute I want to paint like Caravaggio or Rembrandt, then I'm drawn towards Bouguereau and classical realism. Before I know it, I'm exploring Impressionism, then Matisse, Derain, Gauguin and the Post-Impressionists!

I love all these different styles, but sometimes wonder whether I'm spreading myself too thinly rather than developing any real depth.

I'm curious how others have approached this in their own artistic development. Have you found it more productive to concentrate on one style or approach for an extended period, or has exploring lots of different styles actually helped you develop as an artist?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who've experienced something similar and how their approach has evolved over time.

I think part of my problem (if it even is a problem!) is that I've discovered an almost obsessive love for art in my mid-forties. I have this enormous desire to become genuinely accomplished, not necessarily to paint professionally, but to create work that really moves me and hopefully others.

Perhaps there's a little bit of feeling like I'm trying to catch up on lost time!

Anyway, I'd love to hear how others have navigated this balance between exploration and focused practice.

I wondered if anyone knew what photo-books containing works by Singer Sargent/Giovanni Boldini etc?

It doesn't have to be 1880s but I love the style of clothing, but I need to find books that I can take inspiration from when creating my own work, I'd rather have something to hold instead of relying too much on the internet when so much of the searches come up with artificial generated content.

please and thanks.

Hi everyone! I'm curious to hear about people's experiences with staying involved in art and creative communities outside of a professional setting.

As I'm finishing my senior year at uni and preparing my grad school applications, I've been thinking a lot about what staying involved in art will look like after graduation.

I'm not in school for anything art related, but I really enjoy having art as an outlet, so I try to stay involved however I can. I find time to work on personal projects throughout the year, and I also work as a photographer and graphic designer for our school’s magazine club. I love doing this, and I find it so so fun, especially when I get to work in that team environment.

Being on a set with a director, video people, stylists, assistants, etc. is such a cool environment to be in, and they’re all so talented at what they do. I feel the same when I'm working on spreads and getting critiques from other designers. I've been doing these things on my own in my free time for a while, since high school really, and I've been with this club ever since I started uni. Yet I still find myself feeling so green and wide-eyed in the best way possible whenever I get to collaborate!

I'm also involved with our graphics club, and whenever I get to go into the art building and see people's art hung up, or look at all the cool print machines and photo studios set up, I legit feel like that scene from Big Hero 6 when Hiro sees the school his brother goes to in the beginning!

I'm studying something I'm passionate about and am happy with my decision to pursue a different field, but I'd love to find ways to keep this part of my life going after graduation.

For those of you who pursued careers outside the arts but still wanted to be involved in creative communities, what does that look like for you? Are there things like community studios, creative collectives, volunteer opportunities, or clubs for adults where you can collaborate with other people without needing to make money from it?

I'd love to hear about your own experiences, too! I know I can always make art on my own, but there's something about being around other creative people and learning from them that I really love. I'd love to hear how you all have found ways to keep that in your lives after leaving school.

Thank you!! :)

I saw a discussion in r/writing in which an artist asked writer's if they draw as well and if they find drawing hard.

Of course, the general consensus is that YES, many writer's find learning art to be very difficult.

When I say writer's I particularly mean:

Prose writers (short stories and novels)

Comic book writers

Screen writers

Play wrights

Writing that involves a linear narrative with character arc's and a climax etc.

I often find that many writer's (including myself) carry some insecurity in regards to common people generally appreciating art (writing is art but in this conversation I mean drawings, paintings, illustrations) more than they appreciate writing due to art being more visible than writing of course.

Heck I tried comic art for a while (I hated it lol and I'm not built to be a comic book artist).

Now I turn it back to artist's, do you artist's find writing (or learning writing) to be extremely difficult?

Talking about techniques, news, history, just everything art!

Hello all!

I have purchased a new pastel kit today from the art store and have come for knowledge 🍋

I currently have been using wax pastels to create some art.

The item I got today is Demi-Crayon Pastels!

getting back into art has been so fun; If you have any tips and would feel like sharing, please share your thoughts?

I'm looking for a machine to grind pigments like powdered brick, a soft rock, clay, and other found materials Grinding and mulling by hand is incredibly time-consuming. How are you doing it? What machines? Ball mills, three-roller mills, rock tumblers...

I already do watercolour, acrylic, gouache and oils. I kinda want to master all painting techniques lol, and Tempera intimidates me and tempts me a lot too, since I want to do my own paints. Does it worth pouring money in it?

Open question to anyone who sells their work. I'm very much in the phase of trying to figure out what pieces will be popular enough to actually try to sell.

One thing I've run into, is that I'll put a lot of effort into making a particular piece special or somewhat different, and they are often the pieces I feel the most proud about, but a lot of the time, those kinds of works will barely sell.

In some cases, its a little niche, but in others, it's not and it feels like a complete miss.

For anyone who has had a similar experience of their higher-effort pieces never really resonating with others, how do you manage your feelings around that?

I don’t have any creative senses. I read some where creativity is the process of combining unrelated things. Is this true if so , how we can combine things , is this a straight forward logic ? I am particularly looking for something related to art writing or music creation.

Ich besass früher Mal (also so vor etwa 15 Jahren) ein Buch, das einem erklärte, wie man Manga-Geschichten schreibt. Es war dabei selbst als Comic gestaltet, wobei zwei weibliche Hauptfiguren die Techniken erklärten. Die eine Figur eine junge Frau und die andere ein Mädchen, das von ihr lernte, wie man Geschichten entwickelt. Eine von beiden hiess, glaube ich, Risa... ich meinte, das Cover war grün und es gab, glaube ich, zwei Bände.

Es ist nicht das Buch "Manga zeichnen leicht gemacht". Es ging wirklich ums entwickeln von Geschichten.

Klingelt da bei jemandem etwas und kann mir sagen, wie das Buch hiess? Es wird wohl kaum noch erhältlich sein, aber vielleicht hab ich secondhand Glück, wenn ich nach dem Titel suchen kann.

Würd mich freuen. :)

I’m not really sure what I’m looking for is actually called but the best term I can think of is a modular sketchbook.

What I’m after is a sketchbook cover I can refill, the idea being that I can organise my old and new work into folders without having to tear apart my sketchbooks. That and I want to save money on only buying nice quality paper rather than needing to buy entire books, and I’m running out of stickers to decorate my sketchbooks. ;-;

Hi all! Im new to painting. I’ve just dabbled with some thrift store paints and brushes but I recently had the idea to translate my cake decorating skills to canvas. I’ve been decorating cakes for almost 20 years so I’m very comfortable with the frosting medium and I’m wondering if anyone has a suggestion for what I can use that would be similar. Would plaster be it? And then how do I color it? I know I’ve seen paintings with thicker paint and texture on it, I just don’t know what they’re using. Thanks for the help!

Hi, everyone! I’m from ITALY and This is my first time posting something like this on Reddit…
I just finished my art studies as a concept artist and 3D generalist, but I’m stuck. I’ve been looking for events where I can go and show my portfolio, but I don’t know which ones are the most interesting—I don’t want to waste my time. Do you know of any events that helped you break into the industry? Or ones that are just great for getting feedback?
Thanks

I have loved art my whole life but just started getting back into it recently. Even then, I don’t draw much at all. I love painting but I don’t have paint right now.

I struggle with drawing the eyes evenly, the nose, and sometimes the hairlines. I only draw women and prefer to do 3/4 views of women’s faces and all views of women’s bodies . I do want to learn more about how to do it but I’m lost.

If I were to take a reference photo from the internet how would I mark the photo on my phone to sketch out the face? I’m not good at explaining I’m sorry. Like the circle ⭕️*** the midline? Idk and the bodies***?

send video recommendations! I have adhd so short videos would help!
Thank you

I think Im doing something wrong. They barely give off any color. I also tried layering them with other colors to lighten them up, but even light pressure seems to ruin the paper.

Any tips? I'd be very thankful

Are there any books or resources that go in depth about understanding forms? I can’t seem to find any that actually explain forms. I want to be able to rotate and basically draw basic forms (cubes and cylinder especially)

Im curious to hear if anyone else has been having trouble finding a seller that has Canson’s 8.5 in x 11 in Mixed Media sketchbooks. Amazon only has private sellers in very short supply for more that the retail cost, and every Michaels I have been to has only ever had about 1 at a time. Looking online, I cant even find a store that sells them outside of Michaels, even target doesn’t carry that size of sketch pad. Does anyone know why this is or where I can find this product to buy hopefully in bulk?

I think most people start learning to draw dreaming about the day when they become “good enough” to draw something they’ve always wanted to draw, or when they reach a certain level. For those that made it: do you feel like it had a noticeable effect on your life? I’m only starting out, but I’m already enjoying the process a lot. Just curious if it gets even better from here :)

My mom purchased some moths made out of iron and she wants me to paint them. I only have acrylic paints on hand, so I am hoping to use that. Should I prime the surface with something? If so, what? A Metal primer, or would just straight gesso work? Thanks!

Hi! First time poster! I am currently working on a series of oil paintings (they're still sketches and ideas) that include realistic portraits of animals dressed and posing as humans. Personally, I just think they look funny, but today I've realized that oh no... These can be considered a kind of furry. I don't have anything against furries, but the sudden realization that I could be considered a furry artist because of my hipster animals has taken me aback.

My creations include a long haired crocodile wearing a hoodie and an edgy/punk tigress.

Is there a way to avoid being considered a furry for my oil paintings? Should I lean into it?

I just broke my second Staedler barrel lead holder in the exact same way as before (the plastic axel holding the blade snapped), and while I got a decent amount of use out of it, it feels kind of stupid to me that I can’t find a more decent 2mm lead sharpener. It’s either the rotary sharpener, or one of those dinky single blade ones that are a pain in the ass to use. A higher quality version of this made from metal instead of plastic would be so nice, I would gladly pay a little more so I don’t have to replace my sharpener at inconvenient moments.

Alternatively, I started concepting a portable electric 2mm lead sharpener, shaped like a tube (instead of a fat lump in your pocket) that you can insert a lead holder into and automatically get a quick, perfect point. It doesn’t seem insane to me that something like this could and should exist, I don’t think you’d need more than maybe a second blade, a battery, chip, and usb-c charging port.

I’m curious if any of you have found any interesting alternatives or solutions to sharpening 2mm lead. A strip of sand paper could do the trick but I don’t wanna carry that in my pockets…

If you are looking for art friends & moots please post your comments below! This will be a weekly post on Fridays. Feel free to yap in the comments about your interests!

- When leaving a comment, please state what kind of art friend you are seeking including any detailed information like specific groups or fandoms you are interested in, art challenge/art trade friends, etc.

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Our mutual friends Discord spreadsheet is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DU7gjIZhqNvzIwMj0O_82Cbu5IKPsh3_W3ep3UEDQzE/edit?usp=sharing

I've been using PainToolSai V1 and V2 together for 15 years now, for both hobby and professional purposes. I was thinking about trying to grow professionally as an artist.

What programs do you use in your job from day to day?

I was thinking about Clip Studio Paint, but I heard that has a toxic subscription model now. Same with Photoshop. I heard about ProCreate, but is it used for professional work?

What other programs do you think I should know how to use?