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[carfilledwithfish]

To put an end to the "omg cfwf how you get so EPIC?" questions, here are some tips for being a good artist. Most other artists will tell you the exact same stuff, but... eh.



1.Learn realism first.
You may be thinking, “But I'm a cartoon/abstract/anime artist, I don't need to know DA RULEZ!” or “Why should I draw real people? Art is all about creativity and using your imagination, I shouldn't have to do this!”
Sorry to disappoint you, but if you think that, you are wrong. You don't have to draw realism all the time, but knowing how to is important. There is a very obvious visual difference between an artist who knows how to draw realistically, but chooses not to, and one who draws stylistically because they don't know how to draw anything else. If you copy the art style from your favourite cartoon or manga, or just make things up as you go without actually understanding how anatomy works, your art is going to look bad.
Take a figure drawing class, with live models. Studying from photos helps too, but isn't quite the same. Remember that all art styles are based on realism, and that all the best abstract artists learned realism before they started drawing abstractly.

2.Be versatile.
If you end up working for someone as an artist, chances are your employer will expect you to work in a style that you aren't used to. This is another reason not to start by drawing stylistically; if you get too used to working in one style, you'll get stuck there, and have a hard time adapting to others.
Even after you've learned realism, and found a style you like, don't stop there! Try other styles, other media or software, anything. If you wanted to just copy your favourite manga artist's style before, now is the time to do it. Try every style you can think of, even if they're ones that you hate. The more versatile you are, the more attractive your work will be to a potential employer.

3.Listen to critique.
Do not get angry or upset when someone critiques your work. They are not trying to be mean or hurt your feelings, they're trying to help you improve. Your work probably isn't perfect, and another set of eyes may be able to see flaws that you can't.
There are two things you should never, ever say in response to critique. “I bet you can't do better” and “It's just my style.”
It doesn't matter if the person critiquing your work can't draw as well as you. You don't need to be a chef to know that something tastes bad, and you don't need to be an incredible artist to know that something could be drawn better. If drawing badly is 'your style,' you need to find a new one, or at least show that you can draw well if you want to. Of course, the people that use these excuses usually can't. Don't be mad. Be thankful.

4.Stealing is not OK.
This one should be obvious. There is a big difference between being inspired by another artists' work, and ripping them off. Don't try to act like they're the same thing, especially if you are guilty of copying someone else.
Let's say, for example, you want to draw your favourite video game character. But instead of just copying the art style and pose from the official art, you draw them in a style of your own, in a pose you haven't seen them in before. While that isn't exactly original, since it's still someone else's character, it's about as close to original as fan art can be.
Now let's suppose that instead of thinking up your own pose and style, you try to copy the official art as closely as possible. Or even worse, try to copy someone else's fan art of the same character. That is stealing.
It's true that everything is inspired by something else, but that is not an excuse for this sort of thing. However, copying other pictures for the sake of practice is perfectly okay. Just keep them to yourself; don't go showing your copies off and claiming that they're original.

5.Keep your old sketchbooks.
Even if you don't have a single drawing in an old sketchbook that you like, do not throw it away. Keep it, so you can look back on it later and see how much you've improved. It can be a real confidence booster; “I'm not too happy with this drawing, but at least it's better than this one I drew three months ago!”
Plus, you may find old drawings of yours with concepts that you liked, but poor execution. If you do, try drawing them again and see if you can do better.

6. There is no such thing as talent.
No one is naturally good at drawing. There is only skill. It may start with a small bit of talent, but to use that talent well requires a lot of practice and hard work, at which point it becomes SKILL. Good artists are not good because they were born that way, they are good because they've worked their asses off for years.
If you're trying to get a job in art somewhere, do not claim to be talented, because anyone who knows enough about art to make a living off of it knows that there is no such thing.

7. Practice, practice, practice!
This is the most important point of all. Get a sketchbook and a pencil, and take them with you everywhere. If you see a person, object or place that looks even remotely interesting, draw that. If you get an idea for a funny-looking cartoon character, drop what you're doing and draw it. Learn to carry on a conversation while you draw, and doodle in your sketchbook while you're talking to people. If you can afford it, get a tablet and draw with that while you're at home. Every time you have an opportunity to draw, draw.
I was nine years old when I decided that I wanted to make art a big part of my life. For the next few years, I drew every single night before I went to bed, and I still have a hard time sitting in one spot without a pencil and a piece of paper in front of me. Of course, at the time I had no idea what I was doing, and my drawings were bad. I knew they were bad, and I wanted to get better. Your drawings will be bad at first too. Drawing well is hard, and that is why you practice.
It's never too late to start. You can start young like I did, you can be in your 20's, or your 50's, or anywhere beyond that. Don't say “I could never learn to draw,” because you can. You just have to work at it.


Hope that helps.

[Frozenwinters]

This should be stickied. Also, you should add something about being proud of your work. I know it doesn't seem like much but being strong about what you're bleeding onto the paper/screen will really help.

[Count_Bleck]

I really like these tips, but I dislike the "Try every style you can think of, even if they're ones that you hate. The more versatile you are, the more attractive your work will be to a potential employer."

I draw, to draw things I like.
I'm not trying to get a job in it.

[carfilledwithfish]

[Abstract]

I agree with all of these, for the most part.

(I actually learned anime style first and then combined realism with the anime style... Then again, I'm weird.)

Anyway, this should be stickied. It's a good guideline for beginning artists and struggling ones. c: Even for experienced ones, as well.