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How would I tend to get better at my art?

I am passionate about art and design, especially digital art and sketching on paper but I don't think that I am good at any of it. How would I get better at art or improve my skill? I also would like to be an animator. I love both of these art topics, how would I get started with that?

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Samantha’s Answer

Practice makes perfect! One thing an art teacher told me, specifically for sketching, was to print out an image that you are interested in re-creating. Sketch out quadrants on top of that image, and then the same size quadrants on your blank sketching paper. Focus on one quadrant at a time and this helps with attention to detail. Sometimes looking at a full image is overwhelming but if you break it down into smaller sections it really isn't too challenging.

YouTube also is a great place for learning. There's thousands of tutorial videos for both sketching and digital art that you can follow and pause to follow along at your own pace! If you find yourself enjoying a certain creator's video's best, you can even subscribe to their channel to follow along.

I encourage you to set goals for yourself - whether they are big or small. For example for sketching, you can set a goal to learn more about shading techniques by a certain time. This way, you are able to stay motivated and strive to continuously improve!

Samantha recommends the following next steps:

Here's a video for the quadrant technique I was referring to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTjL6WOHsJ0
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Ellen’s Answer

Hi Ethan,
That is a question that every student needs to ask themself....how can I improve my artwork? In fact, it is a question that every artist needs to ask themself too, no matter how accomplished they may become, good artists continue to improve. So part of becoming and being an artist is growing and deepening your skills and your ideas in art.

So the short answer to your question is to practice whatever art technique you like on a consistent basis. Art is like any other skill; the more you do your artwork, the more confident you will feel about your artwork. So, keep sketching what you like, and keep working on your computer graphics. Carry a sketchbook with you and draw when you can (but not when you should be paying attention in school!) You might want to start a portfolio of your artwork; collect your artwork in a folder and make a digital portfolio; use your cellphone to photograph your work, if possible.

In addition, you will also need some feedback on your work from other artists, so talk to your art teachers; show them your work and listen to what they have to say. If you are not taking art classes in school, then see if there is an after school art club in your school, or if there are other opportunities to take some art classes outside of school. Even if you are not taking art classes, don't be shy about talking to the art teachers in your school, I know they would love to see your art.

You say you are passionate about art and design, so spend some time looking at art that interests you. If you can, visit art museums, or check museums out online. Go to the library and look at art books. Talk to your school librarian about the art books in the school library. There are lots of art instruction books out there as well as free online resources, such as Youtube tutorials.

As to your statement, "I don't think I am any good at it", please remember that becoming a "good" artist (whatever that means to you) takes time and effort, and we all develop at our own pace. As an art teacher, it was always satisfying to see how my art students developed during middle school, and it was always even more wonderful when I later would have the chance to see what they were doing at the high school level. I was often amazed at the progress they had made in their art skills and ideas. You don't say what grade you are in, but I would often tell my students that "Leonardo Da Vinci was not the artist we know when he was 12 years old...like all artists, he got better at his art skills and at expressing himself through his art as he got older." So, be patient with yourself; you are just beginning a wonderful journey. Keep practicing your artwork and have fun.

I hope this helps! Best wishes!
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Tamberlyn’s Answer

If you love art and design but don't feel confidence in your abilities yet, first - just keep doing it! Keep in mind that talent in art is in the eye of the beholder - don't compare yourself to anyone but yourself as you begin, but do choose a goal , like what would you like to be able to do successfully as a graphic designer? Do you want to be able to manipulate photography? Do you want to improve digital drawing? Free-hand drawing?
There are courses you can take online or through a community or 4-year college that will teach you aspects of becoming a graphic designer.

Tamberlyn recommends the following next steps:

Look into courses available at your local community college
Talk to someone in the graphic design field - ask them, what did they find most useful as they refined their craft?
If you go the college route, this is definitely a field where you could find an internship (my daughter had a paid internship all 4 years she was in college). The experience is priceless.
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