I love drawing. I really do. It's been my passion since I was a kid, starting with those huge Crayolas. That memory was still clear in my mind, I wanted to draw grass and trees but I lacked a certain bright green so I asked one of my classmates.
"Can I borrow your green?", I asked.
"It's NOT green!", she remarked, "It's SEA GREEN!"
I couldn't argue as it was written on the label "Sea Green" coupled with my lack of knowledge on what the other shades of colors were called at that time. This was 1st Grade.
As I grew up, I also got exposed to Fantasy literature and Comics which I've spent a lot of time drawing (although most of my works back then were on my school notebooks and my sketchpads are back home.) without really studying color theory and anatomy.
My work has been totally different from the arts that I wanted to pursue, but nevertheless a good career move as computers will be here and will continue to exist and maybe someday even completely replace traditional media (though I prefer working on traditional of course!).
I'll leave that topic for another entry. I do think that observation plays a very vital role in producing any form of art from our heads. Some people aren't really happy on what they have made, but they could not see the genius that they have conjured.
Sure, some of the works we'll see may not exactly have the perfect proportions in terms of anatomy or colors, but there will always be something distinctive of it. Upon observation, we see the strokes, the shades, colors within colors and that's what makes up the beauty of a piece.
It's not because we think another artwork is more beautiful than what we have made makes ours inferior to it as it will have different impacts on different people. Remember that old saying "A picture means a thousand words".
Of course, criticisms on our works are always hard to accept. They're like our children being judged in a contest. If the criticism makes sense and is insightful, this can help us improve.
Just like in guitar shredding. Never compare yourself to highly accomplish virtuosos/artists. They have the liberty of drawing/playing almost the whole day and get paid to do it. Most of us are constrained by time, especially for work unrelated to art and other personal activites, and TIME is essential to being exceptionally great at something.
To me, as long as the passion exists, the possibility of making something great can be accomplished. Do it for yourself first, if it is pleasing to you, chances are other will be as equally or more happy than you are.
Just like that childhood memory, think of yours, share it and cherish it and think of how you've improved and how you can improve more by again, observation and a bit of study (OK, a lot for some stuff hehe)
Lastly, I hate the "l33t" groups or whatever. Yes, you are the greatest and we aren't good enough. You are perfect. But you know what, sometimes I see artworks that have brilliant colors, concept, proportions and depth... but I find them empty. It's too perfect that there is no soul in them anymore, they are made solely to feed egos.
