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Original poster

Is this exceptionally talented for a 9YO?

168 replies

Fifi00 · 21/12/2022 16:58

DD has been saying she wants to be an artist for quite a while. I'm not naturally artistic myself so can't really teach her myself nor do I really know what makes good art. Everything she does has been self taught. Is this talented for a 9YO? How could I encourage her?

Is this exceptionally talented for a 9YO?
OP posts:
SillySausage81 · 21/12/2022 19:40

has an emotional impact I'd definitely not expect from a child.

Yes, this!!

Skill-wise, it reminds me of the sort of level my friend was at when we were around 12 years old... she went on to study fine art at university and is now an accomplished artist locally. Well worth getting your DD into some art classes if you can I reckon.

vitahelp · 21/12/2022 19:43

Wow! Yes she has a gift there, amazing! Just try and keep it light whilst encouraging her. You don’t want it to become a chore or for her to stop enjoying it.

B1993 · 21/12/2022 19:45

ErrolTheDragon · 21/12/2022 17:07

Yes...I'm no artist but it seems to be not only a 'good drawing' but also has an emotional impact I'd definitely not expect from a child.

Isn't it just a still from the Nextflix series Wednesday (based on Wednesday Adams from the Adams family). I agree that she's hugely talented (and way beyond the talents of most 9 year olds) but the emotional impact is all drawn from the character in the show, surely?

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9 year olds
EarthSight · 21/12/2022 19:48

If that's drawn by eye (and not traced as is incredible common these days), then yes, she's good, and higher than average.

ArabellaScott · 21/12/2022 19:51

MasterBeth · 21/12/2022 19:21

Those posters urging you to “get her to” draw from still life are suggesting a quick way to murder all enthusiasm for drawing. It’s not school.

Give her opportunities, point her in the direction of ideas, tell her how good her work is, but don’t turn her talent into a burden. Let her enjoy drawing photographs, if that’s what she likes doing. She’s nine. She doesn’t need to be undertaking a degree Foundation course at nine.

Fair point, and I agree her skill shouldn't become a burden.

OP asked how she could help/encourage her daughter - if she wants to improve, as most artists do, she would benefit greatly from drawing from life. It's not a diktat, she can do whatever she likes, of course.

Goodfood1 · 21/12/2022 19:58

That is absolutely amazing,my daughter was the same. And now she is an adult and an artist doing quite well for herself.

BasiliskStare · 21/12/2022 20:06

Oh @MasterBeth - I was not saying as a diktat make her draw from life - it was just ( my mother is very very good at drawing) that given her talent just to make her stretch herself a bit can't be a bad thing surely ? If she does not like it at 9 - there are many years to go. It was a suggestion - not a diktat.

MrsPerfect12 · 21/12/2022 20:08

Our local art gallery provides classes for children.
I would put that picture on socials and tweet/tag the actress.

user375242 · 21/12/2022 20:10

I assume she's followed a video tutorial, there are a lot for Wednesday on YouTube. But even if she has, I'd still say yes that is exceptionally talented for 9.

Is this exceptionally talented for a 9YO?
Veryxonfused · 21/12/2022 20:11

Yes. I was talented at art/drawing in school and still am good at drawing (she’s better than me at that age though!)
Advice - My family kept asking for drawings of family members/dogs etc and my mum kept offering my drawings to people and it actually put me off drawing as I felt guilty drawing anything for fun when I had a big to do list to get through from my family. So don’t do that 😂

Thighdentitycrisis · 21/12/2022 20:11

Spend 30 mins each day on observational drawing.

Get a sketchbook book, doesn’t have to be big A5 will do, just for obs. drawing. Pick something, anything could be a pepperoni or a book, and practice drawing it from life for 30 mins. She will get better with practice as this is a skill as well as a talent.

Good luck!

Cherrymerry · 21/12/2022 20:16

Give her opportunities, point her in the direction of ideas, tell her how good her work is, but don’t turn her talent into a burden. Let her enjoy drawing photographs, if that’s what she likes doing. She’s nine. She doesn’t need to be undertaking a degree Foundation course at nine.

I agree.

You either have it or you don’t (I definitely don’t).
She is very good and I don’t think she’ll ever lose that.

Drawing is so good for you mentally and so I would encourage her to keep drawing but drawing whatever she likes.
I would encourage her by buying the supplies but I wouldn’t push her.

When she’s older she may choose to pursue it further or choose a completely different field and use this as a way to keep her MH on track as just a calming hobby.

It’s great you want to encourage her but I’d be careful that you don’t end up pushing her to dislike it.

NeilHamburger · 21/12/2022 20:19

Definitely talented. Exceptionally talented? I’m not sure. Something to nourish for sure. I’d be proud.

Kendodd · 21/12/2022 20:20

Brilliant!
In case anyone hasn't mentioned it yet, she could try entering some competitions.

www.moma.co.uk/childrens-art-competitions/

grumpycow1 · 21/12/2022 20:23

Wow!! Something like this maybe? www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/short-courses/future-creatives/online

MarrymeKeanu · 21/12/2022 20:24

Wow! That’s incredible! I would consider the artist talented if they were an adult let alone a 9 year old. Definitely encourage her and start looking at ways to help her build on her natural talent.

WiddlinDiddlin · 21/12/2022 20:24

EarthSight · 21/12/2022 19:48

If that's drawn by eye (and not traced as is incredible common these days), then yes, she's good, and higher than average.

Tracing seems to get a very bad rap and undeservedly so - tracing an outline does not automatically produce good work, in fact simply tracing an outline is in itself, a skill (ask any animator!), understanding shading, perspective, light sources are all important too and if you can't do that, no amount of tracing will help.

The old masters certainly didn't free hand everything - they used whatever was necessary to do the job, particularly on commissioned work and work at a huge scale. Pouncing could be thought of as tracing (tiny pin prick holes in paper, tapped with a chalk filled bag to leave tiny marks you can then follow), and that was a pretty common method (still used today, proper sign writers use it a lot).

I recommend tracing for those who want to focus on other aspects of the work, particularly good for kids who will benefit from not having to worry about where things go/proportion etc. It's just a tool you can use, if it helps, if you want to.

Mydogatemypurse · 21/12/2022 20:26

Wow she's fab. X

Newuser82 · 21/12/2022 20:32

That's not good for a nine year old. It's just good!

Newuser82 · 21/12/2022 20:32

For anyone, if you see what I mean x

Thismummyrunstheshow · 21/12/2022 20:33

I think it's brilliant and I'd actually love to see some more!

LemonSwan · 21/12/2022 20:42

It’s excellent. Well atleast she’s easy to buy Christmas gifts for 🤣

EarthSight · 21/12/2022 20:44

WiddlinDiddlin · 21/12/2022 20:24

Tracing seems to get a very bad rap and undeservedly so - tracing an outline does not automatically produce good work, in fact simply tracing an outline is in itself, a skill (ask any animator!), understanding shading, perspective, light sources are all important too and if you can't do that, no amount of tracing will help.

The old masters certainly didn't free hand everything - they used whatever was necessary to do the job, particularly on commissioned work and work at a huge scale. Pouncing could be thought of as tracing (tiny pin prick holes in paper, tapped with a chalk filled bag to leave tiny marks you can then follow), and that was a pretty common method (still used today, proper sign writers use it a lot).

I recommend tracing for those who want to focus on other aspects of the work, particularly good for kids who will benefit from not having to worry about where things go/proportion etc. It's just a tool you can use, if it helps, if you want to.

Show quote history

@WiddlinDiddlin Nonsense. Tracing is in no way a comparable skill to drawing by eye. When you draw by eye, your eyes are making hundreds of tiny measurements, and that takes a while to train. I can understand why people need to do it for the sake of speed, but it's a not a good idea to do this regularly as you get out of practice.

I'm aware what the old masters did - I wrote my dissertation on the history of artists' materials.

LemonSwan · 21/12/2022 20:44

WiddlinDiddlin · 21/12/2022 20:24

Tracing seems to get a very bad rap and undeservedly so - tracing an outline does not automatically produce good work, in fact simply tracing an outline is in itself, a skill (ask any animator!), understanding shading, perspective, light sources are all important too and if you can't do that, no amount of tracing will help.

The old masters certainly didn't free hand everything - they used whatever was necessary to do the job, particularly on commissioned work and work at a huge scale. Pouncing could be thought of as tracing (tiny pin prick holes in paper, tapped with a chalk filled bag to leave tiny marks you can then follow), and that was a pretty common method (still used today, proper sign writers use it a lot).

I recommend tracing for those who want to focus on other aspects of the work, particularly good for kids who will benefit from not having to worry about where things go/proportion etc. It's just a tool you can use, if it helps, if you want to.

Show quote history

To the tracers 💪🤣

Was weirdly talking to DP today about whether he had a light box at school and whether we should get one.

Most masters/painters don’t even do their own under painting let alone tracing!

MontyK · 21/12/2022 20:44

That is magnificent. My almost 8 year old still draws stick figures so yes, I'd say your 9 yr old is extremely talented.

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