My art is nowhere near as good as I thought

[AnastarziaAnaqway]

Don't know if this is the right thread, and it's hardly a massive world problem, just a bit of a confidence thing I guess.

I've always enjoyed drawing and had more time to do it since the lockdown. I thought I was pretty good, not absolutely amazing but as long as I liked it that was the main thing.

Anyway, I wanted to put it out there so I joined some online groups where people could freely share their art.

Now feel totally out of my depth. The vast majority of the work is incredible, I imagine a lot of them are professional artists.

I was interested in getting feedback, one person said that my work was pretty good but otherwise it was more along the lines of 'good start, keep going, try working on xyz'. Others were getting endless praise and compliments.

I've also had this with an instrument I play.

I suppose comparison is the thief of joy and the main thing is that I like my art. Just feel a bit out of my depth and had my confidence knocked really, anybody else felt this way ?

YANBU to feel knocked but try and treat it as a learning curve.

This is an opportunity to improve (as you can never be too good) and use it as a bit of healthy competition to inspire yourself.

Don't give up! Your enjoyment of drawing is part of what makes you who you are. It's yours and no-one's judgement should make you stop. Most artists will look at their past work and wince. The more you do the more you'll improve. Art is so subjective you really must not take other people's opinions to heart. Art is not a competition and it's brilliant that you manage to find spaces in your life to keep on drawing.

justtickingboxes it depends on what medium you are using. I use a lot of watercolour. Here is one . Go to YouTube and search for more. for instance search for Watercolour landscape or acrylic landscape. You can search for pencil, oils and put in beginner if you are just starting out.hope that helps

So we get pages and pages of encouraging " Follow your muse and damn the haterz " type post then someone chucks in Rothko, an abstract expressionist who did just exactly that, and all of a sudden it's " Load of rubbish, my toddler could do that ... "
Irony, anyone?

I'm like you OP, average or for want of a better word ok at things like craft, cooking, sport etc and I'm fine with that. I do them because I enjoy them and I find forums like that soul destroying because someone is always going to be better because they probably have more time to dedicate to their chosen craft

Try other groups where at least a couple of other memebers are of a similiar standard to you. It may take few tries but you will find a group that is interesting and fun to be a part of .

I'm another amateur who's been doing more since lockdown. Thanks for posting the YouTube links i will have a look.
A question for those who have said you have taught yourself to paint / draw, do you mean in the sense of being completely self taught and haven't been to art school?

Rothko is a brilliant painter, but reproductions of his work don't really do it justice. For a start most of them are massive and the colour field paintings have areas of colour that seem to float on different planes. I wouldn't even pretend to understand them, and you don't have to, you just have to experience them.

Keep going op, if you do, compare what you did 2 years ago.

You cannot judge art by how accurately drawn it is, or by how closely it represents the original subject, that is just a skill that can be learned by practice. I am a tonal painter and, to be honest, don't bother too much about detail and accuracy. My work is more concerned with the relationship between different tones and colours.

Perhaps you could broaden your idea of what makes good art and start by playing with colour and simple shapes. Maybe draw some things from your imagination. Drawing every day will also improve your eye massively. And don't worry about the painting group, they are probably nowhere near as good as they think they are. Groups often don't like newcomers. Don't give up.

@AnastarziaAnaqway

Thanks, that's brilliant i'll look :) Sometimes I feel like i'm one of those Jack of all trades Master of none. I do running, I sing, do other sports, and i'm pretty decent at them but i'm not amazing at any of them at the same time. Just feel a bit 'meh' and average, even though I know it's not a competition. Just kind of wish I could be known for something and seen as talented.

Did you know the full phrase is "jack of all trades, master of none, is oftentimes better than master of one"?

I'd be a bit wary of forums - fifteen years ago the bitching and unconstructive criticism in photography forums nearly made me give it up for good, and I can't imagine the advent of Facebook and other social media has improved that.

I'm now a full time pro and I love what I do - and so do my clients. As long as you're happy with your work and know there's always space to improve, don't get sucked into the comparison trap!

I started painting during lockdown. I’m not a good at drawing but always wanted to try and paint . I thought I was doing okay until those Facebook groups. Oh my goodness it dented my confidence. So decided to look at the you tube videos and keep learning. I’m only doing it for me and for fun and I enjoy it so now I don’t care what anyone else does. And that is what we tell our children and for me my grandchildren. Just keep on trying .

@Dodie66

That is so beautiful - and so simple the way she does it. Lovely example and gorgeous painting.

I used to do supply teaching often for an art teacher who had a bad back or something. She always left planned lessons. Occasionally, I would find a student spending most of their time rubbing out the work they had just done - having no confidence in it. So luckily she had some art books. I would show them pictures by (I forget really) Picasso and Chagall and a German artist who filled his canvas with lollipop trees (like wallpaper). They usually resumed their drawing and painting assured that they could do better than the work of the famous artists I showed them. Who decides what is good art?

Unless you draw stick figures like Killer Frost in the Flash, I’m sure it’s not terrible! I very much admire people who can draw anything recognisable.

I'm not good at anything. I'm always just average so I actually admire you for putting your stuff out there. I have a son who is an art teacher, he draws and writes and sells comics for his own enjoyment and also designs and draws and designs advertising illustrations for different companies. Obviously, he's exceptionally talented but sometimes a picture off one of his students just takes his 'eye' cos he says he 'sees' into it. I look at the same picture and think it's crap!! Each to their own taste. You just carry on and enjoy what you are doing I say !

You have talent! Now you just need to keep practising :) I’m an artist of sorts and I learned a long time ago not to compare. Especially when I’m pouring my heart into it. Learn from others skill but don’t be disheartened by it - what’s the point!!!

Can we see some of your art? I bet we’ll all think it’s really good!!

I had a similar wake-up call with a creative hobby of mine. Can honestly say, though, that I'm much better now for taking the feedback on board. If you're keen to improve then I'd try and listen to some of it. But, if not, quit the groups and move on. You're quite right - comparison is indeed a thief!

I just bought a lovely print from a pub. Googled his other work and in my opinion it wasn't nearly as good as the painting i liked but art is subjective.
This artist is great at atkosphere but not so good at lifelike animals. Dosn't matter.
Keep practicing and dont give up!

Atmosphere

Everyone and their dog has an opinion about what "good" art looks like. Unless you respect their intuition or they are buying or marking your work then who cares what they think? Just keep doing your thing ...

Van Gogh only sold about one picture, this site might have offered some much-needed morale support 😢

Not only did van gogh only sell one picture just before he died, a few he swnt to hia brothers gallery were returned to him to make changes on.

I started a new hobby about a year ago, and joined an online group to learn more about it. Well, it’s obvious there’s a hierarchy, even with a free hobby. Some of the people are quite dismissive and unkind. I’ve stepped back from the group and am developing my interest away from them. Don’t let other people put you off, OP.