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 ?

Did you answer why you do art OP? Apologies if you have as I skimmed the post and didn’t see why?

it's just when I joined those groups I felt like majority of them were at a totally different level to me.

Maybe they are at a completely different level? That is a good thing though as you can learn from them?

If you feel so disheartened by others being better, why not join a beginner’s group. One of my children dislikes art classes as they prefer being creative, and up until DC1 joined the classes, I believed he was really talented. Now I realise he needs to learn a lot, but he is quite steadfast in his belief that he knows enough! He won’t ever move to the next level though.

I have a degree in art and trust me 80% of the people in my first year could not draw for shit. There are succesful illustrators out there now who still can’t draw for shit. Tracy Emin can’t draw for shit either, but she must be a good talker, a good networker and must have some charisma in person.

The point is those who can’t usually have something else going on for them. Some really crap illustrators in terms of drawing make the most charming and magical pictures within their own limits. And sell it and believe in themselves and their style. Develop a style and sell it and people will buy it.

Wow, @Dodie66 , I will definitely give your link a go.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuptVzQC_Xc
For anyone who missed it.
I use oils mainly, because I can cover my mistakes and correct them as I go along - I didn't get along with watercolour for that reason - but will try again using your links.

Agree with you @Bluemoooon that watercolour is very unforgiving!

I love the bluebell woods tutorial. I like the lift-off technique, which I do with my pencil sketches using a kneadable eraser.

This thread has inspired me to do some more practice sketches! Pity about the pending work deadline ...

@ArtyG

I'm a professional artist. I wouldn't pay too much attention to 'art critics' on facebook. For every well-considered and thoughtful critique you will get ten pointless ones! I find the best way to improve is to follow artists you really admire and are inpired by, and to just keep practicing.

I taught myself how to paint (by trial and error) about ten years ago and find it really useful to compare photos of work I did when I just started to very recent paintings, and see where my technique has improved. I think it's very easy to be discouraged by the randomers who live inside the internet, my confidence is shaky at the best of times so I'm careful what I post - particularly on Facebook. However from sheer determination I have what I would consider a reasonably decent career as an artist, I paint for a Fine Art Publisher and my work sells very quickly and for far more than I ever would have dreamt of - so keep going! If you enjoy it and keep at it you will get better and you will feel more confident.

I admire how you have gone from teaching yourself to paint right through to selling with a fine art publisher.

Could I be really cheeky and ask if I could send your private message as I have something I would like to askew but I don't want to make myself look stupid in public. Thank you .