Practice Makes Perfect

noodletothedoodle:

loish:

I have this old sketchbook lying around from 2001, around the time I started drawing the kind of stuff I do today. Before that, I drew a lot of stuff from reference but found that whenever I started drawing from imagination, it was such a huge struggle. I just didn’t know where to start. I knew how things looked but had no idea how to translate this onto a sheet of paper without the help of solid reference material. And most importantly I had no clue what my style was. I didn’t have a drawing technique that helped me to just put something on paper, so most of what I drew around then was kind of weird, random and fragmented. 

Every now and then I would dig up this sketchbook and draw the picture again, next to the old one, to see how my approach had changed. Although I initially started doing this just to show how much better the drawing would look if I did it again, it’s become more about seeing how comfortable I’ve become with drawing in general. I can now sketch with so much more ease than I did before and I don’t get stuck as often as I used to.

But there are still tons of things that I just don’t know how to draw. I like to stay in my comfort zone and when I challenge myself to draw something totally different, I feel like I’m back to square one on everything. I feel just like I did in 2001 when I was drawing these weird random poses and unfinished faces. So I guess I’m posting this as a reminder to myself and others that if you stick with it, you’ll grow past that phase, even if you feel like you’re not getting anywhere!

this is inspiring 

(via helloarthole)

onibuu:

The first image was created in August of 2009 (right about the time I got really into anime and decided I WILL MAKE MANGA ONE DAY) and the second is from November of 2012 (a few weeks ago). Sometimes I can’t believe how much my art’s improved even though I’m still a novice. I’ve only been in an art class once! So I’m happy that I’ve come so far and excited to see my art in another three years, five years, ten years. :)

(Source: onimiroru, via fyeahmyoldart)

phantamber:

Exactly one year ago, I uploaded my first picture onto tumblr, pictured on top. Recently, I redrew that picture, shown underneath the old picture.This year has been, without a doubt, the year that I improved the most. So, here’s to another great year!?

(via fyeahmyoldart)

corby-draws-stuff:

2009 (original), and final 2012 version. (also, wip post)

As I said in my dA comment, I almost like the flat wip colours more…

I’ve officially moved on from the big shojo eyes and dot-for-a-nose style. And it only took me four years! It’s really crazy. I would think “How much can I really improve?” at the time—only to look back on something I was so proud of/ worked so hard on, and it suddenly looks like complete crap to you a few months later.

I feel slightly embarrassed that my name is on some of that older dA stuff. But I keep this stuff for future comparisons. Also embarrassed that my user name is Tsumasakiice. I need to change that.

(via fyeahmyoldart)