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comment by johnnyFive
johnnyFive  ·  2030 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: September 26, 2018

That's a great drawing!

Art is something that makes me crazy but that I can't stop wanting to do, which I think is telling me something.

Any thoughts on where I might be able to find a tutor? Just aimless practicing is a bad way for me to learn, both practically and in terms of keeping me disciplined.





veen  ·  2030 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Very important sidenote: I did not draw that, I found an amazing artist to commission. If I'd have only 1% of that skill I'd be a better drawer than I am today.

Aimless practice is good for creativity, not for skill. There is a plethora of studies that show that deliberate practice is what you need to do to actually get better. You need to define what's good and then do what Cal Newport calls "stretch and destroy": stretch your abilities to an uncomfortable level, and embrace honest feedback even if it destroys what you think is good. You should judge tutors by their ability to help in those two regards, if you'd ask me.

johnnyFive  ·  2030 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I like that way of looking at it a lot.

blackbootz  ·  2030 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I joined an art club in Korea for precisely this reason. My art skills are potato-level. We're doing still lives with ink pens tonight, and getting feedback. After a few months I might upgrade from potato to rhubarb.