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More from Wolfy-Nail
Hey furries!
I usually get many notes now and again from many artists asking if I have any good tutorials. The answer is: no, I do not.
Not even I think of myself as a skilled artist, let alone a good teacher. But there are some basic concepts that I would like to share with you.
First of all, tutorials are overrated. If you think you need to find a good tutorial to get better in drawing -- break that mindset in your head. Although it is not completely wrong, it's just not productive. Setting the right goals is what's way more important.
To become a good artist you need smart goals and determination and not good tutorials.
Now let's talk about how to set goals.
Example of a good goal set: 5 days per week I would practice anatomy for at least 10 minutes.
- It is very specific
- It is easily achievable
- It is process-oriented
Example of a bad goal set: I need to learn anatomy.
- What does "learn anatomy" mean?
- How would you know that you have learned anatomy enough?
The problem of the bad goal is that it defines an end point rather than the process as to how to get there.
The last point is very important! It is basically a difference between GOALS and DREAMS. GOALS are made of plans on how to get to the point. DREAMS are images of a desired result without clear understanding of how to get there, and thus may remain to be dreams. Be process-oriented in whatever you do in your life. It was not just any 'special tutorial' that gave me the skills that I have now, it was switching my mind from "I want to draw like that guy" to "I want to become a bit better each week".
A rather small difference, but even that tiny change in such a meaning is vital.
Another thing I learned from studying general psychology (kind of my second hobby) was learning the difference between knowledge and skills.
Knowledge can be transferred from one person to another.
Skills can only be learned by everyone individually by multiple repeating.
What does it mean for us is that skills can be learned but cannot be taught. No one can actually teach you how to draw a wolf face in 3/4 perfectly, even if they want to. They can only share their knowledge about it.
See it as if you go to gym; when your trainer explains how to use all sporty gear in a gym - it is sharing knowledge. Yes, it IS very important! It is a good start! It gives you safety instructions and information on how to use it effectively (fundamentals). But no matter how good your trainer is, he can not build your muscles and do the exercises for you. Doing exercises is a gain of skill and the fitness your body is a result of such. You can get a better body without a good personal trainer, but you can't do it without exercising. That's why practicing is superior to finding tutorials.
One more remark for today. This time, not from general psychology, but some life management. It's all about "losers and winners" (I don't like these overused bombastic terms but it was used in a book I've read).
What makes a huge difference between losers and winners is the level of personal comfort (how do you feel) in the process of reaching your goals. If you get to the top of the mountain but are mentally broke by constant stress on your way up, you are still a 'loser'. It sounds rough, but it has to be said. Make sure that your way is comfortable! Enjoy the view, and have fun in the process of getting better in something.
tl;dr:
If you tend to have thoughts like "I should learn anatomy" or "I must learn how to draw hands" and start searching for good tutorials, but lose your focus and get distracted in the few days, you are living in dreams and wasting lots of time and energy. Good tutorials are good, but are not obligatory. Try to change your mindset and think more of how can you get better instead of what you would like to get.
One thing to be aware of:
Regular practicing is a powerful tool, but because you progressively gain skills little by little it could be hard to indicate overall progress. It will sometimes feels like you are not getting anywhere (happens to me a lot). Sometimes it's even feels like your art degrades which is sometimes true because, metaphorically speaking, sometimes you have to get down the hill before you start to walk up on the higher one. Progress isn't linear! But it's still progress. Do not worry, realization suddenly comes later and hits you all at once! After few of these moments, you'll start to believe in all I wrote above.
I wish you good luck, and hope that this article was worth your time.
Please don't ask me to make tutorials anymore =D
And for all of you that still need tutorials and resources, here is all you need: http://www.fusroda.com/resources/
p.s. I have no intention to offend anybody with this article. Good tutorials can be life-saving and I highly appreciate labor of people who create tutorials.
Special thanks to Foof for correcting this article for me!
I usually get many notes now and again from many artists asking if I have any good tutorials. The answer is: no, I do not.
Not even I think of myself as a skilled artist, let alone a good teacher. But there are some basic concepts that I would like to share with you.
First of all, tutorials are overrated. If you think you need to find a good tutorial to get better in drawing -- break that mindset in your head. Although it is not completely wrong, it's just not productive. Setting the right goals is what's way more important.
To become a good artist you need smart goals and determination and not good tutorials.
Now let's talk about how to set goals.
Example of a good goal set: 5 days per week I would practice anatomy for at least 10 minutes.
- It is very specific
- It is easily achievable
- It is process-oriented
Example of a bad goal set: I need to learn anatomy.
- What does "learn anatomy" mean?
- How would you know that you have learned anatomy enough?
The problem of the bad goal is that it defines an end point rather than the process as to how to get there.
The last point is very important! It is basically a difference between GOALS and DREAMS. GOALS are made of plans on how to get to the point. DREAMS are images of a desired result without clear understanding of how to get there, and thus may remain to be dreams. Be process-oriented in whatever you do in your life. It was not just any 'special tutorial' that gave me the skills that I have now, it was switching my mind from "I want to draw like that guy" to "I want to become a bit better each week".
A rather small difference, but even that tiny change in such a meaning is vital.
Another thing I learned from studying general psychology (kind of my second hobby) was learning the difference between knowledge and skills.
Knowledge can be transferred from one person to another.
Skills can only be learned by everyone individually by multiple repeating.
What does it mean for us is that skills can be learned but cannot be taught. No one can actually teach you how to draw a wolf face in 3/4 perfectly, even if they want to. They can only share their knowledge about it.
See it as if you go to gym; when your trainer explains how to use all sporty gear in a gym - it is sharing knowledge. Yes, it IS very important! It is a good start! It gives you safety instructions and information on how to use it effectively (fundamentals). But no matter how good your trainer is, he can not build your muscles and do the exercises for you. Doing exercises is a gain of skill and the fitness your body is a result of such. You can get a better body without a good personal trainer, but you can't do it without exercising. That's why practicing is superior to finding tutorials.
One more remark for today. This time, not from general psychology, but some life management. It's all about "losers and winners" (I don't like these overused bombastic terms but it was used in a book I've read).
What makes a huge difference between losers and winners is the level of personal comfort (how do you feel) in the process of reaching your goals. If you get to the top of the mountain but are mentally broke by constant stress on your way up, you are still a 'loser'. It sounds rough, but it has to be said. Make sure that your way is comfortable! Enjoy the view, and have fun in the process of getting better in something.
tl;dr:
If you tend to have thoughts like "I should learn anatomy" or "I must learn how to draw hands" and start searching for good tutorials, but lose your focus and get distracted in the few days, you are living in dreams and wasting lots of time and energy. Good tutorials are good, but are not obligatory. Try to change your mindset and think more of how can you get better instead of what you would like to get.
One thing to be aware of:
Regular practicing is a powerful tool, but because you progressively gain skills little by little it could be hard to indicate overall progress. It will sometimes feels like you are not getting anywhere (happens to me a lot). Sometimes it's even feels like your art degrades which is sometimes true because, metaphorically speaking, sometimes you have to get down the hill before you start to walk up on the higher one. Progress isn't linear! But it's still progress. Do not worry, realization suddenly comes later and hits you all at once! After few of these moments, you'll start to believe in all I wrote above.
I wish you good luck, and hope that this article was worth your time.
Please don't ask me to make tutorials anymore =D
And for all of you that still need tutorials and resources, here is all you need: http://www.fusroda.com/resources/
p.s. I have no intention to offend anybody with this article. Good tutorials can be life-saving and I highly appreciate labor of people who create tutorials.
Special thanks to Foof for correcting this article for me!
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Excellent advice, all around!
One thing I would personally add that is important is, if you see someone who is really good at drawing a particular thing or a type of technique... don't ask them to teach you, ask them how they learned it. And look into the resources that they used to learn.
One thing I would personally add that is important is, if you see someone who is really good at drawing a particular thing or a type of technique... don't ask them to teach you, ask them how they learned it. And look into the resources that they used to learn.
Reminds me of my time in welding school, the teacher can SHOW you anything, but only you can get the positioning and speed down. You cann not expect to simpy know the small adjustments to make unless you DO it. Muscle memry is a BiG part of welding, that is why so many accomplished welders can go from welding flatly to the weirdest angles. They already have the speed and positioning down, the body just adjusts to the angle
Tutorials are fun to see other people's process and see how others face certain types of things like "how this people approach hands construction" or "this artist that I like so much, applies first color or work in greyscale?" and things like that. And is ok to check them if someone what to see that and think can extract some information from them.
The thing is when someone approach tutorials, or YouTube videos or any other resource like if for see them his hand would automatically learn and assimilate, like if was matrix, the experience and skill of that person, and just after that get frustrated or think that just seeing that is enough. And are not few the artists and enthusiast that look in that way.
Your post is really good advice
Worth to read and think about ^^
The thing is when someone approach tutorials, or YouTube videos or any other resource like if for see them his hand would automatically learn and assimilate, like if was matrix, the experience and skill of that person, and just after that get frustrated or think that just seeing that is enough. And are not few the artists and enthusiast that look in that way.
Your post is really good advice
Worth to read and think about ^^
"The problem of the bad goal is that it defines an end point rather than the process as to how to get there."
wow. This says so much. Im always amazed by how people can express something that i need pages for in one sentence. This is exactly what i was trying to tell a friend of mine today :o
wow. This says so much. Im always amazed by how people can express something that i need pages for in one sentence. This is exactly what i was trying to tell a friend of mine today :o
Been a long time fan of you and your work, and this is why LOL. you set people straight. and this mentality got me far and pushed me to work hard to improve.
One thing I'd humbly add about actually starting to goal set, is to consider doing these 3 things as you start/continue your goals.
1.) break down your plan of attack, and narrow your focus. going off on your example- 10 minutes a day, I will practice anatomy, for 5 days straight. sometimes we get scared to start something and we end up putting it off because we think it's super hard to do.
break down the goal into smaller 'checkpoint' goals. On day one I will tackle something simple like shapes, then day two I'll get more detailed and work on proportion, then day three will be hands and feet, till finally day 5 comes and you can say- alright now I'll put it all together and see how it looks.
2.) document your process. most of the time- especially at the start- it feels like we make very little headway, but that's cuze we don't step back every once and awhile and see that although we've still got some ways to go, we've made some good progress. plus being able to see the difference of work you do now versus maybe 8 months ago is a good confidence boost on those impossible days.
3.) exercise the mentality of 'finished, not perfect'. What's important is to not lose heart when the improvement we're looking for doesn't just pop up as soon as we'd like. stick to your guns, finish your projects, continue your goals, and push through the slumps. it doesn't have to be perfect, that comes after like maybe 100 more tries. but it can be finished, and that's a task any skill level can accomplish
One thing I'd humbly add about actually starting to goal set, is to consider doing these 3 things as you start/continue your goals.
1.) break down your plan of attack, and narrow your focus. going off on your example- 10 minutes a day, I will practice anatomy, for 5 days straight. sometimes we get scared to start something and we end up putting it off because we think it's super hard to do.
break down the goal into smaller 'checkpoint' goals. On day one I will tackle something simple like shapes, then day two I'll get more detailed and work on proportion, then day three will be hands and feet, till finally day 5 comes and you can say- alright now I'll put it all together and see how it looks.
2.) document your process. most of the time- especially at the start- it feels like we make very little headway, but that's cuze we don't step back every once and awhile and see that although we've still got some ways to go, we've made some good progress. plus being able to see the difference of work you do now versus maybe 8 months ago is a good confidence boost on those impossible days.
3.) exercise the mentality of 'finished, not perfect'. What's important is to not lose heart when the improvement we're looking for doesn't just pop up as soon as we'd like. stick to your guns, finish your projects, continue your goals, and push through the slumps. it doesn't have to be perfect, that comes after like maybe 100 more tries. but it can be finished, and that's a task any skill level can accomplish
This is a really great post to see. My degree is in psychology, with focus on theories and study of Learning and Motivation. When we begin something new (in this case, drawing, for many people), we cannot produce what we want because we don't possess the necessary habits (subconscious responses that are developed through repetition). You might know a lot about the process but you will only produce the "perfect" mark when you have practiced it to the point where you do it without thinking about it. Think about riding a bike. Studies have shown that teaching children about the bike doesn't help them to ride the bike at all. They can only learn if they get on the bike. Wolfy-Nail, your goal-setting paradigm is spot-on for how to effectively develop such habits (or "skills"; i.e., start by making the goal easily achievable). Lovin' the educational post!
(Side note: the book "Incognito" by David Eagleman will provide good supplemental information for this topic, if anyone is interested.)
(Side note: the book "Incognito" by David Eagleman will provide good supplemental information for this topic, if anyone is interested.)
This is PHENOMENAL advice!
Tutorials are really good for getting your bearings when you are lost, gaining perspective or finding new tools to add to your toolbox. Implementing effectively requires repetition and practice. Through that practice you gain a new understanding of your tools that is adapted to your tastes and desires! Thats learning!
Tutorials are really good for getting your bearings when you are lost, gaining perspective or finding new tools to add to your toolbox. Implementing effectively requires repetition and practice. Through that practice you gain a new understanding of your tools that is adapted to your tastes and desires! Thats learning!
It's so true of any discipline. I'm a Computer Scientist, but I can't teach you a new programming language in three days. Get the language parameters and write code. Start with a 'Hello, World!' program and work your way to simulations and AI.
Now, if you need a tutorial on talking to people...
Now, if you need a tutorial on talking to people...
It's funny too because for the longest of time I've had this sort of...Down time of where I just could not get in the mood to draw.
And because of that nothing I drew was really...Good, simply because there would be a 5 month gap between every drawing.
But apparently I really did gain skill, even if I did sketches most the time and rarely ACTUALLY finished anything, because since I've gotten back in the swing of things, just my two latest pictures are A LOT better than anything I've finished or done prior. Shading be is pretty good, anatomy is on point, even how I do my linework.
But there will always be one thing that I always have trouble drawing.
And that is...The dreaded backgrounds...*lightening crash*
(Side note, I've never once used a tutorial, so at least I can pride myself in saying I'm self taught and mean it. :P)
And because of that nothing I drew was really...Good, simply because there would be a 5 month gap between every drawing.
But apparently I really did gain skill, even if I did sketches most the time and rarely ACTUALLY finished anything, because since I've gotten back in the swing of things, just my two latest pictures are A LOT better than anything I've finished or done prior. Shading be is pretty good, anatomy is on point, even how I do my linework.
But there will always be one thing that I always have trouble drawing.
And that is...The dreaded backgrounds...*lightening crash*
(Side note, I've never once used a tutorial, so at least I can pride myself in saying I'm self taught and mean it. :P)
Also a potential tip??
Give yourself incentive to draw or practice. Limit yourself. In my case, I'm a gamer, so I spend a lot of time gameing.
What I do personally is I have myself a rule.
Every day, Monday through Friday, before I do ANYTHING that's not actually important, I draw 2-3 hours a day. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and is more strict, due to all the free time I have then, where i have to draw 5 hours on the weekends. After those hours have been completed, I reward myself with playing some games, and maybe easting a sweet or two.
Hope this adds to this post or helps at all. n_n
Give yourself incentive to draw or practice. Limit yourself. In my case, I'm a gamer, so I spend a lot of time gameing.
What I do personally is I have myself a rule.
Every day, Monday through Friday, before I do ANYTHING that's not actually important, I draw 2-3 hours a day. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and is more strict, due to all the free time I have then, where i have to draw 5 hours on the weekends. After those hours have been completed, I reward myself with playing some games, and maybe easting a sweet or two.
Hope this adds to this post or helps at all. n_n
Not even I think of myself as a skilled artist, let alone a good teacher.
The two are not equivalent. I know some skilled people at what they do that cannot teach (Self for example) I know some unskilled people that with a week of study could teach anything. They would be bad at doing that thing, but could teach it. They are just good at imparting new knowledge in an way that makes it stick.
The two are not equivalent. I know some skilled people at what they do that cannot teach (Self for example) I know some unskilled people that with a week of study could teach anything. They would be bad at doing that thing, but could teach it. They are just good at imparting new knowledge in an way that makes it stick.
Tell it like it is! I've had people ask me if I knew of a tutorial to help them learn to draw and I'm always like ummmm there isnt one specific tutorial?? My pinterest is jam packed with tutorials that I've collected along my journey and I will say this, not one book or one tutorial will overall make you a better artist. I study from over 30 to 40 books and collect what I need from each of them to become better. But still just buying books and having tutorials won't make you better. You actually have to READ and PRACTICE a hell of a lot to do anything really
Most of the time people do not only want to impress themselves. In that case:
Apart from those handful resources, surround yourselves with rational critics. Not only one, but with many. Ask for slaps for your own good, and turn your inner frustrations to your advantage :3
Time is valuable. If there's a bridge, then do live with the opportunities!
Apart from those handful resources, surround yourselves with rational critics. Not only one, but with many. Ask for slaps for your own good, and turn your inner frustrations to your advantage :3
Time is valuable. If there's a bridge, then do live with the opportunities!
It never does hurt to ask for a tutorial of some sort.
You can do the practicing without any knowledge prior to it and still get better, but something simple like knowing a good step-by-step way to make, let's say just a very simple head/face, can go a long way to help people get the basics down quick.
Like with Grammar or Math, you can practice it without any prior knowledge, but the fact you have been taught just the basics, gives you a starting point to practice from.
Just as with any 'master' it does not matter how good you are, never forget about or to practice the basics, everything stems from knowing the fundamentals and basics. 
I personally think it's also lazy to go to an artist and just ask: "Can you give me all the tutorials you had to learn with?" (Or also "Do you have any tutorials on anatomy?" - super generic and unspecific)
Reflecting on what EXACTLY you need to learn and actually searching for the information yourself is already part of the learning process (and if you find that you need to ask an artist a SPECIFIC question they might be able to help you with, go ahead and ask! Many artists are glad to help, if you don't expect them to put together a complete "how to art" course)!
If you skip this, you will always be stuck in a loop of "why am i bad, i don't know what to do, i give up" circle.
Reflecting on what EXACTLY you need to learn and actually searching for the information yourself is already part of the learning process (and if you find that you need to ask an artist a SPECIFIC question they might be able to help you with, go ahead and ask! Many artists are glad to help, if you don't expect them to put together a complete "how to art" course)!
If you skip this, you will always be stuck in a loop of "why am i bad, i don't know what to do, i give up" circle.
Best post on the theory behind making art on this site in a long time. Most people look for easy ways out to reach their dreams with art, but in reality, everything is coming from tedious work that requires you to gain enough mileage to reach your goals, as you put it. Using an "anatomy tutorial" to draw hands won't give you the understanding of how shapes, perspective and gesture click on real hands, which you could easily practice with proper reference material, for instance. It's hard work put it pays off if you do it right.
Thank you very much for this write-up, it's what a lot of people on here really need to see and consider before giving up on their work far too quickly.
Thank you very much for this write-up, it's what a lot of people on here really need to see and consider before giving up on their work far too quickly.
It really does all just come down to practice and just do the art. I do use some tutorials, but I use them as frame of reference type material. Sometimes my brain has me skip steps and I have to go back and pause. But a tutorial isn't going to make you good at art because you follow it step by step. It's a basic guideline to start with.
Though, most might think I have a strange mindset when it comes to any sort of materials like this, because I use bases for personal designs to quickly flesh something out (and I know I shouldn't, it's just faster until I can feel comfortable quickly putting up a body on paper).
I just need encouragement that I can keep up the improvements I've made over the years.
Though, most might think I have a strange mindset when it comes to any sort of materials like this, because I use bases for personal designs to quickly flesh something out (and I know I shouldn't, it's just faster until I can feel comfortable quickly putting up a body on paper).
I just need encouragement that I can keep up the improvements I've made over the years.
Thank you so much for this. It's really important to me right now because I'm in a process of learning and climbing up is admittably hard. I have someone who's teaching me and now I'm figuring I've been relying too much on them for something I can't gain from them, along with some other mistakes. I barely use tutorials anymore and rather references, not sure if that's a good or bad thing.
Besides learning by doing, (and just generally speaking) observing helps. Tutorials are nice for the technical stuff, especially with digital art . Many things are less intuitive to an artist such as interfacing with the program. You must strive to be self aware of your weaknesses and strive to get better at realistic intervals. Look at art to learn, actually look at it, zoom in and study the lines and color, look at and appreciate the detail and effort it took.
Прекрасно написано!)
Если не говорить об академических навыках, один из лично моих любимых способов учиться у других художников-это идти в папку с сохраненными артами и тщательно разглядывать моменты, вызывающие затруднения, как он/она решает похожую задачу. Либо проскакать по спидпейнтам/степ бай степ, в каком-то плане даже получше туторов будет.
Кстати, а из какой книжки мысль про степень комфорта при достижении целей?
Если не говорить об академических навыках, один из лично моих любимых способов учиться у других художников-это идти в папку с сохраненными артами и тщательно разглядывать моменты, вызывающие затруднения, как он/она решает похожую задачу. Либо проскакать по спидпейнтам/степ бай степ, в каком-то плане даже получше туторов будет.
Кстати, а из какой книжки мысль про степень комфорта при достижении целей?
I thought the point of tutorials for art was more to teach stuff like how a particular tool or program works, more than how to draw. But I guess I've seen a few anatomy type tutorials too, I figured they were more of a reference to put images to words, like plantitgrade and digitgrade feet, or breast size by cup.
Extremely well put WN! And every bit true. I even find myself slipping into the I want to shade like this person more every once in a while... (Admittedly, most often when looking at your work). That said, I will continue to practice because even after 20 years of art, I learn a new trick almost every day.
Hi! I think it is good advice, thank you :)
What about yourself, Wolfy-Nail?
Your early works http://www.furaffinity.net/gallery/wolfy-nail/14/ looks already beyond wast majority of us, trainee, could achieve.
What art background you have at that time? Or is it really a talent? Because there is no really evidence you draw "not good enough before your training and than good after". If that is really all training, could you show something "before"? :)
What about yourself, Wolfy-Nail?
Your early works http://www.furaffinity.net/gallery/wolfy-nail/14/ looks already beyond wast majority of us, trainee, could achieve.
What art background you have at that time? Or is it really a talent? Because there is no really evidence you draw "not good enough before your training and than good after". If that is really all training, could you show something "before"? :)
Some parts i agree with and others i dont. The making of good goals is true but not the dreams, people will always desire something with or without the tools to get there. The other part is the losers and winners, you won't already, if it's the first time or the second be comfortable with what you're drawing but if you can move forward without being trapped in something you're comfortable with then you'll get better, and finally is the stress, you will always also will be stressed with some things you may draw for the first time, there are two types of stress, good stress and bad stress, good stress is stress that helps a person I say a physical activity or with what they are doing with or harming the persons ability to think clearly, psychologists refer to it as "eustress,", stress releases chemicals such as, epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol into the body these can be good and help push the person to complete the goal, but it can become bad stress or Distress, which it causes anxiety or concern and can decrease performance. The true method is how to manage the distress and go back into Eustress. If you do feel stressed, take a breath and try again, if you are to stressed and frusterated then take a break and come back later
Dreams should be realstic and can be achieved with the right knowledge and skill, but the knowledge must become skill and then it will become wisdom. With art you develop your own style and looking up a tutorial helps a lot and you can adapt one way of drawing into your own style. If you need a tutorial then by all means look one up and adapt it into your style don't be ashamed for looking one up. Even great artists learned from each other so they could at least know how to break something down or learn something from a new perspective to make it more understandable to themselves
I have been drawing for oh about 12 years and i am where i am cause i got trapped in what i was comfortable with and am currently trying to break out of it but this is my knowledge on drawing.
1. Practise is important but doesn't need to look perfect, its practice, if it looks like shit then thats fine don't stress over how bad it looks
2. Ask others for advice or even a tutorial if they don't like making a tutorial then that's ok
3. References and a HUGE help get lots of both tutorials and references, I personally have a giant collection of both
4. Don't get trapped in drawing what you're comfortable with, refining is fine but don't get sucked into what you're comfortable drawing you won't progress this way
5. Take a break is your super frusterated and come back to it later
1. Practise is important but doesn't need to look perfect, its practice, if it looks like shit then thats fine don't stress over how bad it looks
2. Ask others for advice or even a tutorial if they don't like making a tutorial then that's ok
3. References and a HUGE help get lots of both tutorials and references, I personally have a giant collection of both
4. Don't get trapped in drawing what you're comfortable with, refining is fine but don't get sucked into what you're comfortable drawing you won't progress this way
5. Take a break is your super frusterated and come back to it later
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