I'm taking this art class, and everyone there seems to be better than me! Should I quit or keep going? Help!

Question

Any websites? Any books? Authors? To help me get better at this?

Answer 1

How do you know they are 'better' than you? Perhaps most of them simply had a head start over you. That certainly doesn't mean you can't catch up with them.

Some people blossom at different points in their lives. It's happened with composer, writers, actors. Why not you?

Hang in there.

Answer 2

I am not certain what kind of art class you are taking but you shouldnt give up immediately unless perhaps this is really something that just doesnt interest you. To be good at anything you need to have a passion for what it is that you are doing. If you dont have that passion then perhaps you might want to find something else that interests you more. However, do not be discouraged if you are not the best in the class, art is a building process, and takes years to hone sometimes. As this is most likely a begining course, a good teacher will make note of this and judge you on your progression rather than your level of skill, technical or creative. But like I said if you dont have a passion for what it is that you are doing, find something that you truly love.

Answer 3

Keep going!! Allow yourself to be at the stage of development you are in and use the class to improve. In college I was a begining art student in an advanced class because the lower level classes were full......Because everyone was better than me the students as well as the professor coached me...and my mind opened up to many new ideas because everyone around me was so experienced. By the end of the class I got an "A" because of the dramatic improvement.

Answer 4

Not at all,you should finish something that you have started even if you are feeling like this might not be your cup of tea.The main importance here is that you give your all to whatever project you are involved with at this time.Big time artist never became big from one session,I'm sure,give it sometime and try to relax and enjoy what you are doing.It truly doesn't matter about others painting or art projects.In your eyes you see failure,but to someone Else's eye they might see beauty,so you hang in there and be proud of everything you may do that is challenging,you will feel great about your enter being,even if you are not happy with your results,but just on the count of following threw and not being a quitter.It takes courage to try something that is new to you to begin with,how proud your family must feel towards your goals.Take care and best wishes to you in all you do!

Answer 5

If you are taking the class to learn and become better, you are in a good position. Learn from your peers, and in your own mind, compete with them. Make it your goal to be as good as they are when the class ends. When I entered graduate school, I was the least developed painter. By the end of graduate school, two years later, my work was featured in art magazines and showing in galleries in NYC, Chicago, and LA.

If you were the best in the class, you might get coddled and learn very little. Take advantage your situation. This is all in your favor, if you have the right attitude.

Answer 6

What they know or don't know has no bearing on what YOU are going to learn. Go to a good book store and browse through the art section and look at some of the "How to..." books. Get some ideas. There are no "templates" in art. Just ideas that you can incorporate into your own creations. Some people can draw but cannot paint while others cannot draw but can paint... Some can paint and draw figures and faces but cannot do landscapes or seascapes... or animals... no one can do it all, and you have not found what YOU can do best... give yourself time, enjoy the experience, let your creativity grow and flourish; just let it happen.

Enjoy the experience. Have fun and don't look at it as a sort of competition. Everyone with some interest in art has his/her own level of creativity to bring out, and we all possess our own level of skills but SKILLS can be developed and improved over time and practice. Art is a "hands on" experience; unless you practice and DO it, you cannot learn. Do not compare yourself with others. You are unique and you have your own personal style to develop and your own skills and talents to work with.

And remember this: skills and talents alone won't get anyone anywhere unless that person has PASSION... to learn, to work harder, to improve and overcome obstacles... quitters don't have passion, tenacity or the drive to accomplish anything, and the world is crowded with them... are you a quitter, or are you going to stick it out and improve at your own level?

Answer 7

Answer these questions first. Do you really like doing it? Have you shown continued improvement? Are you ambitious and dedicated to improving? If you answered yes to all three forget about comparing yourself to others. As far as resources, I would assume the class instructor would help with that. If this is a college level class you are already using the most expensive resource available.

Answer 8

Keep at it.
Being around people who are good will help you improve your own standards.
Ask for pointers, you'll only benefit.

There's Stan Lee's Drawing Comic the Marvel Way. Its about comic drawing but it comprehensively covers all the basic principals of drawing.
Drawing on the right side of the Brain by Dr Betty Edwards. Alot of people recommended it, but I'm not sure how good it is.

Answer 9

Dont give up...everything have to start from the begining..... when i was in uk.... my classmates are amongst professionals...get some advice and ask for help from them... im sure they will be a good help to u..... sooner u will be a good artist.... probably better than they are.... get urself the Artist Magazines..they shud hav it in the bookstores... search for the Fine Art words in the search engine like yahoo or google... im sure u will find many websites that cud help u to be a better artist... :o)
good luck...

Answer 10

Stick with it. You have the opportunity to learn more than the rest, and the important thing is to learn the techniques, anyway. If it makes you feel better, I'm usually the second worst in my drawing classes. It's possible you just haven't found you niche.