How can I improve my artistic ability?

Question

I'm very creative, but whenever I draw, paint, etc. it never turns out well at all. It is really frustrating, I feel like I should be able to do it, and its clear in my mind, but it just doesn't translate into something good on paper. Somebody honestly, HONESTLY, tell me- is it something you need to be talented in or can you practice to become good? I'm sure at a certain point you can only be so good without talent. If so, tell me, I'll accept that it isn't one of my talents and be happy with the others that I do have. If so, what can I do? It is getting really frustrating, I want so badly to create but I just can't it is killing me. Thanks, I appreciate your answers.

Yeah...I'm seventeen...just its like when I draw it looks like little kid stuff. I remember hating these kids that could create great stuff in elementary school. This is the ONLY thing I can't do well- I hate it! I'm going to take classes next semester as a junior...how much of it is talent?

Answer 1

I agree with the others. It's all about practice. Everyone must work hard to become talented. I personally worked my *** off to succeed in technique.

I would just loosen up. Focus on idea, instead of style/ technique. Then think, how can I represent this idea in the best way? Should it be a drawing? A painting? a sculpture? an installation of several different media? Have no boundaries or limits. Don't restrict yourself by focusing all your attention on technique. Art will get boring for you and you will quit instead of succeeding. If you focus on idea and are creating something you care about the final product will come out much, much better.

You CAN create. It's all about ideas.

I go to art school. Everyone there has something they're good at. Not all are good at drawing or painting... not that you can't get better. :)

Answer 2

I can relate to your frustration. Sometimes I'll have an image of what I want to draw in my mind, but once I put the pencil to the paper, the image evaporates. All I do is keep practicing. I try as hard as I can to keep whatever I intend to draw in my head. Sometimes it turns out good, sometimes bad. Usually, I can make something good out of it. Drawing is something almost everyone can do (about 70% practice and 30% pure talent. Some more or less). It just takes practice. But you will achieve talent if and only IF you practice. I've drawn ever since I could hold a pencil in my hand. Now, like you, I'm seventeen, and I'd say I can draw OK (I can send you some of my work if you want). But it's something that I have to keep at or I'll lose my achieved talent. My suggestion would be is to get an art book, and try to follow each step. Or just try to recreate the finished image. Pretty soon you'll develop your own unique style. Good luck as an artist, and I hope this helped.

Answer 3

You don't so much improve your artistic ability, you develop it. I'm guessing that you are still a student, get into an art class offered by your school or someplace else in your community and get to work!

A lot of drawing is seeing what you are going to draw. Most people can do a not so bad rendition of what they see .... with practice and training. If you have a gift for it, you can do wonders, if and only if you develop your talents.

One of my grandmother's sisters always wished she were artistic and when she was 75 she started to take painting classes and was happy with the results and kept telling people that she was so mad that she had waited so long to start.

Answer 4

as an art teacher, i think art is inherent, BUT practice can make a mediocre artist with passion a good one.

i could pick out the five year olds that i taught who had the talent...

Suggestions-
1.) Blind contour drawing- drawing an object without looking at the paper. train your eye to focus on what you are drawing. drawing is more about looking at the object than most people realize.
2.) don't despair- you are only 17. keep a consistent schedule and practice often. unless you are headed to art school for college in the future, just try to hone your craft by emulating your favorite artists...

Answer 5

practice practice practice and lessons...i know of no artist (myself included) that won't take a class on art at the drop of a hat. real life drawing art history etc. and get the book "Drawing from the right side of the brain" don't remember who it is written by, and i'm too lazy to get up and find my own copy, it is very informative and helpful. stick with it, eventually you will make it work, it just takes some of us a little more time than some of the rest.

Answer 6

The ability to tap into creativity is really nothing more than learning how to get around the ego/self/persona, whoever you think you are.

It is not easy as the thing that is doing the searching for you is the same thing you have to get around.

It can be done but is becomes a bit of slight of self.

Don't let yourself be defeated by your self. It can be done and if you work at it long enough you will figure this one out. Each person is different otherwise I would give you a set of rules to follow.

Answer 7

Take a continuing education course in art--painting, drawing, chalk. Practice, practice, practice. I think your mind is holding you back at this point. Just relax and sketch a little every day of what you see. I like to sketch in pencil. Draw a light horizontal line across the center of your paper and a vertical one wouldn't hurt either. (think Impressionism like Monet)

Answer 8

hey i'm glad you haven't given up yet. people seem to do that when what they want to draw doesn't turn out as planned. go and get the book Drawing on the Right side of the Brain. i used that book...five months ago when i decided i wanted to see if i could maybe go to college for art. since then i've just kept work at it and each drawing i do, i improve. the book is awesome, it 'teaches' you how to really see what your drawing and get away from using our memories rather than our eyes.

Answer 9

Trace and then free hand the same picture because like someody said, if all you do is trace, it becomes a crutch...but if you free hand, your hand and eyes will work together at setting skill...a good way to practice drawing is to break the pictures up into squares. Draw a grid over the picture you want to draw using 1/2inch squares, on your drawing paper then draw a LIGHT grid using the same amount of 1inch squares you will be able to see each picture block by block

Answer 10

Take a class at an adult ed location near you. The teacher may also be able to refer some good books for you. I have a couple of old, out of print books that have helped me. These books discuss perspective and scale, which IMO are the hardest thing to learn.