Latly i find myself comparing my drawings to other people...is that wrong?

Question

i find myself looking on websites like fanartcentral and devianart and feeling extreamly bad about my drawings...i feel as if i will never get better and never be able to be as good as those people...should i feel this way? I mean im only 13 i have time to get better but i dunno...help please?

Answer 1

It is good that you look at and take inspiration from other people and their art. That is what makes artists better, to be challenged by other artists. But, art is subjective. Which means, you cannot measure in any real way whose art is good, and whose is not. Art is about how it makes you feel when you look at it. Does it bring an specific emotion to you? Do you feel good looking at a peice of art? Do you feel sad, angry, happy, upset?
Who is the better artist...Degas or Leonardo De Vinci? If you answered, "I don't know, they are both so different", then that should give you some answer to your own question. They are different, no one can truly say one artist is 'better' than the other. Each brings their own power and energy to a piece of work.
My advice to you, is to practice your drawing as often as you can. Look at different kinds of art, compare styles, expose yourself to different mediums, such as paint, charchoal, pen and ink, watercolours, collage, and sculpture. There will be many you think "what the heck is that?" and many you think "that's amazing!"
Try hard to improve your skills, but do not compare yourself to the work of others. It will only dampen your enthusiasm for something you clearly love to do. Anything you take pleasure from is worth doing, it doesn't matter if you cannot master the skills as fast as you would like. Just enjoy the learning process and you will improve to your peak abillity at your own time.
Hope that helps!

Answer 2

We all have to start from some beginning point. When art classes do "critiques" -discussions about the art project the class has just finished- the students usually have the same level of skills. So the critiques are usually fair. But you are comparing yourself with someone who has probably already finished college, and may have been doing art professionally for quite a while. That is not a fair comparison. It's like the old math saying goes, "you're comparing apples with oranges."
Keep practicing your art. You will get better with experience. Anything you want to be good at will take lots of practice, so hang in there. Take art classes when you can, and draw, draw,draw.

Answer 3

As a fine arts student with over 130 college credits and art teacher to all levels and ages: It is more important when looking at the artwork of others to critique it, not compare. Do you like it? Why? Why not? What do you wish you could do better? Why is that important? I don't know a single artist (successful or not) that is ever content with their work. Art is about growth and exploration. There are no wrong answers, just resolved and unresolved. For example: art teachers in school can tell if you have finished a drawing of a still life but some types of art are more about feeling and emotion than completion and rendering. Just look for aspects that call to you and keep improving YOUR art. Others art should be as reference, not as a template for your art. Keep creating you!

Answer 4

I have kind of the same problem. I look at all of that stuff and think, "wow, i suck," but I think it's mostly just a reflex of the mind. Everyone is always thinking that way; we can't help ourselves. Art is based on competition. I think your age makes it worse. Don't let it get to you alot because they are probably much older.

Answer 5

dont give up.you'll find your own style that will put you into a catagory of your own.express what you feel in your art...yes you will get better and maybe even famous,but not if you give up or stop doing what you like

Answer 6

looking dor insperation is ok, even using someone eleses idea, but, i think you have time to get better. so dont worry about what other peoples suff is like.