is it ok to draw like this at this age?

Question

im 13 and not sure about my drawing skills. ppl say im one of the best artist in my school and alot of ppl request pics from me. but i personaly dont think im as good as this other girl who draws amazingly she can litterly draw an exsact portrate of u and shes 13 like me. no one in my school can do this and shes pochugees. i think she might have traced somehow much she doesnt. and i feel like i should be as good as her because of how much a draw and im not getting anybetter.
she draws like a pro. (by a few mounths) plz tell me if i should be better at how i draw or w/e cause im really not sure.
the url to me devainart http://lindsay711.deviantart.com/ plz tell me what u think.

url to girls myspace and drawings
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=162631922&albumId=652165

Answer 1

ur really good!! dont compare yourself to that other girl, u have 2 compleatly types of artist! dont worry about it, youll probably be a great artist someday!

Answer 2

I couldn't see the other girls artwork as her profile is set to private, but I don't believe it really matters anyway. As an artist, my mantra is to compare myself only to myself.

I look at other people's work and appreciate it for what it is, or pull it apart to see how they created it, or try their technique to see if I can use it. But I never compare it to what I do. To follow that road is to set yourself on a path of artistic destruction because you will always find someone else's work that you think is better than yours.

The best thing you can do is to keep everything you do and every so often, go back and look at your old stuff. Compare yourself, only to yourself.

As for tracing???? Well, that really depends on your point of view. To the staunch artist, tracing is blasphemous, despicable, its a pimple on the face of the art world. To a more commercial artist who is commissioned to create something, whatever it takes to get the job done and satisfy the client is okay.

Davinci didn't draw "The Last Supper" fresco on the wall free-hand. He drew it on paper, pricked holes in the paper along the outline and dabbed a bag of powdered chalk over the holes to creat an outline on the wall. Technically, he traced it onto the wall.

However, he spent years drawing it on paper first, and years painting it afterwards.

The thing is that, whether the other girl traces or not, she must have some ability to shade or colour the artwork. Unless she only does the outline and then she has no real ability at all. Either way, if you draw free-hand, you have no need to compare your work to hers.

I first started drawing when I was about 12. I used to copy my favourite comic characters out of the Sunday papers and make my own cartoons. I still sometimes use a faint traced outline when doing commisioned work to keep proportion, especially when enlarging onto big canvases or sheets of paper.

Having said that I challenge anyone to produce the quality of work I do from just tracing. This is my work http://merbra.deviantart.com/art/Jimmy-Barnes-61646927

My cartoon work though is all freehand and created out of my head.

My honest advice: Keep drawing freehand, it will make you a better artist in the long run. Even if it does feel like a struggle now. Also, if you get the chance, get to life drawing classes. You can't draw what you don't know and if you want to draw people (whether real, cartoon, or anime) you need to study people.

And remember, compare yourself only to yourself.

Answer 3

She has practiced more than you, in all probability.
Age matters none-- the time spent practicing does.
Because they never practiced drawing, people 3 years older than me, 20 years older, and 40 years older can not draw better than me, who practices every day.
She doesn't trace? Its possible she just looks at a picture and reproduces it. Its copying without tracing. : )
Her drawings have mistakes and can be improved, so don't compare yourself. What she has done is accomplished by practice, and perhaps reference.
You'll get better. Don't worry. Just keep drawing, and continue to challenge yourself.

"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still."

Answer 4

First, realize that you have a style of art. Its not better or worse than another type or style.

Secondly, to improve your skills, definitely keep drawing its like excercise the only way your going to get better is by doing it regularly.

Thirdly, I would recommend going to the bookstore, find and study books on Manga (the style you are currently drawing in) and anatomy. Find one that shows examples of various poses of the body. Learning how the body exists in life will improve your drawings no matter what style you choose to work in.

good luck

Answer 5

Hi,

I could not see the other girls' works since it said that I needed to log-in.
Anyway, you draw pretty well for your age. And of course that there are people with your age who draw better than you and others who draw less better than you.
You cannot compare yourself with others in order to see who's best. Your comparison should be made in order to learn. Have you ever thought about asking her to share her knowledge with you ? I'm sure that you also have something to teach her.
You know, I also paint as a hobbyst and of course that many and many people are far better than I am (which isn't really difficult :-) ), but when I see those great paintings I don't think that I'm not good. I think that one day I want to be abble to make people smile as I do when I look at those great paintings. And that by looking at them I'm learning something.

Take care,

José
http://sitekreator.com/hushcolours/index.html

Answer 6

You're awesome drawing that good at 13! I couldn't draw that good at 13 but all I did was practice everyday, made it an everyday hobby & got better-I suggest you do the same, you're already a great artist at your age, & you'll be a pro in the future if you keep it up! (don't worry about that girl.)

Answer 7

I've been drawing for a long time and sometimes I don't think I'm very good but everyone still praises me on my stuff. Some artists are never satisfied with they're own work. Don't compare yours with the other girls. Everyone has their own style. Take it from someone who is experienced with those feelings.

Answer 8

you draw really good, i wish i could draw like that.
you should go to a highschool for the arts if you live in LA try LACHSA. or some other art school where you have to submit som eof your artwork in order to be accepted.

as for the other girl, it sorta looks like she does trace because it looks too perfect for a 13 year old. maybe she takes lessons or more advanced ones.