I'm kind of irked by the total lack of art discussion on the art discussion forum, so let's chat a bit!

A lot of artists here on pet sites are amateur artists (not professionals or formally trained.) and I'm interested in talking about how we learn as artists by ourselves and in these informal atmospheres. I grew up learning to draw on pet sites and that's how I first found a love for drawing and decided to become an artist... I have since completed two years in art school and made a (very small) amount of money from my skill. It's very weird to be on the outside of the amateur sphere, looking back on my old ways of thinking about art and drawing.

Anyway, here's some questions to mull over, mainly regarding amateur art: What kind of art do we try to create? How do we go about learning to create those images? How do we seek and go about trying to improve? How do we support our fellow artists and amateur artists community?

I'm not sure if this is interesting to anyone else, but if it is let's just have an open discussion! UvU

I guess I'm an amateur, the only real art classes I've taken would be during my first two years of high school.

As for your questions go:

Q: What kind of art do you try to create? A: I want to develop my own style, that's what I'd like to create...

Q: How do you go about learning to create those images? A: Obscuring and observing both from life and other stylized art...?

Q: How do you seek and go about trying to improve? A: Personally, I need to take criticism better, for the most part...

Q: How do you support your fellow artists and amateur artists community? A: Sometimes I can offer advice to others, but not much, I know every little...

If anyone is interested to see my art, let me know, but beware...

I'd like to look at your art. :o

Well, amateur is a matter of speaking. Some see a splatter of paint, others see a revolutionary genius. I live off my art at the moment (tattoo artist).

What kind of art do we try to create? Depends on the piece, but the idea is to capture emotion and convey that message visually.

How do we go about learning to create those images? Practice, practice, practice, hours and hours every single day... x__x. It's important to challenge yourself. I remember my tattoo mentor literally getting mad at me if I avoided a challenge no matter how miniscule.

How do we seek and go about trying to improve? Step out of your comfort zone. Draw something. Now draw it again upside down. Now draw a shark eating it's own tail. Draw something different every time.

How do we support our fellow artists and amateur artists community? Lending your ear and eye to anyone who needs it I guess?

Can I ask you the same series of questions? o:

I would disagree; amateurs are amateurs, by virtue of status. There are amateurs, students, and professionals -- and none is better than others, the skill level varies drastically among all groups. On the matter of highly abstract, contemporary paint-splatter art... well, that's a whole different can of worms because there are actually objective visual rules that make some splatters of paint better than other paint splatters. A big problem in the art world right now is that many people teaching art these days don't actually know those rules, and neither do many art students who are now creating that kind of art. Abstract/contemporary art is all about playing with visual rules in an experimental sort of way that says something interesting, like an academic thesis. But that's getting lost in frivolity. Anyway... tattoo art is cool, I've been thinking about learning to do tattoos. :o

And sure, I'll answer these questions. But I'm no longer and amateur, but I'll write down my observations from how I see people doing things.

What kind of art do we try to create? The kind of art amateurs make most often is single, figurative images usually regarding personal characters, fan art, or the characters of their peers. The goal is usually to express the visual appearance of a character, in a style the artist looks up to, without much thought for illustrative qualities. The emphasis is usually more on making something pretty than it is to really make a descriptive image.

How do we go about learning to create those images? The most frequent way I see amateurs learning is through tutorials; there is a heavy focus on learning technical tricks to make images rather than learning foundational visual rules. If someone wants to do grass, they read a tutorial on how another artist approaches making grass and assimilates that technique. The other of course, is trial and error - making images over and over again. This is usually assessed based on the artist's personal tastes in terms of their improvement, more than it is on principles that help them judge their progress objectively over subjectively.

How do we seek and go about trying to improve? N/A

How do we support our fellow artists and amateur artists community? This is the question I'm really interested in on this board.... namely, how to build a better amateur artist community so that it can support itself and excel. In terms of what we do now, it's a little lackluster. This art discussion board is dead, when I was growing up as a kid I lived on pet site art forums and it was always full of people posting their art, giving and receiving feedback and exchanging tips and tools. The most obvious thing you can do to support amateur artists is (first, for them to post their work, and then) to give them feedback on the art they are doing. Giving support for the very act of them creating something, and giving feedback so that they can improve and expand. Sharing tools and knowledge for creating better art. Really, just being a community in the first place, and seeking to improve ourselves while also seeking the improvement of those around us.

I'll be the first to agree with you. I classify myself as an amateur artist. Though I have been to college for Art, I have yet to graduate and I feel as if I am far from being considered a professional artist. Some things that have helped me, especially with digital art is to look at art as geometrical and organic shapes. It makes it less intimidating for me in a way. I struggle with anatomy. Traditionally, I feel more comfortable drawing anything that isn't a person. Also, I draw with a mouse so that makes everything a bit more challenging for me, it takes me more time etc.

Q: What kind of art do you try to create? A: I'm currently working on developing my own style. I'm trying to get a semi-realistic look to my art. I try little tricks such as making thin tapered lines and then coloring the line art to make it blend in better than black lines alone. This has helped some but I still feel like I'm missing something. I'm not confident enough to take on what some would call the "blob method". this is where you start off with blobs of color instead of an outline.

Q: How do you go about learning to create those images? A: The internet has been a great help for me as far as learning. I've learned from watching live streams some times some one will explain their method or just watching them in real time helps a lot. It helps me to learn things such as different methods I can try in my own art, using different programs for different things and also helps to motivate me.

Q: How do you seek and go about trying to improve? A: Ummm... I'm uncertain how to answer this one. I'll try to improve as I continue my education but other than that I need to work on my time and motivation. It seems to be preventing me from doing commissions

Q: How do you support your fellow artists and amateur artists community? A: I'll offer advice when I can. I try not to offend any one. I'll attend streams and advertise to try and attract a bigger fan base for them. And more often than not I will pay for art even if I don't agree with the pricing just to help out and keep their spirits high.

Don't forget the hobby artist. While I have sold a few pieces, (fantasy illustrations and pet portraits), I cannot support myself financially with my art. So I'm not really an amateur any more, nor am I any kind of professional artist. Haven't been to school since '79, but I still feel I'm learning.

Stop learning, start dying. Sort of a motto for me.

Q: What kind of art do you try to create? A: Whatever pleases me at the moment. Though if payment is involved, it's whatever pleases the client.

Q: How do you go about learning to create those images? A: I draw what I see. in my head or in real life. I use a lot of photo reference, and always have a small sketchbook and pencils with me to do spur of the moment sketches. Online tutorials come in handy for me when trying to learn new techniques like Photoshop.

Q: How do you seek and go about trying to improve? A: Read up on artists who's work inspires me, and study their techniques. Draw, draw, draw, paint, paint paint.

Q: How do you support your fellow artists and amateur artists community? A: Always happy to offer advice, and share what I've learned over the past 50 years with anyone who wants to listen. I used to teach sculpting classes locally, but the county cut the funding to community center. Sigh.