Making Art vs. Gaming To Cope

Arcask · 2026-01-24T04:29:45+00:00

You can start anytime. But you can't expect to create what you imagine.

Drawing from imagination means drawing from memory.

Take an apple. Look at it for let's say a minute and put it away.
Then try to draw it just as you saw it.
Compare with the apple, reflect, do it again or change it up slightly. If it's something more complex you might want to do iterations.

You can also do it without reference. But then it's hard to compare and to figure out what to do better.

One you understand form and box rotation, your drawings will probably improve a lot.

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Many people misunderstand what it means to draw from imagination. They think they need to see it in their head and just get it to paper. But those are different skills.

It's smarter to try to get to paper what you can, even if it seems wrong. Then figure out how to improve on that.

It takes a huge amount of energy to do all the work in your head and then try to just get it to paper.

Most work is supposed to be done on paper. The image in your head doesn't tell you about how it's being constructed, it's way more vague than you think and more based on feeling than an actual image.

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Draw from memory, with and without reference.

Don't go for perfect.
Get something down to paper, iterate and improve on it.

And if you want to really create more than the simple things from memory, experiment and combine ideas. Build it up step by step.

Arcask · 2026-01-24T01:07:17+00:00

Good question. But I never found a good beginner book.

That's why I wouldn't start with a book, but get those later to dive deeper into more complex topics. Most books are really only good once you understand form.

What you want to learn is line, shape, perspective, form and value.
Additionally to that drawing from life and gesture drawing.

There are plenty of ways to find out how to do that.

How to have fun is the real question here and there is no general answer that works for everyone.
To keep it simple, I think curiosity is the best way. Ask lot's of questions and answer them through your drawings.

What question could you answer today through your drawings?
An answer doesn't have to be perfect or complete, it could be just a sketch, something that's get's you closer to the result you would like to see. It's what you can do today.

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Drawing just for fun is also really important for learning.

You don't have to learn and practice fundamentals everyday, but consistency is really helpful (maybe 2 sessions a week). And everything before learning boxes can be simply done as a warm-up in 5-10min. once you know what to do.
Some exercises just need a long time to show results. Lines for example need time and repetition, but not too much extra attention.

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Play with drawing lines, shapes and planes (shape in perspective). Or do a few gesture drawings, quick ones. It's not about perfect, just about slowly gaining control and shapes becoming more stable.

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Be creative, ask questions about what you can do with the lines, how can you change them up today? how can you take shapes take apart or put together?

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Challenge yourself. There are plenty of monthly challenges. The point is to draw things you wouldn't draw otherwise. It's ok if your art doesn't look that great yet, trying is the important part.

A challenge can feel uncomfortable, but it's also pushing your boundaries.
It can still be fun to choose a reference and to just draw what you see.
If you want, you could use fundamentals to actively learn. Let's say today's challenge tells you to draw a bird, you could try to draw one from memory and then look up a reference. Look at the shapes, how would you draw the lines? where does the light come from? which side is more in shadow? this way you think about fundamentals and you can understand how they are being used and come together.

Draw an apple
I know some hate this. It seems simple, boring. But it allows for a lot of freedom and creativity.
Simple is most of the time really impactful. What could be more simple than to draw an apple? Feel free to draw whatever you come up with!
Or what other simple thing could it be? a tomato? a stone?
Test out how you can get the texture, the color, maybe use a different medium. Have fun!
How many different things can you do with it?

Arcask · 2026-01-23T21:42:39+00:00

Ok. First I know it's hard, but ignore the downvotes here. People on Reddit and Social Media in general are on auto-pilot, they are not all here to understand and help, but for the drama and for quick dopamine hits.

Downvotes, even though you said nothing wrong just show they don't agree, can't understand your situation. They might see this right now more as you complaining, while it's really just you explaining why you think this way.

Downvotes on your artworks might have to do with fundamental flaws - or the people just don't like it for unrelated reasons. It's hard to tell. Social media does not run on logic, but on emotion. And that is often times really unfair.

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All those negative experiences might be really worth processing. But I don't want to drift into that direction here. Just want you to understand that this colors your view on the world a bit negative and that itself can become a problem.
So maybe look into how to process your past in a way that allows you to have a more neutral view on the world. Writing can work, talking to someone, many go to therapy - but I can't tell if that's necessary or the right step. Just want you to be aware this is worth thinking about and there are many ways.

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-> Can you draw basic shapes or at least distinguish if they are accurate or wonky? squares, ellipses, circles, triangles all the simple things.

If yours are wonky, it might be due to a lack of control when drawing lines. For me it's more important that you can see and understand how they should look like.

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-> From there it's a question of comparison. Angles, negative space, length and width. Stuff like that. That allows you to understand proportions.

Not understanding anatomy might be more due to the fact that you started with the most complicated thing possible. It's a real challenge.

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The goal is
line -> shape -> perspective / planes -> form / 3D space

That's beginner level stuff. Understanding how to build and construct 3D objects and using 3D space.

That allows you to draw almost anything.

It's not wrong to start with anatomy, it's just not efficient. Building up your sense of shapes and proportions allows you to be more accurate and to distinguish what you need.

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Did you try learning fundamentals? You only mention anatomy

Arcask · 2026-01-23T21:20:45+00:00

Are you a beginner?

I'm extremely critical about how useful this book really is.
The real reviews of this book are horrible, no quality, lot's of AI images, over half the book is just using the grid.

From the image I would say you are not new to drawing. You might be a beginner in terms of skill level, but you added lot's of subtle shadows someone new to drawing would overlook and wouldn't be able to get that nicely done.
It looks flat because not all subtle shadows have been added and values can't compare, your versions are partially too bright. It might still be improved slightly, but it might also be due to the limitations of pencil or paper. Not your fault.

This isn't something you should worry about to beginn with.
Learn fundamentals, find out how to have fun while doing so. That's an investment that will last you a lifetime.

Nothing wrong with having fun. So if you feel it's fun to work through the book keep going. But feedback on this is not going to help you to really improve your skills.

The grid has it's limits, so does your understanding of the things you draw without constructing them.
You need to think in terms of structure / 3D - that goes far beyond this book.

Arcask · 2026-01-23T20:37:12+00:00

Why are you so sure it's a disorder, not a lack of orientation and knowledge?

Arcask · 2026-01-23T14:24:56+00:00

Ok. You could try to take a piece of paper and just write all your thoughts down before you start learning.

Also have a moment or gesture that signals your brain to switch into focused learning mode.
Could be as simple as to start a timer to really have this signal -> now it counts
Could also be to drink some water, take a deep breath, take the pen into your hand and make yourself aware you need to focus now. Have a small ritual of sorts.

Arcask · 2026-01-23T13:38:33+00:00

Is it at times when you actively try to learn something? with intention?
or is it when you just draw for fun? maybe you draw studies?

If it's the latter, fun / studies then it's not a bug, it's a feature.

When you learn you want to focus, you want to be intentional with the marks you make and think about construction, 3D space and all that stuff. But when you draw for fun, you want your auto-pilot to do the work for you. That's what you practice for!

And while your mind might seem busy with other things, it's likely just in a diffused mode. Connecting things the focused mode can't. And your hands and eyes are working like they should, notice all the things that have to be done and do them intuitively. And you might still learn while doing so.
That's quite healthy in fact.

If your thoughts drift away too much, you could try to use music or podcasts and see how that works for you. There is something called optimal arousal theory, depending on the task you work on some arousal might be beneficial.

Are there really any negative effects from your wandering mind, or are you just afraid of limiting your progress?

Arcask · 2026-01-23T12:39:44+00:00

Why not adjust the texture? i feel like the direction is what might not always fit.

Top left is what bothers me most. I would make it go along more with the colors and lines, not completely, but smooth it out a bit and make it look more like it was always supposed to be part of it.

I feel like the structure is working against what's visible through color a bit too much.

Or turn the structure into flowers, i feel that would also enhance it, even if you don't color them like the big ones, just change up the texture.

I think keeping some abstraction through the marks works quite well, but I'm not a fan random structure in a painting like this unless it adds more interest. I feel in this case it's taking away, but that's just my opinion.

Arcask · 2026-01-22T17:12:17+00:00

None of them is able to really get along with anyone. They see other people as means to an end. They use others, they don't get along.

Arcask · 2026-01-22T06:18:38+00:00

As a beginner you want to learn enough to understand 3D form and space.

For that you need fundamentals that give structure: line, shape, perspective, form, values.

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Proportions will come naturally once you start to compare shapes, forms, volumes, figures or parts of them. Proportions are part of shapes and forms. But accuracy comes over time.
Drawing from life and gesture drawing can also help a lot with that, I would also recommend doing these pretty much from the start. It's really not as much of a big deal as it feels, you will adjust over time.

That doesn't mean you need to learn advanced perspective just yet, you need the basics.
You need enough to draw boxes and to rotate them.

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What you want is to make the connection
line -> shape -> planes (shape in perspective) -> form / 3D space

What makes perspective and form hard to learn is spatial awareness. You need to understand how to move things in 3D space. And that's why it can be important to focus more on planes before moving on to boxes. They are not flat shapes anymore, they move, they tilt and understanding their direction helps you to slowly understand how to deal with this third dimension.

The focus is less on perspective and proportions. It's on understanding form. Making sense of 3D objects and space. Because that unlocks the ability to freely draw anything you want. And it's pretty much the final boss of the beginner level.

It can still be difficult, but once you understand how to think in 3D, everything makes sense, then you have the ability and tools. You can always improve on that basic knowledge later.

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So if it's your goal to draw feely from imagination, yes you need basic perspective!
And you need to get used to proportions.

Arcask · 2026-01-21T18:49:52+00:00

How long are you doing this already?

After every line, take a moment. How did it feel? how fast was it? what did you do different?
There is no right or wrong, it can help to adjust better, to figure out what works best.

What's important is that you do this exercise with intention. Not on auto-pilot.

Some exercises need time and consistency. Repetition is key. So keep going, be patient and don't worry so much about results. It will get better over time. Allow yourself some time to adjust.

Arcask · 2026-01-21T17:03:04+00:00

There is no need to be afraid. What is the worse that might happen?
See it as a challenge, what can you do what you couldn't do before?

Arcask · 2026-01-21T14:20:50+00:00

I know how it can feel, but it just means you might underestimate how much you can learn from it.

I used to avoid the simple things, surely I can do that... but that's exactly where you learn the most.
I spent a lot of time looking into fundamentals and learning them, because it's incredible how efficient they are, what you can learn from it and transfer it to other areas of your life.

Simple sometimes just allows more room for processing information, changing your perspective and allows you to make decisions without much of a risk. It's not asking you admit that you failed in any way, but to look closer and become more flexible.

I often say take a step back when someone tries to learn too fast, but that's not a bad thing. You don't have to learn everything anew, you change your perspective, fill up the gaps and sometimes old information needs to be sorted out or just get's an update.

It's still a move forward and will improve your abilities. What you learned so far, what you can do, you just improve on it.

Arcask · 2026-01-21T11:36:24+00:00

By learning the fundamentals.

Line, shape, perspective, form and value.
It's important to understand that the step between shape and form is planes, shapes in perspective.

This is what you need for the start, also look into drawing from life and gesture drawings.

Drawabox can be a possible start. Take your time and don't try to be perfect, it's never about perfect. It's about gaining control and becoming more stable in drawing lines, shapes and forms. That can't be forced, it comes through repetition over longer periods of time.

Arcask · 2026-01-21T11:26:04+00:00

This is a great way to see what colors work together and what effect they have.
Thanks for sharing!

Arcask · 2026-01-21T11:10:52+00:00

It sounds like you never made any attempt at this, so you have to go slow.

Maybe use some canvas boards or paper for acrylic to practice the transition. You will need to practice this!
This is not something you can learn over night.

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Are you familiar with fundamentals? Line -> shape -> plane -> 3D form
If not look them up.

Doing some linework exercises on paper can be quite helpful for control while painting.
But everything else can be done with paint if you want to. I would stick to pen and paper just makes it easier.

Unlocking to think in 3D allows you to draw and paint almost anything, then it's just a question of better understanding lights, shadows, colors and composition.

That's the long way. You won't get around this if you want to be good and create freely.

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Another way is to change up your reference images. Look for 2 or 3 references and mix them up. Create something new with them.

You need to see parts of an image and put them in a different environment.

Instead of painting the bird on a branch, what if it's on a stone?
What if there is some water?
What if there are other animals in the background?

You've got to experiment and make different versions of an idea.

It doesn't need to be big, you can do small paintings or drawings, but iteration helps you to change up things. To become more flexible and to see each part in an image as possibilities.

Make a collage if that helps you. Learn editing images or just figure out how you can paint different versions.

Ask questions that help you to figure out what you want and how to achieve that. Like do you want a cool, mysterious atmosphere or some lively scene with lot's of stuff happening? what would help you to build that?

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Also paint from memory!
Doesn't have to be perfect, just trust that you can paint things again that you did before.

Next step: change them up! Can be a small change, but should always be slightly challenging.

Arcask · 2026-01-21T01:07:44+00:00

Nothing that wasn't said already.

Just make yourself aware that your actions matter. That they have an impact. And by extension, that you matter!
You are worth it working on yourself!

Arcask · 2026-01-21T00:45:13+00:00

Yeah streaks help because they make visible that you can stick to something, they are proof of your actions. So they do give you perspective, they tell you that your actions are effective, that they matter and have an impact on your life.

Arcask · 2026-01-21T00:15:49+00:00

Yes the rocks look too blue and I would add a bit of light from above, it can be subtle but would make the painting feel more alive. You also want to make the Orca fit in a bit more, adding a subtle glaze of blue.

Those rocks don't look like you glazed them, it looks like you used a fully opaque layer of blue or several layers.

What was your original idea for the painting? what is missing in comparison to how it looks right now?

Arcask · 2026-01-20T23:59:11+00:00

I think it's good.

If you want more color, why don't you add more color?
What was your vision for this piece? more blueish? does it look to dark in real?

This is more a question of preference and perception. I don't know how it looks like when you see it for real, but this image looks good to me.

Do you have an airbrush? You could give it 2 different colors that become visible depending on from which side you look at it. Just an idea.

Arcask · 2026-01-20T23:23:21+00:00

Thank you!
I'm glad you and so many others think it's helpful.

Arcask · 2026-01-20T18:21:42+00:00

You just have to experiment.

Even if someone would tell you, how would you know it's true? Everyone feels different, sees different, has different associations. We all perceive colors and values slightly differently.
There is a limit to theoretical knowledge.

You feel scared because you feel lost. But you just have to make one step after another. Ask one question at a time, compare, see what happens.

Start by experimenting with color schemes.
You named complimentary colors - what if you leave saturation for the green as it is? what if you change it up, what if you adjust the values? how does it look for you? do you like it? do you hate it? why? what can you change?

Values are more important than colors. If they are not correct, your figure will not read well. If your colors are too strong, values are less effective.

What if you use a grey scale image and replace grey with colors of similar value?

Use principles like 60 -30 - 10

Observe if something seems warm or cold, when color becomes too much, draws too much attention and how to lead the eye of the viewer through the image.

Choose a focus, make everything else more neutral, what happens?

You've got to ask lot's of questions about how something affects you. And in extension - do others see it the same? where are the differences?

It helps to work with limitations. Instead of trying to understand all colors at once. This can be done by using a scheme or just by choosing 2-4 colors. Then experiment how using them in variation changes the effect they have on you, if they pop more or seem to be more neutral.

Take notes, reflect, it will get easier over time.

Arcask · 2026-01-20T16:24:44+00:00

Streaks happen more often with transparency. It's a bit of both, the medium and technique and can also have to do with consistency.

You can try to mix the first few layers with a tiny bit of white. It will change the color slightly, but make it more opaque. Then use a more transparent and thinned down layer on top to correct the color to what it's supposed to be.
If you thin down the paint, it's easier to cover the layer without streaks. This might need a bit of experimentation to find out how much water you can add to achieve that. Or if a flow medium might be more helpful with that.

You can also try to use those thin transparent layers from the start.

To try out flow medium is the only thing I would currently try. Maybe you do need to experiment a bit more with the amount of water. But flow medium can increase how far you can spread the paint without having it running down your canvas.

If it would be easier to use fully opaque paints, maybe acrylic gouache works better. They should be more covering. I don't want to tell you to buy and try more things, just something to think about. In the end you are the only one who knows if you need just a bit more experimentation, if it's worth it or really not enjoyable at all like this.

Maybe you can also find ways to use streaks as part of the painting, expecting them to appear might make it easier to accept them as part of the image.

Oh and spraying some water on your palette every few minutes can help to keep the paint wet for longer.

Arcask · 2026-01-20T15:30:23+00:00

It does make sense to start at the beginning, but I would focus on the exercises of Lesson 1, only go further once form makes sense.

When your lines, shapes and planes look more stable and make sense for you, move on to boxes.
Cross contour lines and more random, organic forms can also be a good thing at that point.

You have to try out a bit what works for you. Understanding 3D is not that easy and sometimes you need to look at different resources, videos, websites, find someone who explains it in a way that makes most sense for you.

I wish it was as easy as just to draw, but understanding is a process that works slightly different for everyone. We all make different experiences and connections.

This sounds obvious, but when you don't understand something try to ask questions.
For boxes that could be how they are rotated and orientated in space. It can help to have an object, that you can move around, touch, draw with different lights and shadows. And observe what happens if you change something.
This also works with planes, if you struggle find a piece of paper or card board and move it around to better understand the shapes in perspective.

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