Dear friends:

How long will it take to become a decent artist (drawing)? For both begginners and advanced?
Thank you!!!

rednova
-mobilis in mobili-

I think the queston might be how much effort and time do you want to put in to become a "good" artist. We have someone here (Farfallina) who has been actively posting for 6 months ...read her thread and you can see for yourself. Her dedication is unbelievable and so are her results.

her post is half an anniversary and a century

Dear Friend:
thanks for your answer. I am really impressed by farfallina's skill, I am really happy she got so far ahead in a few months..that is really inspirational. My dream is to become a good artist...I know with hard work and dedication I can make it possible. This (drawspace) looks like the right place to start.
Thanx 'Artfix'!!!

rednova
-mobilis in mobili-

Hi Rednova....and welcome to Draw space....I joined last August and I am drawing things I never imagined I could ever draw...I draw everything free hand as I did this ....but with the help and guidance of Brenda's lessons....I never thought I could draw anything remotely like this...and the members make this place very special. I have made many friends.Practice practice practice...I try to draw every day.

The challenges are always good for inspiration and working outside your comfort zone.
Paulette

Rednova .. each person will improve with practice ...the more you work on your art the better you become ...I believe that Rose (farfallina) has become a great artist in a very short amount of time and that kinda tells me that she has had the special knack for art ..just never expressed it until she came here 6 months ago .
to give a time line as to when you become a good artist is hard for anyone to do .. as artfix said it takes dedication ...I wish you the best and hope you can join in on some of the challenges

Hi Red and welcome to Drawspace.

There is no simple answer to your question. Personally I think no artist, no matter how great he/she may be deemed to be ever stops learning. Every piece of art one attempts poses it's own problems and challenges and is another step to growth.

As Tim said, how fast you learn depends on the time you are willing to invest in it. But that isn't everything either. It also depends on your motivation - how badly you want it, what challenges you are prepared to face, what pressures you are prepared to put on yourself. Personally I can't tell you the number of times I feel like giving up during the course of a drawing. If I gave in to that feeling there wouldn't be a single drawing in my gallery. So in a nutshell I don't think having a knack has anything to do with it - it all boils down to motivation, dedication and practice to obtain the required experience.

And then you spoke of artist. Hmm... personally I don't consider myself an artist. In the past six months I have acquired skills. But for me a real artist is not the one who say can capture a perfect likeness in a portrait... the artist captures the soul. Or the artist takes what he sees and adds something of himself to what he sees in his interpretation... something original which not everyone else sees.

However it is useless having the inspiration without also having the techniques to work out that inspiration. Another member on Drawspace has a quote from Picasso in their signature - Inspiration does exist but it must catch you working! How true! And I would add a rider to that quote... inspiration must also find you serene - not necessarily having an easy life but at peace with yourself and your surroundings.

Good luck Rednova - I'm looking forward to seeing your artwork.

Very eloquent Rose ! I kinda forgot the motivation part

Dear Friends:

i am impressed by your support. Thank you!!! I look forward to learn, to draw, and to share with you all.

rednova
-mobilis in mobili-

Main Entry: art·ist
Pronunciation: 'är-tist
Function: noun
1 a obsolete : one skilled or versed in learned arts

I was saying nothing more or less then what the meaning of artist is
My personal thoughts are many people here in drawspace are skilled in the art field .. this making them in my eyes a artist ....and we have some very good ones

Hi everyone!

Hm - are you sure one must have a knack for drawing, Kim?
I can't agree because I tried and tried for such a long time but as recently as I came here I learned to draw. Of course I have Brendas book and some others too, but this all happens in January.

And since then I made huge advance. Not as much as Rose, but enough for me to be proud of.

So, Rednove, if you are willing to practice, to learn to post and get critique and if you have fun and joy (very important) you can be a good artist in a pretty short time. But - everything is comparativ.........

I think I'll have to lean toward Kim on this one.

At least it seems true in my experience. Knack: "A special ready capacity that is hard to analyze or teach." If a person doesn't have this capacity then how can they ever develope it? They might have it for years and not realize it because they haven't developed it.

And I guess we all have a different amount of knack. lol.

bob

Rednova, Hi and Welcome to Drawspace.

In answer to your question and referral to alot of people who have posted comments, I would say that becoming a good artist depends on how much you put into it. You get what you give, in a manner of speaking. I think most people that have always wanted to draw or paint that put the hard work into the practicing have the "knack" that Kim and Brb were referring too. It comes easily to some while others have to work hard to reach their preferred states in their abilities. I still have to work very hard at my drawings, depending on what I am drawing at the time..BUT I have other areas that I am really good at and it is natural for me to just pick up a pencil and do it. I believe their is natural born tallent as well as hard worked for tallent. I think that if you truely want something than it can be learned and mastered with patience and practice and good ole' hard work.

To use Rose, as an example, I would say she has a natural born tallent that she didn't discover until just recently and she worked her bottom off to achieve the level of artistic abilities she has accomplished in the short period of time she has been drawing. Some people can have the abilities and just need a little self teaching and guidence to get farther. Her work is amazing and she is truely an inspiration to all.

So you too, can get to where others are or even be better if you put the dedication into your practicing.