First thing you should know about me before we begin is that I am a very big cartoon enthusiast. I grew up on them, and continue to watch them to this very day. Things like Disney's Robin Hood and Don Bluth's Secret of NIMH spark the best memories of my childhood. I love nothing better than to watch an animated feature film in my spare time. Now that thats out of the way, let me explain why I am here today.

I am 20 years old, and Im currently a college student, so I feel like Im too old to learn this. But I might as well give it a shot and find some help on the way. I really enjoyed drawing as a kid, espically my favorite characters from the movies I watched. Of course, my drawings were terrible, and were often met with harsh criticim from my friends. At first it didn't bother me, but as I got older I started to worry about what others think. I became very self consious of how others perceived my drawings. After many people told me about this special talent and my lack of it, I finally snapped and quit drawing forever, thinking they were right. I feel that was a big mistake.

As I grew, I became frustrated with how some of my friends were great artists with seemingly no effort. So badly did I want to pick up the pencil and be a skilled cartoonist like them. But every time I thought about it, I always backed off and thought "I don't have that special talent, I can't draw to save my life!". I kept watching the movies I loved, but It still bothered me that I couldn't be skilled like the people who made them. Recently a friend of mine refered me to a site that debunked the "Talent Myth" and it was very insparational to me. That site was drawspace.com.

For some reason, the first time in years do I finally have the courage to learn this skill. Maybe its to help me relive a little bit of my past, maybe I want to prove all thoes naysayers wrong. I really don't know. All I know is that I find great pleasure in drawing, and I think that maybe with a few tips and a nudge in the right direction, I may beable to finally do this.

I'm glad to be here, it feels like a big first step to me, and it takes a little bit of weight off my chest posting this. Thank you for your time and any tips you may have for me. Its greatly appreciated.

Welcome to Drawspace Thursday. Your story isn't rare, in fact, its similar to many people here.

You have the interest and the want to draw and that is all that matters. The rest is down to practice. My advice to you would be don't restrict yourself only to cartoons right now. Learn all the techniques in all the mediums and apply those techniques to cartoons. You'll find that they will come to life for you with those skills under your belt. But learn everything you can and practice, practice, practice!

Post, ask questions, draw. Everyone is here to help you as much as possible.

Thursday,
You are never, never,never too old to learn. I am forty...er...something and I always have something I am learning currently its drawing and playing piano. I have no previous experience in either I just love both so here I am. Six years ago at work they offered apprentiships for tool and die, I brushed up on my math wrote the test and four years later I am a tool and die maker.(well, a layed off one) I have lived my life by continually remaking my self. I follow opportunities wherever they lead and when that ends I jump up and find the next opportunity. I expect to still be learning until the day I die. Anyone who is any good at what they do will tell you that they are still learning their trade. So as Jeanette says "practice, practice, practice".
Paulette

welcome to the site all you need to do is keep drawing and you will get better.