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BlaxkDiamond · Mar 27, 2019 8:52 PM

So I used to paint and draw quite a bit. I was pretty good, not amazing but some paintings and sketches turned out pretty good. Well it’s been over a year and a half since I’ve painted seriously, same with sketches. I just got to busy and it was put on a back burner. Now I’m trying to start up again and everything sucks. I haven’t even tried using paints yet, all my art sketches are too horrible. I’ve always been a very realist person who loves my horse pictures to be in proper proportions. Well I cannot draw a decent horse picture to save my life. I feel like I’ve lost all of my art skills.

So right now I’m going back to my basics of just drawing horse faces. I’m trying not to quite practicing because I know that practice will be the only thing that makes me better. But it’s hard when everything I draw looks like a deformed donky staring back at me. Ok maybe not that bad but that what it feels like. I just want to skip the whole rusty stage and go right back to where I was.

MariaChapinFarm3 · Mar 27, 2019 9:14 PM

say that you ran track in high school. you were one of the best on the team, and then you graduated and didn't pursue anything else related to that exercise. a year or two after graduation you wanted to jump back in the saddle but you found that your joints weren't the best or that your stamina wasn't as good as it used to be. What would you do to get better? train.

the same goes for any other skill that you acquire by practicing. dont feel too bad if your art looks terrible now (although im sure it isnt!), just keep working at it. you'll get better, i promise. it just takes time for you to get used to it again :P

Willoway · Mar 28, 2019 7:30 AM

This is me too :))

While I cant offer sound advice since I still struggle...initially I tried setting aside a certain amount of time and following a tutorial everyday but while it helped a bit, I just wasn't enjoying it. For me, getting in touch with something that inspires me or reminds me of why I love drawing helps most.

For me, I go straight to drawing horses I know. I don't share them because they're still far from good, but I really care about doing them justice so I try so much harder.

Of course if tutorials are your thing...I have a lot of links :x

BlaxkDiamond · Mar 28, 2019 2:29 PM

@MariaChapinFarms3
Thank you it makes a lot of sense. I’ll keep chugging along with the drawings.

@Willoway I’m the exact same way tutorials aren’t something that helps me much. They don’t help me love what i’m doing. I can only watch them, and get something out of them when I’m in the right mood, and if it’s interesting. I just skip them and go straight to horses. I’m sure your pictures are good enough to share, I think the most important thing is you are proud of them. If you’re proud of them that’s all that matters.

Thank you guys. You’re helping me a lot.

SandycreekFarm · Mar 28, 2019 7:48 PM

You'll do better, I think, if you can stop yourself from expecting perfection, just at first.

About 10 years ago, in my sixties, I started painting regularly saying, "I can't draw and I can't paint, but I'm just going to have fun putting paint on paper." (I had never been much good at visual art.) Most of my early paintings from that time are really, really bad, but the group I was with was very encouraging about finding something to praise in each work and giving great suggestions, so I kept on. Since I wasn't putting any expectations on myself, I was able to relax and enjoy the process. Today, I'm much better, just from having the attitude that allowed me to continue exploring and to grow.

Since you are starting out to reclaim an ability you already have, you should be able to unlock it again, if you can keep from discouraging yourself by not expecting to do it immediately.

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