I'm 27 and i didn't had ANY major improvement since i was 21-26 (which was frustrating and painful) but for the last year my skills went up dramatically after i decided to draw only when i want and to have fun. When you don't have expectations you don't have insecurities and when you don't have insecurities you are more willing to experiment and try different things.

One must imagine artists happy.

part of "draw what you love" also sometimes means picking and choosing which parts of the process you do and don't want to do- not every piece has to be fully rendered if you don't like shading, if you don't like doing lineart just clean up your sketch a little or even skip straight to coloring the rough sketch, stuff like that! it's good to practice those skills sometimes but you shouldn't force yourself to slog through parts of the process that you don't find fun, it's going to discourage you from drawing at all. nothing is required for a piece to be "complete"!

HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT I WAS STRUGLING 😨

idk what i enjoy anymore

"I worried way more about art than I was actually drawing" THIS! I understand you so well. I feel like this video articulates all of my problems with art so well. Art can be so much fun and so rewarding but also soo frustrating. I know that other artists I look up to also struggle with this, but you're the first artist to really hit the nail on the head for me. You're just like me fr fr. This channel in general (and also your streams) have really helped me enjoy art again and actually have fun while learning! Which like even one year ago would've been absolute bonkers to me. Keep up the good work man! (Also shoutout to ScribClips the editing looks phenomenal as always)

It's just really fucking frustrating when you see people mich younger than you being so much better at drawing, meanwhile you have been stuck in a depression hole for years now and can barely improve because burnout. And all you see is your skills regressing over time...

I think one thing that's helped to offset this is paying special attention to not just your physical improvement, but also your ability to detect what doesn't look right. Having a good eye is just as important, if not more so, than having good hands. It's gonna feel like shit seeing all the mistakes you're making in real time (and even after you're finished, in fact ESPECIALLY after you're finished), but it'll help a lot in the long run

I feel both inspired and frustrated at the same time when looking at professional artist's work. The ratio of inspired/frustrated shifts as I work on my own art. 😂

Thank you internet woman I will draw

I find it so annoying when people say "Just draw what you like" while ignoring that people's abilities ACTIVELLY PREVENT THEM FROM DOING SO!

I think one thing a lot of people also miss is how a lot of forms of improvement are invisible. If you can get the same result in half the time or with half the layers, and less prep work, that's still a major improvement, but it's not one anyone's going to notice cause it doesn't affect the final result. Recognizing that can help you feel like you're making progress even if others aren't seeing it.

I wish that my body wasn't in such poor condition. I find it difficult to put in the time needed to practice because I always end up tired and ill. I still keep going, knowing that building a system that leads to good results even if the results aren't great now is better than giving up, but for me the frustration comes from not being able to do as much as I'd like to do.

I was feeling kind of stuck recently because I got burnt out from studying so much art to the point where I wasn't really making anything I liked or having fun, I was just doing studies to try and get better because I was afraid that if I started out on drawing a good idea, my drawing wouldn't be good enough and I'd end up wasting my time, so I have been spending the last week just making goofy drawings with little to no effort, some "meh" ones in between but nothing actually good. Then I watched your video, got a cool idea for something I wanted to draw by the end of it, so I said: "Screw it, I'll try and put actual effort into using everything I've learned so far to draw this" and I just ended up making one of my best drawings yet! I'm still impressed by how good it is compared to what I would normally draw not too long ago! Thank you for making this video!

i've been struggling for the last 2 years, thanks pikat for letting me know that i'm not the only one

Wow… the things you say in this video is SO TRUE and i DEFINITELY needed reminders!! Thank you so so much!! I really agree with the whole “the result is a byproduct/symptom of your process” thing, and you described the problems i felt really well! The plateau you mentioned is so real too. Thank you again this video is seriously amazing and im going to send it to some of my art friends who might need it :D

My full time profession has nothing to do with art or animation. I think that's helped me not feel burned out or not get sad when I work on my animation projects. Since its just a hobby, I find it relaxing and satisfying. I've had many failed animation projects, but I've never got depressed about them since I just view them as a learning experience.

I just discovered your channel recently, but boy was it the right time. I've been struggling with my art for quite a while now, and your videos are really helping motivate me to really start drawing again. Thank you!

you've got such a soothing and logical way of talking about art while keeping things really entertaining, i get a neat boost of serotonin everytime i watch one of your videos

WOW the most perfect timing, uploaded 2 minutes ago as I'm drawing while wondering how to make it fun again

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I've seen a handful of videos on this topic, but none of them connected like this one. I especially like the part about art being an exploration, and the final piece is just the by-product. I definitely get frustrated looking at impressive art, gives me a sense of dread that I'll never be "that good" an artist. I think I'm ready to get back to it. Thanks for the encouragement! Just subbed :)

I'm new here and this is the second or third video of yours that i watch and have to thank you for the positivity and meme-ish editing of your videos. It's super helpful, encouraging and fun! I've been stuck without trying drawing for years, and hearing these things really makes me think differently and more optimistic c:

I stumbled onto your channel and I gotta say, you're a huge motivation for trying to draw again. I can personally reallly relate to the last bit of this video, constantly comparing yourself to other artists so unfairly. Love the stuff u put out!

I really needed to hear this, I'm at a similar point in which you were. This year I graduate from art high school and I feel as if I hadn't reach the standard and seeing the work of younger classmates I felt like I'm behind and not enough, and that has been discouragung me from drawing for myself or even enjoying it. Some points you made I was already warapping my head around but your video helped me realize my situation and I feel way better about it, but also helped me change my focus into something more healthy. Really thank you so much for this video! :)

I felt all of this with art and writing. Writing more so recently since it's something I didn't start really trying to improve on until recently. I wish I could say I gotten over the hump but been on and off it with both. Sometimes, regardless of the facts of the how or why, I still feel down about my art/writing. It hasn't stopped me from doing either but the embarrassment seeps in and drowns me to a point I eventually delete all my stuff. I may not even get that far and sometimes don't bother to post. I agree it takes a long time to get over everything mentioned in the video (and for some maybe more), I hope I reach a comfortable level with my stuff art/writing but this video adds perspective. It's a step closer hearing this from someone as skilled as you are. That you too had those struggles but they didn't hold you back. This video helped me for sure, thank you for this transparency and sharing your art journey in general.

this video is very comforting. i recently reached a point where i even started to hate my art, i was constantly my biggest critic, judging myself and the little progress i've made while simultaneously not putting in the hours needed to improve. i just looked at the years i had been drawing for, instead of the little time i actually invested in my art. this video made me see things very differently and provided another perspective and thought process that is a lot more forgiving and warm. great work!

The short of it: Trying to chase after what you think would make you successful instead of making what you enjoy work for what you want to do is only going to kill your enjoyment of *doing* art. Improve at your own pace, not what you "should" as Plautuing as Pikat said is normal. A fun little anidote: Recently I figured out that what I was struggling with was the rigidity of my linework was making my work look lifeless and stiff. I always loved the more flowy, more shwisy lines that sometimes look messy. Traditonal art is never perfect and I was missing that quality in my digital art. It was feeling flat and far too simplfied and I had more fun doing painting landscapes/backgrounds because I wasn't trying to be "perfect". And mentally I was upset with myself when a friend of mine said "I like the hair of this older art" Wasn't their fault but it had me thinking that I was missing something. It clicked when I went back through looking up Sailormoon Offical Manga art to show to another friend for a convo we were having and I was noticing...... The linework was something I used to emulate back in the day. I loved the more fluid movments of the work and similar styles such as the Art Neuvo artists Toulouse-Lautrec and Beardsley and the art of Yoshitaka Amano and Old Clamp before they leaned to Tusbasa's style but also loved the style with xxxHolic so much more (Also Clamp). And none of my digital work was looking like that because I was fighting with trying to make it work for Twitch..... So I could get income as a freelancer two years prior and it never worked. I gave up on that forcing and decided to return to that love of imperfect lines and beautiful flow Last week, and I hadn't been so happy with my work for a while as I do today. I enjoy my art again because it's exploring forms, and lines, and how they work into a beautiful cohesive peice. It wasn't like trying to follow the twitch line style was doing me any good anyways, so I might as well have fun with my own twitch channel and update stuff to this more fluid style again. I already have better luck with the backgrounds anyways so might as well do the same with the linework. It's possiable to love the art again even later in life and after you've been not drawing for 3 years due to depression.

Thank you Miss Pikat, I kinda needed to hear this. Sometimes is intimidating, sometimes could be scary, but moments like this really give some energy back!

Very well said! I went a very long time between drawing things because I didnt feel I was good enough. Then I got on the kick of watching sketchbook tours (like, that's 90% of what I watch on KZfaq now) and I saw all the practice people actually put in. I've had supplies dry out and go to waste before I could use it, because I didnt think I was good enough to use it. Ultimately I had to shift my thinking. I had to see myself using the supplies in exchange for gaining experience. Materials are replaceable, but you can take your experience with you everywhere. I started drawing like crazy, coming out with good and bad pages. But every page is progress to me, so long as it's used up. And i've been improving and learning a lot :D

I have literally started watching you by how attractive your style was, but as well at what you where talking about and you manage to explain it that its much easier to find peace in the process of Art, and I've been seeing videos for a while so I might as well subscribe.

Thank you so much for making this video when you did. I've been struggling with my art recently, but after taking a step back, I think I'm ready to start drawing again! This time I'll just trust the process and not worry about improvement.

I randomly stumbled upon your channel and I just love how you explain things that I can resonate with. I just started learning art and as someone who used to love to draw as a kid but stopped for a very long amount of time is definitely frustrating. I was both inspired and frustrated whenever I saw art better than mine but over the time since last year I can say that I have improved. it's a slow progress but even small progress is enough.

This is exactly what I needed to hear tonight 😊 Thank you so much for making this beautiful video. Your voice is super soothing and I can feel a rush of motivation surging from wanting to make art because it's /fun/ to do, not because I need to reach some ever-moving goalpost of what "good" art looks like !

Thank you so much this has actually been one of the best tips ive heard from other artists suffering like i am❤

I love watching you ramble about stuff, your voice is so soothing to listen to :)

Hey, I just wanna say that I think you have a good narrative voice for this sort of content! Appreciate the message and I look forward to seeing your growth on the channel. Really liked seeing the bird illustration throughout!!

6:55 I relate with this segment so much. I LOVE drawing/art but I've never focused on improving my skills despite my interests and even though I'm a young adult, I can't help but compare myself to people who are in high school doing this. Now I feel like I should have used my time more wisely and I can't keep a constant schedule. Then it's like why are you so worried, you have the time right now and remember to have fun with it. Thanks for making this, it's probably the best video that tackles the common artist struggle I've ever seen. 💥

This video was SUPER helpful to me right now, because I've been "taking a break" from digital drawing, but I just realized that I wasn't actually taking a break! I was just stopping because I didn't think I could make anything good, and I would come back once I thought I was good enough. That ended up putting a lot of stress on me to somehow improve even though I wasn't drawing, and I expected myself to suddenly have my next drawing be way better than the last one. After watching this video I decided to pick up my tablet pen and just *draw*, so thank you :)

This video feels like exactly what I needed. Some words directly reflected my situation, witch showed me that I'm not alone in this art dilema.Thnx for that Pikat... I also love the fact that the happiest moment of the video is accompanied by cute, fancy birds in top hats and bowties.=)

Thank you for showing up on my feed. Really, I need these words.

Thanks! I got frustated because I couldn't draw as well as several artists I've seen on social media and real life, I started to worse at drawing due to stress for getting better and school projects. But thanks to you I can see that I'm getting stressed over things I shouldn't, I'll try to improve and be more patient when drawing. Thank youuuu!!! :D

I needed this video in my life, thank you ❤

I am at the last year in my high school and I really don’t have any strong points towards any particular area, and last year I felt the whole year like the one thing I was good at, art, was mediocre at best, and since then I’m feeling really lost, and still am. I’m struggling to improve anything, so thanks, this is really meaningful for me.

I graduated last summer and I thought I had done something horrible to burn out this badly, to only create maybe 5 peices since the summer of 2023... but this video kinda opened my eyes. I've been too focused on the results!! I need to sit and just, draw something I love and focus on the process, without worrying too hard about the end result. Genuienly, thank you so much!

I always feel incredibly lucky when it comes to seeing other's people art, everytime I see a beautiful drawing I get SO motivated. And knowing that there are so many people that are way better than me is so reassuring, knowing that there is an infinite source of motivation fuel available online helps me so much when I don't feel like drawing anymore ! But even if that helps me getting motivated there are times where it's just so hard to keep going, I hadn't drawn anything for 2 months but since January I'm drawing (almost) every single day, trying to face the things I had been dodging for 2-3 years (like actually trying to learn anatomy intentionally) and I'm having so much fun because I realized that those things are actually the ones that are keeping me away from my dream so facing these challenges will for sure reward me, maybe my motivation will disappear next month, I don't have any clue. But I know that I'll always come back to my tablet at some point, because I always keep in mind that there is no way I'll ever regret trying to learn how to draw, the only thing that I could regret is giving up and realizing too late that time is not waiting for me, so I must use it in the best way possible.

Thank you so much, this video inspired me to pick up my pen and start drawing again!

a lot of the stuff you've said really hit the nail on the coffin for me, this was helpful!

This was really reassuring. Thank you!

Thank you youtube recommended. 😭 And thank YOU for making this video I'm still struggling a little (a lot) with Art Burnout and kind of want to cry every time I don't feel the joy that I used to, or not having the mental load that I used to for art. I hope I can get back to that happiness one day.

I wanna thank you for this video. it's crazy how i thought i was alone in how frustrated i get from art but what you describe at 6:00 is what i've been struggling with a lot. Really good stuff. needed to see it.

You're right, I should stop blaming myself and use that time to embrace and accept the pain during my pursuit of my art's goal, and most importantly having fun on it.

Its always nice to hear when you are not alone with your struggles. Also you have a pleasant voice, subbed~

Thank you for this, it is a very encouraging video by setting realistic expectations. It helps me want to continue my art degree... for now :3

you really share the type of advices, that I would love to share. I love your channel

Everything you said resonated so much on me, thanks for the video! Frustration is a hell of a feeling

I recently joined social media after improving for a while and got discouraged when I saw other artists who were much better than me around me. I honestly felt intimidated when one artist I loved followed me after a quick chat, and I’ve been on hiatus ever since due to my fear of disappointing them. But I’m doing better now and I think as long as I’m having fun, they’ll enjoy my work, and as long as they are as well I’ll enjoy their’s! Thank you for this video, it was helpful and gave me a push in the right direction. Have a good day/night!

I just want to thank you😭 I subscribed to you recently and I really want to imrpove my art so bad also because i really like your videos but i feel like my drawings last year were much better than the ones I drew this year.. i thought about giving up.. but this video coming out is such perfect timing

Very timely, I basically threw my sketchbook across the room because of how dissatisfied I was with my work tonight. Still not sure how to enjoy the process since I'm still so focused on the outcome. Any who thanks for the encouragement (I know I know not specifically for me but it was a boost either way). Also nice avatar, I'm a huge fan of the retro 8/16 bit looks.

i feel like this is the only art motivational video that actually got through to me, despite hearing almost the same info. you made the info come through, thank you

thank you, this is exactly what i needed

Amazing video and so honest and true, it's so frustrating to see beginners make the same mistakes over and over but honestly part of the learning journey is failing over and over

You inspired me to pick up my pen again. Thank you!

Amazing video!!! This is so useful

this spoke to me so much, thank for you for the very wise words!

Thanks for the good advice and mood boost that can apply to all artists, but especially resonating for me as a “later in life” starter.

you just saved my art hobby thank you so much

Started drawing in my late 20s from absolute beginner, it has been 4 years of daily drawing since then. you're probably the most relatable artist I've seen in the internet. Then again I don't know the stories behind almost all the artists that I admire, so I like to think that there is still hope for me to go pro one day.

Needed this video, thanks a lot

I feel simultaneously supported and called out. Thanks, I needed that.

The words I needed to hear again...aaaaand subscribed.

I'm getting so many videos like this in my recommended lol. I've been drawing on and off my whole life so far. I've just kinda hit this point where I feel stuck and I REALLY wanna get back into drawing, but im also not trying to get frustrated. I used to draw multiple things in my sketchbook almost daily, 4 years later I can only manage to draw every 3-4 days. 😭

This helped me out today. I'm a literal professional and sometimes it's just.. not fun anymore. But I'll probably watch this video again when I feel down. Thanks a bunch. :3

Thank you so much for this video. I was hurting quite a lot today over the quality of my art and that it didn't look as good as So many other people's art. But it's good to remember that I've only been drawing consistently (A few hours per week, ususally once a week) for about 5 months :)

Awesome , love your voice and the knowledge

I NEEDED THIS THANKYOUU

@pikat You have very quickly become my favorite art channel :)

I really love your art like so much😭 idk if you reilze but every time I see your practice drawings or studies or those damn boxes I get excited to draw again and I wanna get into that grind, even though I kinda suck at focusing on things and in practicing things in general. It takes time and then I get burnt out. But seeing people like you just makes me keep going cuz your sheets are so full of stuff and I just feel like I can do that lol! I am still young and I feel like I got years ahead of me and I really do enjoy drawing enough to still do it even after a massive stop before 2024. Keep up the great work btw! I love to see more of your art and commentary and ofc have a great day

As someone who's relatively new at art and trying to learn to draw, I really needed and appreciate this video!

I'm exactly like the situation you described in the beginning about ones relationship ship with art. Gonna TRY SEEING IT AS AN ADVENTURE and consider your other points

you are literally a life saver, gosh! very wise :]

This helped a ton! Thank you!😄

5:10 This is exactly what I needed. I'm practicing drawing eyes right now and I just feel stuck because the eyes I draw doesn't look so good. So hearing that you need practice, but you should also make time to just draw what you want to really helped me.

Im so happy I was able to break through my plateau, once you get start feeling like you're actually improving after hitting that wall, the confidence boost and the ability to draw more freely is such a good feeling. Currently 20 years old i've been drawing for the past 10-15 years but seriously practicing for the last 4 or 5 years.

YOU ARE AN ART SUPERGENIOUS YOU HELPED ME SO MUCH THANK YOU!!!

Was hovering over the subscribe button and the explosion at the end clicked it for me Love the style of your vidoes!

I come back to this video whenever I’m feeling bad about my art. This journey is absolutely a bumpy one. But the highs feel great. If you’re reading this and are also an aspiring artist, keep at it. Never give up!

Really informative and encouraging. Thanks!

You've inspired me to start drawing again. Thanks you 🗣️

love the explosion at the end.

I just discovered your channnel today, I feel heard and understood with your videos, really apreciate them

I'm new to your content and I may as well claim these videos as mine because HOW ARE YOU SAYING WORD FOR WORD MY SOUL CRUSHING STRUGGLE THESE PAST FEW YEARS. *cough* Really though thank you. I'm glad to have found artists like you that have similar issues regarding our insecurities in our art journies, and that it really takes some self-humbling, acceptance and patience for the craft that we'll be able to move forward.

The part where being bitter about other artists is so true. I'm not that affected with it anymore but I still struggle with it once in while. It's great knowing that I'm not alone and I hope I overcome it completely. Thank you

Helo! Thank you for this video and very clear explanation!! I am autistic and didn't understand my feelings when it came to really great art/ concepts that I knew I liked but vehemently avoided for literally no reason it seemed! Stressed me to ask why I avoided it and now I think the term is jealousy, a foreign feeling for me. With your explanation I will now allow myself the time to start watching these shows in celebration of their hard earned skills and practice by drawing my own characters 'for' that world! (Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, most anime, etc) Thank you So very much!

I want you to know that I love your voice so much ! Your voice is kind and sweet idk how to explain but I like it a lot! ❤✨💕And I love your mindset about art about improving so much I learned a lot from your video I just found you a few days ago but I’m falling in love with this channel💕💗🫶

As someone who was struggling with self worth issues with my art a while back due to being in a pretty toxically art school group, now that I’m out of it I’m certainly more happy with my work- particularly when it’s not given a background but still. Thank you for this video, more people need to hear that it’s ok to be samey for a while.

I'm trying to remember how to draw. I wasn't able to draw for years and now I'm trying to rediscover how to do it. This helped a lot because I was panicking about how it was going to look or how I was going to post my art. Thank you for making videos :)

Thank you so much for make these KZfaq videos for artist.

I am just passing trough the same thing as you metioned about feeling bitter about fellow artists, i love art, but due to certain responsibilities i have, i have less and less time to practice and i began to loose interest just because i was just getting more and more frustrated every time i tried to draw, but hearing your thoughts on this made me began to question this way of seeing art, thanks a lot.

This is the most relatable video ever. It sucks how something so enjoyable to me when I was young, became something I almost loathe. I still love drawing but I hate everything I draw.

Great video: explains the frustrations of art (or any other skill) with nice analogies. I stopped drawing a while ago but maybe I'll start again. When seeing a climber surmount an enormous mountain, it can be daunting. Expecting to overcome the same towering heights is discouraging when you've only just walked up a hill. It's despairing not being able to match that when you forget the countless attempts, failures and tons of experience behind reaking the peak. Instead it's probably best to be inspired by them. The amazing climber should be proof of how crazy good someone can get - not how terrible you are. Maybe it's a long way to go but you'll probably get there eventually. Drawing what you like is easier but how do you eat your art vegetables? Is it forced or is there a way to hide them? Fear of failure sure is paralyzing. But failure isn't much to be afraid of. Even though it can feel like the end of the world, it isn't. Afterall, failure is just the first step to success. Falling but getting up and trying something different over and over until it works is what leads to it. Success isn't the absence of failure. Rather, it's the abundance of it after countless attempts and learning from the until your efforts finally bear fruit. Maybe by admiring others to fuel your hope and motivation; by realising that it's silly to expect to run when you can't even walk; by expecting yourself to walk at your own pace and to keep taking steps even if you fall. Maybe then you'll advance froward.