viria:

I’m just gonna…screencap you my favourite moment with Oikawa which is one of the main reasons I relate to him so much and generally find his character very inspiring.

When it comes to drawing or any other ~creative~ activity, many people give up halfway. Or not even reaching the halfway point. Simply because it all always involves the word “talent”. They look at people so much more “talented” than they are and think they will never have it. They will never be as good.  They don’t “feel” talented, or they keep being told by other people that they aren’t.

I can’t really blame them, probably the most common compliment “good” artists get is just how “talented” and lucky they are. Not how hardworking, not how stubborn, but how talented. It’s all about it.

And I kind of…don’t believe in talent. Or I chose not to.

Obviously there is always natural predisposition for something. Some people are simply born on the higher level than you were and it feels like you will never catch up to that level, because they always improve faster, they see things better, they just are. But talent is really 99% hard work and 1% actual talent. Someone with natural ability alone may not go the far ways comparing to someone with lots of experience behind their shoulders, even though they might not have started as good as someone with natural ability.

I don’t know if I have tips or advice decent enough for you, but I think the best thing is to unlearn how to believe in talent, and start believing in yourself. Keep drawing…and keep drawing, regardless if you think you’re talented or not. Regardless of what people think. You might not have so called “talent”, but you can always create it within you.

I said it before, but I guess I will just repeat myself by saying I always view someone who is better than me as a challenge…and a goal. The same way you can choose to feel about people who think you aren’t good enough for that – to prove them wrong. Maybe it will take years and years until you finally feel like you’re able to tell them “SUCK IT, LOOK AT HOW GOOD I’VE GOTTEN”.

Draw as much as you can and be patient. (obviously sometimes we don’t have time or motivation or simple will to do ANYTHING, but whenever you feel like you can push yourself through – do it).

If “talent” is a seed you’re growing, don’t expect it to grow overnight. Keep watering it and don’t neglect it. And one day you will see the flowers bloom, and on another you’ll be able to taste fruit.

Try to look up tutorials and draw whatever you see around you, it always gets better when you start UNDERSTANDING what you’re drawing and how things work, how they are built. I’m someone who is learning academic drawingpainting in the university, so I’ve found out SO MUCH from my professors, but if you don’t have it, it might be good to try looking up books. You won’t immediately get good by reading it, but you’ll start being more cognizant of the process itself. It’s only recently that I have been starting to feel like I understand it better.

Because skill is skill, but drawing is also a lot of thinking, to which books will add up to.

And…don’t give up, I guess. Don’t be discouraged because you don’t feel talented, because someone else is better, or because your work isn’t good just now. Think about that day in the future that it will get good. The day you’ll finally be able to get yourself a little golden star and write “I did it” over it. Though even then, most likely, there still will be something more to learn, because it’s a never-ending process.