Is drawing even fun anymore? ✦
✨Find my behind the scenes drawing process on patreon.com/carolemellow
Thank you for watching, and for all your support! 💙
Find me on:
Instagram: instagram.com/carolemellow
Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@carolemell0w
Links: carolemellow.carrd.co
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:31 - Social Media
04:15 - Expectations
06:10 - How/where should I start drawing?
07:46 - Should I keep drawing?
08:57 - When is it too late to start drawing?
10:15 - What should I do when I don't feel like drawing?
11:26 - Is drawing more enjoyable once you get better at it?
12:31 - How long will it take me to get better?
13:46 - Should I draw traditionally or digitally?
15:36 - What can we do to have more fun?
15:42 - Step back from social media.
16:49 - Find quiet places
18:03 - Remove the clock
19:37 - Find what works for you
24:04 - Outro
📌Art supplies I used in this video:
Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser: amzn.to/42cjTZi
Fudenosuke Brush Pen: amzn.to/3XcwsR6
Pentel Fude Brush Pen: amzn.to/3iEAeDO
Sakura Mechanical Pencil 0.7 mm: amzn.to/3ZLy9pJ
I gave up posting my art to social media. I always struggled with algorithms and it killed my soul. I now do art privately and my love has returned. I don’t need anyone to see my passion for it to fulfill me.
Honestly, unless you wanna show a small corner of the Internet your art, this probably is the best thing to do. I still post on Instagram (when I'm not lazy) but I stopped caring about algorithms because I can't compete with artists like Feefal, Samdoesart, Meyoco, etc...
@@empty-voiid I have never heard of the artists you compare yourself to. Don’t be so hard on yourself. All art is spectacular and unique. I’m sure yours is perfect and represents your soul ✨🤍
@@thewanderingstarseed Aaaaaw thank you so much! I've been learning to love my art for quite some time now, tbh! In fact, 10 years ago I used to compare my art to other people's art so much that I ended up giving up my game art school. I got better when I started to see those artists I used to compare myself to as inspirations, not impossible goals that I could never hope to reach. Not gonna lie, I hope this comment section will help future artists! Thinking our art isn't good enough is normal, but we never should lose our love for art by comparing ourselves to other artists. And we should never lose our love for art because of social media.
Being an artist in today's world is hard, but I believe we all deserve acknowledgment for the uniqueness we bring to this world!! Sending soo much love ❤🤗❤
I struggle to find meaning in drawing. I'll post my drawings on social media. People will look at it for 5 seconds and look at the next one, and the next one. What power can a drawing have? It doesn't hold one's attention for more than a heartbeat. Stories, books, movies and music, they feel meaningful to me, and I have artists who's work inspires me as well, but it's still difficult to find the meaning that a drawing may have in another person's life other than myself.
No I don't think that is true. Not all drawings do this, but there are some that I keep coming back to personnally. I also save/sceeenshot on ig, all the ones I like. I regularly browse through my collection, watch them, am inspired, or just watch them to watch them, or feel. Drawings are as important than writing and paintings for me. And all three of them are more important than shows and movies. I rarely go an rewatch things, or images from movies or shows. But I'll reread extracts, re look at drawings and paintings. I hold onto them. Maybe I am the only one, but... I really hold drawings as something precious. And I don't just skip quickly when I find one on social media :) (and I actually prefer them to some more rendered pieces).
"look at them to look at them because they are beautiful and pretty"* sorry look is better than watch but I just woke up and english is not my native language also : I don't stay in front of a show, music, rtc. like with a drawing, just looking at each line, how it works together, what it says, etc.
Those are some really interesting thoughts.. I can totally see how that happens, specially with social media! And for example, with my own work, I definitely don't see as much meaning/value in each drawing, but I feel like when I express myself genuinely in one piece, people can gravitate to it and relate to it in a real way. Doesn't happen every time but I do feel connections with art and drawings that can feel really strong, just like songs or movies, but I get that it's a really different experience. 💙 This made me think a lot! Thank you for your comment!
I constantly remember drawings Ive seen months ago because I liked them so much,because they inspire me I keep them in my mind and even save them sometimes so I can look at them again,sometimes its fanart,sometimes its oc content,sometimes its objects while yes social media does work very fast I promise theres definetly people out there that will appreciate and remember your work dont give up!!!
As someone who has more than one instance in my life when I just stared at someone's painting on my screen and cried because it just hits that hard - yes, drawings do have that kind of power.
So many good points in this video! Every time I get frustrated with my own art because its style is so childish, I've started taking a step back and telling myself "It's not my job to draw other artist's style". This has made it so much easier to just do my own art and enjoy what everyone else is doing separately. When I see something inspiring, I ask myself "how can I do this in my style"?. Suddenly, instead of comparing myself, I'm now using every opportunity to learn something new from what I'm observing.
Sometimes i feel like im drawing for the wrong reasons. In the video you said that some of the enjoyment you get from art is being satisfied with the end product, but for me the satisfaction from the end product is the only enjoyment i get from art. About a week ago i finished a piece and liked it so much that I made it my lock screen. I felt so good about myself after that, but then the next piece i made i wasnt so happy with and now i feel completely uninspired. I also feel like showing other people my art is the only reason for making it, and even though social media makes me feel like shit, without it i have no motivation. I want to be an professional artist mainly because theres nothing else that really interests me, but i get scared for my future when i have these feelings that im bad at art or uninspired because if i cant go into art then i dont know what else to do. Anyways sorry for venting into a yt comment section , i just wanted do get this off my chest.
I know you didn’t ask for advice, but maybe you could try keeping a sketchbook or small notebook where you don’t focus on the end product, and let it be messy, but only focus on trying to make things that make you happy *while* you’re drawing? I know at least for myself that it can be really easy to become frustrated with myself when I only draw for the final product, ESPECIALLY when I end up disliking the final product. But I think a lot of joy for me comes in the simple things too, like feeling the texture of certain materials when I use them, or using pretty colors, or doodling little things I enjoy. You might end up learning more about yourself as an artist! Sometimes letting yourself get in touch with your inner child and letting yourself experiment can be really helpful
Sorry for the long response but hopefully that helps a little bit! You might just need to practice being more comfortable with putting less pressure on yourself, as hard as that is
Once you start focusing on the process your art will get better more consistantly.
I understand those feelings, i think i've maybe was going through the same thing and it sounds like you draw for achieving feelings of greatness and outside appreciation and when it doesn't get returned it will shake your soul. I'm going to tell you a secret - this wont go away simply by doing it professionally. In a job there will be people who will want you to fix this and this or totally change the concept and try another person because they wont be happy with the results - not always because of you, but because some artists are suited for different jobs, or on occasion - just because client is a prick. If validation is the only reason why you want to work as an artist - don't do it. It'll destroy you. If you can find joy in meditative state of making art or pushing through and the satisfaction you get when an artistic problem is being solved through trial - the critique is easier to deal with.
This is so interesting bc I feel the exact opposite way. I have to force myself to post my art and I never ever read the comments or feedback. Not because I’m scared it will be mean (It’s good! I got invited to do a zine cover!) but too much attention feels like pressure and I shrink back.
Ive been struggling hard with finding my joy in art again
Art happens when you are following your flow in life ,life is art 😊
the consistency is the hardest part. But you are so right about the right time and place to inspire ourselves. This is something I've started to become aware about myself that is hindering me from being consistent. So I thank you for making this video. You're awesome.
that illustration is gorgeous
Your line art is stunningly beautiful! the final drawing looks absolutely amazing
ive always wanted to be good at drawing but never got myself to really try it and keep it going, until recently. i tried a few things that are not good but i wanna keep going, i find it fascinating how artists can create all the amazing things i see but never thought i could do it also. but the reason i havent kept going these days is because i dont really know where to start and what to draw, where to find inspirations that i could be capable of doing and how to start
Social media has definitely taken a toll on my motivation and joy to draw. I love it when I get notifications of new followers, likes, etc, but I feel so frustrated when no one sees my art 🥲 When I was a kid I didn’t care about that and I didn’t even care if it looked good and I enjoyed drawing way more. Still, I keep on drawing to see what I can create and improve but yeah…
20:08. I feel this so much and have stopped making art for others because of this. I make art for ME. I DRAW WHAT I LOVE. This video has been so relatable and helpful. thank you. Also i love your line work❤
I stopped since the A.I art stuff. It’s whatever, I’ve moved on to other arts but it’s crazy how much it was apart of my life for so long. Time is crazy
Guess you didn’t actually enjoy drawing then. Cause what’s going on outside your head and imagination shouldn’t matter.
@@MrOuttheir It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, it’s just that my reason for drawing was to communicate with people through images that could only be communicated with the human mind. When A.I started, I realized that people didn’t need me anymore. It sounds sad but to me it’s not. I think this was always where illustration was supposed to end up. People can now summon their ideas in seconds! Now I crochet animals and it fills me up just as much as drawing did.
This was beautiful. It covered everything I didn't know I needed to hear and in such a thoughtful calm way too. The art community is so wonderful, everyone is so supportive of each other and I love being part of it!
I just want to say to CaroleMellow, that whatever trials or anxieties that you, personally still face when producing your work: take some solace for yourself that no matter how hard your art has been for you sometimes - you have reached-out to 15K+ other artists and given them much encouragement and reassurance. That in itself is surely worth all of the stress of mastering your art. You are a very kind and humble person - making these videos and knowing the impact that they're having on other struggling artists, should be something to really feel proud of: I'd argue that it's even an equal achievement to all of your hard-learned drawing skill. God bless you for your openness.
thank you for this. i've been struggling with my adhd, academics, art, and self-awareness/confidence. seeing such a kind video like this reassures me and forces me to take a step back. this hit a soft spot at the right time.
I love your channel so much, it really makes me reflect on my art journey. I'm an amateur artist, this is just my hobby, my favorite hobby. I've never seen myself doing this as a job, but even I've made the mistake of comparing my drawings to others on social media. I stopped drawing for a few months for a health issue and partially because I wasn't enjoying it as much, because I was never satisfied with my drawings, but now I'm slowly coming back to it and your videos help me a lot to set up a relaxing mood for drawing and appreciate what I do. Love your art and the love you have for art in general
This video was so cozy and your voice is very soothing! I really liked the analogy of drawing in the cafeteria alone vs with so many watching. Really put things in perspective. Also I love your art!! I saw your work on Instagram and I really connected with it, so I'm glad you are on KZhead making videos too :)
Thank you so much for this topic, i struggle also when it comes to this subject. But i never quit drawing, its part of my life. ❤
This video really resonated with me, I started drawing back in 2020, and while I've improved a lot since it's really hard to not compare myself to other artists. I think moving forward I'm just gonna relax and enjoy the process and instead of being hard on myself for not getting something right, I'll just forgive myself and try again and again until I'm happy. Side note! I would totally love a tarot set in your art style 💕
I really loved this video. It was lovely to watch the drawing, but it was also very encouraging. As someone that also remembers drawing before social media, it can be hard to reckon with drawing for me vs drawing for an app. Thank you for these thoughts!
I just found you through this video, and wanted you to know how much I appreciated it. Firstly, your wisdom and talent are very impressive. I’m an illustrator who works primarily with pen and ink and watching you work was a treat. The insight and perspective you shared while doing it, while maybe not targeted at me personally we, still demonstrates an understanding that informs your work and demands admiration. I’ve been drawing for decades, and sadly as I’ve gotten older I’ve enjoyed drawing for myself less, and for some time I’ve just assumed it’s because I use the same muscles at work and they feel tired at the end of the day so to speak. I’ve been re-examining that lately and your insights will propel me to do more of that. Anyway, thank you for this video. You’ve made a new fan, and I’m off to find you on Instagram and Patreon. Best wishes and may you enjoy continued success. 🖤
Thank you so much for this video. It was very helpful ❤️ Art is such a pure and beautiful thing that comes from the heart, and it’s hard to not get wrapped up in external pressures sometimes
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, I believe so too 💙
Thank you for sharing this. A lot of it comes with life lessons too. I resonate with almost everything you say. The advancement of technology means that we need to learn new ways to deal with things, specifically information overload and the fast pace. It's ok if some people can't do some of the advice yet - take it slow, and it will eventually come. Do you, and just be yourself.
I freaking love it and yes, making it part of my job definitely is very beautiful to me but as with every job or hobby, its just not always fun and as an artist we get frustrated a lot with our work haha
Luckily I don’t have this problem sometimes I get addicted to video games am a gamer so yea But I always find fun in art
I really enjoyed your drawing and advise! I was finding it hard to get motivated but I ❤ what you are saying about finding the aspects that inspire you...that is where I seem to 'wander' off. And yes, you can learn to draw at any age..I'm 70 and have been looking for my style for a couple of years 😊. The biggest lesson I've learned is to 'embrace the process'....your drawing is my 'secret' message...they are my Personal tarot cards! Thank you!
Beautiful work and beautiful, well-timed words 💕 Thank you for reminding me of being 1/3 of my age when just drawing for me.
So, when do we get the full tarot deck? 😜 You did a lovely job with those two cards. I read cards and enjoy making art and your video satisfied both parts of me. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on making art while sharing your beautiful work. I try to incorporate both when I do my videos, but this one you did was simply fabulous.💖
Your art is awesome! I love this illustration so much! Your style looks a little bit like mine but I usually use a pen if I draw on paper (not digitally)
Beautiful drawing and a unique composition!
This is just so ethereal ❤ loved the narration behind this too
Thanks for this video, I needed that. Love your art ❤
this is a lovely video and i love how you articulated this topic. thank you
your words really helped me so much, thank you
This was amazing! Love the illustration so much and I totally agree with the things you said, currently I'm on a path of reconnecting with my art and I have been more inclined to draw on my sketchbook, coming from being a mainly digital artist this has also helped me to back off a bit from the instagram monster and to find joy again in just making things, I love art is my safe place and I love work as an artist so my problem was more about the social media demanding too much to stay relevant, but that is what I'm working on this year, more art making whether is for me to have fun express myself or for client projects but just enjoy that I got the chance to do this and forget about the external social pressure that these apps had imposed to us.
Thank you so much! 💙 I totally agree, I feel like I'm the same way this year too with my art! It's a tough balance but I think we can get there.
I enjoyed your video and your thoughts so much! Thank you for being original and inspiring 🙂
I love that I saved this video to watch in the morning before I start my design work, this little monologue helped me and made me start the day better 🥰
Great insight in this video! So many good tips. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful video. Wise words ❤
Thank you for making this video. The artwork is a-ma-zing (as always😉) and the topic is truly inspiring. You have a way of explaining things and putting people at ease at the same time. Love it!💛
Yes. it's fun, has always been fun for me, still passionate about it and always will be. love it, still excited to learn so many thing, and that's even when A.I is now here. It doesn't change a damn thing for me, not a damn thing. AND do you know why? I remember where I came from. Poverty, wars, craziness and couldn't even afford pencil and paper. Always wanted to draw, paint and I see art as a journey to learn, master techniques and just be able to even draw instantly like it's second nature to me. Art, drawing, painting makes me feel alive and it will always will be. Even if robots start painting. I'm still going to do it, still going to draw, paint and feel excited and passionate as I was when I started years ago. So please...artists out there, don't stop sharing your knowledge, art, skills, how you do it cause many of like myself learn from you, are inspired by you, and you make us feel we belong in world. That we are not alone.
Thanks for your video, todays, I mean, some minutes ago I was having a hard breakdown because since I started to work as an illustrator I have been loosing the fun and creativity I had my own, I am really struggling nowadays because I can’t make a full time job because I have no more pleasure at all, and I can try to relax in every existing method but just don’t help at all, I used to draw clothes a lot when I was kid and back when I started selling my art… but right now I just have a huge hole inside me that miss everyday drawing Drawing saved my life more than I can count , art is all over my life and I will always love it but I fear that I will no longer have pleasure on it anymore.. Sorry if I got too sentimental or too personal on my comment, I usually never comment anywhere but I saw your video right at the moment when I was thinking to give up at all and don’t draw ever again When I was I kid I had love for the process and no pressure, but no skills Today I have a lot of skills and no more love for it, and I would love to loose my skills to get my love for it again Thanks again It was very helpful, have a lovely week/day ✨🫶🏻
Ur very encouraging ❤
❤ thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. Your work is amazing
Thank you! 💙
Beautiful drawings
thank you for this video. i have been struggling a lot and i didnt knowni needed to hear these words. you really helped me. thank you so much ❤
Thank you for your kind words 💙 I'm so happy this has helped you in some way, that's all I could ever hope for. Wishing you all the best!
For me the thing that made drawing not fun, was trying to do it well. Like trying to create finished artwork. I realised that only quick doodling is relaxing to me. Drawing for longer than 10 minutes feels like a chore.
For me is fun again. I don't pursue art as a living anymore, I don't do commissions now. And since is again a hobby, i just stop posting online, because I don't need to run after likes to impress potential clients.
For me personally, whenever I see something cool like a movie trailer, video game, comic book, manga, or some interesting concept like space, aliens or robots it makes me just wanna draw it. I want to design something that looks awesome, most of the time I want to turn that feeling into a comic book or graphic novel, here's the thing though: I'm not able to draw very well. I've got basic sketching abilities, but that's about it. I suck a poses and haven't mastered any of the fundamentals of art. After doing research and learning the monetary value of being a comic book artist, one thing is very common...you have to love making comics even if your broke. I don't need to have the finer things in life like $600-$800 sneakers or a trip to paris, but I really don't want to be broke or living pay check to check. Paying all your bills and having a decent amount of money after paying all your bills and making groceries is living the dream. Art starts to become less fun when you realize you have to be good enough to not just make it for yourself, but for other people and how is your skillset going to help you provide for yourself in the long run? I've heard about becoming an illustrator which sounds great, but the schools are expensive and professionals tell you to get a mentor, while others lie to you and tell you you can learn everything on KZhead. How to draw the human body, perspective, anatomy in a 15-20 minute video with 1.5 million views? They are obviously trying to make a living vs. teaching you how to draw. The only I get it feels like my dream is going to fade away into nothing, but a wise man once said, nothing is possible if you don't believe in yourself. So that's what keeps me going even though it's getting harder and harder. Also like I said earlier, the drive to drawing something that intrigues me is like fuel. Another wise man said, I like to write books, If I keep writing my whole life without being published, I;m fine with that. As long as I get to keep writing these stories I love. Anyone remember the famous quote from Bakuman? "If I follow my dream and it shatters - I can accept having to regret that. But I don't want to regret not pursuing it in the first place." If anyone is reading this long comment of mine, please to keep drawing everyday if you can and remember hard work creates skill and some say skill trumps talent.
good job nice picture Art doesn't always need to be fun.. but I guess it like music not all music is fun music, sometime people get trapped in the rock and roll or jazz world etc...there is away new way to approach the work
ha i cover my clocks too! sticky notes over the microwave / stove clocks, tape over my laptop clock, and i change the clock on my phone to a language i can't read
fantastic video ☺☺☺
Thank you! The pressure of compraing yourself to other artists is definitely something that can discourage you in the learning process of any field. Is that Blacksad behind you ?? 😍
I'm enjoying the video, first time checking out your content. I will say, something I recently commented on with another channel, is the overuse of sound effects, esp the clicky sound. It's a bit disrupting/distracting when youre chillin and drawing while listening to art videos. Just a thought! Keep up the great work! :D
Это очень красиво, у вас замечательный стиль.. Я бы с удовольствием купила бы таро карты с вашими рисунками!
I tried to stop using social media but social media trends snuck on to discord anyway. So I muted all the channels and all the chats and I never look at people's Art unless they are already my friend
Can you please do a tutorial for how too draw faces?❤
I used to be an artist. I used to be an animator. I used to love drawing I used to love animating. I miss the good old times. Now I'm just a cat that does nothing 😺
Those two are my birth chart cards (the star and strenght) and im going to the art college :,) .....
Watching you ink this is incredibly satisfying. This is such a beautiful piece ❤
Is anything even fun anymore?
I see what you did with them tarot cards =3
I keep getting scared of that loud click sound😅 But this video is just perfect, just what I need to hear and think for a moment. And seeing your drawings inspire mento try again and trust myself to learn and get back to enjoying my own art.
0:14 I’m really interested to hear what you have to say and how it might alter my opinion. Currently I am a moderately successful freelance artist and a published author of several years I have been blessed enough to pay the bills and a little more for nearly 2 of them, I say this not to brag but so that you know I’m bringing a few years of experience to my commentary and am not just a rando. Currently my experience has been that the art which nets me the highest pay (logos and graphic teas) have also been the least rewarding to me personally. I love and adore creating characters worlds and needlessly complex and detailed magical symbols, but only on occasion is that side of my work rewarded financially. Ultimately I can’t give up art because I’ve fallen far too in love with it, but I am excited to hear the perspective of another artist who may have had a different experience of making a life and career of their skills.
Are you liking that sketchbook? It looks nice with the page color and size. Would you recommend it?
It's pretty great! It's an art creation a5 sketchbook 💙 The only downside is the color of the pages, they're a bit too yellows for me. I really love how smooth the pages are, but think I will try and find one with whiter paper! But if that's not too important for you, I totally recommend, they're pretty affordable too and take ink pretty well!
Do you have a course or tutorial for beginners to learn to draw the style of art like yours?
Thank you so much for this video I have the same struggle that make me curious, will I give up with my art? I feel like someone pat on my shoulder and tell me to calm down. I want to cry after watched this video. Thank you for your supportive video sooooooo much.
Thank you for watching! 💙 I believe there is always a chance to find a healthy way of still loving what you do. I think that taking some time, and trying to find ways to get that spark back, specially for yourself and not for anyone else, can definitely change things. I hope you're taking care of yourself and taking the time you need to figure things out ✨ I hope you don't give up and find the fun again!
when the instagram comments screenshots showed up i was immediately like "oxi, tá em português?"
Hey that was my question 😂
so nice ❤😍 new friend
Можно ещё один скетчбук тур?
your art is majestic
Honestly if one has been drawing for a long time and their not getting better, maybe they shouldn't keep going. Art is fun but it's also part of humanity. And adding trash to humanity isn't a good thing. Just look at modern art museums lol.
Love the drawing, you have a great talent, keep going
These are good mindset to have, and your art is so beautiful to look at. 🫶
Moleskine sketchbook?
I mean, everything stops being fun when you start taking it too serious as to compare to other artist, so, yeah. 🫠