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One Year of Art Inspiration!

11 months ago

Introduction to My Artistic Journey

Hey everyone,

After roughly a year of lurking around here, I figured it was time to share a bit about my art journey. Creating this profile has helped me discover so many great artists along the way. I’m not really an “art appreciator” in the traditional sense; I’m just someone who enjoys art and has been inspired by the talented individuals on this site to start my own artistic path.



Artistic Inspirations

I’ve always loved exploring different styles, but I tend to gravitate toward realism, dark, surreal, and unique pieces. Recently, I discovered  TeaEel, whose colorful and vibrant artwork is a breath of fresh air. While their style is not dark or surreal, I really enjoy it! If you check out my favorites, you’ll see the range of art that resonates with me, it goes to show there's no one *correct* art style.



It’s hard to pinpoint why I love surreal and dark art; I’m just drawn to it—similar to how some people appreciate more conventional or delicate styles. I often find myself immersed in surreal and mythical landscapes, with artists like  Amira.The.Drake and  VillieDoom taking my breath away. Their works allow me to escape reality and dive into realms filled with everything from primordial chaos to all-powerful deities. As a very spiritual person, I believe our dreams can serve as portals to different realities, and our art may sometimes reflects those dreams and inner worlds.



Beginning My Own Art Journey

Recently, I’ve started my own artistic journey, which I don't think I'll ever share here. I'm still a very fresh beginner. If I eventually focus on anthropomorphic art, it will take several years of dedicated practice before I feel comfortable posting anything. However, I’m happy to share my current process. Tomorrow marks a fortnight of daily drawing, and I’ve surprised myself with my discipline. I don’t know if it’s the time of year, the weather, the inspiration from this site, or some magic spell cast but I’ve been more committed than ever.



I wake up early, follow a morning routine which includes a run then I draw with a pen, which has improved my confidence and reduced my hesitant strokes. Afterward, I shift to digital art, which I seem to extend subconsciously each day. Heck today I spent 3 hours on my computer designing. I’m pleased with my progress so far, but I still struggle with specific goals. I don’t have overarching goals for my art practice simply put each day comes with its own goal—my day job is far from artistic, but this is a passion project so its slow going with no real "end in sight."



I find it amusing that I aspire to create creatures like  VillieDoom's, despite being a raw beginner; to craft stunning environments like those of  AnthonyAvon and  IlijaMandic while learning to draw without making my sketches look like a toddler's first art project. One day, I hope to create beautiful nature scenes like  GeoSaiko1267 and depict captivating deities like  Amira.the.Drake, along with delightful animals like  CadmiumTea.  XanatosTAS inspires me with their ambient photography, while  Drawing_Sofa brings a unique ambiance to their work. Meanwhile implementing a long running love of writing is sure to help in creating a setting especially with my focus on realistic historical geopolitics.   0laffson is a prime example of what my endgoal both in art and setting may look like. Right now, I’m just enjoying the process and focusing on consistency.



In terms of my drawing routine, I typically complete around 8-11 thumbnail sketches followed by one refined piece. I start with music or soundscapes, often tuning into videos from Draw Sessions on YouTube.| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1N3cnipns | His advice on thumbnailing and refining has really changed my approach to drawing. Using a pen for thumbnailing has made the process enjoyable and manageable, and I find myself drawing along with him.



I also frequently look up reference photos, even when trying to draw from imagination, as I want to improve in that area. Currently, I’m focusing on human anatomy. The use of a pen has been transformative for me; it forces me to commit to my lines and boosts my confidence as I draw. It helps me break free from overthinking, turning what once felt insurmountable into a delightful process.



Foreshortening is an area I’m particularly eager to explore further, as I see it as crucial for conveying depth and perspective in my art. I’m enjoying the experimentation and learning process. Whenever I notice issues in my drawings, I analyze my weaknesses and do studies the next day, alternating between genders which i then incorporate into whichever of my studies.



Community Appreciation that means YOU

I appreciate the art community here, even if it can be a bit confusing at times. The captivating artwork I’ve found has made it worthwhile. If you’re new or seeking inspiration, check out my favorites and the artists I follow; there are some real gems.



While I’m just beginning this artistic journey, I’m excited to keep pushing my skills and exploring new concepts. One image that always draws me back is “Style is Spectrum” by  Verbrannt74 (another favorite artist!), which I continually unfavorite and refavorite to keep it close. It’s been six months since it was posted, and it serves as a reminder that art doesn’t need to fit a single mold to be appreciated.



I often discover pieces that I love and arrange my recent favorites in an aesthetically pleasing way on my profile page. If something is featured there, it’s likely that I liked it before some of the favorites in the "view all favorites" section below. However, that doesn’t mean I prefer the featured pieces over those in the full catalog. Sometimes I want to highlight new or underrepresented artists, establish a theme, or break away from a specific style. For example, if I have ten solo character pieces and two landscapes, I might showcase the landscapes to add variety, even if I found them more recently. I’m always adding to my collection, so I can sometimes be very intentional about what I feature! 



Feel free to connect with me! I’d love to hear about your own journeys or any tips you have. I prefer PMs to page comments but don't let that deter you! Don't forget to check out my subscriptions, favorite artists sections and Favorite art especially! One of these days I'll either include a more complete "Favorite artists section" within this journal or a new journal dedicated to my absolute favorites amongst my subscriptions (seeing as I ran out of room on the official section) Who are some of your favorite artists and why?



Thanks if you stuck around I know this was lengthy, don't be afraid to necro I'm a lurker still Cheers!