5 tips on how to improve your art and 1 year art comparison!

These pictures show my progress in skill in about a year, from the first anthropomorphic character I've ever drawn, to the most recent one drawn today. You can see I now have a better understanding on anatomy and proportions, as well as a more developed personal style. A year ago, I couldn't draw cats at all, they looked stunted and alien, with long muzzles and massive eyes. I received some wonderful advice from an artist at FWA 2017 on how to draw cats, and it was some of the most useful advice I'd ever gotten. I kept practicing, and now I'm able to draw not only cats, but different body types, species, and dynamic poses I could never have drawn a year ago.

Here are 5 tips if you'd like to keep your art improving steadily:

1. Draw all the time, as often as you can. If you love drawing, this should be no issue for you. You can carry a notebook or small sketchbook with you and doodle anything you want to whenever you can, whether it's basic shapes or textures. This is the most important tip.

2. Step out of your comfort zone and draw something you've never drawn. Hiding hands, avoiding certain angles, or only drawing that one species your good at isn't going to improve your art at all. It'll probably keep you in a rut and bore you after a while. Try googling drawing prompts for ideas.

3. Look for inspiration. Art is meant to make people feel something, and without inspiration art can be flat, repetitive, or you may just have art block and not be able to draw anything at all. My favorite places to find inspiration are art stores, tumblr, green spaces/parks, or any places that have significance to me.

4. Don't compare your art to other artists work. Remember, especially if you've been drawing regularly for less than 2 or 3 years, that those artists you see have likely been at this for 5, 7, 10+ years. If you draw for that long or practice as much as they do, you will one day have the same knowledge and skill as they do! Some people progress slower than others, and that's okay! It's important that YOU like what you draw, and enjoy drawing. Don't worry about reaching the skill level of your favorite artist. That being said, do study what you find appealing about other art. Don't copy of course, but find what you like about it and see if you can recreate the same feeling you get from other's art into your own art.

5. Don't pressure yourself or burn yourself out. This definitely won't improve your art, and can take the fun out of drawing. Draw what you want, when you want, and how you want. Art is meant to be fun and express emotions and feelings, forcing yourself to draw can make you forget that.

Whatever art you make, make it for you, because you love it.

Be sure to follow me on facebook, DA, and FA!
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/furryfilth/?ref=settings
FA: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/furryfilth/
DA: http://furryfilth.deviantart.com/