Wow... My Art Used to Suck! (And I'm So Happy I Can Say That Now)

Earlier today I was browsing through my old tumblr posts from back in my college days. I used to post fanart for the Yogscast and Rooster Teeth, which I'm no longer interested in. But the thing that struck me most about that old art... is how much it sucked!

The crazy thing is, I used to be told all the time how good I was at drawing and I felt like I was good. But there was never enough clarity or contrast. My poses were stiff. My anatomy was blatantly off. It was not great by the standards I hold myself to today. And I'm so glad I can say that!

Like I said, back in those days, I thought it was good art. I was proud of my doodles and drawings. As such, I didn't realize how much I had improved until I went back and looked at those old pieces years later. Through plenty of practice, improved skills of observation, and proper utilization of references, I have gotten much, much better. I can even point out specific aspects that I've improved upon. It feels really gratifying to be able to say that. A friend recently told me that she could tell I had improved. And I told her that I felt like I had progressed over the last year. But looking at those old posts demonstrates that it's been a steady growth in my abilities over the course of many years.

I still feel weak in many areas, but I think I've gotten much better at identifying my weaknesses. I'm also less complacent about those weaknesses. I understand that I cannot tackle all of my artistic shortcomings at once, especially since it's just a hobby for me and I cannot devote that much time to it on a daily basis, but nowadays I find myself much more determined to study independently and focus on improving. It's paying off pretty dramatically!

For reference, here's a piece (which I didn't even spend much time on) that I did within the last few weeks:

And here are some comparable doodles from like 2013 or so:

The newer doodle demonstrates, firstly, better photography skills. (LOL) But also, a better grasp of body proportions as well as more fluid poses. The most flagrant example of improved proportions are in the arms. I used to draw them waaaaayyy too long, especially if they were bent at the elbow. Even though the doodle of "Gavin" is walking, he looks really stiff because there's no curve to his spine. In my newer drawing, even though the character is basically just standing there in most of the poses, he looks more lively because of the hunch in his shoulders, the bend of his waist. The new poses aren't comprised of rigid angles like the old ones are. Another note, even though both are just black and white doodles, the newer edition has much better contrast and clarity. Of course, using pen and ink helps, but nevertheless, it's much more visually distinct. Finally, the lines themselves are less shaky as a result of greater confidence.

I can't wait to look back at the art I'm making now and feel disgusted by it. I know that I have a long way to go but for now I'm really pleased with my progress and I like looking at the things I create!