The decade that I learned to draw XD
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 11:57AM Last night I took some time doing a DeviantArt meme that's been doing the rounds. The results scared and amused me! I started drawing late by today's standards. In fact, I was in my 20's by the time I started wanting to make comics at all, despite having had stories leaping around my mind since much earlier. As a result I was a late bloomer, and boy does it show! '^_^
What amazed me especially was not even how awful my drawings were back in 2003, but just how much younger artists are now. I can honestly say that I've seen 14 year old kids drawing more competently than I was when I was 23! Now, I may be a late starter, but I also think that we perhaps have a much more supportive arts culture these days. A world of DeviantArt, Sweatdrop, SheezyArt and the rest has really given opportunities to artists to improve, learn and display. We have a small but growing graphic novel and comics industry that's more accessable than ever before and that offers promise of work to those that earn it. It all adds up to a world where the young and talented are encouraged to work hard and be rewarded; And huzzah for it!
Okay, okay, I'll share the pain:
~ 2003 - 2009 in illustration. The painful yet amusing meme in question.
~ A comparison of the first ever page of Dragon Heir with a page from issue #9.
Quick, Quick, let's post something NEW!!! Forget all that you just saw!
Reader Comments (6)
Well, I'm 27 and occasionally I contemplate learning to draw... or at least to write comic scripts! Maybe one day...
Aww, looks to me like you're well on the way with the writing....if comics are something you're into, it would be great to think about breaking something down into script form; even if just for fun. As to learning to draw, it's never too late! ^_^
As someone who is late into writing fiction I agree with you entirely. The support network that is now available for those who want to try out their creative talents is excellent (in places).
When I wanted to become a writer at fifteen the only way I could get guidance was to attend college courses (which I didn’t as the corporate world got its grubby little talons into me). Now, as with the art, there are plenty of places for a young writer to get feedback and advice. In some ways it makes the market a more crowded one, but it also throws more ideas into the mix and that’s never a bad thing.
Totally agree about the support issue... something that never struck me until now! I consider myself a late bloomer too. I didn't really concentrate on cartooning properly until much "later" than people today, it seems. Seeing those memes all over deviantart was soooo depressing! They're all beginning at 14 and ending at 20 or something and it makes me sick, haha!!
I find it really hard to not feel inadequate or feel like I'd been wasting time or being lazy or just stupid or something for not "getting good" earlier on XD;
@Leigh Barlow - It's great to hear that the same network of support is out there for writers as well as artists! I've never really been part of writing communities, so thanks for the info. ^_^
@ Kate *ahem* I gots a few years on you, young lady - I cry myself to sleep each night envying your talents. XD
But yep - huzzah for late bloomers!
Hi,
Seeing those memes all over deviantart was soooo depressing! They're all beginning at 13 and ending at 20 or something and it makes me sick, :)
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