Well I was not intimidated because I've heard the same talk from other high-level artist and intern whichever level I am at in regards to getting that talk to others I think the title and the actual talk are a little different and with all the Hobbies I have also the only thing I like is focus
"Geek out about your art" is such a positive and wholesome thing to hear. I'll keep that in mind for my next pieces instead of entering a toxic mindset
Indeed it's such a nice way to think about it! It's better to be happy about your art, no matter how it turns out :) good luck with your creative projects, Iena!
At this point Im only trying to be good and I'm never enough. I graduated from my art school as one of the worst student in my class even though I worked really hard. It always bothered how I would spend hours and hours on a project and still fail while my friend were like "i did it in 1h yesterday and got the best grade". It was so embarassing for me. To work this hard, put the rest of my life on hold for years only to achieve so little. Im starting to wonder if I just wasted all those years and should have studied something else. Now I'm graduated and struggling to find a job let alone the motivation for working on my portofolio while all my friends and peers have moved on to incredible careers and opportunities. While I'm incredibly happy for them I just can't help myself but be jealous and ashamed and mostly frustrated. Im not trying to be everything. Im simply failling at being something. Sorry this might seem a bit random but I had to get this off my chest.
Hi! I’m sorry you feel this way, I’m sure it’s extremely hard for you. I want to tell you one thing though. Don’t give up, please don’t. My mother went and got her bachelors degree in fine arts, later on when she had me she quit art. She focused on me and me only. It’s been 20 years away from her passion and her love of art. I finally got her to start again. I have never seen life be breathed into another person like that. So please don’t quit your passion. Remember this is your journey, you don’t need to be the fastest or the most technically skilled. I appreciate the fact that you put so much heart and hard work into your pieces. It shows how much you care. Rid yourself of the expectations of others, you will get there. No one can replace or replicate how much you care for your art. So you are extremely valuable. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
Remember that you can be successful at something you hate, and/or be a complete failure doing something you love. Most would rather be safe and successful, so you gotta decide what's best for you given your limited time on earth. Do you love creating art? If so, you only need to make enough for your bills and your art supplies. The rest is not nearly as important as you think. I'm rooting for you. Link your socials if you want. I'll follow you right now
I can't exactly relate how you feel, but I can understand the frustration. I'm training myself in art through some online courses and many books because I currently don't have the ability to go to an actual school. That said, as an aspiring artist myself and having seen a friend go through university for it as well, I can understand the frustration of seeing someone do something so effortlessly that you are struggling with. Or when you put your pencil/pen/brush/whatever down and immediately feel like you *don't know anything* about the thing you've just spent so long reading about. Agreed with Petit Knight down there, link up your social and I'll happily follow you. And if you like, I'm part of a small art discord (and I mean small, about 14 of us). I can always reach out to them. They've been teaching me a lot and are very kind to people of all skill levels-- in fact, I think I'm the weakest one. Anyway. Best regards. Never feel like you're a burden for getting something off your chest, especially on these videos and in this community. Adam has garnered a loving community, and we all try and replicate and push that feeling forward.
This one, along with the "I don't know what to do with my life" (which planted the seed in my mind) has made what once seemed entirely impossible (just picking one thing and go go go!) finally sprout into a decision. I know what my focus is now, and will afford all the paths not taken no more of my time than the decade and a half they have already gobbled up in my indecision. I'll probably touch base with them at some points along the journey where they intersect with the path I chose to travel, but I honestly (and unexpectedly with how long this took) can't even feel remorse for leavin them behind at all! Only relief that I have, finally, Finally, started moving!
I'm literally designing my portfolio at this very moment and as I came to the section where I have to pick one of the many roles I perform as game developer to be my main assingnment, this video popped up on my notifications. Talk about coincidences!
No sh!t, are you me? Today I was trying to finally settle down and pick a specialization under the game dev field (I think I'm gonna be a tech artist). What an odd coincidence!
Man I feel that haha. I'm trying to work on a portfolio too, and this really is encouragement for me to do what I do, otherwise I feel so pressured by others to do what they want in style. All the best to ya'll!
Oh my god same. Im making my portfolio too and just got rid of my graphic design pages and kept only the illustrations. Gonna focus on my drawing stuff!
I am a pixel artist. And I have been doing different types of work for indie game development purposes. And I thought that it was that very thing that defined me as an artist. But listening to that video made me rethink a bit deeper of what is actually my niche. Looks like I need to venture deeper into it. Thank you for lighting up my path, Adam. Thank you.
Two minutes in, and I love this video already (granted, I love all your videos). I always have a hard time finding jobs, and even though I want to go into animation I somehow can't find the motivation to start teaching myself how to draw. I know that I'm commenting on the video really early on so I haven't grasped the content of the video as a whole but you always manage to make videos about what I need at an exact moment in time. Thank you
I literally had on my 'to do list' for today written down 'THINK ABOUT FUTURE WORK'. I've been flirting with getting into all sorts of things...but now I realise my core. I'm interested in dark history, the paranormal and fantasy. They are all tied together and I'm about to publish my first illustrated book about local ghost stories and legends. So instead of flirting with exploring tons of other unrelated things for my next project, I think I'll just sew an extra patch of fabric to my quilt first, rather than starting over on another one. Thank you once again Adam.
I’ve felt the need to really focus on my illustration and I know that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. At the same time, I feel tempted about how I want to get better at my watercolor and color work and I feel guilty that certain things I want to accomplish are behind that door. This talk gave me permission to lean into illustration and not be afraid. My watercolor palettes are in the attic. They’ll be there when I’m ready. In the meantime, it is me and the line ♡
Oh absolutely - arts in general all follow the same challenges, be it dance, music, visual arts etc.. I appreciate you adding your voice to the conversation.
Just wanted to say, the way you painted the shading of their body in the first minute of play; basically in 1/2 strokes was incredible and powerful to me somehow :)
Adam you've hit it on the head with this one, I did fantasy art in my earlier years but nothing really worked in those early years, so I kind of gave up on art for many years after my daughter was born, and it sat there for years and I was happy being a father but missed art in my life, and than one day my wife bought me some art materials and said, Chris, why don't you get back in art, you miss it. And with that experience of having a child and loving fantasy I got into a genre that combines fantasy through the eyes of a child ( i use collage because of my history with children's books) and it resonated with people.So it was after years of painting fantasy and than combining it with my experiences as a father that brought me back into art into a genre that is ever expanding and limitless. So after years and years of plodding about with art I have now found my little corner in the art world and I honestly have never been happier in that little corner.Love your wise words in the background. :)
Went through a lucidpixul rabbit hole the other day(art talks, bts, book reviews). Noticed you've become more calm and laid-back in your delivery, especially in art talks compared to back then. Interesting to see how you grow and change over the years. Happy painting :)
Ah yes, burning issue :) I totally agree on what you're saying, but it's so hard to define that "one thing you love". There's a whole universe of fascinating things! A few years down the road on my personal art journey, I feel finding this sort of direction and focus is way more important than all the technique I stil want to learn. So I'm weeding out left and right, letting go of stuff I love doing, but maybe not enough, observing and trying to identify themes I tend to orbit around. It's a long process, narrowing down, expanding in that section, pruning again,... I've always wondered how people can say "all I ever wanted to do is draw the little mermaid" and then go off and do just that.
I agree with what you say in the video. Altough I think that sometimes it might be “harder” for people who are begginners to indentify where they go. I’m a piano teacher and piano player for a long time, and I know what I like, what I learn, what I play. On the composer side I literally started this year so I don’t have much experience but I am trying different things to see where I lie and where should I move forward, and that is something that I also teach my students. Now as a beginner digital artist, I’d say that I stumbled a little, when I went from sketch artist to fully digital. Went from sketching to learning how to paint digitally (not that good but hey, baby steps) and I realized that painting just like you said was more of a tangent to take a break from sketching. I also LOVE pixel art, but haven’t really done much, I guess I was waiting to improve me knowledge about digital software (which I did) and my fundametals (which I’m doing). But I just started doing some pixel art again and… man, how I love it! I do plan or think that like any other, I will go off tangent, try and learn something different and go back again. But that is something that comes with time and experience of knowing yourself too. Great video as always Adam!
Haha, I know that feeling! I've found that I have a love for very "nature based" stuff, and I love doing pixel art. That and I actually make RPGMaker games that work with pixel art. However, the two don't really work together because of the extreme differences detail requirements. In the end I've decided that I'd do pixel art as a side, and it worked really well for me. It's also a fun challenge to occasionally try to bring one of my typical work into pixel art. It's such a challenge to make a pixel character when their bodies are the main shape and not the head! But it's so worth it and is a wonderful breath of fresh air in terms of art.
@@cassandraguan4531 Yes! I do wonder how sketching vs pixel art will interject, if ever lol I also forgot to mention that, it seems nowadays everything has to be business or something like that, everybody wants to make money off art, and that's okay, but it's also okay if you just do art for your own enjoyment. I mainly do my music or my digital art just because I like doing it, so I don't stress with other stuff like "i'm a pro artist or i want to get hired to all them pro studios with pros doing pro things" . I mainly a teacher/mentor and that is where at least for time being, will be/stay. Cheers to art!
@@CyberneticPhoenix I'm doing art for fun for the most part, and decided to make it a job because I literally can't do anything else XD I don't really care for titles either, when it comes to being known it's just for critique and discussions! Everyone has so many ideas and views, we can take those and sprinkle that magic of ours on them. Pixel art will always be a joy of a hobby even if I ain't getting paid for it. I need some fresh new views on life, haha
Letting myself paint mythology instead of trying to design my own mythologies (which always ended up being very derivative anyway) has been a turning point for me too. It’s like the goal has become clearer, a fog of confusion around what I’m creating has lifted
I agree so much! The narrowing needs to be on the genre to help you find a focus on your niche. I am now 12 years into my career as an artist on my own. I have run the gauntlet of styles and design. My issue and perhaps many artists I imagine is when you dedicate to a style you become afraid you can never deviate from it and become disillusioned, boxed in or even frustrated by your art over time. But as I am getting older and seeing my body of work progress over time I am noticing my "style" my "brand" is present regardless of the way or technique I choose. Obviously some abstract pieces feel differently than realism ones but it's very good to rely on other's professional opinions as an outsider looking in to see if they can see a cohesive "style" that is authentic to you. Of course we are influenced by seeing artists who are super popular or well established that seemingly hyper focus on being the best at one look - which by being the best at it they "own it" publicly, I myself gave up on trying to work in a certain method because I had found another much better and more established popular artist doing a style similar - and I regret that I gave up just because of that fact because deep down that was just a coincidence - I really really enjoyed that methods of creating. And trust me finding joy/expression/freedom in your work is more important than anything!
Thanks Adam. It is actually very comforting thinking of how I can "segue" my interests together into something not only cohesive, but as something that feels distinctly "me"
I started a bit of a sceptic when listening to how you talk thinking "this way too emotional for me to take it serious" but all I can say now is that I thank you for your advice and word of encouragement.
I just found your channel last night and I've watched a few videos already. But I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!! You are the exact voice I've been needing to hear, especially in regards to this videos topic. For the past few years, since I've finally decided to get back into art at the age of 33, I've been struggling hard to figure out what kinds of artwork I want to create - everything seems to call to me - I love landscapes, animals, portraits, classical paintings, dark fantasy, mythology and folklore, illustration, etc. At least I have finally figured out that my weapon of choice is oil paints! But your discussion in this video feels like it has given me permission to, like you said, pick a damn path and focus on it! And now I truly feel like I want to focus on story illustration but I'm gonna do it in oils! Once again, THANK YOU so much for these beautiful messages!
Thanks man. Let me just say that. 30 years in the making, and I was finally ready to hear this. I'm done. The lid is down. Locked. One path left, and forward it is. Cheers!
Adam, I swear you have spies in my studio.... This is exactly what I've been needing to confirm what I needed to get out of my rut. My firsts love has been fantasy art, specifically dragons. I love dragons.i love drawing them and they're specific and so varied you can do a million and never do the same. That bit about giving yourself permission to be cliche is EXACTLY ME. Thank you, Adam. Thank you so much you've really helped me feel better and enjoy my work again. I cannot WAIT until I can afford your mentorship and show you how you helped me grow with these talks. Please don't stop!!!
This is super interesting to think about in the context of looking for work in creative fields today. Nearly every job listing wants you to have 20 skills, be able to do 5 different jobs (ie. looking for illustration, UX, UI, animation, and 3D modeling all in one person!) and know 10 different software packages. And this isn't true of just concept art or animation, it's also true of graphic design, industrial design, apparel design, and UX design. It feels like there is a huge disconnect in the industry right now between the extreme specificity/breadth of what companies want from junior artists, and what is reasonable for artists to learn outside of the job. In my opinion, this is partly what drives the "gotta be everything" feeling in beginner artists. Moving up the chain towards senior and art director positions, this pressure seems to become more intense rather than less, imo. I've been talking with my friends who work in games, illustration, design, and marketing about this ever since we graduated college, and folks I talk to tend to agree that the technical and experiential requirements for landing creative jobs have just gotten way out of hand. This isn't to disagree at all with what you're saying; more to say that the pressure for junior artists to become generalists is strong, and it seems to come from within the industry itself. It's detrimental to artists' growth, I totally agree with what you've said in this video about narrowing down and focusing on something you really care about to really grow to your fullest potential. I can't help but wish more companies would train and mentor fresh artists who have the interest and the drive to get good at something they care about that is useful to a particular team. There are a few internship programs for artists, but not nearly as many as there probably should be. Thanks for the awesome video, I agree with you and I wish more companies would take it to heart and recognize that artists can't be everything, we're each just one person.
On a second note.. I never listen to half. I won't start one of your videos unless I know I have the time to slow down and be present. I think thats pretty cool that you lead me to subconsciously demand my own presence. Pretty powerful. Thanks Adam.
thanks man the video helped me a lot... for the past 1 year I had a FOMO about my career and what to do with it sometimes I thought I need to be an environment artist sometimes a character designer and again sometime storyboard artist and this goes on and on. now I can see a clear path on my way thanks for making this kind of content thank you very much.
@@allieomallycat Thanks, at first I thought that it would be dark fantasy as well. But as soon as Adam talked about nerding out. I realized that my artistic anchor would be armor. I could go on for hours talking about historical armor.
This is has been my primary art struggle for 10 years. Its not just this video, things are aligning in my life to allow this acceptance, but this message is like a nail in the coffin of my indecision. Its time to commit. Thank you, Adam.
This felt like the perfect video for me right now. I graduated from university last year, partly due to covid my plans didn't go the way I predicted and I feel like lay have delayed a lot of things. But I am working on a portfolio so I can apply for jobs as a concept artist or even illustrator. I've been having a hard time knowing what I want to focus on. I know I definitely need to include some art that IS concept art to show I have design skills. It's hard because as a recent student I have no experience in the industry itself but as an artist I know I have experience even though I have a lot to learn. I think of what I enjoy drawing most and how I can use that in my portfolio and sometimes the thought that "I have to draw things a certain way" to get jobs kinda comes in my head but... I think I need to focus less on that and do what I want to do, because I believe when you do what you enjoy most it shines through your work. I guess what I'm trying to say that I appreciate this video and it helps me feel like I don't HAVE to be great at everything and I can have a niche and feel proud of it.
Thank you for the video! I feel like I understand more now about how to balance knowing something about a lot of things and specializing in what I want to do!
Gosh darnit, your words always feel so touching to me. Thank you for, yet again, rounding a really important subject with profound insight. Thanks for being you.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This topic has really been eating away at me, I have found it so hard to be creative since I feel like I have a million ideas with no direction and no motivation. This art talk has been crucial for me, thank you.
I am in the stage of changing my school, from one I love but I don't know if it can help my future to one of design, a great degree but thet I don't know the environment of. I am a person of familiarity, a creative one but that doesn't stick to one subject. I am 21. I know I am young, and I still feel "not ready" to professional work for my really young knowledge of basics and fundamentals. I go from a comics school, to a design school, and I still want to learn much more, but doubt and emotions gnawed at my heart, as i don't really have a clear focus so far as i know. And i feel guilt. So, to defeat it, i draw a lot, I try to learn as much as I can about everything I can. I have a lil niche, but I want to expand its media; I have a style (a pretty dark one) but I don't want to just draw. Ahhhhhh, life.
Man, you are so on the spot about this. Literally, as if you could read people like me. I also had this issue that I felt like specializing in just one specific area may be too limiting. And me, a person who hates limits obviously adapted an opposite attitude and tried to be a jack of all trades when it comes to art. Which obviously is not a very good approach.
I have many hobbies and interests - but when it comes to what I know - I define myself by what I know -- I understand I cannot be an engineer - or even a artist for vehicles; it's not my personal passion. However, I know my niche - my loving passions lay in fictional biology, culture, characters, and depthful fictional worlds - even making fictional languages (conlangs) But, one thing I importantly love to tie into all of this is the focus, and not focuses - not priorities, THE focus on these fictional creatures - and their culture. This is my core passion. For a given canon - a given character, I might be passionate to give it these beautiful flares as I love designing these things too - for a character it might be giving a specific design to them, and a world - I love to imagine these worlds and the cultures that exist in them, and I use that to give them focus. If a world is a sunless landscape warmed by a nearby brown dwarf; then imagine how life would develop - it's okay if it's earthlike, that's it's own artistic choice. Just as long as if you choose alien or earthlike, that you stick to it. From there - imagine the culture, the world from the perspective of these imaginary creatures. Very recently, conlanging became a new piece to my worlds - to my passions, and it's been the most revolutionary thing for my writing and species design, it made me stop thinking of these creatures as "fictional creatures that I love to define depthfully, and give some culture to" - it made me really imagine their culture - their history, background, the *depth* of these species and their worlds. If I have a new idea - I give it a select new canon, and I limit the amount of canons I can make... and with conlanging, it was where I truly learnt "less is more," and "a designer has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." It made me realise, in a fundamental way - what I *love* working on, what __I__ am defined by, what niches I follow - and it made me realise that my canons - my passion for canons is sticking to the restricted roots of these worlds - for one of my canons, it focuses on otherworldly, strange landscapes that a small group has discovered. And - I like to restrict it to that. There's the species as a focus - not the species that composes this group; but the species of these *worlds*. What potential culture do they have? Biology? Ecosystem? Appearance... Do they speak? Is it like a clicky language? Completely nonhuman? Oddly human? Another one of my canons - takes the more heavy approach one the species that compose the group - rather than these other worlds, it focuses on a depthful, single two planets of biology - the cultures on them, the histories - those species; and I love to design the characters around the limitations of these species. What sounds can they not make? Do they have thumbs? Wings? What restrictions do they have? On these planets - what kind of different life evolved; megafauna? Gelatinous life-forms? It's *okay* for it to be like realworld animals, so long as you focus on these things. And deeper in this canon, past all the worldbuilding - I realised something I need to do if I want this canon to succeed; what is my only NON-worldbuilding ambition for it? I have it's worldbuilding perfectly anchored, but - what is it's focus with the characters? Locations? And, with this... I am slowly limiting my options based upon what I imagined these fictional characters exploring in their world. It often falls into investigative work or mystery related stuff - anomalies, strange parts of this world. Alongside the societal parts of it. And I think this is what I want to anchor it to. But, for artwork - as fundamentally beyond my passionate writing, I want to someday draw and design these creatures - these worlds, these language's scripts - looks, I want to bring them life. I learnt, what I am passionate about __is not just characters and making worlds__, but giving the species and fictional biology of these worlds - and the cultures the focus - the anchor. Both for my artwork, and my writing. And this realisation - was not realised just in this video, but months prior when I started conlanging, and your video has soldified my perspective. And... I know what my core issue is beyond this - as much passion and love for these things as I much have - that I geek out for them, that's of course species, mysteries, these worlds... But I understand what my fundamental issue is better with this video, I did before - but I want to address it wholeheartedly in public - for myself and others. My issue isn't what I know, but what I **don't know** - if I don't know something, I don't want to do it - I sit there looking at my document, and procrastinate on it. "How will I continue this drawing?" "What if I mess it up?" "Where will I take this conlanguage?" "How will l I write this species? What am I even planning to do? I know my goals - but... what do I do?" And, the truth is - I shouldn't fear not knowing what to do and procrastinate doing it for that reason. I shouldn't be afraid of some mysterious failure that's awaiting me, if I know what my passions are - my focuses, my goals. If I know those, I know I can't mess it up in the end - and if I do, I'll fix it **as it's what I'm passionate about** - this applies to all of us - if you're like me and fear doing something not because you lack direction, but because you lack knowledge - that's okay, you just need sit down. And experiment - if you know your desires - chase them, if you make a mistake; you'll know and you'll fix it - it's all part of improving as a person. By doing, you will find your passion - and by experimenting, you will find your knowledge. Sorry for the long rant, I just get really eccentric about my projects.
Hey man, I absolutely love this! I personally have always been into nature, so biology, physics and its limits, and recently I've been starting my portfolio. This video speaks to me so much; it most certainly helps. Even though I'm fully aware on the past I would like to take, I do still struggle with this because the people around me oh so want more medieval anime. I can't find a job around me for this, haha. So I did try to make a comic style medieval guy and oh dear do I really disdain that thing lol. It was still an absolute joy to research though, and I'd definitely be using influences of medieval armour in designs for exoskeletons in the future. (The pauldrons especially, that would work so well with beetle based thorax exoskeletons.) I'm still going to separate it from my main portfolio though because I'm totally not going to be doing that again. One of my personal issues so happens to be not myself on the internal, but my relationship with technology. My computer constantly and always bugs out and breaks for no reason; prices on proper software like Photoshop is obnoxiously expensive where I live, costing several thousand which takes over a year of savings to accumulate, power cuts are a constant threat, you name it. As such I've mostly been working traditionally. However with the coming of the digital age (or rather it's already here), I'm forced to battle with this. How should I deal with this? I've been trying to continue my current personal project to build the portfolio while my screen is broken and flickering, I need my laptop screen to be pushed all the way beck to the point I only see reflections. It's very difficult to practice and while I would be looking to do some other job, the situation where I live has restrictions and people aren't even allowed to leave the house to work. The only thing besides drawing and doing research that can be done is sleeping (lol). It takes a toll, that inactivity, and as the saying goes, things in motion tend to stay in motion, and things that are still tend to stay still. And boy would it be hard for me to return to motion when I can do things again. I try to keep some motion up by periodically drawing and doing studies but my issues with technology make it really hard. As of now I have to draw with my hands in a real wonky position and must hunch with my face fight at the screen just to see what is going on. It hurts and obviously isn't good for overall health. Well, that was a long one. I do feel it is necessary to get it off my chest. I need feedback and the chance to bounce ideas. If I want my work to be seen, it's merely for critique and discussion. Those likes aren't going to help me learn, constructive bashing is what I want! Lol. I guess that's the other thing. I do want people to see my work, because living with little to no interaction with people, it's hard to move forward. No critique is like organisms having no need or want to evolve due to a lack of Dawrinian Pressure. I want to evolve. That's my thoughts on my current journey anyways. Once again I want to thank you for sharing so much with all of us. These talks are always a joy to listen to while doing things, and inspire me a lot. Thank you so much.
You gave me the courage to re-edit several aspects of my portfolio, discard some sections and I think this push you gave me will greatly shape my life from now on... thank you, Mr. Adam!
Thank you for once again, giving inspiring and solid advice, Adam. I'm beginning my Illustration degree this Fall, and each of your videos helps ground all of the overwhelming thoughts I have fluttering inside my head. I'm looking forward to this journey ahead, and I can't wait to see what I can do.
Thank you for your direction and wisdom, Adam. This helps a lot and in some way reaffirms what I've known but forgotten over time. Cheers from Halifax 🍻
17 and I've always had a problem with drawing since I was about 5. my parents practically spoiled me and I was doing so many different things but I *loved* drawing. I have records of all of my drawings and I notice I didn't actually start *improving* with my drawing until I started going out of my way to *learn*. looking up videos. asking around. doing studies. all that jazz. I just watched this videos and I am feeling so many things. I just had a question though - would my strength being world-building ever work as a talent or is that much too broad of a subject? I was thinking I could work on concept art for an entire world I had in my mind since I was 9. At first I wanted to make a massive animation / comic book series of the entire timeline of my universe, but seeing this video kind of made me realize if I am trying to balance a healthy social life, school, exercising, housekeeping, and my job, then that really may not be possible. I was thinking though, I could at least get a *draft* / sketches down for my universe, and when I was thinking about that I found that my strength was worldbuilding. Creating characters. Creating settings. *Creating stories* . Would that be too broad of a subject to focus on ?
Thanks for another great video ! Finding a path to follow with my art is my biggest concern currently, I kept bouncing between themes until now. But it's getting better ! I made a huge Miro document full of my favorite art to pinpoint where I want to go, this and that kind of art talks helps me keep the goal in mind :)
It feels like what you are talking makes sense with the reality I see in other artists... but I am not doing art that can create a niche(idk how is it written). I do art and concepts that I like and not really have a conexion
I don't know what you do exactly, but I personally feel that everything does have exceptions. Especially if you're out there for the fun of a hobby. For all you know you do have a niche and you don't see it too. That was what happened to me, and I only found out my thing after almost two decades. Funny enough I've always had it, just that I didn't ever put words to it. The important thing is to love creating, and ultimately following what you love leads you to that "niche" automatically. That's my personal thoughts though.
thanks man, every video, every thought resonates strongly with me. i really appreciate what you do, your videos make the day to day life a little less daunting.. studio work sometimes can be quite exhausting, Im really looking for answers, and looking for my own voice.. sometimes that voice just gets lost amongst the massive and loud entertainment industry grinding machine… your videos add calm to my day.. and i thank you for that.
I really love western animated style. Like Don Bluth or Bruce Timm, but also some manga influences too. I’m trying to combine it together by copying them
Adam, I love the work you do, from your words to your compositions, and all that skills that make them. You present yourself real and feel so accepting. your videos have been so informative and so much worth my time. they've guided my art growth threw the years. I cant wait for the day I can invest in a mentorship. Just so say thanks for all the continued and suspiciously well timed/relevant guidance!
Thank you for this video, your videos always pop up at the perfect moment. Hands down the most real advice out there. You're a massive inspiration for me, keep doing what you do 🙌😊
i got stuck feeling like the best use of my time was acting as a "stem cell" of sorts, in the sense that i had more value as a result of not having stuck to a path. Very quickly I realized the value of stem cells is in their potential to be anything, not that they are everything
Yey, first time I get to watch a video right after it being posted! thank you so much for making this type of content. I usually have a lot of problems trying to focus while drawing and hearing you makes the process so much easier I can't even describe.
Hearing this I know -generally- where my focus is. It's definitely a fantasy level, so epic environments/landscapes, and then creature and character. Props do sadly come with the design cause characters use and wear things. So Fantasy world, plenty of room to play. Not sure how much more I can find my hook, aside from edging to darker fantasy settings.
Thank you Adam for your kind words they have really helped me to have a sense of focus in my career, I just want to know if this also apply to my art making process, cause I'm currently self teaching myself with lots of tutorials online, which makes me feel like picking one process of making art from one of favourite artists means I'm limiting myself to one thing and it kind of also feel like I'm copying that artist, which makes it really hard to decide.
How can it be, that youre wisdom allways comes in at the right time ? ^^ I am ecactly on that point now, where i realize doing a little bit here and than trying a little of that gets me nowhere in the long run. But i was actually struggling with this idea and thought to myself: Does this really help? Or is it another waste of time, to focus more on points you like for yourself in art? Yes i know how stupid this must sound, but oh boy... its not that special kind of way nowadays to focus on japanese comic style :/ But i grew up with lots of this and i love this style of not alone design but also story telling ^^ Thanks to this video i am sure now, that it will help. Thanks Adam :)
I’m glad that this video helped me validate my thoughts that I’ve had trouble with for so long. I’ve got two very specific niches to pick from that are hard (at least to me) to combine. One that is Lolita/yumekawaii (which I’ve already grown a good amount of fanbase for) and one that is the rpg gacha games ( the option I felt like would have a better future). I love both of them, but I’m still stuck here being so unsure of myself. I need some advice, any would do
Ah yeah here's the video recommended to me because I'm trying to be a web designing comic writer who can 3d model and animate and voice act and draw characters and- Yeah I need this lol
As someone with... many many hobbies and interests. This title intimidates me Adam.
I recently had a bad trip that turned into a good trip and the conclusion was "I am able to be everything"… And now he uploads this 😂🥲
That is me when I first saw it too lol
Though after watching it to the end it makes a ton more sense altogether haha
im just "pls, dont say that"
Well I was not intimidated because I've heard the same talk from other high-level artist and intern whichever level I am at in regards to getting that talk to others I think the title and the actual talk are a little different and with all the Hobbies I have also the only thing I like is focus
i am reminded of a line from a musical:
most humans do one thing for all of their lives. the thought of that gives me hives.
"You cannot find harmony with 6000 colors...but only with a select few"
That was deep...
I have a feeling we'd have a lot of long conversations.
I second this
The greatest podcast of all time
Y E S
yes please
Daaaamn, that would be awesome, please!
"Geek out about your art" is such a positive and wholesome thing to hear.
I'll keep that in mind for my next pieces instead of entering a toxic mindset
Indeed it's such a nice way to think about it! It's better to be happy about your art, no matter how it turns out :) good luck with your creative projects, Iena!
@@MariJadeWrites thank you!
At this point Im only trying to be good and I'm never enough. I graduated from my art school as one of the worst student in my class even though I worked really hard. It always bothered how I would spend hours and hours on a project and still fail while my friend were like "i did it in 1h yesterday and got the best grade". It was so embarassing for me. To work this hard, put the rest of my life on hold for years only to achieve so little. Im starting to wonder if I just wasted all those years and should have studied something else. Now I'm graduated and struggling to find a job let alone the motivation for working on my portofolio while all my friends and peers have moved on to incredible careers and opportunities. While I'm incredibly happy for them I just can't help myself but be jealous and ashamed and mostly frustrated. Im not trying to be everything. Im simply failling at being something.
Sorry this might seem a bit random but I had to get this off my chest.
I can't feel how you're feeling but I hope you can find meaning in the struggle.
Hi! I’m sorry you feel this way, I’m sure it’s extremely hard for you. I want to tell you one thing though. Don’t give up, please don’t. My mother went and got her bachelors degree in fine arts, later on when she had me she quit art. She focused on me and me only. It’s been 20 years away from her passion and her love of art. I finally got her to start again. I have never seen life be breathed into another person like that. So please don’t quit your passion. Remember this is your journey, you don’t need to be the fastest or the most technically skilled. I appreciate the fact that you put so much heart and hard work into your pieces. It shows how much you care. Rid yourself of the expectations of others, you will get there. No one can replace or replicate how much you care for your art. So you are extremely valuable. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
Remember that you can be successful at something you hate, and/or be a complete failure doing something you love. Most would rather be safe and successful, so you gotta decide what's best for you given your limited time on earth. Do you love creating art? If so, you only need to make enough for your bills and your art supplies. The rest is not nearly as important as you think. I'm rooting for you. Link your socials if you want. I'll follow you right now
I can't exactly relate how you feel, but I can understand the frustration. I'm training myself in art through some online courses and many books because I currently don't have the ability to go to an actual school. That said, as an aspiring artist myself and having seen a friend go through university for it as well, I can understand the frustration of seeing someone do something so effortlessly that you are struggling with. Or when you put your pencil/pen/brush/whatever down and immediately feel like you *don't know anything* about the thing you've just spent so long reading about.
Agreed with Petit Knight down there, link up your social and I'll happily follow you. And if you like, I'm part of a small art discord (and I mean small, about 14 of us). I can always reach out to them. They've been teaching me a lot and are very kind to people of all skill levels-- in fact, I think I'm the weakest one.
Anyway. Best regards. Never feel like you're a burden for getting something off your chest, especially on these videos and in this community. Adam has garnered a loving community, and we all try and replicate and push that feeling forward.
Continue working your ass off. IT. WILL. PAY. OFF. It may take a lot of time but hard work always pays off. Trust me.
This one, along with the "I don't know what to do with my life" (which planted the seed in my mind) has made what once seemed entirely impossible (just picking one thing and go go go!) finally sprout into a decision. I know what my focus is now, and will afford all the paths not taken no more of my time than the decade and a half they have already gobbled up in my indecision.
I'll probably touch base with them at some points along the journey where they intersect with the path I chose to travel, but I honestly (and unexpectedly with how long this took) can't even feel remorse for leavin them behind at all! Only relief that I have, finally, Finally, started moving!
I'm literally designing my portfolio at this very moment and as I came to the section where I have to pick one of the many roles I perform as game developer to be my main assingnment, this video popped up on my notifications. Talk about coincidences!
No sh!t, are you me? Today I was trying to finally settle down and pick a specialization under the game dev field (I think I'm gonna be a tech artist). What an odd coincidence!
Man I feel that haha.
I'm trying to work on a portfolio too, and this really is encouragement for me to do what I do,
otherwise I feel so pressured by others to do what they want in style.
All the best to ya'll!
I love it when the stars align like that :)
I think this channel and Athlean X are the ones I've noticed it most for lmao, it's weird how often it happens
Oh my god same. Im making my portfolio too and just got rid of my graphic design pages and kept only the illustrations. Gonna focus on my drawing stuff!
"don't be afraid to define yourself."
ok adam, challenge accepted. Thank you.
I am a pixel artist. And I have been doing different types of work for indie game development purposes. And I thought that it was that very thing that defined me as an artist. But listening to that video made me rethink a bit deeper of what is actually my niche. Looks like I need to venture deeper into it. Thank you for lighting up my path, Adam. Thank you.
This man uses a segway to explain segways. Amazing.
Two minutes in, and I love this video already (granted, I love all your videos). I always have a hard time finding jobs, and even though I want to go into animation I somehow can't find the motivation to start teaching myself how to draw.
I know that I'm commenting on the video really early on so I haven't grasped the content of the video as a whole but you always manage to make videos about what I need at an exact moment in time. Thank you
"You can't find harmony with sixty-thousand colors. You find harmony with a selected few" - Adam Duff
That's was amazing, a slap on my face lmao
6 months into buying my tablet and this feels like the story of my art life
I literally had on my 'to do list' for today written down 'THINK ABOUT FUTURE WORK'. I've been flirting with getting into all sorts of things...but now I realise my core. I'm interested in dark history, the paranormal and fantasy. They are all tied together and I'm about to publish my first illustrated book about local ghost stories and legends. So instead of flirting with exploring tons of other unrelated things for my next project, I think I'll just sew an extra patch of fabric to my quilt first, rather than starting over on another one. Thank you once again Adam.
I’ve felt the need to really focus on my illustration and I know that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. At the same time, I feel tempted about how I want to get better at my watercolor and color work and I feel guilty that certain things I want to accomplish are behind that door.
This talk gave me permission to lean into illustration and not be afraid. My watercolor palettes are in the attic. They’ll be there when I’m ready. In the meantime, it is me and the line ♡
I'm a dancer and I can absolutely relate to all of this. You can translate all of it into dance.
Oh absolutely - arts in general all follow the same challenges, be it dance, music, visual arts etc.. I appreciate you adding your voice to the conversation.
Just wanted to say, the way you painted the shading of their body in the first minute of play; basically in 1/2 strokes was incredible and powerful to me somehow :)
Adam you've hit it on the head with this one, I did fantasy art in my earlier years but nothing really worked in those early years, so I kind of gave up on art for many years after my daughter was born, and it sat there for years and I was happy being a father but missed art in my life, and than one day my wife bought me some art materials and said, Chris, why don't you get back in art, you miss it. And with that experience of having a child and loving fantasy I got into a genre that combines fantasy through the eyes of a child ( i use collage because of my history with children's books) and it resonated with people.So it was after years of painting fantasy and than combining it with my experiences as a father that brought me back into art into a genre that is ever expanding and limitless. So after years and years of plodding about with art I have now found my little corner in the art world and I honestly have never been happier in that little corner.Love your wise words in the background. :)
As an artist with ADHD, this was very much appreciated :) X)
Went through a lucidpixul rabbit hole the other day(art talks, bts, book reviews). Noticed you've become more calm and laid-back in your delivery, especially in art talks compared to back then. Interesting to see how you grow and change over the years. Happy painting :)
Ah yes, burning issue :) I totally agree on what you're saying, but it's so hard to define that "one thing you love". There's a whole universe of fascinating things! A few years down the road on my personal art journey, I feel finding this sort of direction and focus is way more important than all the technique I stil want to learn. So I'm weeding out left and right, letting go of stuff I love doing, but maybe not enough, observing and trying to identify themes I tend to orbit around. It's a long process, narrowing down, expanding in that section, pruning again,... I've always wondered how people can say "all I ever wanted to do is draw the little mermaid" and then go off and do just that.
It’s very much a long journey of filtering through the bramble, but don’t fret - look at it as a life journey, not a one-step process
That was the most valuable thing I could have heard right now. Time to go make limits!
I agree with what you say in the video. Altough I think that sometimes it might be “harder” for people who are begginners to indentify where they go. I’m a piano teacher and piano player for a long time, and I know what I like, what I learn, what I play. On the composer side I literally started this year so I don’t have much experience but I am trying different things to see where I lie and where should I move forward, and that is something that I also teach my students. Now as a beginner digital artist, I’d say that I stumbled a little, when I went from sketch artist to fully digital. Went from sketching to learning how to paint digitally (not that good but hey, baby steps) and I realized that painting just like you said was more of a tangent to take a break from sketching. I also LOVE pixel art, but haven’t really done much, I guess I was waiting to improve me knowledge about digital software (which I did) and my fundametals (which I’m doing). But I just started doing some pixel art again and… man, how I love it!
I do plan or think that like any other, I will go off tangent, try and learn something different and go back again. But that is something that comes with time and experience of knowing yourself too.
Great video as always Adam!
Haha, I know that feeling!
I've found that I have a love for very "nature based" stuff, and I love doing pixel art. That and I actually make RPGMaker games that work with pixel art.
However, the two don't really work together because of the extreme differences detail requirements.
In the end I've decided that I'd do pixel art as a side, and it worked really well for me. It's also a fun challenge to occasionally try to bring one of my typical work into pixel art. It's such a challenge to make a pixel character when their bodies are the main shape and not the head! But it's so worth it and is a wonderful breath of fresh air in terms of art.
@@cassandraguan4531 Yes!
I do wonder how sketching vs pixel art will interject, if ever lol
I also forgot to mention that, it seems nowadays everything has to be business or something like that, everybody wants to make money off art, and that's okay, but it's also okay if you just do art for your own enjoyment. I mainly do my music or my digital art just because I like doing it, so I don't stress with other stuff like "i'm a pro artist or i want to get hired to all them pro studios with pros doing pro things" . I mainly a teacher/mentor and that is where at least for time being, will be/stay.
Cheers to art!
@@CyberneticPhoenix
I'm doing art for fun for the most part, and decided to make it a job because I literally can't do anything else XD
I don't really care for titles either, when it comes to being known it's just for critique and discussions! Everyone has so many ideas and views, we can take those and sprinkle that magic of ours on them.
Pixel art will always be a joy of a hobby even if I ain't getting paid for it. I need some fresh new views on life, haha
Letting myself paint mythology instead of trying to design my own mythologies (which always ended up being very derivative anyway) has been a turning point for me too. It’s like the goal has become clearer, a fog of confusion around what I’m creating has lifted
I agree so much! The narrowing needs to be on the genre to help you find a focus on your niche. I am now 12 years into my career as an artist on my own. I have run the gauntlet of styles and design. My issue and perhaps many artists I imagine is when you dedicate to a style you become afraid you can never deviate from it and become disillusioned, boxed in or even frustrated by your art over time. But as I am getting older and seeing my body of work progress over time I am noticing my "style" my "brand" is present regardless of the way or technique I choose. Obviously some abstract pieces feel differently than realism ones but it's very good to rely on other's professional opinions as an outsider looking in to see if they can see a cohesive "style" that is authentic to you. Of course we are influenced by seeing artists who are super popular or well established that seemingly hyper focus on being the best at one look - which by being the best at it they "own it" publicly, I myself gave up on trying to work in a certain method because I had found another much better and more established popular artist doing a style similar - and I regret that I gave up just because of that fact because deep down that was just a coincidence - I really really enjoyed that methods of creating. And trust me finding joy/expression/freedom in your work is more important than anything!
Is great to know we still have people with this nice way to feel
It's something my grandma always used to say "Always steal with your eyes"
Thanks Adam. It is actually very comforting thinking of how I can "segue" my interests together into something not only cohesive, but as something that feels distinctly "me"
I started a bit of a sceptic when listening to how you talk thinking "this way too emotional for me to take it serious" but all I can say now is that I thank you for your advice and word of encouragement.
I just found your channel last night and I've watched a few videos already. But I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!! You are the exact voice I've been needing to hear, especially in regards to this videos topic. For the past few years, since I've finally decided to get back into art at the age of 33, I've been struggling hard to figure out what kinds of artwork I want to create - everything seems to call to me - I love landscapes, animals, portraits, classical paintings, dark fantasy, mythology and folklore, illustration, etc. At least I have finally figured out that my weapon of choice is oil paints! But your discussion in this video feels like it has given me permission to, like you said, pick a damn path and focus on it! And now I truly feel like I want to focus on story illustration but I'm gonna do it in oils! Once again, THANK YOU so much for these beautiful messages!
Thanks man. Let me just say that. 30 years in the making, and I was finally ready to hear this. I'm done. The lid is down. Locked. One path left, and forward it is. Cheers!
Good job talking Rekindling after mentioning Soulsborne game, Adam
You rekindled my hope for art
Adam, I swear you have spies in my studio.... This is exactly what I've been needing to confirm what I needed to get out of my rut. My firsts love has been fantasy art, specifically dragons. I love dragons.i love drawing them and they're specific and so varied you can do a million and never do the same. That bit about giving yourself permission to be cliche is EXACTLY ME. Thank you, Adam. Thank you so much you've really helped me feel better and enjoy my work again. I cannot WAIT until I can afford your mentorship and show you how you helped me grow with these talks. Please don't stop!!!
This is super interesting to think about in the context of looking for work in creative fields today. Nearly every job listing wants you to have 20 skills, be able to do 5 different jobs (ie. looking for illustration, UX, UI, animation, and 3D modeling all in one person!) and know 10 different software packages. And this isn't true of just concept art or animation, it's also true of graphic design, industrial design, apparel design, and UX design. It feels like there is a huge disconnect in the industry right now between the extreme specificity/breadth of what companies want from junior artists, and what is reasonable for artists to learn outside of the job. In my opinion, this is partly what drives the "gotta be everything" feeling in beginner artists. Moving up the chain towards senior and art director positions, this pressure seems to become more intense rather than less, imo. I've been talking with my friends who work in games, illustration, design, and marketing about this ever since we graduated college, and folks I talk to tend to agree that the technical and experiential requirements for landing creative jobs have just gotten way out of hand.
This isn't to disagree at all with what you're saying; more to say that the pressure for junior artists to become generalists is strong, and it seems to come from within the industry itself. It's detrimental to artists' growth, I totally agree with what you've said in this video about narrowing down and focusing on something you really care about to really grow to your fullest potential. I can't help but wish more companies would train and mentor fresh artists who have the interest and the drive to get good at something they care about that is useful to a particular team. There are a few internship programs for artists, but not nearly as many as there probably should be. Thanks for the awesome video, I agree with you and I wish more companies would take it to heart and recognize that artists can't be everything, we're each just one person.
Damn... this is deep. Thanks brother. Much appreciated. Always happy to slow down and listen to your experience.
On a second note.. I never listen to half. I won't start one of your videos unless I know I have the time to slow down and be present. I think thats pretty cool that you lead me to subconsciously demand my own presence. Pretty powerful. Thanks Adam.
Adam ... Every time you upload a video It's like you know what I'm wondering in that precise moment ... thank you
Your videos are real eye-openers for me. Thank you a lot for sharing your experiences with us!
thanks man the video helped me a lot...
for the past 1 year I had a FOMO about my career and what to do with it
sometimes I thought I need to be an environment artist sometimes a character designer and again sometime storyboard artist
and this goes on and on.
now I can see a clear path on my way
thanks for making this kind of content thank you very much.
Wow, this is exactly the thing I needed to hear right now. Thank you, as always.
This really helped me. I'm looking forward to what I create next.
I have decided to really anchor myself towards illustrating armor! Thanks Adam for the advice.
That's such a cool focus!! Best of luck to you 😊
@@allieomallycat Thanks, at first I thought that it would be dark fantasy as well. But as soon as Adam talked about nerding out. I realized that my artistic anchor would be armor. I could go on for hours talking about historical armor.
This is has been my primary art struggle for 10 years. Its not just this video, things are aligning in my life to allow this acceptance, but this message is like a nail in the coffin of my indecision. Its time to commit. Thank you, Adam.
This felt like the perfect video for me right now. I graduated from university last year, partly due to covid my plans didn't go the way I predicted and I feel like lay have delayed a lot of things. But I am working on a portfolio so I can apply for jobs as a concept artist or even illustrator. I've been having a hard time knowing what I want to focus on. I know I definitely need to include some art that IS concept art to show I have design skills. It's hard because as a recent student I have no experience in the industry itself but as an artist I know I have experience even though I have a lot to learn.
I think of what I enjoy drawing most and how I can use that in my portfolio and sometimes the thought that "I have to draw things a certain way" to get jobs kinda comes in my head but... I think I need to focus less on that and do what I want to do, because I believe when you do what you enjoy most it shines through your work.
I guess what I'm trying to say that I appreciate this video and it helps me feel like I don't HAVE to be great at everything and I can have a niche and feel proud of it.
Thank you for the video! I feel like I understand more now about how to balance knowing something about a lot of things and specializing in what I want to do!
absolutely... thanks for sharing!
💙im so glad i found your channel my dude. thanks for existing.
Gosh darnit, your words always feel so touching to me. Thank you for, yet again, rounding a really important subject with profound insight. Thanks for being you.
youre vids always takes me into the zone.
I don't know why is it so beautiful...
There is something soothing in this art, music and speech.
Good talk, I think this one is especially useful.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This topic has really been eating away at me, I have found it so hard to be creative since I feel like I have a million ideas with no direction and no motivation. This art talk has been crucial for me, thank you.
I am in the stage of changing my school, from one I love but I don't know if it can help my future to one of design, a great degree but thet I don't know the environment of.
I am a person of familiarity, a creative one but that doesn't stick to one subject. I am 21. I know I am young, and I still feel "not ready" to professional work for my really young knowledge of basics and fundamentals.
I go from a comics school, to a design school, and I still want to learn much more, but doubt and emotions gnawed at my heart, as i don't really have a clear focus so far as i know.
And i feel guilt. So, to defeat it, i draw a lot, I try to learn as much as I can about everything I can.
I have a lil niche, but I want to expand its media; I have a style (a pretty dark one) but I don't want to just draw.
Ahhhhhh, life.
Thank you, Adam.
Man, you are so on the spot about this. Literally, as if you could read people like me. I also had this issue that I felt like specializing in just one specific area may be too limiting. And me, a person who hates limits obviously adapted an opposite attitude and tried to be a jack of all trades when it comes to art. Which obviously is not a very good approach.
Thank you so much, you're helping entire generations with your videos !
Yeeey a video for my birthday (I'm a little late though)
Thank you Adam, it was a great video !
I have many hobbies and interests - but when it comes to what I know - I define myself by what I know -- I understand I cannot be an engineer - or even a artist for vehicles; it's not my personal passion. However, I know my niche - my loving passions lay in fictional biology, culture, characters, and depthful fictional worlds - even making fictional languages (conlangs)
But, one thing I importantly love to tie into all of this is the focus, and not focuses - not priorities, THE focus on these fictional creatures - and their culture. This is my core passion.
For a given canon - a given character, I might be passionate to give it these beautiful flares as I love designing these things too - for a character it might be giving a specific design to them, and a world - I love to imagine these worlds and the cultures that exist in them, and I use that to give them focus.
If a world is a sunless landscape warmed by a nearby brown dwarf; then imagine how life would develop - it's okay if it's earthlike, that's it's own artistic choice. Just as long as if you choose alien or earthlike, that you stick to it. From there - imagine the culture, the world from the perspective of these imaginary creatures.
Very recently, conlanging became a new piece to my worlds - to my passions, and it's been the most revolutionary thing for my writing and species design, it made me stop thinking of these creatures as "fictional creatures that I love to define depthfully, and give some culture to" - it made me really imagine their culture - their history, background, the *depth* of these species and their worlds. If I have a new idea - I give it a select new canon, and I limit the amount of canons I can make... and with conlanging, it was where I truly learnt "less is more," and "a designer has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
It made me realise, in a fundamental way - what I *love* working on, what __I__ am defined by, what niches I follow - and it made me realise that my canons - my passion for canons is sticking to the restricted roots of these worlds - for one of my canons, it focuses on otherworldly, strange landscapes that a small group has discovered. And - I like to restrict it to that. There's the species as a focus - not the species that composes this group; but the species of these *worlds*. What potential culture do they have? Biology? Ecosystem? Appearance... Do they speak? Is it like a clicky language? Completely nonhuman? Oddly human?
Another one of my canons - takes the more heavy approach one the species that compose the group - rather than these other worlds, it focuses on a depthful, single two planets of biology - the cultures on them, the histories - those species; and I love to design the characters around the limitations of these species. What sounds can they not make? Do they have thumbs? Wings? What restrictions do they have? On these planets - what kind of different life evolved; megafauna? Gelatinous life-forms? It's *okay* for it to be like realworld animals, so long as you focus on these things.
And deeper in this canon, past all the worldbuilding - I realised something I need to do if I want this canon to succeed; what is my only NON-worldbuilding ambition for it? I have it's worldbuilding perfectly anchored, but - what is it's focus with the characters? Locations? And, with this... I am slowly limiting my options based upon what I imagined these fictional characters exploring in their world. It often falls into investigative work or mystery related stuff - anomalies, strange parts of this world. Alongside the societal parts of it. And I think this is what I want to anchor it to.
But, for artwork - as fundamentally beyond my passionate writing, I want to someday draw and design these creatures - these worlds, these language's scripts - looks, I want to bring them life.
I learnt, what I am passionate about __is not just characters and making worlds__, but giving the species and fictional biology of these worlds - and the cultures the focus - the anchor. Both for my artwork, and my writing. And this realisation - was not realised just in this video, but months prior when I started conlanging, and your video has soldified my perspective.
And... I know what my core issue is beyond this - as much passion and love for these things as I much have - that I geek out for them, that's of course species, mysteries, these worlds...
But I understand what my fundamental issue is better with this video, I did before - but I want to address it wholeheartedly in public - for myself and others.
My issue isn't what I know, but what I **don't know** - if I don't know something, I don't want to do it - I sit there looking at my document, and procrastinate on it. "How will I continue this drawing?" "What if I mess it up?" "Where will I take this conlanguage?" "How will l I write this species? What am I even planning to do? I know my goals - but... what do I do?"
And, the truth is - I shouldn't fear not knowing what to do and procrastinate doing it for that reason. I shouldn't be afraid of some mysterious failure that's awaiting me, if I know what my passions are - my focuses, my goals. If I know those, I know I can't mess it up in the end - and if I do, I'll fix it **as it's what I'm passionate about** - this applies to all of us - if you're like me and fear doing something not because you lack direction, but because you lack knowledge - that's okay, you just need sit down. And experiment - if you know your desires - chase them, if you make a mistake; you'll know and you'll fix it - it's all part of improving as a person. By doing, you will find your passion - and by experimenting, you will find your knowledge.
Sorry for the long rant, I just get really eccentric about my projects.
i can listen to your voice all day
Thank you for the video, Adam, it was interesting to learn about these things :)
Hey man, I absolutely love this! I personally have always been into nature, so biology, physics and its limits, and recently I've been starting my portfolio. This video speaks to me so much; it most certainly helps. Even though I'm fully aware on the past I would like to take, I do still struggle with this because the people around me oh so want more medieval anime. I can't find a job around me for this, haha.
So I did try to make a comic style medieval guy and oh dear do I really disdain that thing lol. It was still an absolute joy to research though, and I'd definitely be using influences of medieval armour in designs for exoskeletons in the future. (The pauldrons especially, that would work so well with beetle based thorax exoskeletons.) I'm still going to separate it from my main portfolio though because I'm totally not going to be doing that again.
One of my personal issues so happens to be not myself on the internal, but my relationship with technology. My computer constantly and always bugs out and breaks for no reason; prices on proper software like Photoshop is obnoxiously expensive where I live, costing several thousand which takes over a year of savings to accumulate, power cuts are a constant threat, you name it. As such I've mostly been working traditionally. However with the coming of the digital age (or rather it's already here), I'm forced to battle with this.
How should I deal with this? I've been trying to continue my current personal project to build the portfolio while my screen is broken and flickering, I need my laptop screen to be pushed all the way beck to the point I only see reflections. It's very difficult to practice and while I would be looking to do some other job, the situation where I live has restrictions and people aren't even allowed to leave the house to work. The only thing besides drawing and doing research that can be done is sleeping (lol). It takes a toll, that inactivity, and as the saying goes,
things in motion tend to stay in motion, and things that are still tend to stay still.
And boy would it be hard for me to return to motion when I can do things again. I try to keep some motion up by periodically drawing and doing studies but my issues with technology make it really hard. As of now I have to draw with my hands in a real wonky position and must hunch with my face fight at the screen just to see what is going on. It hurts and obviously isn't good for overall health.
Well, that was a long one. I do feel it is necessary to get it off my chest. I need feedback and the chance to bounce ideas. If I want my work to be seen, it's merely for critique and discussion. Those likes aren't going to help me learn, constructive bashing is what I want! Lol.
I guess that's the other thing. I do want people to see my work, because living with little to no interaction with people, it's hard to move forward. No critique is like organisms having no need or want to evolve due to a lack of Dawrinian Pressure. I want to evolve.
That's my thoughts on my current journey anyways.
Once again I want to thank you for sharing so much with all of us. These talks are always a joy to listen to while doing things, and inspire me a lot. Thank you so much.
damn what happened to the original upload? copyright?
Nah, accidentally deleted! I had multiple windows open (other video uploading in a moment) and it deleted the wrong one.
@@AdamDuffArt
It happens to the best of us too, haha.
Glad to see it is all right and back again in the end.
Lovely drawing! Thanks for this video Adam :)
This is what I needed to hear. Thank you Adam.
Adam, you always manage to speak straight to my soul and your depth of insight is just so incredible. Thank you.
You gave me the courage to re-edit several aspects of my portfolio, discard some sections and I think this push you gave me will greatly shape my life from now on... thank you, Mr. Adam!
Thank you for once again, giving inspiring and solid advice, Adam. I'm beginning my Illustration degree this Fall, and each of your videos helps ground all of the overwhelming thoughts I have fluttering inside my head. I'm looking forward to this journey ahead, and I can't wait to see what I can do.
Glad I hear this, I'm overwhelming myself lately.
Thank u for being u & giving art advice. i will keep all of the advice in mind as i become a better artist
This was supremely helpful. I have my niche, I just need to focus down on it. I also know how to edit down my portfolio now!
Thank you for your direction and wisdom, Adam. This helps a lot and in some way reaffirms what I've known but forgotten over time. Cheers from Halifax 🍻
Thank you, this was the answer I was looking for
17 and I've always had a problem with drawing since I was about 5. my parents practically spoiled me and I was doing so many different things but I *loved* drawing. I have records of all of my drawings and I notice I didn't actually start *improving* with my drawing until I started going out of my way to *learn*. looking up videos. asking around. doing studies. all that jazz. I just watched this videos and I am feeling so many things. I just had a question though - would my strength being world-building ever work as a talent or is that much too broad of a subject? I was thinking I could work on concept art for an entire world I had in my mind since I was 9. At first I wanted to make a massive animation / comic book series of the entire timeline of my universe, but seeing this video kind of made me realize if I am trying to balance a healthy social life, school, exercising, housekeeping, and my job, then that really may not be possible. I was thinking though, I could at least get a *draft* / sketches down for my universe, and when I was thinking about that I found that my strength was worldbuilding. Creating characters. Creating settings. *Creating stories* . Would that be too broad of a subject to focus on ?
welp italicization did NOT work but whatever lol
yes you can
I’m honoured Obama ;)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Adam. I really feel better when I listen to your videos
Thanks for another great video !
Finding a path to follow with my art is my biggest concern currently, I kept bouncing between themes until now.
But it's getting better ! I made a huge Miro document full of my favorite art to pinpoint where I want to go, this and that kind of art talks helps me keep the goal in mind :)
thank you, so much
Thanks Adam. I love listening to your videos. They always relieve my anxiety and focus me enough to get working on my projects and enjoy them🖤
It feels like what you are talking makes sense with the reality I see in other artists... but I am not doing art that can create a niche(idk how is it written). I do art and concepts that I like and not really have a conexion
I don't know what you do exactly, but I personally feel that everything does have exceptions.
Especially if you're out there for the fun of a hobby.
For all you know you do have a niche and you don't see it too. That was what happened to me, and I only found out my thing after almost two decades. Funny enough I've always had it, just that I didn't ever put words to it.
The important thing is to love creating, and ultimately following what you love leads you to that "niche" automatically.
That's my personal thoughts though.
thanks man, every video, every thought resonates strongly with me. i really appreciate what you do, your videos make the day to day life a little less daunting.. studio work sometimes can be quite exhausting, Im really looking for answers, and looking for my own voice.. sometimes that voice just gets lost amongst the massive and loud entertainment industry grinding machine… your videos add calm to my day.. and i thank you for that.
I really love western animated style. Like Don Bluth or Bruce Timm, but also some manga influences too. I’m trying to combine it together by copying them
Thanks for your video's very inspiring :)
Adam, I love the work you do, from your words to your compositions, and all that skills that make them. You present yourself real and feel so accepting. your videos have been so informative and so much worth my time. they've guided my art growth threw the years. I cant wait for the day I can invest in a mentorship.
Just so say thanks for all the continued and suspiciously well timed/relevant guidance!
Thank you for this video, your videos always pop up at the perfect moment. Hands down the most real advice out there. You're a massive inspiration for me, keep doing what you do 🙌😊
i got stuck feeling like the best use of my time was acting as a "stem cell" of sorts, in the sense that i had more value as a result of not having stuck to a path. Very quickly I realized the value of stem cells is in their potential to be anything, not that they are everything
Your videos always find me when I'm struggling with something and brighten my mood. Thanks, Adam. Thank you for making amazing content
Thank you for this. It's something I needed to hear. I don't have to draw or paint everything.
I love David Bowie :)
wow what an awesome drawing today, i love what it turned out to be so much! my usual comment can not miss tho: "youre amazing"
Nice Pice of art, literaly
Yey, first time I get to watch a video right after it being posted! thank you so much for making this type of content. I usually have a lot of problems trying to focus while drawing and hearing you makes the process so much easier I can't even describe.
Hearing this I know -generally- where my focus is. It's definitely a fantasy level, so epic environments/landscapes, and then creature and character. Props do sadly come with the design cause characters use and wear things. So Fantasy world, plenty of room to play. Not sure how much more I can find my hook, aside from edging to darker fantasy settings.
Thanks, once again, Adam, for everything that you do. It's always great to do something while hearing your thoughs and insights.
Thank you Adam for your kind words they have really helped me to have a sense of focus in my career, I just want to know if this also apply to my art making process, cause I'm currently self teaching myself with lots of tutorials online, which makes me feel like picking one process of making art from one of favourite artists means I'm limiting myself to one thing and it kind of also feel like I'm copying that artist, which makes it really hard to decide.
How can it be, that youre wisdom allways comes in at the right time ? ^^ I am ecactly on that point now, where i realize doing a little bit here and than trying a little of that gets me nowhere in the long run.
But i was actually struggling with this idea and thought to myself: Does this really help? Or is it another waste of time, to focus more on points you like for yourself in art? Yes i know how stupid this must sound, but oh boy... its not that special kind of way nowadays to focus on japanese comic style :/ But i grew up with lots of this and i love this style of not alone design but also story telling ^^
Thanks to this video i am sure now, that it will help. Thanks Adam :)
8k views and 1k likes. This video is gold, going through creatively hard times and this really hit me. Thank you
Everything Adam talks about just so happens to be a thing that I’m struggling with at that moment it’s kind of freaky.
I’m glad that this video helped me validate my thoughts that I’ve had trouble with for so long. I’ve got two very specific niches to pick from that are hard (at least to me) to combine. One that is Lolita/yumekawaii (which I’ve already grown a good amount of fanbase for)
and one that is the rpg gacha games ( the option I felt like would have a better future). I love both of them, but I’m still stuck here being so unsure of myself. I need some advice, any would do
Ah yeah here's the video recommended to me because I'm trying to be a web designing comic writer who can 3d model and animate and voice act and draw characters and-
Yeah I need this lol
thank you
Most of the time, i'm here for just the commentary
I don’t think this song is life anew, but I absolutely love it, can anyone tell me what it is?