As someone who cannot visualize in their head, it's refreshing af to hear someone say it's not an imperative part of "the process" to imagine your work.
I agree! I can't visualize in my head either and it's nice knowing that you don't have to imagine what you're gonna do, when you could well- just find references and create your own thing from it.
Hello, friends with aphantasia! 💚 It is indeed a huge relief to be told, finally, that no, there is no "one method that fits all" and yes, we can get inspired and create great art by using various methods. I spent years and years being confused, trying to visualize things and not understanding why everybody around was apparently seeing lots of stuff while I always only saw the back of my eyelids... I thought that my need to use refrences made me both a bad artist and a perpetual plagiator. Since discovering how and why I was different and that many people also have aphantasia, I have abandoned pointless attempts to be like others, and created my own ways of generating artistic ideas, that suit me and my needs. This video is yet another motivational kiss of my invisible muse.
As an Artist with Aphantasia, I just paint, anything, It doesn`t matter what it looks like, at the beginning, I see things appear on the canvas, then work on that, and evolve it, just painting randomly, until something appears, and eventually it turns into an amazing work of Art. but nobody really knows about my art, because i also have autism, I have a certain process, which I have expanded on over many years, Imagination? whats that.. LOL. It comes naturally to me, without having it.. I cant explain it.
@@sameliusastraton4670 oh my god! That's exactly the sme for me! I am not very good at drawing tho. And anytime I try to draw something it just looks horrible. But when I do something like that it usually ends up being something not as horrible
8:40 as someone who writes far more than I draw, this sentence made everything make sense to me. What he's trying to do, in essence, is to make us understand the basic building blocks of drawing, art is, essentially, a language, with "words", elements, bits to understand. You can't learn to write well without first looking at other writers, and analysing what they do, their techniques, how they pace their stories, understanding these basic things woven into a piece of writing. For some reason, all this time, it didn't quite get into my head that this was what he was trying to do this whole time.
Yess!! I write a lot and recently found that I love drawing just as much as writing. This is true, on so many levels, and makes me happy to know other people have the same thoughts and feelings.
Same! I've always seen the scenes play out in my head visually when I write so im hoping to better my drawing skills enough to be able to able to convey them visually too
And music works in the same way... But what you're talking about is applied on almost all creative process and for composing no matter what are you trying.
"You can't learn without [a lot of stuff that requies effort]" Well then I'm a horrible person because I can never motivate myself to put more effort then the minimal requuired one. Oh well, guess I'll stick to imagining the stuff in my head. It worked for all these years, so why not?
Real talk? I probably never got better at drawing because people around me were TOO supportive. No matter what I did it was always "It still looks good!" or "You'll get it next time!", not really telling me how to fix it or get better. Having a dude with a broken cigarette pull a knife on me and say "Hey, you're stupid" helped way, WAY more than all of that empty positive reinforcement. Thank you.
yeah, there's a time and place for everything. you need friends that will lift you up when feeling down, and offer you real critique when you're ready to improve
I got the opposite end of that. I had an issue where I was showered in compliments and then compared to other artists, entered into competitions that were out of my league, giving away free art to anyone who asked (all without my consent) and then being told "WELL YOU'LL NEVER BE A GOOD ARTIST BECAUSE YOU DON'T PRACTICE ENOUGH" when I was exhausted. And my peers were like "must be nice to have someone who supports you and your dreams"
he's so aggressively wholesome??? Like even when he's acting tough his cigar falls and he smiles. and no matter what the topic of his videos are, all he wants is for students who are pursuing this path to improve faster. "We're not looking for perfection, we're looking for progress." -him in another video
I had a teacher like that. Really nervous guy, always saying "You wanna get good at watercolor? The study those fucking watercolors from Ghibli. Wanna get good at illustration, then study what Moebius is doing for fuck's sake!" He was so tense he would smoke his cigs in only two puffs.
"never draw from imagination." "Practice makes perfect doesn't exist." I SO wish I had heard these things as a novice artist. Spent my adolescence developing bad drawing habits and unhelpful elitist ideas, like the idea that using references or copying is "cheating" and therefore not real art. Or that artists have to learn everything on their own, not from other people. So now as an adult, I've hardly improved since i only used imagination and only drew the same thing over and over lol. Never practicing purposefully and never learning.
lambs I actually have sort of the opposite problem. I don’t think using references is cheating, but I still don’t do it. Not sure why, I just prefer drawing from imagination. This really convinced me to use references more lol
I completely agree. I used to feel so much guilt for trying out different styles that are iconic to certain artists. I used to always beat myself down for not being able to come up with any original artstyle and that it directly means I am uncreative and unmotivated.
You weren't looking at the right places. Of course, it isn't your fault, but if you were told this you were in the wrong place. While that idea was being spread around more commonly, it was usually by novices (or unprofessionals, to use a possibly made-up term) who could be considered jealous of another person's way of learning or people who "consume" the art, which are people who expect to be awed by how hard something was to draw. There WAS good artist elitists, but I doubt they were ever good teachers.
The real thing is, you should start watching other artists art to get reference, but avoid using it while working, that way, you learn no get inspiration and not doing copies.
14:08 holds some extremely good advice for starting artists. Don't draw just because you "see it there", draw because you understand why its there, what its doing, and how it works. Understanding the subject and the material within helps so much more than just slapping something on there because you saw someone else do it and it looked good, but you don't know why. I cannot emphasize that enough. This includes those who start drawing by tracing as well, although not talked about much you *can* learn from tracing BUT it doesn't work if you don't **understand** what's happening beneath your pen, or give it some sort of reason for why that line / shade / color was put there. Tracing can help improve your line work, or help you to become better with muscle memory and identifying shapes within a drawing, but should be done in a sense of understanding what's happening, not copying (tracing). Anywhoo, I just really liked that part.
@@joelcrafter43 You study why they drew that, i.e. structure studies, anatomy studies, photo studies, looking at real world examples and applying it to your own work. Drawing isn't just putting a pen to paper, just like math isn't a random sequence of numbers on a paper. There's a reason why things are put where they are, its a calculated 3D illusion on a 2D surface. its better to start small, like drawing simple 3D shapes (still life), understanding the perspective angle, the lighting angle, and how they all play together to create that 3D illusion. Once you have down the basics with simple shapes, you can move further, recognizing other shapes in other things and knowing how light / perspective would interact with them. Drawing involves a lot of imaginary, creative, and analytical thinking to accomplish a completed, very nice artwork.
@@AshenMeadow Thanks for clearing some of that up, as well as the advice. Will it ever get easier to do things like that once I've learned them in the future though? I hope that I won't *always* have to intensely focus on every detail of stuff I draw in order to do it correctly.
@@AshenMeadow There's one thing I still don't understand though.. How am I supposed to come to the correct conclusion on these things? Like what if I study something and come to an incorrect conclusion and then that conclusion clouds my understanding so on further study I can't come to any other conclusion and then I just keep being wrong unless someone explicitly calls me out on my mistake, and then how do I figure out how to learn the correct thing after I've realized my mistake, what if nobody ever calls me out and I never realize the mistake I'm making and I never improve because I can't stop making it because I think it's not a mistake?
That is only partially true, sure with time and some practise you understand the fundamentals but when it comes to finding your artstyle you need to know in which way to express yourself. So looking at artists who inspire you or who make you go like: "Woah, wish I could draw like that!" and trying to learn from their techniches will help you way more that drawing and trying to find an artstyle that doesn´t even exist. It´s like wandering around in a big forest at night without any knowledge from where you came and now you expect from yourself how to get out.
Well you cant just wake up and expect to be the super original dude. Draw for some years first, then change the stuff up a bit to your liking. This is how every learning process goes (I am not an artist). It starts with complete imitation and later as you gain confidence you slowly morph it into your own stuff.
Practice makes perfect doesn't exist, perfect practice does. - wise words by this artist! Glad I got here via youtube algorithm. 7:15 Mileage is not wrong but incorrect mileage is wrong. You are not going to get anywhere by drawing the same circle can go on everyday. But the real practice lies in seeing how other artists use the same structure and rules in their ways. The more variety, the more understanding we get via "experiential learning". Take notes. Point and analyse the art that you admire. Draw something else in their style. Observe how they simplify the anatomy. Why do they do that. Why do they avoid certian things which are not exactly needed for the intent of their art. You otherwise can just keep restricting yourself especially with a mentor not knowing where to go next and getting stuck at trying to draw perfect circles and same old from our limited ( and borrowed) imagination.
It’s interesting how many in the artist community think referencing is “cHEatINg” and drawing from imagination is the only way to do real art... it’s dumb. Thank you for making this
It's not cheating, it's a bad way to learn . Depend always on reference and one day you gonna need to resolve something from the top of your head. You'll be in trouble.
@@lucasaccardo360 If you always use reference your mind would have a really good grasp on how things look so how in the world would you be in trouble drawing things you've actually looked at hundreds of times?
Pinterest. I use Pinterest for reference, since the art there is all kinds of different, I draw the art there for reference, and as I draw another piece, I find myself thinking, "this part would appeal better to me if I draw it like the other drawing, but more like this..." in the end, your not stealing art, because all you did was combine your understanding from multiple different artist to mold your own form. Artist should feel honored that someone used them as reference, to aid in someone's growth. Although stealing is another thing, but we're not talking about that.
"The only original part of you is your taste." I like that. It goes along with, "There are no original stories left - but no one can tell it like you."
"I'm trying to teach you how to teach yourself here." So what you're saying is that you're going to hold our little stupid baby hands for just a second?
i hate it when my teachers are like "you can do it you're smart you've got this!!" it's much more realistic for someone to be screaming about how small my brain is that's much easier to comprehend
True. I've always wondered every time I ask good artists around me why they're so good at what they do. They always say it's just from imagination and you draw it out or something. But personally, my method is look for random references, make my own version, and people say it's some sort of plagiarism reason why I just completely stopped drawing back then.
Don't misinterpret his lesson here; It's art, of course you're gonna need imagination. He means; 'don't draw from your imagination WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE/DEVELOP'. If you're not looking at inspiration or references by professionals, and taking notes; it's gonna be difficult to improve since you're stuck in a bubble. edit: grammar
holy shit this is exactly the point all of the "BuT aRt IS ImAgiNAtiON, You'eR TELliNG ARTiSt To SteAL, YOu're JUSt meAn" comments miss. if ya want to just use imagination just for fun, do it! but if you want to learn. you have to actually study
exactly! you can't improve as fast if you don't look at references. it's the same as any other field, pretty much. it's easier to read about science than rediscovering cells.
and when he says ”don’t do it” it doesn’t mean you can’t try it, just coming from a professional he knows what’s the quick and effective way to learn. these videos help me bc i feel like im going in circles sometimes and to break from it i need a new perspective. these videos are really helpful
when I was drawing from imagination I had so many ideas, just didn't know how to draw them but now as I draw better I have less and less ideas, I end up drawing "what I know" and hate my drawing afterwards :(
It means you need to take a break and go out to a museum, gallery, walk in the city, travel, etc. Your visual library will improve and ideas will come again :)
I have the same problem! I'm making the same anatomically correct bs even when I sit myself down and go like NO JUST SHIT ON THE PAPER but I don't. I feel like I'm wasting paper if I'm not drawing what I know
At first you wanted the joy of creation, now you have the creation of joy, but you can't combine them. I mean, both joy and creation is combinations of somethings as he says in the video. Just try to combine.
I love what AJ does with just the default round brush. He’s truly a master at what he does. And it’s just another example of how brushes aren’t the most important thing.
I feel like a lot of artists that started drawing around 2005-2010 have to struggle with the fact they've learned horrible advice that stunted their growth. I started drawing in 2007/8 and to this day have to deal with the guilt of referencing. I was constantly told not to reference other artists, not to learn from artists (especially not anatomy etc) when I personally always found it more helpful to copy other artists shapes....
The Internet let terrible art advice and habits spread incredibly quickly. Pairing this with the fact that most 2005-2010 artists taught ourselves and ended up starting with an anime based style not really having learnt the fundamentals first, we ended up applying bad teaching to our artwork and thought about art in a way that meant you weren't good enough if you referenced. looking back on it, it was very bad advice to give myself and I am now having to re-learn just about everything I perceived about art... which is why I am trying to take advice from industry professionals like Ethan instead of Twitter tutorials.
"Nothing is original. It's how you combine all those things where the originality comes into play." This was really helpful for someone like me just starting out in art. I don't really know where to start because I can't take classes and my school doesn't take art seriously. The last time I tried to draw a character (not an original one) I saved a ton of reference pictures, stared at them for ages, and then tried to combine them. So this advice, that it's okay to do that until you've developed enough of a visual library to generate drawings on you own, was really relevant to me.
So in your opinion, are originals people who draw things they imagine and use reference photos (but don't directly reference art)? I guess getting out of the way would mean to stop saying that we are original artists when we reference others' art. I don't actually completely agree with the video that your drawing process should be this exact model, I just think that the main thing you can take from the video is that you can use things from lots of other artists, and take inspiration from them. Do you think referencing other people's drawings of the thing I'm trying to draw is wrong? Just wanted to know. I hope I didn't come across as rude, just wanted some clarification here.
Aayushi Sanadhya you have to be careful with this method he teaches. I would avoid copying from current artists even if you mix and match as many as possible. Usually people can smell when you do it and it’s a bad look tbh. It comes off as uncreative and will just make your work look trendy and dishonest. Practicing from other artists is not a bad way to learn though but try studying from artists from the past (old or deceased) they’re considered more fair game. All that said the best way to learn to draw is from life. Observe the things you see in front of you. You already have a style because we all do. It’s your personality more than anything. It’s how you play with and have fun with you art. That’s where your true originality is. Taste does inform what you want to create but taste doesn’t only derive from other’s art. It comes from how you honestly look at the world and what stands out to you. You can get inspired by literally anything and that’s the beauty of being an artist is that there’s so much to notice in the world. When you only take inspiration from other’s work you’re really just copying what inspired them in the world rather than what inspires you. So just be careful from doing this too much, because it can lead to serious mental issues.. like no joke. If people think you’re copying too many current artists, especially if your goal is to have your own unique style, then it’s gonna make you feel really bad about yourself. Possibly lower your self-esteem and that’s not a good place to be. Also nothing wrong with drawing from imagination either.. you should always feel free to do that. Just make sure you practice your other drawing skills at the same time and let them enhance each other.
@@aayushisanadhya2536 Not necessarily. Use all the tools you have at hand.But looking at art like theres nothing left thats new is really counter to exploration. I have a distinctive style and people always comment on how unusual it is. Ive inspired artists and I love and encourage that. But, the ones who start finding one to emulate have no confidence in their voice and its easy to have your own direction drowned in internet talent and overwhelm of styles.
Huh, so the stuff about "iT cOmES NaTuRAl" was kinda shit advice. Thank you, ethan, for acually showing us what *exactly* we need to practice instead of telling us to practice.
@lihshi then why that style thing is important to you? don't you see some artists have styles that kind of resemble each other? if you don't know what to practice then that is not what you should do. buy books or learn from classes =))))) i haven't found my style yet, and it is frustrating. but idk, it comes when you have enough materials for yourself and that's prob why most say it comes naturally. this man says something right but for some other, i highly doubt that so...yeh, don't take all advice at 100%
Personally I've never put much emphasis on my 'style' and instead focused on understanding and recreating things I like from different artists. I guess I have a 'style' now though (at least that's what people tell me). And we need to get rid of the stigma around copying to learn FFS.
Yeah people who say that are lying, whether you know it or not, as an artist you are constantly taking inspiration from other art and building a ‘library’ in your head, and even when you are drawing from “imagination” you are always referencing that library. As far as building a style, in my experience you build a style when you experiment with many styles, finding what you like and what works for you, and what you learn along each step of the way influences your over all ‘style’, even if you don’t have a set one
I thought that i don't have an artstyle. But when I show my art to other people they say, that I have recognisible style. It really comes natural. I just find way of drawing face/eyes/hands/etc that more easy and goodlooking to me without realising it ;)
This is completely changed my entire art process. I've been drawing from imagination and getting rookie results even after taking art classes, and it's been frustrating.
yeah, unfortunately, this is what a lot of people don't get-if you don't learn to teach yourself you'll never get to where you need to be unless you're literally tied at the hip to someone who can teach you hours and hours every day
In just one sentence he invented a perfect way to completely revamp the educational system in a way that will produce infinitely higher quality students.
Absolutely! Have you guys ever seen this artist meme called an "influence board" where you add in all the artists & art styles that have influenced you? It's really eye opening when you realize that that really "unique" looking style is just a chimera of 3-5 artists mushed into 1 beautiful art style monstrosity. lol
This is for learning only. Just like mileage. He is making fun of conventional wisdom all the time. He wants you to increase your VISUAL VOCABULARY so that you can use your imagination to create images that don't suck! Get it? If you want to say something you don't have to invent a language and then teach people how to understand your language so that you can say something! PROKO call this choosing your parents. DALI said 'if you play at being a genius, you become one! ' Cheers
I love this guys teaching style. He’s calling you stupid and at the same time calling me stupid it’s just the right amount of stupid to keep me engaged and actually learn something cos we stupid
for art studies on the sly, when you have a free second run to the library and print out real-life reference pictures of SFW stuff like hands and feet, as large as you can. cut them out and tape them into your sketchbook. I recommend making special flat sketchbooks about the size of large index cards that will fit inside your textbooks and slide under your homework. look for "book binding" on Pinterest for really pretty methods
@@Rina_Redfield I have entire pages of just drawing my hand in different positions because I was really bored. Fun stuff to do in class when you have nothing to do
I'm not sure that drawing from imagination is necessarily bad. Many abstract artists will do this, plus there are some that aren't interested in representing the real world. However, you do have a point! When I started drawing as a child, I didn't visualize what I wanted to draw. I drew by instinct. But once I started seeing what other people could do such as anime or Leonardo da Vinci, I tried to draw like them, by visualizing the finished product in an art style from someone else, and not my own style.
“You don’t know how to create something on a professional level if you’ve never seen something on a professional level” I don’t know why, but this is the line that FINALLY made all this click for me?? Thank you so much!!
but define professional level, been published? make a living off of art? work for someone? won awards? have your work on tee shirts like "the Mountain"? get a daily deviation on devaint art? press release for art? have something I made so "you gotta see this" to where my shit is stolen by overseas companies flooding the market whith my stolen goods?
Wired Golem Wym? His talent is demonstrated in his work constantly. He showcases a great understanding of linework, color choice, flow, and shapes in his works. He knows how to ink properly without leaving the essence of the sketch behind as well or how to make it work in situations and pulls off some pretty unique perspective shots. I’ve never seen him trace, just break down forms and draw beside them which is what you do. An artists trace all the time to understand and break down forms or even go over their own work to smooth out lines. Its’ part of the process, especially in animation. Alot of fight scenes from Naruto have rotoscoping, but I don’t see how it adds or takes away from the talent for example.
Bigger, yet simpler shapes, can act as the foundation of smaller, more detailed, shapes. Duller edges can give off feelings of collected, peace, stalwartness, wisdom, defense. Sharp edges can represent energy, impulsive, conflict, decisiveness, speed.
No bc this dudes face is so comforting yet intimidating. He has what people call a “baby face”. An upturned nose and comforting eyes. I have a baby face too. But he has a beard, and most people with a beard give an extremely intimidating vibe. The way you look can tell a whole lot about your personality. His personality is really helpful and he’s great at teaching. But he also enforces his teachings doing stuff like calling us stupid. Idk I do a lot of analyzing when I look at people. It helps me give my characters more personality when I draw them.
Good, then I shall combine: Lines: Tetsuya Nomura Shapes: Shingo Adachi Genre: Mengo Yokoyari Gogoo Thanks for not BS Ethan ! I like it when ppl don't promise you the stars only o tell you to build your rocket yourself
same its weird but I sorta get more motivated when someone says I'm bad at something to prove to them wrong rather then being motivated when someone says your pretty good prob because if your good you don't need to improve however if you suck you would rather improve
Tbh stealing some things is inevitable - it even happens in photography. Don't steal intentionally. But don't go all anal deviantart if the colors/poses/theming is similar. Nothing is completely original.
Go ahead and steal art as long as you aren't trying to pass it off as your own! But for the sake of practice and studying, I think it's okay to recreate someone's art. Especially if you're just starting out.
No Go nono, you are confusing ‘stealing’ with referencing or sharing styles. That is indeed inevitable. Stealing means re-drawing someone else’s drawing and post it as your own creation without saying it’s a re-draw.
THANK YOU FOR SLAPPING ME IN THE FACE WITH THIS FACT!! I don't feel satisfied with my art at all, I keep seeing artist friends of mine improve but I've been drawing and drawing from my imagination non-stop for the past 2 weeks yet I still got nowhere! But now I know drawing from imagination is stoopid, thank you, kind sir. I will use lots of reference from now on 💖
and most of those mythical creatures that you're talking about has real life references, like all those huge tentacles or serpent like creature and such.
@@kenko6834 Yes when I want to draw something that is mystical it still has some reality and I look for references to make it happen. We actually can't create anything that doesn't already exist we are not god. It's the way we put them together that make it "new" everything in this world that was ever been created by human where just already there but detached.
it's kinda like when someone asks "who's your biggest influences" theyre really just asking "whos styles did you copy most and combine to make your own style?". i mean, our personalities are really just combined styles of our parents, friends, favorite movies, authors, experiences, etc.
To be fair though, some people also don't like to acknowledge that there are genuine "unique" art styles that come about. Unfortunately, as soon as they're put out there, everyone else copies it so it no longer seems unique. Picasso's abstract form is a prime example. When he first created it, it completely shook the art world as it was then; it was completely unheard of. Was it inspired from a mash up other things in his head most definitely, was it a mash up of other pervious artist styles, no. I mean someone did invent the wheel and the lightbulb. There is such a thing as completely new ideas, albeit they're very few and very far between. Also, admitting you were inspired by something doesn't discredit originality. Yes, most stuff out there are just modifications and mashups of existing stuff, I wholeheartedly agree on that, I'm just saying, originality and uniqueness do still exist despite that. I personally am getting very fed up with the current trend of remakes, remasters, and new takes. I REALLY don't need Batman origin movie #256. :x
This video lines perfectly with my favorite quote from Dali "Those who do not want to imitate anything produce nothing" it changed my life honestly... Great insight as always Thank you Ethan
"Never Draw from Imagination", is a credo more for artist who work in animation, where you have to implement the specific style of a show. The method of the practise is good, is allowes you to explore different art styles. In the end, if you combine the different styles you like, you end up creating your own.
No, it's for every artist. You're never done growing. Pros are still growing, and if you want to keep your acceleration, you keep referencing. Imagination elitists need to get out of here. Not saying you are one, but some just put this emphasis on imagination, and how it is so much better than using reference. Reference does not mean copy. It means checking anatomy, it means looking at textures, colors, layouts, and anything of the like. Imagination elitists will always try to clap back with, "If you've drawn enough you will be able to draw all that from Memory." False. Great dream, but rarely does an artist draw enough yo be that, like Kim Jung whatever his name is. Props to him, but mist artists never have time to do that, and plus he is a master because he uses life and reference so much that he remembers. All he does is draw. That is unrealistic to the everyday artist. An everyday artist needs reference to keep growing at an accelerated rate. You choose to "use imagination" alone, and you are choosing to put in the brakes of your progression in favor of comfort. Get comfortable, get stuck, get stopped. Simple.
@@vaderguitarplayer Drawing from imagination is more like drawing from memory. But in some cases it is good to do that. If your an artist and you have a booth at Comic Convention, then it comes in handy to draw from memory, because you have drawn some characters 1000 times . It looks great to watch people like Jim Lee drawing a quick sketch from memory. But in everydays artist life, who make a living out of it, you´re right.
I’m out here having a panic attack, panicking about how I’ll never be good enough to be a professional. But watching your video calmed me. It made me feel like my dream may just be obtainable.
This video is a life saver as a struggling art student, before Art school i´ve never done character design or drawing in a more serious setting, this is really helping me with creating/finding my style while dealing with Imposter syndrome as most of my classmates have been drawing for a few years now, thanks a lot for this.
The funny thing is this is EXACTLY how I taught myself to draw. Sure art classes were good for the basics, but mainly I looked at pictures I liked (e.g. Larry Elmore's Dragonlance art and old school Conan the Barbarian illustrations) and just copied them. Then I eventually applied the different styles to my own drawings.
IKR? It's like... "I am shit at art.. boo hoo..." And then you see a new video from ethan and you're like "But I still suck at art boo hoo" You go ahead and watch it against your better judgement and after that you're like "HOLY SHIT IT'S THIS SIMPLE? OH MOMMA, I'VE BEEN STOOPID. LET'S GET TO DRAWING!"
![INSTAGRAM: 4 QUICK STEPS TO FIND YOUR ART STYLE [ft. Ramon] ALWAYS compare yourself to other artists](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/F-8rY-WiIt8/mqdefault.jpg)
This guy's tutorials demolish and annihilate my understanding of art and put me in a strange position but goddamn I love them
Yeah! His teachings are like no other and fun!!
I like this guy explaining
I Dont really mind if he puts me in a different position too
Got u you to a k like. No. 1000
It's like weird art bdsm. Uwu put my knaalij in its place daddy
I’m new to this channel, but it feels like boot camp for artists...
im new too and im kinda overwhelmed
I havent even watched it yet, i need to mentally prepare myself
Probably physically too honestly, i need to run up a few mountains or something
You get used to it
It's very much a "improve quickly with a lot of work, but effective work"
My graphic design teacher used to say “you aren’t god, you can’t make something out of nothing, what you can do is steal, learn to steal well.”
Sidneycozzoi
Robbers: HELL YEAH
Me: •3•
sounds like a prick
Cowboycomando54 what’s your point?
@@Sidneycozzoi my point is your teacher sounds rather pompous with a quote like that.
Yikes...
As someone who cannot visualize in their head, it's refreshing af to hear someone say it's not an imperative part of "the process" to imagine your work.
I agree! I can't visualize in my head either and it's nice knowing that you don't have to imagine what you're gonna do, when you could well- just find references and create your own thing from it.
Hello, friends with aphantasia! 💚 It is indeed a huge relief to be told, finally, that no, there is no "one method that fits all" and yes, we can get inspired and create great art by using various methods. I spent years and years being confused, trying to visualize things and not understanding why everybody around was apparently seeing lots of stuff while I always only saw the back of my eyelids... I thought that my need to use refrences made me both a bad artist and a perpetual plagiator. Since discovering how and why I was different and that many people also have aphantasia, I have abandoned pointless attempts to be like others, and created my own ways of generating artistic ideas, that suit me and my needs. This video is yet another motivational kiss of my invisible muse.
Ig it's kinda like that for me too. Except I can visualise but I can't hold on it for too long. I think of something and woa there it goes
As an Artist with Aphantasia, I just paint, anything, It doesn`t matter what it looks like, at the beginning, I see things appear on the canvas, then work on that, and evolve it, just painting randomly, until something appears, and eventually it turns into an amazing work of Art. but nobody really knows about my art, because i also have autism, I have a certain process, which I have expanded on over many years, Imagination? whats that.. LOL. It comes naturally to me, without having it.. I cant explain it.
@@sameliusastraton4670 oh my god! That's exactly the sme for me! I am not very good at drawing tho. And anytime I try to draw something it just looks horrible. But when I do something like that it usually ends up being something not as horrible
I never thought I'd see the day where a man with feral energy calling me stupid multiple times would be inspiring 🤣
Feral energy, I like it. Apt description.
Its really forced imo
Lol, this joker would piss his pants if he ever encountered real "feral energy".
@@ghouliethousandtrouser2905 exactly.
I know right 😂😂
I've never been so insulted and so inspired at the same time, all this bullying was very motivating thanks so much sir
Same kinda... Like he's intimidating me but makes me wanna learn and improve kinda.
PFFFFFT RIGHT?!
@@aiiiia9971 Ikr? It's kind of empowering, wholesomely agressive
@@BiOverrated His attitude is dope ngl
I've never seen this guy before, but I find the insults hilarious
"Never draw from imagination"
Me: Bold of you to assume I had Imagination in the first place
Tord
Lol Oh damn
😂 omg
Ghost Girl I l o v e y o u r p r o f I l e p I c t u r e
Ghost Girl I miss edd’s world :,,
8:40 as someone who writes far more than I draw, this sentence made everything make sense to me.
What he's trying to do, in essence, is to make us understand the basic building blocks of drawing, art is, essentially, a language, with "words", elements, bits to understand.
You can't learn to write well without first looking at other writers, and analysing what they do, their techniques, how they pace their stories, understanding these basic things woven into a piece of writing. For some reason, all this time, it didn't quite get into my head that this was what he was trying to do this whole time.
Yess!! I write a lot and recently found that I love drawing just as much as writing. This is true, on so many levels, and makes me happy to know other people have the same thoughts and feelings.
Same! I've always seen the scenes play out in my head visually when I write so im hoping to better my drawing skills enough to be able to able to convey them visually too
And music works in the same way...
But what you're talking about is applied on almost all creative process and for composing no matter what are you trying.
"You can't learn without [a lot of stuff that requies effort]"
Well then I'm a horrible person because I can never motivate myself to put more effort then the minimal requuired one. Oh well, guess I'll stick to imagining the stuff in my head. It worked for all these years, so why not?
Real talk? I probably never got better at drawing because people around me were TOO supportive. No matter what I did it was always "It still looks good!" or "You'll get it next time!", not really telling me how to fix it or get better.
Having a dude with a broken cigarette pull a knife on me and say "Hey, you're stupid" helped way, WAY more than all of that empty positive reinforcement. Thank you.
Dude, me too!
yeah, there's a time and place for everything. you need friends that will lift you up when feeling down, and offer you real critique when you're ready to improve
this reminded me of my gym instructor ..
I got the opposite end of that. I had an issue where I was showered in compliments and then compared to other artists, entered into competitions that were out of my league, giving away free art to anyone who asked (all without my consent) and then being told "WELL YOU'LL NEVER BE A GOOD ARTIST BECAUSE YOU DON'T PRACTICE ENOUGH" when I was exhausted.
And my peers were like "must be nice to have someone who supports you and your dreams"
So enerbea, tell me more about this guy who told you that.
No worries 😊😊😊
he's so aggressively wholesome??? Like even when he's acting tough his cigar falls and he smiles. and no matter what the topic of his videos are, all he wants is for students who are pursuing this path to improve faster.
"We're not looking for perfection, we're looking for progress."
-him in another video
"Close your eyes and try to imagine a life where you are not so stupid"
ethan feels like a pro artist that's fed up with the industry and runs on cocaine to make it through the day. 10/10 teaching.
I'm new to this guy and honestly, I'm pretty sure he is xD
Same haha
he takes an extra hit every time before he records a new take
Mmmmmmmm mmmmmm m m m m mmmmmmm jackie
I had a teacher like that. Really nervous guy, always saying "You wanna get good at watercolor? The study those fucking watercolors from Ghibli. Wanna get good at illustration, then study what Moebius is doing for fuck's sake!"
He was so tense he would smoke his cigs in only two puffs.
“How to Steal Like an Artist” but the author has a knife calling me a stupid baby
This man is bullying me into becoming a good artist thank you for what you've done I'm amazed how much I've progressed!
HahahahahA Exactly. And don't you forget it, or we'll come for you and tie your shoe-laces together and take your lunch money.
Ever since I started following his advice, I legitimately saw improvements over time. This chaotic energy works like a charm.
This guy is basically: " **You Suck!** Now let me tell you why you suck"
Same. I've drastically improved since Ethan started holding my little baby hand.
Ya'll sound like you're in an abusive relationship.
"Quit thinking that you're original, coz you're not. Nobody's original. We're all thinking the same ideas, in just different ways."
love it.
Laid eyes on the comment EXACTLY as he said it xD
I mean, is he wrong tho?
I’m making this my senior quote
This is so untrue. What about the first artist on earth? Where did he get his ideas from, if its not from himself?
I don't get it tbh. Doesn't sound true
"never draw from imagination." "Practice makes perfect doesn't exist." I SO wish I had heard these things as a novice artist. Spent my adolescence developing bad drawing habits and unhelpful elitist ideas, like the idea that using references or copying is "cheating" and therefore not real art. Or that artists have to learn everything on their own, not from other people. So now as an adult, I've hardly improved since i only used imagination and only drew the same thing over and over lol. Never practicing purposefully and never learning.
lambs
I actually have sort of the opposite problem. I don’t think using references is cheating, but I still don’t do it. Not sure why, I just prefer drawing from imagination. This really convinced me to use references more lol
my drawing got improved by only seeing someones art without drawing for couple/half months lol
I completely agree. I used to feel so much guilt for trying out different styles that are iconic to certain artists. I used to always beat myself down for not being able to come up with any original artstyle and that it directly means I am uncreative and unmotivated.
You weren't looking at the right places. Of course, it isn't your fault, but if you were told this you were in the wrong place. While that idea was being spread around more commonly, it was usually by novices (or unprofessionals, to use a possibly made-up term) who could be considered jealous of another person's way of learning or people who "consume" the art, which are people who expect to be awed by how hard something was to draw. There WAS good artist elitists, but I doubt they were ever good teachers.
The real thing is, you should start watching other artists art to get reference, but avoid using it while working, that way, you learn no get inspiration and not doing copies.
14:08 holds some extremely good advice for starting artists. Don't draw just because you "see it there", draw because you understand why its there, what its doing, and how it works. Understanding the subject and the material within helps so much more than just slapping something on there because you saw someone else do it and it looked good, but you don't know why.
I cannot emphasize that enough.
This includes those who start drawing by tracing as well, although not talked about much you *can* learn from tracing BUT it doesn't work if you don't **understand** what's happening beneath your pen, or give it some sort of reason for why that line / shade / color was put there. Tracing can help improve your line work, or help you to become better with muscle memory and identifying shapes within a drawing, but should be done in a sense of understanding what's happening, not copying (tracing).
Anywhoo, I just really liked that part.
But how am I supposed to know why an artist drew something a certain way just by looking at it? I'm so confused.
@@joelcrafter43 You study why they drew that, i.e. structure studies, anatomy studies, photo studies, looking at real world examples and applying it to your own work. Drawing isn't just putting a pen to paper, just like math isn't a random sequence of numbers on a paper. There's a reason why things are put where they are, its a calculated 3D illusion on a 2D surface. its better to start small, like drawing simple 3D shapes (still life), understanding the perspective angle, the lighting angle, and how they all play together to create that 3D illusion. Once you have down the basics with simple shapes, you can move further, recognizing other shapes in other things and knowing how light / perspective would interact with them. Drawing involves a lot of imaginary, creative, and analytical thinking to accomplish a completed, very nice artwork.
@@AshenMeadow Thanks for clearing some of that up, as well as the advice.
Will it ever get easier to do things like that once I've learned them in the future though?
I hope that I won't *always* have to intensely focus on every detail of stuff I draw in order to do it correctly.
@@AshenMeadow There's one thing I still don't understand though.. How am I supposed to come to the correct conclusion on these things? Like what if I study something and come to an incorrect conclusion and then that conclusion clouds my understanding so on further study I can't come to any other conclusion and then I just keep being wrong unless someone explicitly calls me out on my mistake, and then how do I figure out how to learn the correct thing after I've realized my mistake, what if nobody ever calls me out and I never realize the mistake I'm making and I never improve because I can't stop making it because I think it's not a mistake?
@@AshenMeadow I might have an anxiety disorder...
The second he takes off those glasses the bad boy persona instantly evaporates
thats the point, so you can tell when he's actually telling you something you should listen to
ikr??? his eyes look so kind
WieloAlpaca he has longer eyelashes than a camel and I’m jealous
He looks like that one kid in middle school who was prettier than the girls
Shanzida Kabir couldnt of said it better
"Close your eyes, and imagine a world where you're not so stupid." I cant...
I know right...:(
LOLOLOL same😂
Lol
me too cry
I can it's this world
Ethan: Refrence better artists
The first artist: no i dont think i will
I mean, the first artist probably referenced nature etc
boo Right, nature. Not another person. o:
@@Sorcyri because there wasn't another, yes.
@@user-qq3mi1gb3s The first artist created nature man, go to church man
*slaps tomatoe sauce on rocks*
I’m too distracted from the crazy wind outside your window that’s pushing that tree back and forth.
So it's not just me then lmao
The cigar deadass said:
ㄱ
so deep 😔👊
i’m crying so hard 😭😭
thats a fucking cigarette
please stop, I can't take it anymore. **cries in a corner**
CIGARETTE DUDE
I feel like I just went through art school but on crack...
LOL!
HAHA
lmao
Yes, ha, ha 😂
quite literally on crack
you got a sub when you said “the only original part of you is your taste”.
that part is true. taht is what one can do combien with good taste all the resources out there. that is creativity.
His right though, our "original" is the compilation of art tastes.
Only masters developed their "original" after countless of "tastes".
biggest load of shit ive ever heard.
yucky skunk ok, but than you have to explain why.
@@yuckyskunk2021 ????
An artist IS his inspirations, how smart they are to use them is a different matter
I feel like finding your own art style is something you find along the way while you keep drawing and drawing
mhm
That is only partially true, sure with time and some practise you understand the fundamentals but when it comes to finding your artstyle you need to know in which way to express yourself. So looking at artists who inspire you or who make you go like: "Woah, wish I could draw like that!" and trying to learn from their techniches will help you way more that drawing and trying to find an artstyle that doesn´t even exist. It´s like wandering around in a big forest at night without any knowledge from where you came and now you expect from yourself how to get out.
"Nobody is original. We're just thinking the same ideas in different ways" wise words
👍🏽
~Ethan 2020
That's true
True but at the same time nothing we make can ever be the same as something already made
Well you cant just wake up and expect to be the super original dude. Draw for some years first, then change the stuff up a bit to your liking. This is how every learning process goes (I am not an artist). It starts with complete imitation and later as you gain confidence you slowly morph it into your own stuff.
I'm literally convinced that this guy is the Gordon Ramsay of art.
I'm with you there dude
poopy
Watch Angel ganev roasting your drawing, it might change your mind 😰
HAJDF
Pretty sure that title is taken by Bob Ross
Ethan: *calls me stupid multiple times*
Me: *subscribes*
Lmfao
Ikr
Same
Such a masochist
ooo kinky
Practice makes perfect doesn't exist, perfect practice does. - wise words by this artist! Glad I got here via youtube algorithm.
7:15 Mileage is not wrong but incorrect mileage is wrong. You are not going to get anywhere by drawing the same circle can go on everyday. But the real practice lies in seeing how other artists use the same structure and rules in their ways. The more variety, the more understanding we get via "experiential learning".
Take notes. Point and analyse the art that you admire. Draw something else in their style. Observe how they simplify the anatomy. Why do they do that. Why do they avoid certian things which are not exactly needed for the intent of their art.
You otherwise can just keep restricting yourself especially with a mentor not knowing where to go next and getting stuck at trying to draw perfect circles and same old from our limited ( and borrowed) imagination.
Nobody:
Ethan’s cig: I need an ambulance rn
lmao
Nice joke Nathalie 😂
lmao
It bothered me the whole time xD
@@warren4033 Oh you're in for a ride on this whole channel
It’s interesting how many in the artist community think referencing is “cHEatINg” and drawing from imagination is the only way to do real art... it’s dumb. Thank you for making this
It's not cheating, it's a bad way to learn . Depend always on reference and one day you gonna need to resolve something from the top of your head. You'll be in trouble.
@@lucasaccardo360 If you always use reference your mind would have a really good grasp on how things look so how in the world would you be in trouble drawing things you've actually looked at hundreds of times?
Anand Khorana got it
That's because it genuinely is, but ok
Pinterest.
I use Pinterest for reference, since the art there is all kinds of different, I draw the art there for reference, and as I draw another piece, I find myself thinking, "this part would appeal better to me if I draw it like the other drawing, but more like this..." in the end, your not stealing art, because all you did was combine your understanding from multiple different artist to mold your own form.
Artist should feel honored that someone used them as reference, to aid in someone's growth.
Although stealing is another thing, but we're not talking about that.
"Imagine a life where you're not so STUPID"
heavy pause
he is just projecting :)
@@Kalorag he's joking
@@red_boum and so am I.
Saw comment at exact moment in video, and it worked too well xD
I actually closed my eyes too 😭
"Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice is where its at 😎✨" this guy is such yearbook quote material, holy heck-
"The only original part of you is your taste." I like that. It goes along with, "There are no original stories left - but no one can tell it like you."
I like that who said that?
Lucas Bustillo somebody🧐
i'm still mad some guy that has a broken cigarette is more helpful that 4 years of classes in school.
Ikr ;w;
Is this dr.disrespect
Cursed Mask so this is where dr disrespect has been during his downtime.
and got out better info in less than 20 mins completely for free
Daisy Cutter he is now known by dr,rescect
"I'm trying to teach you how to teach yourself here."
So what you're saying is that you're going to hold our little stupid baby hands for just a second?
Noooooo
You're missing the point, baby child. Tighten those screws in your brain
Yeah but just, ye juuuust for a second, from here on out BOOM *throws us into the pool* -now swim
666 likes, our stupid baby spawn of Satan hands-
I read this just in 2:18 and he said "baby" and I was like OMG what
i hate it when my teachers are like "you can do it you're smart you've got this!!" it's much more realistic for someone to be screaming about how small my brain is that's much easier to comprehend
No one:
Ethan: you came to my house, insult my dog
also ethan: think you're so big, think you're so tough
you little babies
Actually... that was me. I did insult his dog... I regret it.
I laughed so hard XD
@@eraserburns9356 *you FOOL*
"I'm gonna assume you already know structure."
*bold*
and brash
@@Alina-kc5ky More like
@@TheeLZ belongs in the
@@firebug7208 trash
@@filly291 HAHAHAHA
Ethan: "If you wanna get better faster than all the other high schoolers around you"
Me, a 30-year-old: .> ._.
w h a t ?
same
me: *is 21* aha
@@fistOFjustice91 me is *9* aha
It gets better at 31 don’t worry ☄️
True. I've always wondered every time I ask good artists around me why they're so good at what they do. They always say it's just from imagination and you draw it out or something. But personally, my method is look for random references, make my own version, and people say it's some sort of plagiarism reason why I just completely stopped drawing back then.
"Close your eyes and begin to imagine---"
Yeah, I'm there...
"a life where you're not so stupid.."
Ouch. Got me good. He got me real good.
He got me laughing my ass off
He got me as well, i laughed so much at it :D
I'm dead😂 He got me too
the
*cries in stupid*
This dude insults everyone but it’s still helpful,
10/10 would get insulted by this guy again
But in that video it won't be helpful
@@karasenpai2088 helped me👅
Made it to 666
Constructive Insults are this guy's specialty.
@@karasenpai2088 I feel like it keeps me motivated.
Don't misinterpret his lesson here; It's art, of course you're gonna need imagination. He means; 'don't draw from your imagination WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE/DEVELOP'. If you're not looking at inspiration or references by professionals, and taking notes; it's gonna be difficult to improve since you're stuck in a bubble.
edit: grammar
holy shit this is exactly the point all of the "BuT aRt IS ImAgiNAtiON, You'eR TELliNG ARTiSt To SteAL, YOu're JUSt meAn" comments miss. if ya want to just use imagination just for fun, do it! but if you want to learn. you have to actually study
@@cockroachteeth Study, exactly that's the word!
I like a challenge
exactly! you can't improve as fast if you don't look at references. it's the same as any other field, pretty much. it's easier to read about science than rediscovering cells.
@@Yam-jt3vw that's a great analogy.
"Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes *permanent* ." - Mr.Maerkle (He was my music teacher in middle school. Rest in peace.)
I feel like i learned everything and nothing at the same time.
Same
Lol, I cant even with this.. thank you.
Mood
Welcome to being taught how to draw
Then you have learned the Universe
and when he says ”don’t do it” it doesn’t mean you can’t try it, just coming from a professional he knows what’s the quick and effective way to learn. these videos help me bc i feel like im going in circles sometimes and to break from it i need a new perspective. these videos are really helpful
when I was drawing from imagination I had so many ideas, just didn't know how to draw them but now as I draw better I have less and less ideas, I end up drawing "what I know" and hate my drawing afterwards :(
Getting stuck in a cycle. Easiest way to break out is just drop the imagination and full blast use references.
It means you need to take a break and go out to a museum, gallery, walk in the city, travel, etc. Your visual library will improve and ideas will come again :)
I have the same problem! I'm making the same anatomically correct bs even when I sit myself down and go like NO JUST SHIT ON THE PAPER but I don't. I feel like I'm wasting paper if I'm not drawing what I know
Same!!!
At first you wanted the joy of creation, now you have the creation of joy, but you can't combine them. I mean, both joy and creation is combinations of somethings as he says in the video. Just try to combine.
I love what AJ does with just the default round brush. He’s truly a master at what he does. And it’s just another example of how brushes aren’t the most important thing.
I feel like a lot of artists that started drawing around 2005-2010 have to struggle with the fact they've learned horrible advice that stunted their growth.
I started drawing in 2007/8 and to this day have to deal with the guilt of referencing. I was constantly told not to reference other artists, not to learn from artists (especially not anatomy etc) when I personally always found it more helpful to copy other artists shapes....
@@NoyuPhantom balance is good, do references from time to time but also draw from your imagination
This hits way too close to home. I'm right there with you, friend.
The Internet let terrible art advice and habits spread incredibly quickly. Pairing this with the fact that most 2005-2010 artists taught ourselves and ended up starting with an anime based style not really having learnt the fundamentals first, we ended up applying bad teaching to our artwork and thought about art in a way that meant you weren't good enough if you referenced. looking back on it, it was very bad advice to give myself and I am now having to re-learn just about everything I perceived about art... which is why I am trying to take advice from industry professionals like Ethan instead of Twitter tutorials.
Well said, I remember when using guidelines were considered cheating.
Sad, I fall into this category as well.
When he said close your eyes I actually did it and then I hear “try to imagine a life where you’re not so stupid” I DIED hahaha
"Nothing is original. It's how you combine all those things where the originality comes into play." This was really helpful for someone like me just starting out in art. I don't really know where to start because I can't take classes and my school doesn't take art seriously. The last time I tried to draw a character (not an original one) I saved a ton of reference pictures, stared at them for ages, and then tried to combine them. So this advice, that it's okay to do that until you've developed enough of a visual library to generate drawings on you own, was really relevant to me.
People saying nothing is original should get out of the way of those who are originals.
So in your opinion, are originals people who draw things they imagine and use reference photos (but don't directly reference art)? I guess getting out of the way would mean to stop saying that we are original artists when we reference others' art. I don't actually completely agree with the video that your drawing process should be this exact model, I just think that the main thing you can take from the video is that you can use things from lots of other artists, and take inspiration from them. Do you think referencing other people's drawings of the thing I'm trying to draw is wrong? Just wanted to know. I hope I didn't come across as rude, just wanted some clarification here.
Aayushi Sanadhya you have to be careful with this method he teaches. I would avoid copying from current artists even if you mix and match as many as possible. Usually people can smell when you do it and it’s a bad look tbh. It comes off as uncreative and will just make your work look trendy and dishonest. Practicing from other artists is not a bad way to learn though but try studying from artists from the past (old or deceased) they’re considered more fair game.
All that said the best way to learn to draw is from life. Observe the things you see in front of you. You already have a style because we all do. It’s your personality more than anything. It’s how you play with and have fun with you art. That’s where your true originality is. Taste does inform what you want to create but taste doesn’t only derive from other’s art. It comes from how you honestly look at the world and what stands out to you. You can get inspired by literally anything and that’s the beauty of being an artist is that there’s so much to notice in the world. When you only take inspiration from other’s work you’re really just copying what inspired them in the world rather than what inspires you. So just be careful from doing this too much, because it can lead to serious mental issues.. like no joke. If people think you’re copying too many current artists, especially if your goal is to have your own unique style, then it’s gonna make you feel really bad about yourself. Possibly lower your self-esteem and that’s not a good place to be.
Also nothing wrong with drawing from imagination either.. you should always feel free to do that. Just make sure you practice your other drawing skills at the same time and let them enhance each other.
Thanks for the advice! It makes sense to me.
@@aayushisanadhya2536 Not necessarily. Use all the tools you have at hand.But looking at art like theres nothing left thats new is really counter to exploration. I have a distinctive style and people always comment on how unusual it is. Ive inspired artists and I love and encourage that. But, the ones who start finding one to emulate have no confidence in their voice and its easy to have your own direction drowned in internet talent and overwhelm of styles.
Never thought that Aquaman would be giving me art advice. I love it lmao
LOL
"These shapes are completely different."
My amateur-ass honestly can't tell.
Thought that was just me lol😅
Huh, so the stuff about "iT cOmES NaTuRAl" was kinda shit advice. Thank you, ethan, for acually showing us what *exactly* we need to practice instead of telling us to practice.
@lihshi then why that style thing is important to you? don't you see some artists have styles that kind of resemble each other? if you don't know what to practice then that is not what you should do. buy books or learn from classes =))))) i haven't found my style yet, and it is frustrating. but idk, it comes when you have enough materials for yourself and that's prob why most say it comes naturally. this man says something right but for some other, i highly doubt that so...yeh, don't take all advice at 100%
Personally I've never put much emphasis on my 'style' and instead focused on understanding and recreating things I like from different artists. I guess I have a 'style' now though (at least that's what people tell me). And we need to get rid of the stigma around copying to learn FFS.
Well said 👌🏻
Yeah people who say that are lying, whether you know it or not, as an artist you are constantly taking inspiration from other art and building a ‘library’ in your head, and even when you are drawing from “imagination” you are always referencing that library. As far as building a style, in my experience you build a style when you experiment with many styles, finding what you like and what works for you, and what you learn along each step of the way influences your over all ‘style’, even if you don’t have a set one
I thought that i don't have an artstyle. But when I show my art to other people they say, that I have recognisible style. It really comes natural. I just find way of drawing face/eyes/hands/etc that more easy and goodlooking to me without realising it ;)
He's like the mix of Bob Ross and Gordon Ramsay. Or am I the only one who's thinking this?
if bob ross and gordon ramsay had a baby...
joonatan kylmäniemi no please no but yes
Bob Ross, Gordon Ramsey, and PewDiePie had a wild threesome to somehow make this dude
Yes but yes
i completely agree
This is completely changed my entire art process. I've been drawing from imagination and getting rookie results even after taking art classes, and it's been frustrating.
So nobody’s gonna talk about how quickly he switched personas, huh?
Jjang Jjang Man I just got into that part of the video and I was like... what, how.. who?
help ive never been more confused
Same like Pewds,that's why I got charmed the first few moments see this video lol
bruh samw
He switched from pewds to Bob Ross😂
"im trying to teach you how to teach yourself." This never happened in school and why most of the people in my classes never liked learning
yeah, unfortunately, this is what a lot of people don't get-if you don't learn to teach yourself you'll never get to where you need to be unless you're literally tied at the hip to someone who can teach you hours and hours every day
In just one sentence he invented a perfect way to completely revamp the educational system in a way that will produce infinitely higher quality students.
@@Sergei_Ivanovich_Mosin If only he was a principal of a school or a politician.
yep agree
They were lazy. Teachers are humans too and when you so much bullahit fron students, you end yp losing hope on them
I didn’t really get the “imagination bad! no do!” mentality until I realized my imagination is just a culmination of styles I like
Exactly!! I don't understand what people are talking about when they say "did you draw this from in your head?"
Uum yes? No? Kind of?
Helen Burton lol aphantasia gang rise up
Imagination for concept not reference.
Imagination good but added references better.
Absolutely! Have you guys ever seen this artist meme called an "influence board" where you add in all the artists & art styles that have influenced you?
It's really eye opening when you realize that that really "unique" looking style is just a chimera of 3-5 artists mushed into 1 beautiful art style monstrosity. lol
This is for learning only. Just like mileage. He is making fun of conventional wisdom all the time.
He wants you to increase your VISUAL VOCABULARY so that you can use your imagination to create images that don't suck!
Get it?
If you want to say something you don't have to invent a language and then teach people how to understand your language so that you can say something!
PROKO call this choosing your parents.
DALI said 'if you play at being a genius, you become one! '
Cheers
Stumbled onto this, 0:02 seconds in. Broken cigarette and a knife being brandished by a guy who is about to drop some sagely shit onto me.
Subbed.
8:58 “Close your eyes... try to imagine...”
Me:Yes... YES!!
Ethan: “A world where you’re not so stupid”
Bro had me dying
I know right xD same
I love this guys teaching style. He’s calling you stupid and at the same time calling me stupid it’s just the right amount of stupid to keep me engaged and actually learn something cos we stupid
NDoubleA Animations 😂😂😂
pewdiepie if he was an artist.
His editor is the biggest Benedict Arnold of all time, which I think is hilarious. "Like and *fade out instantly starts*-"
@@olilithziosmarell9384 Ah a 19 year old
@@dankshadow7101 🙊🙊🙊 Bro even I forget I'm 19, how TF DID YOU KNOW?😂😂😂
"never draw without reference"
me doodling in school: aw shuks
Jademonas S2 same.
for art studies on the sly, when you have a free second run to the library and print out real-life reference pictures of SFW stuff like hands and feet, as large as you can. cut them out and tape them into your sketchbook. I recommend making special flat sketchbooks about the size of large index cards that will fit inside your textbooks and slide under your homework. look for "book binding" on Pinterest for really pretty methods
@@Rina_Redfield I have entire pages of just drawing my hand in different positions because I was really bored. Fun stuff to do in class when you have nothing to do
I'm sure doodling is different
@@Saltedroastedcaramel I agree that doodling is different but also I like drawing my hand. And sketching what I saw
I'm not sure that drawing from imagination is necessarily bad. Many abstract artists will do this, plus there are some that aren't interested in representing the real world. However, you do have a point!
When I started drawing as a child, I didn't visualize what I wanted to draw. I drew by instinct. But once I started seeing what other people could do such as anime or Leonardo da Vinci, I tried to draw like them, by visualizing the finished product in an art style from someone else, and not my own style.
I like how he just insults us casually and we're all just like: 👏👏👏👏👏
Frr
I think we applaud decause he has a knife in his pocket.
@@zephaniahdejene1746 fear is a key instrument
@@zephaniahdejene1746 Is that a knife in his pocket? Or is he just happy to see you?
bruh i get insulted all the time this is just funny
You’re the perfect example of chaotic neutral...
Ikr!!
YES
YEAH THATS SOME DND MENE RIGHT THERE
Or is it chaotic good?
Yeeeeees
*scribbles in baby crayon*
"DON'T SCRIBBLE IN YOUR BABY CRAYON..."
*puts baby crayon down and cries*
Him: trying to educate me Me: looking at the trees having a heart attack at 2:09 😂
Hahha same
“Close your eyes, try to imagine a life where you’re.... not so STUPID.” That killed me I actually closed my eyes and was weirdly offended 😂😂
“You don’t know how to create something on a professional level if you’ve never seen something on a professional level”
I don’t know why, but this is the line that FINALLY made all this click for me?? Thank you so much!!
but define professional level, been published? make a living off of art? work for someone? won awards? have your work on tee shirts like "the Mountain"? get a daily deviation on devaint art? press release for art? have something I made so "you gotta see this" to where my shit is stolen by overseas companies flooding the market whith my stolen goods?
The olny click i had is im confused
@@kaiyodei Ah the last part is very real and dark....I feel bad for all the artists whose works were stolen. :(
Same here bra......all the years wasted😭😭😭
kaiyodei if the artist art have live in it it true art that may inspire you
why is he so underrated? why didn’t i find him earlier?
Cause UA-cam thinks it's SO big and SO tough that they won't give him the exposure he DESERVES
You didn't found him, Ethan found you, little guy.
VITTXRIO facts
Because he’s giving “controversial” advice in my opinion
Wired Golem Wym? His talent is demonstrated in his work constantly. He showcases a great understanding of linework, color choice, flow, and shapes in his works. He knows how to ink properly without leaving the essence of the sketch behind as well or how to make it work in situations and pulls off some pretty unique perspective shots.
I’ve never seen him trace, just break down forms and draw beside them which is what you do. An artists trace all the time to understand and break down forms or even go over their own work to smooth out lines. Its’ part of the process, especially in animation. Alot of fight scenes from Naruto have rotoscoping, but I don’t see how it adds or takes away from the talent for example.
Bigger, yet simpler shapes, can act as the foundation of smaller, more detailed, shapes. Duller edges can give off feelings of collected, peace, stalwartness, wisdom, defense. Sharp edges can represent energy, impulsive, conflict, decisiveness, speed.
Other artists: Draw with reference
Ethan: DO NOT DRAW WITHOUT REFERENCE
when He said "perfect practice is what you need to be doing" something clicked
really love how He is capitalized making Him seem like some kind of god
that’s my band director’s favorite saying: “perfect practice makes perfect” :) made me happy when I heard him say it
my math teacher used to say "perfect practice makes perfect"
My brain hurts
My karate instructor used to say that
*he just literally turned on Bob Ross mode when he got the mic on the beard*
Luna Crystal Beard mode made me so uncomfortable lol
i think u missed the fact that he wore the "kind ethan" glasses
Lily Fae I almost fall asleep his voice was nice
No bc this dudes face is so comforting yet intimidating. He has what people call a “baby face”. An upturned nose and comforting eyes. I have a baby face too. But he has a beard, and most people with a beard give an extremely intimidating vibe. The way you look can tell a whole lot about your personality. His personality is really helpful and he’s great at teaching. But he also enforces his teachings doing stuff like calling us stupid.
Idk I do a lot of analyzing when I look at people. It helps me give my characters more personality when I draw them.
can we take a minute to appreciate how this guy got into the video right away instead of a long ass intro?
He's like less angyry Gordon Ramsay of art community
@Wired Golem naw, he's actually really talented in his practice and understanding of art tbh
@@datscrazy4095 I'll bet you Gordon Ramsay started out simply following recipes too. . .
@Wired Golem You're all spare parts aren't you bud?
*We don't speak that name here*
“If you wanna get better faster than all of the other high schoolers around you”
I feel called out
Yes
Or middle schoolers* (if your me)
Or college student (oh wait, that's me)
Same
I just wanna improve before I go to high school in a couple months and take art class
Good, then I shall combine:
Lines: Tetsuya Nomura
Shapes: Shingo Adachi
Genre: Mengo Yokoyari
Gogoo
Thanks for not BS Ethan !
I like it when ppl don't promise you the stars only o tell you to build your rocket yourself
Thank you man, this actually motivated me to draw. Weirdly “you suck” made me more motivated than “you can do it! :))”
Right?? I wanted to get better just to spite him! I wish you the best with your art, I know being an artists kind of sucks ass-
It just takes the right person to say it.
same its weird but I sorta get more motivated when someone says I'm bad at something to prove to them wrong rather then being motivated when someone says your pretty good prob because if your good you don't need to improve however if you suck you would rather improve
@@gotouchgrass2873 absolutely. Spite is a great motivator
It’s also good to know you don’t need to be great fast
Ethan: "You take the FBI, you mix it with aliens, you get-"
Me, a stupid baby: "The X-Files"
Ethan: "-Men in Black"
Lmao! mission failed successfully
I thought the exact same thing. X-Files popped into my head right away and then he goes.. men in black. Lmao.
@@tifa4034 just goes to show nothing is original & a lot of things out there share similar base ideas aint it
Thank you
i did the EXACT same thing
Note: don’t confuse ‘referencing’ art with ‘stealing’ art
A very important difference indeed. Same as referencing and tracing
Tbh stealing some things is inevitable - it even happens in photography.
Don't steal intentionally.
But don't go all anal deviantart if the colors/poses/theming is similar.
Nothing is completely original.
Go ahead and steal art as long as you aren't trying to pass it off as your own! But for the sake of practice and studying, I think it's okay to recreate someone's art. Especially if you're just starting out.
valkrieknights stealing art means trying to pass it as your own, referencing art is taking their art to practice........
No Go nono, you are confusing ‘stealing’ with referencing or sharing styles. That is indeed inevitable. Stealing means re-drawing someone else’s drawing and post it as your own creation without saying it’s a re-draw.
THANK YOU FOR SLAPPING ME IN THE FACE WITH THIS FACT!! I don't feel satisfied with my art at all, I keep seeing artist friends of mine improve but I've been drawing and drawing from my imagination non-stop for the past 2 weeks yet I still got nowhere! But now I know drawing from imagination is stoopid, thank you, kind sir. I will use lots of reference from now on 💖
"never draw from imagination"
Every single person who draws mythical creatures they created:
Well shit.
and most of those mythical creatures that you're talking about has real life references, like all those huge tentacles or serpent like creature and such.
@@kenko6834 It's funny how many missed a point 😂
@@kenko6834 Yes when I want to draw something that is mystical it still has some reality and I look for references to make it happen.
We actually can't create anything that doesn't already exist we are not god. It's the way we put them together that make it "new" everything in this world that was ever been created by human where just already there but detached.
abra cadabra Wow it looks right. I didn't know that before
@@kenko6834 what about Pokemon they basically made it out of nothing there is no Ancient Greek myth for Pokemon
"DONT YOU EVER DRAW FROM IMAGINATION!"
yes officer, ive been attacked
me too
Same here bruv like a few months ago I watched this liked it & then started drawing from my imagination while watching half way -
I only draw from imagination🤭
Moa Moa same, im used to not using references because the school wouldnt allow it and i got use to it, thein it became a habit
IKR I DRAW CROCS AND STUFF FROM MY DREAMS
it's kinda like when someone asks "who's your biggest influences" theyre really just asking "whos styles did you copy most and combine to make your own style?". i mean, our personalities are really just combined styles of our parents, friends, favorite movies, authors, experiences, etc.
indeed! But according to some comments here .. many people seem to be bothered by that factual view xD
To be fair though, some people also don't like to acknowledge that there are genuine "unique" art styles that come about. Unfortunately, as soon as they're put out there, everyone else copies it so it no longer seems unique. Picasso's abstract form is a prime example. When he first created it, it completely shook the art world as it was then; it was completely unheard of. Was it inspired from a mash up other things in his head most definitely, was it a mash up of other pervious artist styles, no. I mean someone did invent the wheel and the lightbulb. There is such a thing as completely new ideas, albeit they're very few and very far between. Also, admitting you were inspired by something doesn't discredit originality.
Yes, most stuff out there are just modifications and mashups of existing stuff, I wholeheartedly agree on that, I'm just saying, originality and uniqueness do still exist despite that. I personally am getting very fed up with the current trend of remakes, remasters, and new takes. I REALLY don't need Batman origin movie #256. :x
This video lines perfectly with my favorite quote from Dali "Those who do not want to imitate anything produce nothing" it changed my life honestly...
Great insight as always Thank you Ethan
This lifted a weight off of my shoulders, for some reason I got it in my head that I needed to only draw from my imagination to improve
Same here 😂
"Never Draw from Imagination", is a credo more for artist who work in animation, where you have to implement the specific style of a show. The method of the practise is good, is allowes you to explore different art styles. In the end, if you combine the different styles you like, you end up creating your own.
So true
No, it's for every artist. You're never done growing. Pros are still growing, and if you want to keep your acceleration, you keep referencing. Imagination elitists need to get out of here. Not saying you are one, but some just put this emphasis on imagination, and how it is so much better than using reference. Reference does not mean copy. It means checking anatomy, it means looking at textures, colors, layouts, and anything of the like. Imagination elitists will always try to clap back with, "If you've drawn enough you will be able to draw all that from Memory." False. Great dream, but rarely does an artist draw enough yo be that, like Kim Jung whatever his name is. Props to him, but mist artists never have time to do that, and plus he is a master because he uses life and reference so much that he remembers. All he does is draw. That is unrealistic to the everyday artist. An everyday artist needs reference to keep growing at an accelerated rate. You choose to "use imagination" alone, and you are choosing to put in the brakes of your progression in favor of comfort. Get comfortable, get stuck, get stopped. Simple.
@@vaderguitarplayer Drawing from imagination is more like drawing from memory. But in some cases it is good to do that. If your an artist and you have a booth at Comic Convention, then it comes in handy to draw from memory, because you have drawn some characters 1000 times . It looks great to watch people like Jim Lee drawing a quick sketch from memory. But in everydays artist life, who make a living out of it, you´re right.
Do you want to know where your own art style comes from. Your imagination
I’m out here having a panic attack, panicking about how I’ll never be good enough to be a professional. But watching your video calmed me. It made me feel like my dream may just be obtainable.
i feel you
An average person would panic more after watching his videos
This video is a life saver as a struggling art student, before Art school i´ve never done character design or drawing in a more serious setting, this is really helping me with creating/finding my style while dealing with Imposter syndrome as most of my classmates have been drawing for a few years now, thanks a lot for this.
“Close your eyes and imagine your self in a world where you’re not so stupid” 😂bro u scared me
Hey Ethan, could you do a video on shading and coloring in general?
Dont you ever color or shade! Ever!
there's a video about shading already! it's called "lighting in animation" or something
Forms
Planes
@@Spleemce XDDD
The funny thing is this is EXACTLY how I taught myself to draw. Sure art classes were good for the basics, but mainly I looked at pictures I liked (e.g. Larry Elmore's Dragonlance art and old school Conan the Barbarian illustrations) and just copied them. Then I eventually applied the different styles to my own drawings.
As Peter Weller (Robocop) put it perfectly “Nothing is made in a vacuum everyone is ripping off from someone else” and there’s nothing wrong with that
When we enter the demo.
Ethan: *becomes Deadpool acting as Bob Ross*
12:50 and the Sargent is back folks!
More exact than calling him pewds
There's only one deadpool and it's meeeeee
I enjoy getting my entire worldview destroyed every time you upload a video.
IKR? It's like... "I am shit at art.. boo hoo..." And then you see a new video from ethan and you're like "But I still suck at art boo hoo" You go ahead and watch it against your better judgement and after that you're like "HOLY SHIT IT'S THIS SIMPLE? OH MOMMA, I'VE BEEN STOOPID. LET'S GET TO DRAWING!"
But Spongebob told me to use IMAGINATION!!!
OMG😂😂😂👌
🖐🏾🌈🖐🏾
i tried leave me alone lmao
He's just an influencer don't listen to the SquarePants
I agree.
MY PARENTS ARE STARTING TO THINK WATCHING SPONGEBOB HAD SIDE EFFECTS! Cuz I’m
GAE🌈🌈🌝