Nope you need to learn how to go extreme and still make it look good. Balance is an excuse to not work harder. Balance is not needed it is wanted. Thats a difference.
@@valorantplayer7586 i think you misunderstood what i was saying. I meant to say that finding what works for you by exploring styles, techniques, methods etc then finding what works for you thus finding *your* balance. Youre also right because a student cant find what works for them if they not try hard and get out of their comfort zone once in a while
Still looking for that perfect balance. I'd honestly say it doesn't really exist. There are days we don't feel one hundred and what worked perfectly the day before may not go so well that day. That's actually fine too. Still draw
I talked about being a writer before, but this video is perhaps even more relevant: You cannot write if you have no experience in life, unless you only write about your immediate life. If you've worked construction, for instance, you now know about gear, safety, the hard work, the hours, the types of people you might, the way to get the job, the kind of friends you make and if you make friends at all; the good actors and bad; you know about the many life-threatening mistakes people make through carelessness or foolishness; you know about the pay and you know about dealing with foremen, bosses and bureaucrats. If you didn't have that job, you don't know that stuff, so writing about it becomes a matter of academia: You can study it, research it, copy it, but without the emotional connection, you're drawing something you've never drawn, without a reference image. This is important not just in practical matters, like getting a special license to be a truck driver (ACL, is it?) but also in matters of people. How can you write good dialogue, or interesting people, if you don't have interesting dialogue with interesting people? People sometimes dog on artists about being losers, layabouts, people who don't want to do "real work," but the truth is that to be a good artist, you have to have gotten experience. If you look at old pulp detective novel writers, you'll find that almost every one of them had lived full lives, being linemen, policemen, war veterans, newspapermen, twice divorced, practically-educated and well-traveled.
That's so true! I think that's pushed a lot in animation as well, Brad Bird, the director of Toy Story famously said "you have to live to tell stories". You're never going to be able to "fake" the thing you're trying to sell, it just doesn't work that way. People who've done it will know. You'll only fool the ones who don't care about the story you're trying to tell, and that's not an audience you really want.
@ Then go and make those experiences! Remember that you don't have to live literally everything, you can extrapolate, otherwise no one could write fantasy stories or stories about the wild west. I remember back when I read a lot of Tucker Max, a criticism people would level against him is that he couldn't possibly have had so many interesting experiences in such a short time-but that's a criticism one could only make if one doesn't actively enjoy life. If you make any attempt at all to have fun, especially if you don't mind being a bit of a pest, you can get into all kinds of stuff. Even my father has some crazy stories because a friend of his used to be a bit of a rapscallion with women and as a police officer. Take that and add a little artistic embellishment and you can easily have practically a life-time worth of experiences under your belt in only a year or two.
This is a great video, very raw and honest. I came to the same conclusion some time ago. Right now my reference/imagination split is roughly 50/50 but there are times when it's 80/20. It can often change depending on what my goals are at the time. Kim said himself that he spent hours studying from reference as a morning routine or before he started drawing so this advice is very helpful.
Joseph thank you! Im tryna draw like you fr. I think personally, I have to spend more time nailing down my fundamentals before I invest too much time creating pieces from imagination - your videos have been unbelievably helpful in doing so! Here's to a great 2025!
I find it odd how people think artists can just pull things out of the air and draw it "from imagination". Nope! You want to draw something from imagination? You draw one thing from reference. You draw it so much that you are sick to death of it. You draw it till you know every nuance from every angle then you draw it some more. THEN you draw it from memory and keep trying from memory till you don't screw it up. After that you can draw it from imagination and manipulated it however you want. Oh.....but now you have to start memorizing the next thing you want to draw. However that is where the "prims" and the "basics come in. If you can manipulated them 80% of the work is done and you just need to memorize the details of any new object. Sort of how you would draw the differences between Superman and Batman. Basically the same only the details need to change. But if you can manipulate the mannequin you can draw any human.
14:19 man, I really just have to thank you for your amazing content. In this part of the video you simply opened my mind and confirmed one of my suspicions: after so long trying to force my mind to draw from imagination and getting frustrated, I only realized, in fact, how much I needed to start observing more things, doing more studies, really learn! It was so logical! Drawing from imagination, I only realized how much I couldn't draw certain things well (or even correctly), which is a great sign, but I simply ignored doing reference studies for fear of thinking that it wouldn't make me better. But it was just the opposite. I couldn't make better drawings precisely because there was nothing new or concrete in my mind. It's like a phrase I heard a while ago: "You can only cook what's in the fridge." Now, if my fridge (that is, my mind) is empty, how could I cook good food (good imagination drawings)? How could I draw something that I don't know what it looks like?
Thank you so much! It’s so great to hear that these videos are helpful- also I loved that video! About why you should read right?! That stuck with me too! Happy new year!
This is very interesting. Most youtubers don't run tests like this on art. You have a great way of explaining art like I've never encountered. I always seem to learn something new from you Brokendraw. I hope more people can see your work and what you do in this channel.
It’s been 80% imagination and 20% reference for me. So my drawings have been hot garbage for a while now. I was experiencing the same feelings you mentioned. Thank you for this video. I knew what I was doing was kinda self sabotaging my progress but I guess I got stuck in one way of doing things. This video has made that clear. You gave some very good tips and I’m going to do my best to put them into practice.
Love your honest sharing of your journey. Starting out learning drawing as an adult, after having kids, I’m constantly facing the hopeless of feeling failure. It’s so fun and frustrating at the same time. I’m learning that perseverance and time invested is key, regardless of innate ability. Look forward to following your progress. I’ll add- I’d be thrilled to reach the level you’re at now, which tells me that the feeling of accomplishment is intangible and infinite.
This is a really good and informative video. Ive been doing a drawing every day since mid October to now and want to commit to keeping it as a daily habit. A few parallels I've noticed that you shared here is that: 1. the successful drawings you are happy about tend to be ones you compare yourself to and want to make something similar. It puts an odd pressure uo outdo yourself and usually distracts and cause you to draw worse. 2. Regardless of how much we think about it, making the thing is a creative skill and some days we just won't feel like being creative. Do something simple. Still draw. Then hide it from yourself 😂 3. Find a routine that helps inform your practice. For me i noticed that really late into the evening or in the AM's i can be very creative and create crazy stuff. But when I just wake up, i have to do about 2 or 3 pages of warm ups that aren't always good. Understanding that now, i do the warm-ups to get the rust shaken off. Then I'm usually ready to draw. This last point above helped tremendously. This way I inadvertently commited to drawing daily, have less stress about stiff or boring looking drawings and then get a chance to make something more fun and dynamic. All the while drawing daily even if by accident. Cheers
Dude, dude, dude even at your "worst" (when you got overloaded by drawing characters and objects from scratch) you are blowing 90% of other artists out of the water.
No problem offence but people shouldn’t be saying things like that as it can hold artists back from drawing at their full potential just because above average
In one of kim jung gi 100 lessons videos that are posted on youtube he says that often times he will draw from a reference shot of a movie or a picture, and then redraw it making the piece his, adding new clothes, costumes, meaning or context ( he just said he changes the piece to be his, im tthe one adding the words here) I think maybe it would be good for all of us to adopt it as well, we filll our visual libraries and then recall it from imagination changing things to make them ours
yes! memory recall is one of the most effective ways to build your reference library, and adapting it is flexing your imagination muscles! Good advice!
I like your way of explaining things. you seem to understand the process and are able to translate it into simple words/lines most people can understand, which does make it seem to me , more honest. also that you record your journey throughout the hole process, helps with people who struggle with the same things to understand where the problem lies. thank you
I was getting ready to binge watch all your videos while I draw... So I went to your page... Just to see that you only have like 7? Dude no way I need more 😭 (I look forward to seeing your channel grow and thrive 💕)
Drawing from imagination isn't a bad friend necessarily, it's just a friend. Any friend you choose to spend time with will bring you some sort relief from your activities, but friends in general require you to spend your time on them, and it's always your choice whether you want to spend time with them or not. The problem isn't that they are bad, it's that you choose to spend time with them instead of finding a much better and a more understanding person - a good friend.
I've found that even if I can vividly imagine what I want to draw, I still need reference images to help see through, it's just one of the most important tools any artist can have.
Ahaha great sponsored segment, I wasn’t expecting the skit!! Also, the “risk-success paradox” idea was new to me, made me think, thank you - keep it up!
I'm glad that you take us on this journey of exploration in your art. It is cool to see that well-established artists still go through the same things that beginning artists go through as well. Thank you for these lessons. Your work and these videos are inspiring to me!
I just watched all your videos (except the portfolio ones cause ya know I’m still working on it) I feel very inspired by your videos because it just really speaks to me. I see my self in past you (though no where near the skill level) and in the advice you have. I mean literally in a previous video you said “beginners tend to draw with chicken scratch, too small, and with a pencil” while I was literally doing that (I even left a comment lol). It made me pay more attention. And when you showed off your old 2017-2019 sketch book I felt connected cause I’ve been working on my current sketch book since 2021. Last example is just getting to see your sketchbook and see one that looks so similar to mine. So many times I see gorgeous sketch books from start to finish. While mine is just an amalgamation of whatever and most of it looking like crap. While your crap is better looking than mine, the vibes are the same to me. What I am trying to get at. Your vulnerability to showing us your sketchbook is mostly filled with “crap” or “attempted nice art that failed” is appreciated because it made at least one person feel better about the same (much worse) crap and failed attempts of their own. Seeing just how often you practice and just slap whatever you want at random on a piece of paper made me feel better about doing the same. Seeing you still making large strides in improvement in 9 months even though your previous works were already really good inspires me to keep working on it. TLDR; thanks ☺️ Question: are your illustrations something you plan for and that’s where you get your practice ideas for the week or however long? Or do you practice just a random animal or character and get inspired to do the piece then just do it?
Thank you for taking the time to let me know :) that’s really great to hear and I’ll keep the videos coming. To answer your question I don’t plan my drawings but they do inform my practice because it shows me what I need to study- often times that’s basic form manipulations.
Thanks for the videos. I just finished a 3 year tech program at Sheridan and now I am getting into drawing (something I always wanted to do) so I can work towards becoming a technical artist. While I am still at the beginning of my art journey, It's really nice to see the struggles and the genuine progress you are bringing to the table in your videos. Keep it up and I will keep watching!
For a long time, I've personally been so focused on always drawing something that looks good and is social-media-post-worthy, that i forgot to actually learn and rarely ever stepped outside of my comfort zone drawing-wise. Time to fix that
Your lessons has inspired me. I am not a professional artist but I am still learning. Your explanation is to the point and concise. Thank you for sharing your lessons with us!
I did this for 60 days straight only using pen when I went to bootcamp. My drawing skills skyrocketed, I 100% recommended you do this if you think you can stay consistent
As a beginner artist i cant talk about the art itself ,but i heard a lot about the timeline of learning that artists have and it usually goes up and down (down when you start burning out or try a new style/process/medium and up when you finish a piece that made use all your skill in the present ,which makes you even more motivated ) .So , i would assume for you is either burnout since not all people are wired to draw everyday or you just unconsciously try to do even more complex and detailed art , which since its a newly acquired skill probably is not muscle memory yet .
I really love how you explain things, and I’m always excited to work on what I’ve learned from your videos! On a side note, your way of talking is super poetic and fun 😊
Excellent video and your Skillshare interlude was top notch. Well done! I am working my way through my annual art review and as I pulled my works from 2024 that felt most successful to me, I noticed something similar to what you describe about risk-taking. I went into a new exploration of drawing comics and found that after the first few, I suddenly got precious. The spontaneity was lost, my confidence evaporated. And I got more and more concerned with making them look “good.” I realize now that I need to cultivate a sense of fearlessness and daring. Thanks for putting out these inspiring and helpful videos! And Happy New Year!
Heck yeah! Annual Art Review, that's a great idea! I might do that next year. I reflect on my year, but not my art, which is funny considering how much time it takes throughout the year. I appreciate you letting me know you found this video helpful. Here's to a risk taking 2025!
Today I learnt a lot from you. And I love the fact that you, a person,(like me)is able to find his own mistakes and do critiques. But there's a dissimilarity between us. I don't have time for art and my exams are near. I really want to sign in for skillshare, be in first 500 and I can be. But I can't. I've exams😞 for my school. And yeah, imagination drawings teach us a distinct and cruel thing, that you said. It just gobbles our time and it can only be a friend of we own a refined visual library. I'm not ashamed but you are too, too good at visual library than me. But at the same time, I understand empathically, that you quenched for more visual library than to draw firstly. I think my feedback is vague but I understand it. I learnt anatomy from Stan Prokopenko and understood a keen interest that I innate for imagination from myself. Also today, you told us many things as an experienced guy there...truly what I needed was this video of yours. As I said, I knew the 3rd point but seldom times I have given to visual library... I think after exams, I will reincarnate again with a distinct resolution for this year.
Man I feel that! It can be so hard to find the time to draw at the level you want, but as long as you feel that desire to draw, you’re going to get better! I believe in you and good luck on exams 🫶
Amazing video! I have been having a lot of trouble in building my visual library and being abel to draw from imagination but your videos have been such a great help!! This one also have things that would be hard to realize by oneself. Thank you so much for your hard work!!
Drawing from imagination is simply just that. That laws of art or trying to “be realistic”’or following some kind of newfangled way things should be portrayed has no bearing on pulling things from one’s imagination. Simply draw it out and keep at it! Your art is very good too!
That's so funny! I went in to watch a quick video, two minutes in, and didn't realise I'd finished it! You're good!!!! You know how to keep attention, and the information is incredibly useful! THANKS FOR THE VIDEO 😘
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I thought you either draw from imagination or you don’t. Drawing from references to “upload” stuff in your head AND treating the drawing as a feedback on what to learn is kinda genius. I admire your openness, honesty and dedication, thanks!
I love your channel. Very insightful. May I humbly suggest that what may be missing from your practice may be automatic drawing. It is a practice that allows you to play with form rhythm, composition, etc. without the burden of an expected outcome. It is my go to when feeling uninspired.
I’ve seen a video about the on proko! And Peter draws does that too- I really gotta practice that… design is a major weakness of mine, thanks for your suggestion!
@brokendraw I took a abstract design class with Sinix Design and we did automatic drawing and digital painting. It really helps to build your design sense and explore the relationships between shapes in a non intimidating way. It also helps to create non abstract images with a lot of unique shapes and ideas as your mind will often project on to the shapes a story. It explains the creative output of artists like Moebius. Apparently he was an avid automatic drawer. Love your channel. Keep up the good work. I am learning a lot from you. Thanks.
Great video. Great advice! I draw often from imagination and for years now..telling myself it's just practice. And that in my next life I will ... When I look thru my past drawings I have noticed ups and downs as well, and wondered why that is. You are an interesting cat! Thank you for all you share! 👏👏👏👏👍
That's the joy of it! You get to look back and go ' hey! I remember why I did that!'. It's a really fun journey to be on. Thank you for letting me know you liked the video!
@ I'll never forget your "ram" analogy. I'll be borrowing that one. Im 63...pretty sure my ram is shrinking. 😂🤣 do you ever forget you drew something? Lol I wonder...well who drew that? 🤣😆🤣😂 Have a great day!
I usually always draw from imagination, not because I think it’s “the right way to draw” im just too lazy to get references. I go through the cycle where I go without reference for a while and realize my art is not great and then I use reference to improve.
Art skill will wibble wobble and get worse the more you get out of your comfort zone, and thats a good thing! If you keep expanding on your skill eventually it wont be out of your comfort anymore, and it will become good
That’s very interesting- my friend also said that was his favourite day! I think it’s a personal thing: it didn’t go how I wanted it but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a success! Thank you 🙏
Since I’ve been doing more comics, I’ve been taking less risk so every panel will look good. But I was starting to lack my ability to draw without references
I hope that was the script for the video at 4:36 :))) I'm learning to draw and would loooove to hear you talking about how to think about drawing and how/what to study
You should put some background music in your videos, it'll get rid of the awkward silence. This's all really great stuff to know, I've always struggled to just draw simple stuff from my imagination.
Interesting, I have however found that I have plenty of unique ideas like alien species and what not, so finding reference is honestly kind of impossible unfortunately, since my ideas don't really come from anywhere but my own mind i guess?
Teryl Whitlach has a book on this! She's a character designer for Star Wars (so plenty of aliens) and she constantly references animals. Ultimately everything people design comes from variations we find in nature - when I say reference, I don't mean a 100% one to one copy, but inspiration from different places. You can probably find something resembling your imagination and piece together a group of references that would help it come to life!
@@brokendraw oh thanks man, i might check that out, appreciate the suggestion my dude. - like you right it probably came from somewhere, not sure where my ideas came from tho XD
simplicity succeeds its a good teacher but a bad friend (imagination) drawing from imagination = (risk) x (reference -- either throughout the day by observation, online, etc)
What annoys me is I can draw things I see pretty decently but I can’t really make things up. In regular life I have good attention to detail and notice everything but I can’t draw things from imagination. I don’t understand the disconnect lol
Do 15 min of memory drawing every day , no matter what and I promise you , you will get better , for some it will seem impossible for a few weeks , but one day , you will look at the shape your planning to memorize and you will realize that you can hold the shape in your mind. There are no shortcuts, put in the work.
I wish i could draw anything... it's the only skill other have that i totatlly envy to an upsetting level. I just CANT put my thoughts on paper and it freaks me out.
I think that the lessons taught in this video are potentially dangerous. Specifically to you. You ARE learning when you draw from imagination, and you are learning a lot. This whole video is kind of about what you learned. But what is important is that Drawing from imagination IS your friend. The entire process is about problem solving in a fun way. The only way to not learn a lot from these drawings is to not try to make a picture you'd like. I think it may be worth approaching this project again. Next time following your own advice, but also with a goal of having fun and actually setting out to make things you like and not just make drawings. You will crash and burn if you make everything about learning or everything about having success, but if you make it all about having fun you will absolutely love the experience. I highly recommend taking on this challenge again.
Ill make a video going more in depth on this, but its really just starting with a line and seeing what believable forms can exist within the parameters you've already drawn.
My “goal” for 2025 so far has been a tiny sketch atleast every day. And I’ve noticed the same thing, when I’ve been happiest with a drawing the next day I’ve been stumped as to what to draw lol but perhaps I too should be looking a references more to get more inspired?
I’m a new subscriber for sure !! Love your style brother. I started 3 years ago and now is when I’m taking the basic shapes more seriously to the point where that’s all I want to draw lol. Great video. I started Peter Hans free videos and trying his exercises also. By the way, (and sorry stupid question) but, when you say take risks, I don’t quite get it. What sort of risks? How so? Thanks
take risks, to me, means; draw the things you are uncomfortable drawing. Try to spend a lot of your time in the area of discomfort, because that's also the area of growth. Thanks for your support and I hope to keep releasing videos that help you!
I did a similar challenge on December. It wasn’t nearly as bad, because I used no reference with a combination of observation. Mostly getting good at drawing the interior of a B&N and Starbucks. Not to mention a few Dr. Draw videos which (might be cheating) but fuck it lol. My solution? Just mix both imagination, reference/study, and observation practice in the same day.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
A trend ive noticed while learning art the past few years is that you need to find the perfect (your) balance in almost anything your trying to do
That’s a fact!
Nope you need to learn how to go extreme and still make it look good. Balance is an excuse to not work harder. Balance is not needed it is wanted. Thats a difference.
@@valorantplayer7586 i think you misunderstood what i was saying. I meant to say that finding what works for you by exploring styles, techniques, methods etc then finding what works for you thus finding *your* balance. Youre also right because a student cant find what works for them if they not try hard and get out of their comfort zone once in a while
@@valorantplayer7586our human body literally needs to be in homeostasis( a state of balance) …..
you NEED balance.
Still looking for that perfect balance. I'd honestly say it doesn't really exist. There are days we don't feel one hundred and what worked perfectly the day before may not go so well that day. That's actually fine too. Still draw
what I like to do is draw a quick thumbnail from imagination and once I'm happy with the concept, find references for the illustration
I talked about being a writer before, but this video is perhaps even more relevant: You cannot write if you have no experience in life, unless you only write about your immediate life.
If you've worked construction, for instance, you now know about gear, safety, the hard work, the hours, the types of people you might, the way to get the job, the kind of friends you make and if you make friends at all; the good actors and bad; you know about the many life-threatening mistakes people make through carelessness or foolishness; you know about the pay and you know about dealing with foremen, bosses and bureaucrats.
If you didn't have that job, you don't know that stuff, so writing about it becomes a matter of academia: You can study it, research it, copy it, but without the emotional connection, you're drawing something you've never drawn, without a reference image.
This is important not just in practical matters, like getting a special license to be a truck driver (ACL, is it?) but also in matters of people. How can you write good dialogue, or interesting people, if you don't have interesting dialogue with interesting people?
People sometimes dog on artists about being losers, layabouts, people who don't want to do "real work," but the truth is that to be a good artist, you have to have gotten experience. If you look at old pulp detective novel writers, you'll find that almost every one of them had lived full lives, being linemen, policemen, war veterans, newspapermen, twice divorced, practically-educated and well-traveled.
That's so true! I think that's pushed a lot in animation as well, Brad Bird, the director of Toy Story famously said "you have to live to tell stories". You're never going to be able to "fake" the thing you're trying to sell, it just doesn't work that way. People who've done it will know. You'll only fool the ones who don't care about the story you're trying to tell, and that's not an audience you really want.
So insightful! That's why i was burnt out from making art because i have nothing to tell due to the lack of experience anywhere else in life 😢.
@ Then go and make those experiences!
Remember that you don't have to live literally everything, you can extrapolate, otherwise no one could write fantasy stories or stories about the wild west.
I remember back when I read a lot of Tucker Max, a criticism people would level against him is that he couldn't possibly have had so many interesting experiences in such a short time-but that's a criticism one could only make if one doesn't actively enjoy life.
If you make any attempt at all to have fun, especially if you don't mind being a bit of a pest, you can get into all kinds of stuff. Even my father has some crazy stories because a friend of his used to be a bit of a rapscallion with women and as a police officer.
Take that and add a little artistic embellishment and you can easily have practically a life-time worth of experiences under your belt in only a year or two.
@@Selrisitai will do sir! 🤠
This is a great video, very raw and honest. I came to the same conclusion some time ago. Right now my reference/imagination split is roughly 50/50 but there are times when it's 80/20. It can often change depending on what my goals are at the time. Kim said himself that he spent hours studying from reference as a morning routine or before he started drawing so this advice is very helpful.
Joseph thank you! Im tryna draw like you fr. I think personally, I have to spend more time nailing down my fundamentals before I invest too much time creating pieces from imagination - your videos have been unbelievably helpful in doing so! Here's to a great 2025!
I find it odd how people think artists can just pull things out of the air and draw it "from imagination". Nope! You want to draw something from imagination? You draw one thing from reference. You draw it so much that you are sick to death of it. You draw it till you know every nuance from every angle then you draw it some more. THEN you draw it from memory and keep trying from memory till you don't screw it up. After that you can draw it from imagination and manipulated it however you want. Oh.....but now you have to start memorizing the next thing you want to draw. However that is where the "prims" and the "basics come in. If you can manipulated them 80% of the work is done and you just need to memorize the details of any new object. Sort of how you would draw the differences between Superman and Batman. Basically the same only the details need to change. But if you can manipulate the mannequin you can draw any human.
PREACH!! That's the whole thing right there.
14:19 man, I really just have to thank you for your amazing content. In this part of the video you simply opened my mind and confirmed one of my suspicions: after so long trying to force my mind to draw from imagination and getting frustrated, I only realized, in fact, how much I needed to start observing more things, doing more studies, really learn! It was so logical! Drawing from imagination, I only realized how much I couldn't draw certain things well (or even correctly), which is a great sign, but I simply ignored doing reference studies for fear of thinking that it wouldn't make me better. But it was just the opposite. I couldn't make better drawings precisely because there was nothing new or concrete in my mind. It's like a phrase I heard a while ago: "You can only cook what's in the fridge." Now, if my fridge (that is, my mind) is empty, how could I cook good food (good imagination drawings)? How could I draw something that I don't know what it looks like?
Thank you so much! It’s so great to hear that these videos are helpful- also I loved that video! About why you should read right?! That stuck with me too! Happy new year!
This is very interesting. Most youtubers don't run tests like this on art. You have a great way of explaining art like I've never encountered. I always seem to learn something new from you Brokendraw. I hope more people can see your work and what you do in this channel.
That means a lot. Thank you so much. Ill continue to bring as much to the table as I can 🫶
It’s been 80% imagination and 20% reference for me. So my drawings have been hot garbage for a while now. I was experiencing the same feelings you mentioned. Thank you for this video. I knew what I was doing was kinda self sabotaging my progress but I guess I got stuck in one way of doing things. This video has made that clear. You gave some very good tips and I’m going to do my best to put them into practice.
Shoot I’m glad you found this helpful! Here’s to a reference filled 2025!
Love your honest sharing of your journey. Starting out learning drawing as an adult, after having kids, I’m constantly facing the hopeless of feeling failure. It’s so fun and frustrating at the same time. I’m learning that perseverance and time invested is key, regardless of innate ability.
Look forward to following your progress.
I’ll add- I’d be thrilled to reach the level you’re at now, which tells me that the feeling of accomplishment is intangible and infinite.
Broski stressing about his art looking uninspired and meanwhile every page out here looking like it was blessed by the space muses, who is this dude😭😭
Hahahh thank you so much.
This channel is such a gem. Appreciate the perspective
Appreciate you!
I appreciate your honesty! It's encouraging to show not only the perfect drawings, but the less successful ones ❤
Thank you so much 😀
This is a really good and informative video. Ive been doing a drawing every day since mid October to now and want to commit to keeping it as a daily habit.
A few parallels I've noticed that you shared here is that:
1. the successful drawings you are happy about tend to be ones you compare yourself to and want to make something similar. It puts an odd pressure uo outdo yourself and usually distracts and cause you to draw worse.
2. Regardless of how much we think about it, making the thing is a creative skill and some days we just won't feel like being creative. Do something simple. Still draw. Then hide it from yourself 😂
3. Find a routine that helps inform your practice. For me i noticed that really late into the evening or in the AM's i can be very creative and create crazy stuff. But when I just wake up, i have to do about 2 or 3 pages of warm ups that aren't always good.
Understanding that now, i do the warm-ups to get the rust shaken off. Then I'm usually ready to draw.
This last point above helped tremendously. This way I inadvertently commited to drawing daily, have less stress about stiff or boring looking drawings and then get a chance to make something more fun and dynamic. All the while drawing daily even if by accident.
Cheers
Dude, dude, dude even at your "worst" (when you got overloaded by drawing characters and objects from scratch) you are blowing 90% of other artists out of the water.
Hahaah i appreciate that 🥰
No problem offence but people shouldn’t be saying things like that as it can hold artists back from drawing at their full potential just because above average
@@Sonnx7oj it depends of how other people think of that, and maybe that wasn't their intention? i dunno i just wanted to point that out
In one of kim jung gi 100 lessons videos that are posted on youtube he says that often times he will draw from a reference shot of a movie or a picture, and then redraw it making the piece his, adding new clothes, costumes, meaning or context ( he just said he changes the piece to be his, im tthe one adding the words here) I think maybe it would be good for all of us to adopt it as well, we filll our visual libraries and then recall it from imagination changing things to make them ours
yes! memory recall is one of the most effective ways to build your reference library, and adapting it is flexing your imagination muscles! Good advice!
I like your way of explaining things. you seem to understand the process and are able to translate it into simple words/lines most people can understand, which does make it seem to me , more honest. also that you record your journey throughout the hole process, helps with people who struggle with the same things to understand where the problem lies. thank you
That’s very aptly put. Thank you!
That success-risk analogy is literally game changing
👊👊
Your content is GOLD
🥰🥰
I was getting ready to binge watch all your videos while I draw... So I went to your page... Just to see that you only have like 7? Dude no way I need more 😭
(I look forward to seeing your channel grow and thrive 💕)
Thank you so much! Many more to come!
Drawing from imagination isn't a bad friend necessarily, it's just a friend.
Any friend you choose to spend time with will bring you some sort relief from your activities, but friends in general require you to spend your time on them, and it's always your choice whether you want to spend time with them or not. The problem isn't that they are bad, it's that you choose to spend time with them instead of finding a much better and a more understanding person - a good friend.
I've found that even if I can vividly imagine what I want to draw, I still need reference images to help see through, it's just one of the most important tools any artist can have.
Ahaha great sponsored segment, I wasn’t expecting the skit!!
Also, the “risk-success paradox” idea was new to me, made me think, thank you - keep it up!
hahah I had a lot of fun recording it! Thank you Fillipo, I will! Looking forward to what you're cooking up right now.
such an amazing video, you said everything I was thinking but couldn’t put into words. Thanks for sharing
I almost lost all the motivation but then this guy's videos genuinely re-inspired me to start practicing again haha
heck yeaaaa!
I'm glad that you take us on this journey of exploration in your art. It is cool to see that well-established artists still go through the same things that beginning artists go through as well. Thank you for these lessons. Your work and these videos are inspiring to me!
hey im still a beginner as well! Im glad my journey is helping you along yours!
I just watched all your videos (except the portfolio ones cause ya know I’m still working on it) I feel very inspired by your videos because it just really speaks to me. I see my self in past you (though no where near the skill level) and in the advice you have. I mean literally in a previous video you said “beginners tend to draw with chicken scratch, too small, and with a pencil” while I was literally doing that (I even left a comment lol). It made me pay more attention. And when you showed off your old 2017-2019 sketch book I felt connected cause I’ve been working on my current sketch book since 2021. Last example is just getting to see your sketchbook and see one that looks so similar to mine. So many times I see gorgeous sketch books from start to finish. While mine is just an amalgamation of whatever and most of it looking like crap. While your crap is better looking than mine, the vibes are the same to me.
What I am trying to get at. Your vulnerability to showing us your sketchbook is mostly filled with “crap” or “attempted nice art that failed” is appreciated because it made at least one person feel better about the same (much worse) crap and failed attempts of their own. Seeing just how often you practice and just slap whatever you want at random on a piece of paper made me feel better about doing the same. Seeing you still making large strides in improvement in 9 months even though your previous works were already really good inspires me to keep working on it.
TLDR; thanks ☺️
Question: are your illustrations something you plan for and that’s where you get your practice ideas for the week or however long? Or do you practice just a random animal or character and get inspired to do the piece then just do it?
Thank you for taking the time to let me know :) that’s really great to hear and I’ll keep the videos coming. To answer your question I don’t plan my drawings but they do inform my practice because it shows me what I need to study- often times that’s basic form manipulations.
Thanks for the videos. I just finished a 3 year tech program at Sheridan and now I am getting into drawing (something I always wanted to do) so I can work towards becoming a technical artist. While I am still at the beginning of my art journey, It's really nice to see the struggles and the genuine progress you are bringing to the table in your videos. Keep it up and I will keep watching!
heck yeah! congrats on graduating!
So true about No. 3 even if you’re having fun, you kinda gotta keep learning.
that's a fact!
For a long time, I've personally been so focused on always drawing something that looks good and is social-media-post-worthy, that i forgot to actually learn and rarely ever stepped outside of my comfort zone drawing-wise. Time to fix that
Your lessons has inspired me. I am not a professional artist but I am still learning. Your explanation is to the point and concise. Thank you for sharing your lessons with us!
I appreciate that! You got it! Glad the lessons are helping.
I did this for 60 days straight only using pen when I went to bootcamp. My drawing skills skyrocketed, I 100% recommended you do this if you think you can stay consistent
As a beginner artist i cant talk about the art itself ,but i heard a lot about the timeline of learning that artists have and it usually goes up and down (down when you start burning out or try a new style/process/medium and up when you finish a piece that made use all your skill in the present ,which makes you even more motivated ) .So , i would assume for you is either burnout since not all people are wired to draw everyday or you just unconsciously try to do even more complex and detailed art , which since its a newly acquired skill probably is not muscle memory yet .
Burnout was definitely a part of it 😂
I really love how you explain things, and I’m always excited to work on what I’ve learned from your videos! On a side note, your way of talking is super poetic and fun 😊
Thank you, that means a lot! I'm glad you're enjoying the channel!
Excellent video and your Skillshare interlude was top notch. Well done! I am working my way through my annual art review and as I pulled my works from 2024 that felt most successful to me, I noticed something similar to what you describe about risk-taking. I went into a new exploration of drawing comics and found that after the first few, I suddenly got precious. The spontaneity was lost, my confidence evaporated. And I got more and more concerned with making them look “good.” I realize now that I need to cultivate a sense of fearlessness and daring. Thanks for putting out these inspiring and helpful videos! And Happy New Year!
Heck yeah! Annual Art Review, that's a great idea! I might do that next year. I reflect on my year, but not my art, which is funny considering how much time it takes throughout the year. I appreciate you letting me know you found this video helpful. Here's to a risk taking 2025!
Today I learnt a lot from you. And I love the fact that you, a person,(like me)is able to find his own mistakes and do critiques. But there's a dissimilarity between us. I don't have time for art and my exams are near. I really want to sign in for skillshare, be in first 500 and I can be. But I can't. I've exams😞 for my school. And yeah, imagination drawings teach us a distinct and cruel thing, that you said. It just gobbles our time and it can only be a friend of we own a refined visual library.
I'm not ashamed but you are too, too good at visual library than me. But at the same time, I understand empathically, that you quenched for more visual library than to draw firstly. I think my feedback is vague but I understand it. I learnt anatomy from Stan Prokopenko and understood a keen interest that I innate for imagination from myself. Also today, you told us many things as an experienced guy there...truly what I needed was this video of yours. As I said, I knew the 3rd point but seldom times I have given to visual library... I think after exams, I will reincarnate again with a distinct resolution for this year.
Man I feel that! It can be so hard to find the time to draw at the level you want, but as long as you feel that desire to draw, you’re going to get better! I believe in you and good luck on exams 🫶
Love your work, you are such a great artist
Amazing video! I have been having a lot of trouble in building my visual library and being abel to draw from imagination but your videos have been such a great help!! This one also have things that would be hard to realize by oneself. Thank you so much for your hard work!!
Thank you so much! I’m glad to help you on your journey! Here’s to a bountiful 2025! 🥳
you're literally like master Oogway for me lmao thanks so much!!! really appreciate the content and keep up the good work :)
This was a great video. Best yet. Keep up the great work!
YES! THANK YOU 🙏
Drawing from imagination is simply just that. That laws of art or trying to “be realistic”’or following some kind of newfangled way things should be portrayed has no bearing on pulling things from one’s imagination. Simply draw it out and keep at it! Your art is very good too!
thank you so much!
so insightful and wonderfully presented as always, thankyou!
I gotchuuuu! Thank you.
That's so funny! I went in to watch a quick video, two minutes in, and didn't realise I'd finished it! You're good!!!! You know how to keep attention, and the information is incredibly useful! THANKS FOR THE VIDEO 😘
Hahah that’s great to hear! Thank you for watching and giving a charitable donation 😂
@ ahaha
Let's not forget the golden rule: 'You are your own worst critic.'
Balance reference and imagination drawing - 50/50 is good.
youre a wise human, keep going!!!!!
🥳🥳🥳🥳 thank you!!
!!! I hope you can do a sketchbook tour for us at some point!!! or talk about how you take notes in your sketchbook!
sketchbook tour at 25K!!! will do!
Your hair is so beautiful, love from brazil ❤
Appreciate it! 😎
Dude, I love your videos, you are really good at explaining things that I could apply right now. 👍Great channel.
✊ that’s what I love to hear man- thank you.
this was such a useful video man thank you
👊👊👊 I appreciate it!
💛You create the best educational art content on UA-cam. Thank you. 💛
Wow, thank you! Ill take it 😤😤
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I thought you either draw from imagination or you don’t. Drawing from references to “upload” stuff in your head AND treating the drawing as a feedback on what to learn is kinda genius. I admire your openness, honesty and dedication, thanks!
Good man❤❤
Thanks for the insight!
I love your channel. Very insightful. May I humbly suggest that what may be missing from your practice may be automatic drawing. It is a practice that allows you to play with form rhythm, composition, etc. without the burden of an expected outcome. It is my go to when feeling uninspired.
I’ve seen a video about the on proko! And Peter draws does that too- I really gotta practice that… design is a major weakness of mine, thanks for your suggestion!
@brokendraw I took a abstract design class with Sinix Design and we did automatic drawing and digital painting. It really helps to build your design sense and explore the relationships between shapes in a non intimidating way. It also helps to create non abstract images with a lot of unique shapes and ideas as your mind will often project on to the shapes a story. It explains the creative output of artists like Moebius. Apparently he was an avid automatic drawer. Love your channel. Keep up the good work. I am learning a lot from you. Thanks.
Great video. Really helpful and also entertaining.
real one. thank you.
I don't usually comment, but i want more people to see it
I saw it :3
I saw it 😄
u are the best bro
no you!
Great video. Great advice! I draw often from imagination and for years now..telling myself it's just practice. And that in my next life I will ... When I look thru my past drawings I have noticed ups and downs as well, and wondered why that is. You are an interesting cat! Thank you for all you share! 👏👏👏👏👍
That's the joy of it! You get to look back and go ' hey! I remember why I did that!'. It's a really fun journey to be on. Thank you for letting me know you liked the video!
@ I'll never forget your "ram" analogy. I'll be borrowing that one. Im 63...pretty sure my ram is shrinking. 😂🤣 do you ever forget you drew something? Lol I wonder...well who drew that? 🤣😆🤣😂 Have a great day!
I'm dropping my charitable donation here. Your videos inspire me!
thank you! You're the best.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
My pleasure!
Thank you so much for this video, it helped a lot
I appreciate you letting me know 🥰
im obbsessed with ur chanel tytytyyy
🫶🫶 thank you.
I usually always draw from imagination, not because I think it’s “the right way to draw” im just too lazy to get references. I go through the cycle where I go without reference for a while and realize my art is not great and then I use reference to improve.
Thank you so much - it was really helpfull!
Im still at the start of the video but wanted to say congrats on the sponsor dude
😎 yeaaaaaa buddyyy
Congrats on the sponsorship
😎
Art skill will wibble wobble and get worse the more you get out of your comfort zone, and thats a good thing! If you keep expanding on your skill eventually it wont be out of your comfort anymore, and it will become good
that's a fact!
I can relate to the risk success paradox
I absolutely loved drawing 17, don't you think Kim Jung Gi's drawings also had a lot of things going on in one single page?
That’s very interesting- my friend also said that was his favourite day! I think it’s a personal thing: it didn’t go how I wanted it but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a success! Thank you 🙏
Since I’ve been doing more comics, I’ve been taking less risk so every panel will look good. But I was starting to lack my ability to draw without references
hey it happens to the best of us!
Thanks 😊 broken draw for likeing my comment it made me happy
I got you again!
Time to hit the reference gym.
Your brain about to make insane gains
I hope that was the script for the video at 4:36 :))) I'm learning to draw and would loooove to hear you talking about how to think about drawing and how/what to study
added to the list!
@@brokendraw can't wait!
You should put some background music in your videos, it'll get rid of the awkward silence. This's all really great stuff to know, I've always struggled to just draw simple stuff from my imagination.
how's the new one! Took your advice.
@brokendraw Much better 😊
New beginning 🎉for me
Interesting, I have however found that I have plenty of unique ideas like alien species and what not, so finding reference is honestly kind of impossible unfortunately, since my ideas don't really come from anywhere but my own mind i guess?
Teryl Whitlach has a book on this! She's a character designer for Star Wars (so plenty of aliens) and she constantly references animals. Ultimately everything people design comes from variations we find in nature - when I say reference, I don't mean a 100% one to one copy, but inspiration from different places. You can probably find something resembling your imagination and piece together a group of references that would help it come to life!
@@brokendraw oh thanks man, i might check that out, appreciate the suggestion my dude. - like you right it probably came from somewhere, not sure where my ideas came from tho XD
Wow I love the vases and the bar drawings with a bunch of bears? What’s wrong with that? They are nice !!
Which day are you referring to? Thank you!
@ when you first open the book.. the cases and then follows the animal in the cafe or bar.. feels like
sci-fi.. it’s cool!!
love day 10 and 12
I might try this...😊
You should!
Goated video
simplicity succeeds
its a good teacher but a bad friend (imagination)
drawing from imagination = (risk) x (reference -- either throughout the day by observation, online, etc)
cool!
charitable donation
What annoys me is I can draw things I see pretty decently but I can’t really make things up. In regular life I have good attention to detail and notice everything but I can’t draw things from imagination. I don’t understand the disconnect lol
Do 15 min of memory drawing every day , no matter what and I promise you , you will get better , for some it will seem impossible for a few weeks , but one day , you will look at the shape your planning to memorize and you will realize that you can hold the shape in your mind. There are no shortcuts, put in the work.
Nice vid ! Very funny
Thanks! 😁
I wish i could draw anything... it's the only skill other have that i totatlly envy to an upsetting level. I just CANT put my thoughts on paper and it freaks me out.
OOF i really gotta use more reference, all of this is too real
you know I feel that!
I use reference 100% of the time i dread the idea of not using it but I shall give it a try..
you got this!
I think that the lessons taught in this video are potentially dangerous. Specifically to you. You ARE learning when you draw from imagination, and you are learning a lot. This whole video is kind of about what you learned. But what is important is that Drawing from imagination IS your friend. The entire process is about problem solving in a fun way. The only way to not learn a lot from these drawings is to not try to make a picture you'd like. I think it may be worth approaching this project again. Next time following your own advice, but also with a goal of having fun and actually setting out to make things you like and not just make drawings. You will crash and burn if you make everything about learning or everything about having success, but if you make it all about having fun you will absolutely love the experience. I highly recommend taking on this challenge again.
You're right! im always going to be drawing from imagination, I just have to do it sustainably!
This is a Good Video
Thanks
Day two was the best one
Right 😭
Charitable donation
v cool video
How do i get as good as you in drawing from imagination?? Like where do you even come up with these amazing drawings?!
Ill make a video going more in depth on this, but its really just starting with a line and seeing what believable forms can exist within the parameters you've already drawn.
My “goal” for 2025 so far has been a tiny sketch atleast every day. And I’ve noticed the same thing, when I’ve been happiest with a drawing the next day I’ve been stumped as to what to draw lol but perhaps I too should be looking a references more to get more inspired?
Yes! Not a bad idea, also let it be what it is! You can draw anything you see, anything you feel- The possibilities are endless!
I’m a new subscriber for sure !! Love your style brother. I started 3 years ago and now is when I’m taking the basic shapes more seriously to the point where that’s all I want to draw lol. Great video. I started Peter Hans free videos and trying his exercises also.
By the way, (and sorry stupid question) but, when you say take risks, I don’t quite get it. What sort of risks? How so?
Thanks
take risks, to me, means; draw the things you are uncomfortable drawing. Try to spend a lot of your time in the area of discomfort, because that's also the area of growth. Thanks for your support and I hope to keep releasing videos that help you!
@@brokendraw appreciate the reply and thank you. Keep it up. Loving your videos!
Can you do a video of the Peter Han book
Tuition! 😎
tuition accepted!
I did a similar challenge on December. It wasn’t nearly as bad, because I used no reference with a combination of observation. Mostly getting good at drawing the interior of a B&N and Starbucks. Not to mention a few Dr. Draw videos which (might be cheating) but fuck it lol. My solution? Just mix both imagination, reference/study, and observation practice in the same day.