That Rabbit's Dynamite!

respondr1:

artist-confessions:

Don’t blame the anime aesthetic because it happens to be popular. 

Everyone has to start somewhere, and it might as well be drawing something that they relate to and enjoy. If they want to get “better”, they’ll do it on their own terms at their own pace. If they can only learn by eyeballing or emulating a popular style, let them eyeball. Realistic artists don’t do anything but eyeball, yet there isn’t a lot said about them.

Being elitist about realism or indie-western styles isn’t helping anyone. If people want to draw realism, they will.  If they want to draw megabuff muscle-dudes, they will. If they want to draw three fingered googly eyed schoolchildren, they will. And yes, even if you don’t like it, if they want to draw triangle-faced bishoujos with eyes the size of Saturn, they will. 

Your way isn’t the best way for anyone but yourself.

The reason why people advocate realism is because it’s the root of all styles, not because the style is better. If you want to draw comics, anime, muscle men, Disney, etc. right, you MUST learn realism. There are artists out there that draw fantastic cartoon styles, but those artists can draw a real person without that stylization. Look at the professionals in those styles - I can guarantee you they advice you learn how to draw realistically.

Oh, and it ain’t just me saying this. It’s the two art schools I’ve gone too, every art school I’ve looked at, every studio I’ve looked at, and every professional I’ve spoken to. Drawing in a given style doesn’t mean that you can’t be skilled, but you can’t be skilled if you can’t draw realistically.

^^^^^^^Couldn’t have said it better. 

Artwork has a basis in reality, no matter what style you draw in. Animated styles, comic styles all shade with a consideration for reality. If you honestly have no interest in getting better and art is just a hobby or something to pass the time, then fine.

Understand though that the best artists out there have always looked to the real world to gather their inspiration and understanding on how to craft an image and make it it believable to the human eye. 

Seriously, the best advice I can give to anyone is if you find yourself wanting to go into the professional realm, sit down and draw that tree outside. Gesture draw those people walking down the street. Do what I didn’t early on and now regret.