I drew quite a bit as a kid and teenager, but now that I'm in my mid-twenties most of my skills have atrophied. With my depression defeated and my transition largely over, I've got no excuses. I've yet to see anyone who got their start in their twenties, though. It's always people who have drawn at least since their teens. It's pretty discouraging. Still, I can't think of much that makes me happier than drawing something I can be proud of.
Does anyone who started later in life have any encouraging stories?
I drew as a kid and teen. But then I stopped. Started at 30 and stopped again. My drawings usually come with a depressive episode. I draw dark pics about pain and death. It's a way to let it all out. I'm a lousy poet. I draw and paint.
Tony
I can put some pics on here. But I need to warn you. They are dark and not nice ones with flowers and stuff.
The ones I have saved was from my half year in psych ward. I was psychotic and suicidal.
Tony
Quote from: MeTony on October 21, 2018, 11:41:18 AM
I can put some pics on here. But I need to warn you. They are dark and not nice ones with flowers and stuff.
The ones I have saved was from my half year in psych ward. I was psychotic and suicidal.
Tony
As it so happens, I'm a big fan of dark and depressing. I'd be honored if you'd share them.
Still yet, that is pretty inspiring.
I chose 6 pictures. I have them on facebook.
https://imgur.com/a/rX612fI
Tony
Need to say I'm not religious. But I was while psychotic. I guess that's why there are so many crosses.
Have not been drawing for 7 years. I lost the ability when they put me on meds. It's my analytic side of the brain trying to do a picture instead of emotional side of the brain.
Tony
Those are fantastic. I'm a big fan of spooky, abstract art. With Hieronymous Bosch being one of my favorite painters.
In a weird way, I think I'm finally in a similar headspace I was in as a kid, so maybe waiting until now was the best thing for me. Maybe starting antidepressants and other medications killed my creativity as a teen.
I guess I am religious, but I don't get bent out of shape about it. Crosses can have plenty of meanings and I actually think they're a bit idolatrous and depressing, given what they were used for.
Alright! I've got some free time today, so it's time to give it a shot. Thank you, and if you have any more art to share, I'll gladly check it out.
Quote from: MeTony on October 21, 2018, 10:10:01 PM
I chose 6 pictures. I have them on facebook.
https://imgur.com/a/rX612fI
Tony
Wow, those are fascinating! Very beautiful yet creepy at the same time. I know what you mean by certain meds killing your creativity..... Its a shame that something that's supposed to help you can have such bad side effects.
Thanks for sharing, they are really quite good.
I've drawn all my life, but I'd like to give you some advice anyway. As well as studying form and shading and all that, you should spend time "scribbling" or "doodling", because an important part of drawing is that connection between your brain and your eye and your hand. Just lines and rows of lines, and convergences of lines, curved, straight, crosshatched, whatever. Do a few pages worth. Then do some forms and try to shade them along their tangents, remembering the loose feeling you had when you were scribbling. I hope that helps. And what I mean by along their tangents is, try not to shade at an obtuse angle, and follow the forms you are shading.
For me, to draw it was the only way to escape from the hole .. I remember as a kid (8-10), drawing girly anime characters and hiding them in notebooks so nobody would see them, because he thought that what he was doing was wrong. But I really loved it.. sometimes I do some manga drawing just to hang out.