Hello everyone, my name is Joshua and I'm 19 years old and I've been attempting to improve my art over the course of the last two years. I keep getting scared that I'm not applying my energy correctly and that i wont improve so i end up not drawing very much at all. I would really appreciate any tips or advice about what I'm doing wrong or about what i should be doing instead.

Just a really poor form study.

Perspective study

Went to life drawing for the first time in a while today. Pretty messy but i still like it.

These are from today.

Keep em great studies coming. Loving the life drawing.

Thanks! Will do.

Some of my efforts from today and yesterday.

Some stuff i did from imagination today, they're not particularly good but all the studies was killing me.

Self portrait

I'm going to endeavor to draw an hour each day this month so as to ease myself into a more serious training routine, I'm finally getting help for my anxiety and my depression so 2018 is going to be the year i really get started!

Keep up the hard work! I totally feel you on battling depression and anxiety - it's a complete motivation killer, and makes you feel like nothing you do is worth it. But it is worth it, and I'm so glad to hear you're determined to make 2018 a year for change. I'm rooting for you, and I'm looking forward to keeping an eye on your sketchbook.

Thanks! Its always comforting to know you aren't alone.
Here is today's hour.

Another Bargue lay in.

Taking it slower with this one I have a bad habit of trying to get all the details in right away. I think I'll continue this one tomorrow.

I've decided to draw and paint a series of self portraits documenting my mental issues and my recovery from them. Mainly as a creative way to get some life drawing done.

It's really clear how much a focus on planes/geometric shapes can help solidify your art; that face looks quite excellent. I'm also looking forward to how your series of self portraits comes out; I have heard that this sort of thing does help people cope with whatever internal turmoil they're going through. I hope your able to work through whatever mental health issues you're facing, and don't hesitate to reach out if you ever just want to talk.

It's been a while since i posted here, I haven't been doing to well mentally but Im going to try to ease myself back into art.

Your linework is really impressive. I love how you are able to make very clear images using such few lines, especially with pen. It's a little like Yoshitaka Amano if you are interested in looking them up.

Keep up the great work!

Your linework is really impressive. I love how you are able to make very clear images using such few lines, especially with pen. It's a little like Yoshitaka Amano if you are interested in looking them up.

Keep up the great work!

Thank you for the encouragement! sorry I took so long to reply.

Hey man, welcome to the forums!
Nice and clean sketches.
One thing I noticed on the Mayan warrior, it looks like you are drawing the forms where you think they're going to be, I mean, I look at the legs and they are not connected with the upper part of the body. A piece of advice, draw the body, the whole thing and then dress it, you have time to erase the lines you don't want later. I hope you can understand what I tried to explain.

Keep up the good work!

Hey man, welcome to the forums!
Nice and clean sketches.
One thing I noticed on the Mayan warrior, it looks like you are drawing the forms where you think they're going to be, I mean, I look at the legs and they are not connected with the upper part of the body. A piece of advice, draw the body, the whole thing and then dress it, you have time to erase the lines you don't want later. I hope you can understand what I tried to explain.

Keep up the good work!

Yeah I totally get what you mean, thanks for the advice!

I started taking some local classes, I'm really enjoying it so far. This is a master study I did there, took about an hour and a half.

good drawings! I like your straight line approach.

I third Joseph here, because I feel seconding isn't enough.

Thanks guys i appreciate it!