Work Hard- no shortcuts

Anything worth having never comes easy. A common misconception that I had when I was younger (like... until a year ago...) is that having the "professional-quality" equipment would make me a better artist. And I feel like a lot of people want to think this way.

Buying the expensive brand of markers or the fancy art supplies will make you a better artist because that's what the professionals use. Or maybe buying that super expensive tablet. Typically, these things that we believe will make us better are high-end and therefore make us spend big $$$ for really no reason at all.

Another thing I can relate this idea to would be the idea that I've seen some student animators have that if they move out to LA or NY where all the jobs are that they'll be sure to get a job. While, that can happen, it's not what you should bet everything you have on.

What applies to both of these ideas is the fact that these things will not automatically you better at what you do. What makes you a good artist, is being good at it.

Materials and the city you live in can only help you, but it's no magical serum to make you better at what you do.

I feel like this idea is obvious, but it gets overlooked because we get so awestruck by the work we see that is produced using those Prismacolor markers. But the markers are only doing 10% of the work (maybe less, I don't know percentages). The majority of appeal that you are looking at is all the artist's skills.

And sure you can be in the city where the industry's leading companies all reside. But if your work isn't good enough, then you're still not going to get a job. You'll have, perhaps and easier chance at an opportunity because distance won't be a problem, but your work may still be not up to par.

I love this article that I stumbled across last week that totally proves this point. That your materials don't make your art, your talent does.

This man didn't know how to use Photoshop so he spent a decade practicing good ol' Microsoft Paint and illustrated an entire book. The work blows me away! No neon circles and strokes here.

http://www.boredpanda.com/microsoft-paint-ebook-illustrations-camp-redblood-pat-hines/

Definitely worth a look!

Now of course, these fancy materials can definitely enhance the quality of your work. But this is best to come once you've already "mastered" the drawing, painting, or whatever it is you're doing. Because eventually you will find that your sharpies aren't doing it for you and will like to look for markers that come in different tip sizes for details. There are a lot of examples, but this is the kind of thing that you just start to figure out on your own once you really have a full understanding of your art and what would make it better.

Because this supplies is expensive for a reason. It is higher quality. But when you're just starting off or still learning, they aren't at all necessary. In order to draw, all you need is pencil and paper. No.2 pencil and lined paper works just fine.