Whats the proper age to start or is there any

[zahidur59]

Someone told me that to be a great pianist one should from the age of nine! I donno if thats true or not but what i am really wondering is if there is any such thing for arts.

How old are you guys and gals in here if you don't mind me asking. And how old were you when you really decided to stick with you talents?

[HunterKiller_]

The earlier the better ofcourse.
I, myself have been doodlin' since I was a wee lad, and have been seriously drawing for a couple of years now.

However, I don't believe anybody needs to start anything in their early childhood to be great at it.
I've just turned 20, and over these few years I felt myself maturing and I realized that I can easily learn skills that would have taken me much longer period of frustration and eventually surrender at a younger age.

It think Rembrandt was in his 20's when he started. That's proof enough.

[tomwaits4noman]

27 yrs young - I was 6 maybe. the teacher asked us what we want to be when we grow up.... you got the usual police men, firemen etc

my reply "animator" (i probably said draw cartoons but animator sounds cooler)

[zahidur59]

thanks guys. I'm in my thirty and working as a web designer for too long now but i'm really thinking about moving on the my real interest. Concept art that is.

[Ampersand]

I'm 17 and have been scribbling on things ever since I laid hands on my first crayon, but I think I only started to take art seriously around a year ago. Even then I've only recently started doing figure studies and the like. Wish I'd known what the 'right' way was earlier, before I'd gotten myself stuck with bad habits. :[

[Lohan]

ive heard as young as 2 or 3

[squidmonk3j]

the younger, the better obviously. pure mathematics / probabilities.

[Jason Rainville]

Age right friggen now. :spam:

[Magic Man]

I'm 25 now, I got serious about art when I was about 22, got hired when I was 23 I think. No age is "too late".

[dose]

Proper age to start: right now!

[jlamarche]

If you want to produce an art genius, and don't give a crap about how well adjusted the kid is or will be in the future, then force him or her to draw and paint as soon as they're able to hold a pencil or brush. Be like Mozart's dad and abuse the kid if he or she doesn't want to draw or paint on any given day and constantly tell them they need to get better because they're creating crap. Sure, the kid will hate you and will probably be in therapy in a few years, etc., but at least he or she will be able to draw and paint really well.

Now, in case you couldn't tell, the previous paragraph was laden with sarcasm.

The right age is when somebody develops the interest and the patience necessary to become good. Some people develop both at a young age and become prodigies. Others lack one or the other. I always had the desire when I was younger, but never the patience to put in the work necessary. I was 33 before I started approaching art with any seriousness, and I'm only now starting to be even moderately happy with my level of ability (I'm 37), I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go, but I love it because I'm doing it from my own desire and motivation, not somebody else's.

I recently read a news article about a woman who started painting at the age of 70, and she's still going strong a decade later and loving it. You could argue that she missed 70 years of enjoyment, but it's also possible that had she started earlier, she would have NEVER gotten the kind of enjoyment out of it that she does now.

There is no right age. When someone is ready, they'll do it. You can help with encouragement, advice, materials, and a place to work, but the rest has to come from the person themselves, no exceptions.

If you want a kid to become an artist, lead by example. The more they see you doing art, the more interested they'll be in experimenting themselves.

[m@.]

You can't really compare a pianist and a graphic artist, I think.

In the visual field, technical virtuosity is not so important (imho) compared to your sensibility, what you have to tell, your personal experience in life, your point of view etc... which all are things that you develop throughout life without especially being an "artist", and that you can use as strengths to make something personal and original, even if your technical ability is not at the level of someone who would have been studying hard for decades.

[Seedling]

There are cruel people out there who force their three-year-olds to start learning the violin. I have known some of these violinists, and they aren’t the most happy or sane people. I’m sure the visual arts could be forced on someone in a similar fashion, but I would accuse the offending parents of child abuse.

I think learning any art should start with play. If a child (or adult) finds plinking a few notes on a piano to be blissful entertainment, they are ripe to be ramped slowly into learning the piano in a more structured manner. The same with art.

And most importantly, the sense of play needs to be maintained no matter how intense or structured the training gets.

[Niva.]

... laden with sarcasm. ....

The right age is when somebody develops the interest and the patience necessary to become good. Some people develop both at a young age and
If you want a kid to become an artist, lead by example. The more they see you doing art, the more interested they'll be in experimenting themselves.

Hehe, laden with sarcasm is right! However, I completely agree with the last part. Kids respond best when encouraged by example.

[Costau D]

When they're still inside drawing cave paintings on the walls of the womb.

[Shehaub]

In my experience, the biggest problem with starting when you are older is that you have to deal with the expectation (usually your own) that you should be better than you are when you see someone 10+ years younger than you doing brilliant work. Right along with it is the expectation that you will never be an amazing artist because you started far too late. It is easier to get discouraged. The work is pretty much the same no matter what age you start at. Like anything worth doing, the more you practice, the better you become.

m@. sums up why there are some advantages to starting at an older age.

When I get incredibly discouraged, I just remind myself that I could be as good as ___________ or I could have gone ahead and had my kids and traveled to Europe, etc... like I did. As much as I want to be good at this, I like the order of events in my life.

Like the guy in "Quest for the Holy Grail" said..
"I'm not dead yet.. "

[Qitsune]

My mom still has my "sketchbook" from when I was 1 1/2y.o. it's more of a notebook... but she taught me to do smily faces back then.. and pigs... which goes to show that starting earlier doesn't mean you'll be awesome!

[zahidur59]

Thanks guys. Though it almost sounds like a stupid question now but to be honest i was feeling a bit low back then (going through the awesome work you guys put in here). Here is one i worked on last night. The second one is playing with Marvel Tone

[Coinpurse]

depends on when you have an interest in doing it, if ever. Some people are not meant to be artists, just like some are not meant to be basketball players, pilots, accountants, truck drivers, etc... and only that person can decide what he/she is and is not meant for... Simply with the interest in doing so.

You can do anything you desire no matter what age, just so as long as your determined to improve (not comparing yourself with others).

I started when I was about 5 and have never stopped. I just enjoy drawing and painting that much, its the fate I decided when I was a child. Obviously the answer here would be the sooner the better. But remember that its never too late to start either, you just need to keep doing it.

[m@.]

Some people are not meant to be artists, just like some are not meant to be basketball players [...]
You can do anything you desire no matter what age, just so as long as your determined to improve (not comparing yourself with others).

THAT was a contradictory post!

[Abigail the Strong]

I've had a special place in my heart for drawing since I was very little. I one a colouring contest when I was five :) lol. but I new I wanted to be an artist at age..... 10 or 11. And then I found concept art when I was 12. I was drawing off and on at that time . But Since I found this sight a month or two ago I've been drawing like crazy and I love it. I've filled in most of my sketchbook in these past 3 months.
I was lucky to find my passion early. I am now 14 and having a wonderful time being so.

[Theodoric]

I am 15 now, I have been drawing super heroes/warriors/battles since I was like 8. Been doodling as long as I can remember. About a year ago I started to paint landscapes, picked up east india ink about three months ago, started doing 30 second gestures of the human body about a week ago (that is how I found this site). Now I used my money to buy a Tablet and Painter X on ebay, and it is in the mail now :).

If you draw every day I really dont think it takes long to improve and get serious about it.