looking for a mentor in digi painting

[battlebattle]

so short and sweet. i quit drawing a while ago. my passion over time turned into a big ball of frustration =\
as depressing as it is i REALLY want to give this one more big go.... im still young (23) and i feel like even though for some reason its harder for me to grasp with the right guidance i can at least see enough improvement to want to attempt to get back into it.

i have 24-7 for 4 months of nothing to do, to seriously practice... and i need a mentor.
if youre qualified enough im willing to even pay =\. i figure 20 years of drawing thrown down the toilet is worth a few bucks to really try to rekindle my passion for this.

heres some stuff i did to try to practice over the last week

i have a good grasp of art, but i dont know. i just "get" it.

[battlebattle]

somebody say
sure kiddo ill teach ya.
:(

[AWSullivan]

I can't teach you what I do not know so I won't offer that but here are a few tips. Maybe you know this stuff and maybe not but it's what keeps me going.

Before that though, give this thread a little time. Never know when someone might see something in your work.

So here are my tips:

1) DO NOT compare your work to others. This is a path to frustration and heartache. The artists on this website and many others have been creating brilliant art for longer than you've been alive in some cases. What you can and SHOULD do is learn from them. Do studies of their work, pour over their sketchbooks and see what they do for practice.

2) DO NOT sit there refreshing this page waiting for someone to come save you. That is time you could be drawing and nothing is going to make you better faster than just sitting down and drawing.

3) You seem to want to do digital only and I think that is folly. While I think it is possible to become a good artist strictly in the digital medium, I do think you deprive yourself of certain learning opportunities. Get yourself a good sketchpad and some nice pencils, graphite or coals, and go sit at a coffee shop.

I like to sit where I have a clear view of the cash register. This is the place where people stop and stand for 30 seconds to a minute while they complete their transaction. It's a great time to hash out a quick gesture.

Most of all... if you really want to do this for a living, don't say you are going to give it one more try. To quote Yoda... No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. Sure it sounds silly coming from a pint sized leather suitcase but there is a strong message there. You do not try to become an artist. You simply become one.

Live within yourself and grow at the pace that you can.

Good luck!

~Anthony

[Mitco]

how dare u call Yoda a pint sized leather suticase:).

[waffles!]

1) DO NOT compare your work to others. This is a path to frustration and heartache.

...

2) DO NOT sit there refreshing this page waiting for someone to come save you. That is time you could be drawing and nothing is going to make you better faster than just sitting down and drawing.
...

Most of all... if you really want to do this for a living, don't say you are going to give it one more try. To quote Yoda... No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. Sure it sounds silly coming from a pint sized leather suitcase but there is a strong message there. You do not try to become an artist. You simply become one.

Just thought I'd stop by and say great advice, kind of inspiring in a way! The yoda part made me lol fairly hard.