If there's one thing I have learned while trying to improve myself, it is that there is no such thing as talent. Only dedication and hardwork.

My favorite example is this thread on ConceptArt.org: Journey of an Absolute Rookie. Look at his first few posts and then go to the very end of the thread to see how far he has come. It's very inspiring and whenever i need a confidence boost I look there!

I also would like to share some of the other helpful art-related links I always reference back to.

LIGHT - a detailed tutorial
Analytical Figure Drawing - student work blog
Tutorials by Der-shing Helmer, creator of The Meek
Unique Character Design Tips
Character Design Blog

I have a TON more but here you are for now. :3

That guy has come a looooooooong way since 2002, huh? He's practicly a master now!
That's the most inspiring thing I have ever seen. Thanks for that.

I know right! I'm so amazed by him.

Wow, that is quite inspiring! As for the rest of the links, I use them as well after being directed by Growly and I second their recommendation. All of these links are useful tools.

I think there IS such a thing as talent! But I also think anybody can become a great artist.
Let me pimp my own tutorial collection here: http://cedarseed.deviantart.com/gallery ... -and-Stock
Or on my website, where the images may show more easily in actual size: http://www.cedarseed.com/fire/tutorials.html

Ah- Cederseed! I've admired your tutorials before on deviant art. Your breakdown of birds has especially helped me. Thanks so much!

I believe there's a predisposition to love doing something that encourages practice that in turn cultivates skill. Enjoyment can be learned too though so yes, anyone can become an amazing artist. Oh, and I also want to spotlight the LIGHT tutorial Growly linked. That thing has helped me immensely. Supposedly it will be made into a book one day...

thanks for the link, very inspiring!
will keep this in my bookmarks for inspiration. and a virtual kick in the pants when I am being slack and not working hard.

You need talent in order to excel - talent is basically the natural skill you have at a certain task.

When it comes to drawing, anyone can do it. If you can catch a ball, aim a pistol or judge lengths without a measurement device, you can draw. Drawing is merely hand-eye co-ordination, if you look at it at a physical level. You basically train your hands to take the data you've observed with your eyes, and make judgments in space and replicate that by making marks on a sheet of paper.

I went to College with an older lady who was a photographer. She couldn't draw a stick man properly. By the end of third year, she had trained herself to observe and replicate what she saw and made some wonderful masterpieces. She had the latent talent - the practice pulled it out of her, and now she is a gifted artist.

When people say they can't draw, it bothers me because it is simply untrue. People have a hard time drawing because they lack vision. Once they learn how to see, then the hard part begins. Learning to communicate your thoughts and imagination for people to understand.

Putting pen/pencil/paint to paper is SO easy.

WOW! I love that lighting tutorial. I'm half way through it but it's just sooooo good. Thanks for posting these links here. I'm slowly making my way through them all.

That's great Diana, you're quite welcome!

I didn't read everybodies post here so somebody has maybe already mentioned this.

I read a great book called 'Drawing is on the right side of the brain.'

very much in the vein of this thread.

I failed to actually say this before, but that thread on ConceptArt is massively entertaining.
One of things that depresses me is when anybody I know says that they can't something to the quality of the old masters. The problem is that they either don't just try it or they are too afraid to give it a shot because they might fail at the first try.

Another good book is Rodger Von Oech's A Whack on the Side of The Head. It's not so much about drawing I must admit, but it does teach a lot about the creative process.