[gouache]

Not quite done to be honest?

Referenced from several photos of the same species, including this one .

I've found myself at a really weird point in art. I really wanted to learn how to create
photo realistic art, but it's really challenging. So I'm trying to make it more stylised
instead? I honestly feel really uncomfortable posting my work when it looks this way,
but I'm going to keep trying to improve.

I think maybe there's too much pressure to create illustrations that are one hundred
percent anatomically accurate to the subject being drawn? I hope that makes sense?
I would love to hear about what you all think.

[Mythz]

yo this is incredible!! i love it <3

[Bingus]

when the moth is sus

[ahirked]

God this is incredible I am in LOVE

[gouache]

Thank YOU!

[polysaccharide]

this is beautiful !! 😍

[Guest]

I understand being unhappy with the stage that your art is at, but trust me, it looks absolutely amazing. I love your style and while it's not 100% realistic it's still perfect. It's easier to understand what's going on and to notice the structures in your style and it makes me enjoy the art even more! I love realistic, but slightly stylized is my cup of tea ♡

I once saw a realism artist giving some tips and one that stuck with me was to pay attention to the general idea instead of the details. One of his tips was to blur the image so you can't see the details and start from there, you could maybe try that?
I can't remember his name, but I'll let you know if I do. Either way you're doing great, can't wait to see you improve even more :)

[mars]

this is amazing omg !! butterflies are the best B)

I agree, I think there's tons of pressure for art to be 100% perfect realism. a good chunk of the art community feels like it's turned into a competition of copying rather than creating something meaningful and unique.

sure, drawing perfect realism takes extreme talent and it looks cool,,,,,,,but I personally think that people should have fun with their art and enjoy making things. if realism is draining you, maybe it's okay to step back from that and work on something else that you enjoy. stylized art is beautiful in its own way (:

my high school art teacher pushed me towards realism since my stylized art wasn't considered "real art" in her eyes. going back to my old cartoony style felt so freeing since I just wasn't having fun with realism and hated doing those dumb projects, even if they were pretty. I don't have to draw anatomically correct animals to draw animals. if I want to draw those "dumb" round paws I love so much, then let me draw those "dumb" round paws, mrs-teacher-who-I-shall-not-name 0:<

you can learn lessons from realism about colors, lighting, and perspectives without drawing realism all the time or without having a realism style that's 100% spot on perfect, you know?

anyways, I love your art regardless of what style you choose to draw it in !!! do whatever feels right to you and we'll be along for the ride ^v^

[gouache]

Thank you so much, both! I read everything. <3

[Kyar]

Personally I think that having a style of your own matters more than achieving photorealism. While it's always impressive when someone can achieve a perfect photo look, there's something special about creating something distinctly yours.