FAQ
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Tips & advice

Tips & advice

My tips and advice on drawing and more!

Drawing-related injuries

A drawing-related injury could be carpal tunnel, wrist pain, tennis elbow, or any other type of injury that results from drawing too much, or in an unhealthy way. These are shockingly common amongst artists! Unfortunately I’ve experienced some strain from drawing in the past, but managed to overcome it by making changes to my workflow, mindset, and routine. The most important thing is to slow down, take breaks, and give yourself time to rest and recover. This is easier said than done – artists often panic that they won’t be able to keep up with their work or learning process. However, you must get rest, because a drawing-related injury is a sign that you are overworking yourself! Take a moment to realize that whatever urgent task you are doing is completely irrelevant compared to the long-term use of your arm. It’s important to prioritize your health – and if you do that, you will most likely recover and be able to draw without pain!

Here are some things that I found helpful in dealing with my injury:

Mindset: The main thing that’s helped me is to become aware of thought patterns that intensify stress. Stress would cause me to squeeze my pen too hard, have a bad posture and ignore breaks – all of which exacerbated the problem. Over time, I’ve learned to realize when this is happening and take better care of myself when it does.
Sleeping position: So much healing happens at night, during your sleep! If your arm is hurting, don’t sleep on it at night. This can obstruct bloodflow to the injured area. Also, make sure you don’t bend your wrist into a sharp angle while you sleep. A wrist brace can help with that!
Frequent breaks: Take breaks regularly! Workrave can help with that. It’s a program that forces you to take frequent micro-breaks and also longer breaks throughout the day.
Stretches: Be sure to stretch your arm, shoulders and neck throughout your workday. You’re often carrying way more tension in your body than you realize!
Workspace: Try to configure your workspace ergonomically. Things like a good chair and desk, the height of your screen, and the angle of the screen have a huge impact on how much strain you’re putting on yourself while working.
Routine & structure: Keep a steady daily routine where you plan your drawing hours ahead of time. This will prevent you from getting stuck in an activity that causes strain. If you can, try to include exercise in the routine, as well as rest and calming activities. Implementing a healthier routine in my life has been the main solution to being more productive! For more information on what I consider to be a healthy routine for artists, check out my Patreon tutorial about creating an artistic routine.

Most importantly: speak to a doctor or physical therapist if you’re feeling pain, rather than power through it. An expert can identify the problem and give specific solutions that will help you! Remember that all bodies are different and what works for me might not work for you, so don’t hesitate to consult a professional for help if you’re struggling with a drawing-related injury.

Is art school necessary?

The short answer to this is no – it is not necessary for building a career as an artist, or for learning how to draw. I’m mostly self-taught and nowadays there is an almost infinite amount of resources available online that will help you learn! I generate the majority of my income from the type of art I was making outside of school, and I believe I could have achieved this without going to animation school. However, art school can be enormously beneficial. I learned a lot about working together with other people, explaining my creative choices, and getting construcive criticism. Most importantly, I met a lot of people who became my network once I was a freelancer. As with many things, whether art school will help you depends entirely on your situation and learning style. Just know that it is not a requirement for building a career as an artist!

Where to study

I unfortunately have very little advice on this! I graduated animation school in 2009 which feels like centuries ago. A lot has changed since then – both in terms of the quality of the education and in terms of the cost. The industry has changed a lot too. I definitely recommend reaching out to recently graduated alumni of schools you’re interested in to learn more about whether it might be a good fit for you!

Making a living off of art

I often get asked whether it is possible to make a living off of art, usually from people who are on the fence about pursuing it. It is definitely possible! Me and many others have done it and continue to do it. However, it’s not a guarantee, and can be complicated depending on what you do, where you live, and what your options are. For me, having an online following and living in The Netherlands, which is relatively easygoing for freelancers, has made things a lot easier. One thing I can recommend is to diversify your income and be ready to switch gears when the industry changes – which it often does. Choosing art as a career is a highly personal decision – definitely do your research before getting started!

Commission tips

Commissions are paid requests to draw something or someone, usually for personal use. It’s usually the starting point for many artists’s careers and it’s definitely how I started out as a teenage artist! I began with low-priced commissions and gradually raised the price as the demand for my artwork grew. But looking at it through the lens of a professional artist, I think many artists charge too little for their work. Due to the wide availability of cheap commissions, many people have come to expect and even demand these very low prices. If you decide to offer commissions, don’t let anyone convince you that your price is too high – this happens a lot and you’re better off ignoring them and moving on! The best way to approach your pricing is to estimate how many hours would go into each piece, and to figure out how much money you feel an hour of your time is worth, and then do the math. For the rest, I would advise you to:

Agree on the deadline in advance, and stick to it.
Ask for your payment in advance. You can also ask for half upfront and the other half later on – but a full advance payment is also reasonable!
Agree on what your payment will be if the commission is cancelled halfway through the process, because this happens sometimes.
Show your client the rough sketch and a rough color version before proceeding to the next step, to ensure that the client is happy with where the image is going.
Establish with your client how many modifications can be made to the artwork based on the client’s feedback, in order to avoid a situation in which you might have to completely re-do your image.
Be dependable and communicate well with your client. Keep them up to date on the progress!

How do I find work as a freelancer?

This is an extremely tough question because the industry is always changing. In the past, I’ve depended a lot on my online following to find work, but algorithms are becoming increasingly restrictive and this is not always a reasonable strategy anymore. Sometimes there’s a lot of work to be found, and sometimes work dries up. There’s a lot of fluctuation and it’s not always your fault if you can’t find work.

I definitely recommend getting your work out there as much as you can – both online and in real life. Attending art events like LightBox Expo, Playgrounds or local comic cons can be a great way to make face-to-face connections. If you can, get your portfolio reviewed by professionals in the field so that you know how to optimize your portfolio for a specific type of job. When showing your art to others, show them a mix of finished and rough work: this way, others can get a sense of how you draw but also how you think and develop your ideas. Finally, joining a discord community with other artists can be a great way to find connections amongst your peers. Basically, do anything that can help you create genuine connections with people in the industry!

How do I price my work?

There’s no one rule that determines how you should price your work! It’s totally up to you what you want to charge, so it’s important to look at your own specific situation first. The most important thing is that you need to be able to make a living off of your work, which is more complicated than it sounds! Don’t just factor in your bills, but also the cost of the materials you make art with, and the cost of your art education – costs that make it possible for you to create. You should also factor in your expertise as an artist. Charging purely what you need to survive means that you will not be able to grow and evolve your business. Sometimes this is a short term solution to pay bills, but it shouldn’t be a long term approach for your career. Also, consider that you’re not always being paid for your time: You will also be doing unpaid work in the form of updating social media, answering e-mails, managing finances, etc. Make sure your fee also covers the unpaid hours in which you manage your business!

When negotiating your fee, keep in mind that you can always bargain downwards, but clients are very unlikely to accept a higher fee after you’ve suggested a lower one. Also, don’t let yourself be fooled by clients who suggest your work is worth less than what you ask. Many of them are just using manipulation tactics to get you to lower your price, so don’t take it personally. Also, never work for ‘exposure’! I get the most exposure from my own personal illustrations and sketches, so if you’re considering doing free or low-paid work because you want to expand your portfolio, consider a personal project rather than unpaid work. The results will be way better!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone – it’s a lot to consider! It took me a long time to find my confidence in this area, so be patient with yourself and take it step by step. Good luck!

Getting started with digital art

A lot of people ask me where to start with digital art! It can be very overwhelming in the beginning, so this is an understandable question. The first and most important thing is getting somewhat comfortable with digital tools. In order to do this, I recommend just doodling and sketching for a while. Try not to use too many tools or filters – just get used to the flow of sketching, and then you can slowly learn about the rest. I definitely recommend checking out Loish’s Digital Art School, which has free video tutorials that you can follow along with, as well as brushes and step-by-steps! In general, be patient – it can take a while to familiarize yourself with the tools. It took me a very long time and lots of trial and error to get there!

My art has been stolen, what do I do?

Have you had your art stolen? Welcome to the club! I’ve had my work ‘stolen’ (that is to say: my copyright breached) numerous times. I had my work printed on clothing, phone cases, book covers, and more – all without my permission. The standard course of action is to file a DMCA takedown form. If that doesn’t work, a cease-and-desist letter from a lawyer usually does the trick. This is what I recommend doing if your copyright has been breached. There’s unfortunately no way to fully prevent your art being used without your permission, except for one thing: Never showing your art to anyone. That means your work will never gain any kind of positive exposure, so I don’t recommend that! There’s also positive benefits to showing your work, so try to weigh the negatives against the positives when things like this happen.

More recently, my work has been uploaded to databases to be used for generative AI under the guise of “fair use.” Although some see this as a legal gray area, I think it’s a blatant breach of my copyright. To learn more about my opinions on generative AI, check out this post.

When is it too late to learn?

If you’re asking yourself whether it’s too late to learn digital art, you are not alone! Lots of people have asked themselves this. I personally don’t believe there is any point where it is ‘too late’ to learn something new, and I think it’s always rewarding to pursue something that sparks your creativity and allows you to express yourself – no matter what age. It’s also never too late to pursue a career as an artist. Having said that, each area of the creative industry is different. Some art jobs depend on an influx of young interns and it’s hard to get your foot in those kinds of places, but those are not the only opportunities that exist for artists! Everyone’s story is different, and everyone has different situations they’re dealing with or challenges that they face – so there’s not one set of rules that determine whether you will be successful as an artist. The main advice I can give is to develop your knowledge at your own pace and find what works best for you, rather than feeling the pressure to learn every single trick in the book. If you want to know more about my thoughts on this topic, check out this conversation between me and my friend Iris Compiet, who found her career path in her late 30’s.

Staying motivated / dealing with artblock

Artblock is really common and could be caused by any range of things, like feeling burned out, running out of ideas, or negative self-talk. If you’re feeling blocked, it’s important to try and figure out the cause, because the solutions are different for each one!

Burnout: If you’re feeling burned out, you have to slow down and recover from that before you can back into the flow of drawing. Shift your focus to your basic needs and get as much rest as you can. Do activities that inspire and energize you – even if they are not art-related. If you have the energy to draw, stick to things that come easily to you and that feel comfortable. When you recover from the burnout, your creative energy and ideas will probably return too!
Negative self-talk: If you are continually bashing yourself and feeling disappointed in your art, you are creating a toxic mindset that will make you feel scared to create. Your art will suffer as a result, which in turn will make you feel worse about what you create – trapping you in a negative cycle. You have to break the cycle by focusing on attainable goals, getting back to your comfort zone, and being more compassionate towards yourself. Check out Loish’s Digital Art School for free worksheets that will help you develop a healther attitude towards your own art!
Boredom / feeling stuck: Feeling stuck often happens when you have an intense focus on a specific aspect of your workflow that isn’t improving or evolving. Focusing on it is keeping you from getting fresh perspective, or growing in other areas of your art. For situations like these, trying a new medium can be really inspiring, as well as drawing new subject matter. Go outside of your comfort zone and you’ll find something that sparks your creativity!

My main advice is to be kind and patient towards yourself if you are blocked! Many artists have a natural urge to be more strict towards themselves because they think this will boost their growth. This usually doesn’t work, and can even make the problem worse. You will experience way more artistic growth if you’re enjoying what you do, so make that a priority!

How long should I take?

There’s no one rule for how much time you should spend on a drawing! Over time, I’ve found a routine that works for me. I usually spend about 3-5 hours on one single drawing session – if I spend longer than that, I feel like my concentration runs out. I spend on average between 10 to 20 hours to make a detailed digital piece, divided into shorter sessions. On quicker speed sketches, I spend between 1 to 3 hours. Every artist draws at their own pace, so if you’re looking for the “right amount of time” to spend on a drawing, don’t worry too much about that! It’s different for everyone, and it can take a while to find out a formula that works for you.

How often should I draw?

This will be different for every artist and depends entirely on what your schedule allows! I draw quite regularly – about 2-4 times a week, although on some weeks I draw more than others. Since drawing is my work, I try not to draw on weekends or holidays – but sometimes I just feel inspired and I might doodle a bit in my downtime. However, I think it is incredibly important to take breaks and limit drawing hours to avoid strain injuries and burning out creatively! I’m only able to draw regularly if I don’t push myself past my limits, which is all about striking a balance and making sure I have a healthy relationship with my work. If you’re trying to figure out how often you should draw, try to find what works best for you and don’t compare yourself too much to other people.

Drawing every day

Are you asking yourself whether you should draw every day? I personally I would not recommend it. It’s a lot of pressure and you run the risk of burning yourself out, or worse yet, straining your wrist and injuring yourself. I think that a healthy learning process involves more than just drawing. It also involves finding inspiration, getting rest, connecting with the art community, and giving yourself time to come up with ideas. There have been periods where I drew daily for a short while, but I don’t think it’s sustainable for longer periods of time. My recommendation is to draw regularly, but not daily – you need those breaks to recover and grow. For more information on what I consider to be a healthy routine for artists, check out my Patreon tutorial about creating an artistic routine!

Using reference

Using reference is essential for any artist! I gather reference material for the majority of my artwork. Some of my drawings are studies in which I closely reference specific images to learn new techniques. Other drawings, like my digital paintings, are less dependent on specific reference images and result from a mix of different visual influences. This is because leaning on one reference image too heavily usually leads to a less stylized result, which is the opposite of what I want to achieve for my paintings. I try to depend more on my imagination for those, although I do use reference to elevate the details in the final stages.

If I’m struggling with the anatomy, I look for pose reference or take pictures of myself. For pose reference, my favorite source is Adorkastock. My favorite tool for creating a reference board is PureRef. To learn more about how I approach reference, check out my challenge resources on Patreon – I always take a moment to discuss my reference boards and how I diversify the images I include in them!

Learning anatomy

Learning how to draw anatomy accurately is a long process and is something you’ll get more comfortable with the longer you practice it. I learned how to draw anatomy by practicing both from memory and studying reference images. I often switched between the two so that my style would be a mix of realistic and cartoony.

Unfortunately I can’t recommend any books for learning anatomy, since I never used these kinds of resources myself, but I definitely recommend doing gesture sketches from reference as a way to improve your anatomy skills! Speed sketches are a great way to learn: try to capture the overall shape and movement before going into detail, since this helps you to understand the overall shapes and proportions. My free resource pack, Loish’s Digital Art School, includes a gesture sketching challenge that comes with reference images and tips – this is a great place to start if you want to practice gestures!

Finding inspiration

I believe there is a lot of inspiration to be found in our everyday lives! I get my inspiration from a mix of art I see online, the world around me, and interesting reference images that I find on Pinterest, Unsplash, or pose reference images like Adorkastock. One of my biggest sources of inspiration is nature, either in real life or through photographs. I often use pictures I take myself as a starting point for an illustration or study. For my digital paintings, I often get a ‘spark’ of inspiration from something I saw in my daily life which gives me an idea for a painting. I made a tutorial on this subject over on my Patreon for those who want to know more about how I take small, daily-life moments of inspiration and turn these into paintings!

Image resolution & size

For digital art, it’s important to start at a large resolution and downsize later for viewing on the web. This is essential to being able to make high-quality prints of digital work, and also ensures that the brush strokes don’t look pixellated. I often start with a canvas that is at least A3 format (300DPI) or larger, which is around 3500 x 5000 pixels. My suggestion to digital artists is to work at the maximum possible size that your device can handle, without it lagging or slowing down the computer!