What can I do to improve my art

[narrow barn]

Hi again. I feel like my art isn't improving at all. I need some guidance on what should I work on. In future I want to draw slight stylized characters, not only realism. Drawing stuff from imagination, that's not on reference is stressing me out, I cant dk anything if I don't see it. I still struggle with shadows and values. I have troubles when my reference doesn't have really visible shadows. Please I really want to be a good artist, I want to feel comfortable with my own work, what should I work on. I will take every tip. Also below are my artworks now. As you can see when I try to do something on my own the quality is horrible. (Last 3 drawings are from when I tried to do something by myself)

[obsidian cobalt]

Do you do any anatomy studies? Things like learning the planes/form and bones of the bones will help with understanding when the images themselves are not visible. Being able to create that mental model without a picture would help draws things from imagination.

[narrow barn]

Is this what you mean?

Do you think it's possible for me to learn even tho I probably have aphantasia

[obsidian cobalt]

yeah its possible. https://animationclub.school/blog/how-to-draw-when-you-cant-picture-anything/

[narrow barn]

Honestly that made me feel better, but the article said that they have strong fundamentals, while I don't, I still lack a lot of knowledge so maybe yoire able to tell me what should I focus on then? I don't mind still using references, I'll try to stop when I'll be able to recreate what I see

[obsidian cobalt]

Then that's where you need to work on is reinforcing those fundamentals. You may have to work a little harder than others to get to the same place but its possible. The stuff you've shown shows you have good level of skills.

[narrow barn]

Thanks, tho I still have a lot troubles. For example today I've chose a reference that I'm not able to recreate at all

[obsidian cobalt]

Some days will be like that. At this point of the drawing is check the measurements between the ref and your drawing. Some places I see is bottom of the lips to the chin, ear size, top of the head height and the jaw shape.

[narrow barn]

I checked tho I have more troubles with rendering the skin it looks awful i don't know how to fix that I think I overcomplicating it

[obsidian cobalt]

Lol now you're getting into color theory stuff which is beyond the scope of my knowledge. That stuff I'm still learning.

[narrow barn]

I dont think it's volor because it's grayscale bit anyway still thanks for help maybe someoen else will br able to help me

[torpid flower]

Helloo, I think you should start to go for books for rendering (i.e where to place shadows, how dark should they be). They provide way more info than youtube vids and explain to the reason (i.e. fundamentals) so you dont have to always look at references.

I recommend to read How to Render by Scott Robinson. For what colour the shadow should be etc, I recommend to read Light for Visual Artist by Richard Yot

For anatomy I havent really found any good books, but you could refer to Chommang from youtube as he explains, you dont need to copy the reference or have perfect guidelines but simply develop a good sense of placement of the face/anatomy features.

[narrow barn]

Is it possible to get this books digitally?

[torpid flower]

Hello, yes. Can I DM you?

[narrow barn]

Yup

Feel free

[obsidian cobalt]

Drawing the Heads and Hand by Loomis has good info. Figure Drawing - design and invention by Micheal Hampton

[narrow barn]

I'll look into it, thanksss

[dusky socket]

Do be careful not to learn too much at once. Ik all too well how difficult it is to try and do that. It ends in burnout every time if youre doing too much all at once