Inspiring Artists with Artists

FERNANDO ALVAREZ, Staff Writer

What is an artist? There are many definitions for what one can be, and not much of a definitive answer, especially with generative AI trying to make itself seem like an artistic norm. From how I see it, an artist is someone who uses their imagination and a medium to directly create something, like a musician playing the guitar, or someone knitting a little yarn doll. AI requires a prompt to then create something, and as such, it isn't a direct process of creation, and therefore would not be considered art. Programming a flower to be drawn by a computer is art, as you are directly telling the computer what to do using a step-by-step process you created, similar to how your brain tells your hand how to move. So, why not inspire future artists by having other artists inspire them?

ActuallyRea's Profile Picture, Drawn by Them

One such artist is a personal favorite of mine, June Gustin, also known as ActuallyRea. They are a mixed-media artist who creates both digital and traditional art on YouTube. They are most known for their comic, PRISM, and their drawing style, which is especially noticeable in their sketchbooks. Instead of using erasable materials like pencils or mechanical pens, they use highlighters and pens, allowing them to sketch and draw without worrying about perfection. This gives them more confidence in their lines and overall work, and they even incorporate this style into their digital art. They helped me regain my motivation to draw after I had stopped, and I will always say that their art and the way they talk about it are incredibly inspiring and passionate. If you want to see how they create art, how they incorporate their experiences into their projects, or how they do art challenges with their team, I would 110% recommend them.

EmilioDekureArt's Profile Picture, Drawn by Him

Now, of course, many artists question how to draw anatomy correctly, or how to create more dynamic poses. Luckily, there is an artist who explains anatomy in a clear and simple way. Meet EmilioDekureArt, a digital artist well known for his in-depth tutorials on drawing anatomy. He shares multiple techniques for drawing arms, legs, facial expressions, and full-body figures. When I was trying to understand anatomy and simplify it, I was confused about how the body worked and how muscles moved in different positions, and Emilio was the person who helped. Many artists find other tutorials difficult to understand, but EmilioDekureArt’s explanations are detailed and easy to follow. If you want clear and helpful anatomy tutorials, I would strongly recommend him.

Pikat's Profile Picture, Drawn by Her

Drawing and learning techniques for how to draw are important, but why not have fun with it as well? Meet Pikat! A digital artist who not only explains why certain details on drawings work or are more eye-catching than others, but also demonstrates how to do them. She also explains some occurrences with her art journey and any errors or faults she makes. I don't watch her as much as I should, but from all of the videos I've watched, they are pretty in-depth, and are fun enough to trap your attention until the end of the video. The videos make you want to attempt drawing like her. I'd recommend her if you want a broad overview on drawing techniques and a fun time learning those techniques- like improving character design, or understanding why certain common advice doesn’t always work.

Those are just three artists who I find very inspiring for people who want to start drawing, return to drawing, or simply continue improving! In a time where generative AI is becoming more common in mainstream media, it is important to continue encouraging real artistic expression. For those who feel like they aren’t good enough or don’t have enough time, remember this: art is an expression of who you are and what inspires you. It can be simple scribbles, doodles, or it could be the second coming of Picasso, but no matter the quality, as long as it is from your heart, there will be people who are drawn to it.