What criteria are we using here to judge ability? There's a difference between being able to draw a cartoon and being able to execute an accurate rendering and utilize the various techniques and mediums. I know that I have more ability than the other artists in my school not because I'm older, but because I have had more training and I'm a better learner. I can do cartoons, but I can also do stuff like this and this .

I think age doesn't matter. It's the time you put into it. I do mostly quick drawings cause I don't really take time for them....

At age 11-12(50 minutes):


Age (under 18(35 minute drawing)):


I can probably do better if I wasn't so lazy.............and if I didn't just get prince of persia.

Someone
(admit it, you think I'm a hot anime guy who looks like a girl, with red hair and a bleeding neck!)

Actually, I always thought you look like a cute pouty girl with wild Peter Pan hair and a sad look in her eyes.

And Spang looks like an unshaven heavyset man with hobo hair who is very excited.

And Ozoneocean looks like a logo with some letters.

I'm under 18, but I'll not tell my age... :3
people would scold me if they knew how old I am

Well I can tell you guys one thing; Drawing things alone is not going to make you a better artist if the stuff you draw continues to have the same mistakes. The only repetitive drawing that is going to make someone a better artist is drawing something that's actually there. Sitting in front of it and drawing. A lot. And then looking back on that drawing and seeing it's shortcomings and improving on them.

But art, like all kinds of creative projects, needs emotional maturity behind it. You need to have the skills to be able to do work that's incredibly good. Part of that is realizing your shortcomings. People who think they rock and are the end all and be all of art usually actually suck. They build themselves up in their own mind and through their words, but there's always people who are much better than them out there, and sometimes that more experienced person may be looking at the young artist who is bragging about his work and shake his head, knowing that the younger, less experienced artist will never actually be able to overcome his shortcomings if he does not recognize that they exist.

So that's a word of advice. Never brag about your work, because it usually means you don't understand your own faults. Unless you're pitching something to a company of course. THAT's when you want to build up your image.

Don't get cocky though. That's my major input on this subject, and it's why being young usually means an artist can't be as good as their seniors. They haven't gotten over that "The whole World revolves around me." phase yet. I don't think I've gotten out of it yet.

I was in the "whole world revolves around me" phase when I started drawing in an earlier age. 'Till I got my first critique and I went into "draw to prove them wrong" phase. Which I am still in. I think age doesn't really matter though. I see a lot of young people who draw and don't brag.

I think young people drawing does 'cause jealously though, lol. People get jealous when they see people years younger than them so much better than them.

I'm 14, and I draw okay, y'know like so-so. Not as good or proffesional as some people here. I'd say my art is average for a young teenager.
To give you an example of my art:

Phun
I think age doesn't really matter though. I see a lot of young people who draw and don't brag.

It depends. It's more about emotional maturity than age, but usually age is followed by greater emotional maturity.

Well, I have to say that being older CAN matter tremendously for two important reasons:

1. You're more of a person. As you get older, you feel more confident with who you are and your place in the world. Styles and passing fads aren't as important and you start asking yourself the really serious questions about life and your direction. While it's possible to ask important questions when you're young, your ability to answer them is severely hindered simply because you lack the perspective that life experience brings. Let's face it, while there are the occasional geniuses that have astounding skill "right out of the box", the rest of us improve our skill one day at a time.

2. We improve our skills one day at a time. Now, it's possible that if a teenager worked for 3 years on his skill and I put in 3 years of work over my 30 or so...we could be at the same skill level. Of course, we could both be driven, workaholic, artists, in which case I'd have a much larger pool of time and practice to pull from.

Raw talent is a variable you can't control. Anything else is dependant on force of will and time.

Rainyday2
I'm 14, and I draw okay, y'know like so-so. Not as good or proffesional as some people here. I'd say my art is average for a young teenager.
To give you an example of my art:

I think you're really good for 14.

I'm 22 pushing on 23, and I do stick figures because, well... I'm lazy. I can draw if I put my mind to it though:



I drew that a couple of years ago when I should have been paying attention to a job orientation.

heccubus
I drew that a couple of years ago when I should have been paying attention to a job orientation.

Nice.

I found this in a GIGANTIC stack of artwork from when I was younger:



I was 11 or 12 or something.

PhatScurl
For instance, i know a 12 year old girl who puts my drawings TO SHAME!!
compare for yourself:

www.dozie-kitty.deviantart.com - girl
www.phatscurl.deviantart.com - me

That's the difference an artist's eye can make

ummm....Im 12 now?...well, I guess I was 12 last time I updated my Deviant art, so....HI PHATTY!!!

With three kids, and the oldest being 16, I am well over 18. I did a lot of powerful art at that age (and younger). I think age by itself isn't a factor in quality. It's a combo of elements... passion, discipline, energy, state of mind, art supplies, goals, skills, etc.

I'm 16, and mine isn't drawn that well because I only do it on the computer. I can't take things I draw right into the computer seriously for some reason... -.-;;

I'm also a n00b to comics, so I'm still getting used to everything.

I think the amount of itme you've spent drawing is more important- and how much free time you have. Like, someone who's been seriously drawing since they were 7 and have time to really work on their stuff a lot will be better at 15 than someone who's 44 and started at 43 and still has a full-time job.

And art supplies help- but they aren't teh only thing, some people can do great things with roseart and others can't do a thing with professional quality, 100 bucks a tube paints and hand made brushes.

I'm 19, so I feel like it's about time I start working even harder.

I only recently started making a practice out of drawing for fun at home rather than at school only..

Im 17. I think I'm okay for my age, but I think once I start taking art in college, my skills will increase exponentially. I want to draw proffesionally one day.



I dont really have much art to show other than my comic on the comp.