[lmayfield]

So Ive been taught several ways to draw something and each artist that has taught me was awesome. But each technique was completely different than the next. They all worked for the people, and all did generally well for me.

Well now Im trying to figure out which technique is for me. One does not work better than the other, and Im sure I know what everyone is gonna say, "go with the one you like best". To be honest, the one I will like is the one that produces the best art. And none seems to be getting me to that point of revelation.

So Im curious, did anyone else have this problem? Did you swim through a ton of fantastic techniques until one just slapped you in the face and you said "I get it!"?

[silk]

Which technique you use is not important, and thinking about it only get's in the way of your progress. As you said yourself, everyone has a different technique, and they all work.
Intimate knowledge of the subject your drawing/painting/sculpting is all that matters.
People who have that knowledge can use any technique to get to the same place. I think people tend to fall back to using one main technique because of habit, and because once you get a specific technique down it makes you more comfortable and efficient.
I think it's a natural error for students to think that if they can just nail a certain technique that they've seen some other great artist using, they will suddenly be a master too.
So forget technique, concentrate on acquiring knowledge about art and the subjects you might depict, and the technique will take care of itself.

[Zentrope]

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
I am an old school guy who loves his labour intensive work to learn something because spending time on a specific thing is a bond which you create overtime.Art is similar to it and techniques don't matter if you have a will to learn and acquire knowledge.

So i would suggest you to try the path which is the toughest and don't ever leave it because it will yield better results than shortcuts..

[LGrey]

For me trying to use someone elses technique was only holding me back. I once got a $50.00 book on how to paint in Painter. It was fine for the most part but in a couple of places i had problems. I was shown a technique and told to do it with this brush at this setting and so on. My efforts were garbage even tho I did everything right. And this was just painting a simple background. Finally I gave up and did it my way using a few suggestions from the authors method and everything finally clicked.

Sure you can look at how others do things and get wonderful inspiration and results, but that snap moment should come when you do it YOUR way and it finally works. Once that happens you're on your'e way.

Yes, yes I know. Long story to make a small point. Lol

[lmayfield]

Everyone thanks for the feedback.

I think right now, I dont have a ME way of doing things. I know little ways of doing this and that, and thats all I know. Im wanting to find my way, but just not sure what my way is. For example, im doing a 100 head challenge for myself. And 30 heads in it still looks like crap. Ive been taught how to do heads several ways.

I guess I need to learn what my way is, but I dont know what my way is. And not sure how to find it, because im drawing the only way I know, piecing together other things Ive learned over the years. And it isnt working.

Any tips on finding my way?

[matt_baldwin]

The drawings you have in your gallery are pretty good and there's nothing wrong with the painting either. I think maybe you are being a bit hard on yourself. Do the 100 heads, if only 10 are good in your opinion then that's fine, you are supposed to do crap to get to the good stuff (something I need reminding about too).

My advice would be to find as many techniques as you want and give yourself small challenges (maybe only 20 of x rather than 100) and see how you go. ie 20 heads on toned paper, 20 in charcoal, or draw the heads only using the dark shapes and nothing else, use a light grey marker to make a silhouette and build up using darker tones.

There's no wrong way. You might want to post your work in a sketchbook too and see what others have to say about your approach.
There's probably a good chance those first thirty heads aren't as bad as you think. Good luck.