much of being a good artist is PRACTICE PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE and more fucking practice!!!!
i'm not great but i knw that if i truly want to be and i actually try i will get better and better
also critisize your own artwork ask freinds to and see where your weeknesses are
copy from other things to get line quality then make your own work withought copying
that is what i was doing
now i am making a graphic novel to find out what my true art style is

(btw if you happen to look at my sight i have to tell you i havent put art on devinatart in years so i am better than that now)

mother fucking PRACTICE!!!

It's a secret son't tell anybody.

its commitment, to doing peices that suck a hundred times to make one that rocks

You didn't answer the question.

It's magic right? Yeah, it's magic.

I honestly wish I could have the security and some of the convictions that you do, Vest.
I agree that a good colorist should give credit to their lineartists, and I'm elated that you actually give honor to those you borrow from more than yourself and haven't let all of this go to your head. It's not something I see a lot in the art circle in my area, and it's refreshing to know that not everyone is so self centered.

Like I'm sure many other people think, though, I can't stop being so jealous of your talent. Whether it was through hours of practice or just came naturally.. I've seen both in my own work and others that it doesn't seem to make a difference how much we try or dedicate, it just won't make us any better no matter what we try. I keep wondering if I just learned another method that I would get better.. but I hate thinking that at the same time, because while I love to learn and try new things... I can't help but feel that it's just copying someone else's style and it's not really mine at all.

Reading back not sure where I was going with this comment at all.. so I'll wrap up.

I really liked your response a few up before mine. The one encouraging others to look past your work to the artists that you collaborate with.
And that's what I really meant to comment on.. to thank you for your sharing of the spotlight and encouragement to other artists, whether beginning or long-term. It's really nice to see that once in awhile.

And I'm going to be quiet now. xD It's 2 am and I'm not making much sense any more.

I don't know the secret to being a good artist but I know the secret to being a successful artist - communication and people skills. I've known a TON of artists and I network with more and more every year. I go to most of the comic and anime conventions from Sacramento all the way down to San Diego and I've found it's not what you know it's who you know. The most successful artists are often not any more talented than many other artists out there - the difference is there ability to communicate well with others and network. One of the key ingredients to making it in the art world is having good people skills.

the secret is believing in yourselves that you are indeed great but never forgetting that people around will always be there to help you improve.

Hard work, dedication and more hard work for years until you've learned to draw something that looks like a circle after that it's becomes ludicrously easy, yet hard work is a permanent friend in your advancement as an artist.

But I do think that there's something in the water, tho'.

How to become a great artist: Demand Criticism, from EVERYONE.

none of the above, the secret to being a great artist is HARD WORK!=]