How I Remake Old Art and Stave Off the Cringe

For most beginner to intermediate artists, there’s kind of an expiration date on how long we’re proud of a piece of art we made. It could be minutes, it could be months, and the hope is that as you improve that time gets to be a little longer. What does it look like when you revisit a piece you're relatively happy with, and use everything you've learned since?

Brookes Eggleston On Social:

[anthonywilliamces]

I actually redrawn one of my characters, his design wasn't changed much but it still looks really better than before, I am proud of myself

[NettleRainPuddlesilly]

It’s Biko!
My favorite piece I made a while ago is 3 years old and is of a dragon climbing a mountain.

[Aquarica]

I know it's kinda covered in the video, but you can like a piece while still thinking there's room for improvement. So that being said, I still like quite a bit of what I did even 10 years ago when I was close to just getting started, not because I think it was the pinnacle of art or anything but just what it meant for me at the time. I remember in one of my first sketchbooks I got this old sketch of a squid alien drinking coffee that I still think of now and again. I could probably make a lot of my art from several years ago objectively better if I re-did it, and sometimes it's fun to visit old pieces, but for the most part it wouldn't mean the same thing to me anymore, so I might still like the old art better. (And that goes from fanart to original pieces too).

Anyway, fun video, I don't know why I'm so stuck on the caveat of people not liking their art because they thought they could/should do better. I don't know guess I'm saying it's okay if your old stuff is like the macaroni art you like to hang on the fridge, even if getting better is always the goal.

Glad lightbox expo was fun, take care!

[thisistherun]

I did that recently by adding an extra outline to the character and sprucing up the background.

Oldest art I like from myself is probably from the 7th grade, I drew some cool dungeon settings back then.

[NoOne-djou]

My earliest artwork that I still like is about two years old now; I didn't do everything right but there are a few things about some of the pieces that I feel like I expressed clearly.
The interesting thing is that I don't really dislike most of my old work. I felt happy when I first retired a drawing I made from my bedroom wall to make room for a new one because I knew I had exceeded it, not because I disliked the old one. When I look at it now, it still makes me happy because I can see how much I've improved since then.

[mad.eli_]

1 year ago I made a piece I love, the composition and coloring was exactly what I wanteb IN THAT MOMENT. And I can't be happier for how it turned out w my then skillset. A lot of my personal art journey has been accepting what I did well in the past with what I had. And another big part has been learning what I can do with my current skill set. I'm gonna work hard to get better w accepting myself and my art

[ghostofsnails]

IT'S BIKO!!!
I'm the artist who hates 99% of what they make the moment they finish it, but I actually find it motivating rather than discouraging. That said, I've noticed that most of the old pieces I'm still happy with (oldest is probably from 2021) are silly and character-focused with minimal backgrounds. Those are also the most fun and fulfilling for me to make so I'm hoping to improve my skills within that sort of art this year!


By the way, I loved your paint over/redraws of those two pieces. I had to keep pausing the video to take in all the lovely colors and details. The old ones definitely got the point across, but WOW the new versions are absolutely gorgeous ( T▾T) They have so much more character to them now! That's some crazy impressive improvement right there. And ofc, loved the video! 〵(^ o ^)〴

[brickstudios]

I think about 4 years. The piece really stands out too. It seems I had accidentally painted lighting and volume far beyond my skill without understanding how I did it.

[Story_paint]

It’s Biko!

I have a weird window on when I like my stuff. I like it for five minutes, hate it for at least 2 months, then go back to thinking it was ok. My liking of it is inverse to me remembering how much work I put into it. After finishing it i have that rush that it’s over, and then the depression of “I spent so much time it should be better.”

[dynamicsketch]

I tinkered with an old drawing that was a few years old touching up colors and lights because I think they could have looked better and I thought it would be better than just redrawing it.

[sylvanshroom]

It's Biko!!!

Also I think my oldest piece I still really like is from maybe? 2018? Feels good that it can be that long now!!

[deklanb.]

ITS. BIKO. 🎉❤
‘Set the table, serve the meal.’ I remember that quote on contrast and color from the stream Nicholas kole did a few years ago, stuck fast in my brain forever 😂

[TheArtofKAS]

Hey look... It's BIKO!

I think my oldest favorite is still my concept sketch of my character Gwen. I remember drawing it on a car ride with my grandparents and how much that one sketch inspired me to push myself and my storytelling ability further than I thought I could. It's probably seven years old at this point but it's done so much good for me.

[ShadowEclipex]

It's Biko!

As for the oldest piece of art that I still like? I have some drawings from 2012 that I still somewhat enjoy for nostalgia reasons, but it isn't until 2018 where I can start looking at my drawings with out starting to get critical about my past skills/technique.
I feel like that was the year I really started to settle into an art style that I enjoyed

[MachuPeaches]

August 2020 is the oldest piece I have that I still like. I'd possibly go back and change the aspect ratio/ composition to be more of an extreme landscape. I started to print Playmats and the aspect ratio of the piece and composition is a monster to try and crop or extend. There is so much happening at the edges, if I wanted to print it on something longer It will take a lot of work and I don't use half of those same brushes that I used on it anymore.

[emmaw]

IT'S BIKO!!!
Hmm... my oldest piece that I still like is from 2017, it's some graphite drawings of Kirby. It's nothing too complicated, but looking back at it gives me warm fuzzies, I was really, really proud of it when I first drew it! :) Also, that Wanderlumin illustration looks amazing!! 💕💕

[AWE-Nessy]

it’s biko!!!

also my oldest piece of art that i still like is a piece of fanart for the game inscryption i made a mock up of a card based on the wendigo with unique sigils i made it back in february, 8 months ago

[Hikerbug]

its Bik! Great vid, wish you well on the Biko plush goal, he's adorable!

[jakeospades]

2020 is where most of mine are, but I have this single one from 2018 of a child character of mine holding flames in his hand against a backdrop of snow - a New Year's image I drew.
Though even looking back at it I could see it be worthwhile for a remake!

[EngineerRon]

My oldest illustration that I still like - 34 years! And I’m looking forward to receiving my Biko! (Already ordered!) 😀🎨