Heads up, like halfway through I somehow became a philosopher. Apologies in advance 🙏. Also apologies in advance for this grammar, I rushed a bit because dinner is in like two minutes.

• When your art doesn't seem to look nice or you're getting frustrated with it and can't actually pin point why. Mirror it! Or if you're a traditional artist, flip it upside down, bring it to a literal mirror, or take a picture and mirror it. Since you've been staring at your art for a while, you get used to all the shapes and lines and colors, and your brain doesn't like that too much (a lot of artists compare it to snow blindness). By physically changing the the way you look at your art, you also metaphorically get to change the way you look at your art. If that doesn't work, take a break, go draw something else, eat, anything works just don't look at the art for a bit. Once you've done that, come back, and your art should seem just fine again.
• It's important to use references since not everything you know how to draw. And the thing is, when you use reference, you don't have to strictly stick to it, that's something I didn't realize until recently. You may get a reference for shadows, another for colors, another for poses, another for background, another for clothes folding, and so on. They're very helpful. And don't let them limit you, let them help you. Want to know the amazing thing about references? After you've used a reference, let's say, a reference on how to shade clouds, enough times, you'll eventually won't need the reference and can shade the clouds confidently without the reference.
• Don't shade with black. Please, shift the hue to be a warmer, saturated, and darker color when shading skin, hair, fur on a living creature, anything with a blood in it. Colder, saturated, and darker for anything else works. Or just use purple on a multiply layer if you don't want to do extra work.
• This one may be a bit specific, but screw 'art rules.' Anatomy may be pressured to be learned, but if you don't want to learn it then just don't. Art can be done however you want it to be (just not using AI, screw AI). It's a hobby. Not building a bookshelf or doing chores. It is to be enjoyed. I will also point out I'm also not telling you to feel discouraged from learning anatomy, perspective, color theory, or anything like that. If you want to do that. Do that. (Your art is enough, even if you don't think so. You created it, took time from your day, made decisions of where to place lines, what to draw, how to draw it, and made the decision to actually start creating the art piece.)
• Stop comparing your art to other art that isn't your own. The only reason I'll accept you doing this is to learn from it. Otherwise. Stop it. You're your own worst critic. There will always be someone 'better.' But I guarantee where they thrive in drawing hair you make up in drawing hands. My suggestion is comparing your current art to your own older art. You'll see how much you really improved and learned.
• It's okay to quit art. I won't elaborate further than, if it doesn't give you joy, you're getting stress from it, and it feels like climbing a mountain. Drawing will wait for you. You can always come back later. It's not like your art skills will grow legs and sprint away.
• YOU CANNOT CALL YOURSELF AN ARTIST IF YOU USE AI. THANKYOUVERYMUCH.
• When you're drawing, remember you aren't drawing for other people (unless you're doing commissions, if you're doing that, please, don't take this tip as an attack 🥺), you're drawing for yourself. There's a reason vent art is a whole category of art. There's a reason why modern art exists. There's a reason why some artists won't show their sketchbooks. Not everything you make is for the eyes of your family, friends, or social media. Draw like a child, uncaring if you drawing makes sense, just caring if it feels right to you. I bet your childhood art is precious to you. There's a good reason for that. I hope that takes some pressure off your shoulders. Have the day you deserve.