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Why in the world are most RPers good at art? According to my very mysterious and anonymous research, most people on this site are good at art. Most character pages I see seem to have custom art, and that art is very good. So, why is that?

RPing is an artistic pursuit so it shouldn't be a suprise that people who RP also enjoy other styles of art.

I started drawing so I could draw my OCs

Hi Anon,
Don't worry! Not all RPers are great at art.
I, personally, suck. I either commission art from artists, or just use dolldivine.com to get visuals of my characters. Many of my characters I've had over time, so friends or artists have drawn them for me.
I do second what Claine says; it's the artistic/creative part of a person's brain. They can see so clearly in their minds, communicate it through their fingers, so it makes sense that they can also express it through words!
Plus, let's not forget that it's probably just something they really enjoy and are passionate about!

I'm the best stick-figures artist in that case 😂

Don't feel intimidated. We have the joy of having SO MANY talented artists who may as well work as professional illustratators in real life. And the RPR likes giving them opportunities to showcase their stuff because it's so awesome!

However, all kinds of creativity is welcome! Epic Weeks sometimes bring Creative cooking contests and Kim for example with her amazing belly dancing! So the community is very artistic but not only in the digital art and sketches area!

Everyone has a place here!

I think writing and drawing drive one another. You might sketch a cool concept and want to elaborate on it in a story, or write up a character you're proud of and feel inspired to draw them. So, a lot of roleplayers end up being good at both.

though RPR is home to a lot of very skilled artists for sure, it's possible that many of the custom pieces you've mentioned seeing have been commissioned, quite possibly from some of the artists here, or gifted by friends. so i hope you aren't feeling less valid as a creator, this is primarily a writing hobby after all!

I definitely ain't good at arting.
I'm capable of art in the form of cooking, or perhaps physical arts like building something, or even slightly abstract arts like interior design, but when it comes to paper, pen, brushes and paint, digital manipulation and all that, I'm far from expert.

And I like it that way. I love seeing people do their passions and produce their version of art. It's awesome!

While I do both, there's a ton of people taking commissions for a whole ton of other people. Because they can, want to, need money, or all of those things! Though to be honest I don't think you have to be a good artist to draw your characters. If you do, that just means you lover your character and put time and effort into your roleplaying.

But to actually answer your question... I think most, if not all artistic talents may be tied to each other genetically? Like, it's a creative thing that just happens. I know a striking number of visual artists (mostly people who I went to art class with) who write music, for example. But I'm just speculating.

I write a ton, and put a lot of work into my characters, but I absolutely cannot draw, but I love having custom art. All my art I have across various characters was commissions or gifts. I can't pay RL monies often for art, since I'm pretty poor, but I'd usually much rather get OC art than say,.. a game on steam, or a new pair of shoes or something, hah.

I WISH that was true for me I love seeing the artwork of people though, I lack a steady hand so I can not draw at all..

I draw all my characters, I was drawing before I joined this community, but I was writing stories way before roleplaying. Somehow, I got into roleplaying and my art skills came handy... I guess some things are meant for a reason..

Not all roleplayers are good at art, like me. I'm not good at drawing characters, but I like doing a little bit of water coloring and abstract art. Other than that, I would never be able to draw my own OCs.

Many rpyers aren't particularly keen of art, in fact, some of the best players I've Rpyed with weren't actually interested in drawing they characters at all.

Overall, however, I think it depends on your beginnings: if you start creating characters by drawing them or start at a place that focuses more on the visuals, you will put more effort on getting better on that, and therefore, be good at art eventually and with TONS of practise. I myself always have loved drawing, but I started Rpying in deviantart (I know, but those where dark ages) and designing ocs and wanting to draw scenes gave me the push to practice and eventually improve (although I wouldn't describe myself as "good", I think "ok" is a better adjective, or "acceptable", at my best days).

But yeah, in my guesses, it would be a combination of how much you like art in first place, combined with what is most looked up in your RPying environment.