Becoming an Artist: How to Make Art Like a Human by Embracing Failure, Discovering Your Creative Voice & Finding Joy in the Process

by Scott Christian Sava

From the internet’s “art dad”: an encouraging and inspiring guide for artists of all levels to embrace failure, overcome self-doubt, and rediscover the joy of creating art.

Is there such a thing as cheating in art? No.

Am I too old to start making art? Of course not.

Will I ever like my art? Yes. Eventually. But not always (it’s complicated).

Can my art ever get better? Yes. But with practice (and a lot of patience).

If I become an artist, will I be rich? What? No. Who’s asking these questions???

With the inviting nature of Bob Ross and the kindness and empathy of Mister Rogers, Scott Christian Sava has become the internet’s “art dad” to over four million artists (young and old) around the world. But this is not a book about how to hold a pencil. Or how to draw a superhero. Or how to break into the art world (although we do talk about that a little). It’s about how we can enjoy the process of making art and let go of perfection and self-doubt and the fear of failure by learning to be okay with where we are on our own individual artistic journey. That art is all about experimentation, failing, and trying again.

Becoming an Artist is part encouragement, part storytelling, part sketchbook. Filled with art, stories, silly tangents, hard-won wisdom, and over 50 black-and-white watercolor illustrations, all created during a very hectic week in New York City.

Whether you’re a total beginner, a burned-out pro, or someone who hasn’t made art since middle school, this book is your permission slip to just make stuff. To be weird. To be imperfect. To be human.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

Scott Christian Sava is an artist, animator, illustrator, director, writer, producer, and part-time Hobbit! Over the last 30 years, Scott’s work has brought some of the world’s most beloved characters to life in film, television, comics, and games, from Casper the Friendly Ghost to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to Star Trek to Spider-Man. Scott’s unique talents and vision have been called upon by Marvel Comics, Disney, Universal Studios, Nickelodeon, and more.

In 2000 he founded Blue Dream Studios, which has produced work for Star Wars, X-Files, Aliens vs. Predator, Spider-Man, and other franchises, in addition to creating its own line of kids’ graphic novels. The studio’s first feature film, Animal Crackers, is on Netflix and was the summer of 2020’s #1 animated movie in the world.

Currently, you can find Scott making videos online to his over 4 million followers where he talks about art, autism, and how to be a kinder artist… and human.

Scott lives with his wife and two kids in a Hobbit Hole in Tennessee. Scott’s mission, simply put, is to “make the world a kinder, gentler place, one story at a time.”

Reviews

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something as someone pretty new to learning and practicing making art that I have really struggled with is feeling like I am not good enough, and not knowing what I am doing. I feel like this book really made it clear that that's a normal thought process for someone who is an artist. Even the ones who are really good at what they do. Ive found this book to be really inspiring to me to keep practicing even if I make garbage. Eventually I'll make something a little less garbage.

[Allysa Kropp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it more for his NYC landmarks and trivia

I think this book is more targeted for the young / just starting out in life. And from that perspective it’s a worthy read. I am a beginner artist but I am in the second chapter of life / reinvention and so much of his advice was something I’ve gleaned or experienced already. I did really enjoy learning of the lesser known NYC historical or unique landmarks.

[Solomiia Zhukova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was definetly a great read. The flow of the text was so easy to follow through that I have binge read it in just a couple of days (with break days of course). This book has definetly gave me a much bigger impact than i thought it would, and the way Scott was able to inspire to draw, will definitely keep me going in my own creative journey. This was my first time reading this book but I'm sure it wont be my last.

Easily a 5 out of 5 book. Loved it.

[Cathie Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my normal genre

I usually read space opera. I read this book because I follow Scott on YouTube. I will say this, I like anyone who tells a good story and Scott did that in this book. He told the story of becoming and being an artist, the struggles and the triumphs.