How do you improve your artwork when you feel stuck at your current level of skill?

I'm not a bad artist, but I'm not excellent either. I'm at that level where you're just good enough to see all your failings. In particular I feel like my art is really unstylish, no uniqueness. I feel really stuck, like I need to improve but don't know how. I don't have access to life drawing or classes, unfortunately. How can I get move on from this rut? Edit: Here are some of my more recent paintings:
Answer:

You may have access to classes or other opportunities, and not know it. Check around for local groups, schools, community art organizations, even at local libraries etc. Ask around for people with similar interests. You don't need life drawing classes either. Again, there may be groups in your area that could organize sessions like this. Or you could just have a friend or family member pose for you. You can also do this by yourself. As wrote, the key is to practice and put in time to experiment and try out new things. There are books available that can suggest exercises to you as well. I'd also say that you should look at as much art as you can. Visit museums or galleries. If you live far away from museums, check out some books at the library or even look online.

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Other answers

Posting a couple of examples of your art would have helped diagnose an issue. Are you primarily doing manga art? Photorealistic portraits? Paintings? There are so many things you can try in order to break out of a rut but the best techniques for you may depend on where you want to go. You sure as heck don't need life drawing classes, because all you have to do is put objects on a table and draw them, and keep working on the drawing until it looks satisfactory to you. I think that the best advice I can give you is practice. Draw at every moment available to you. Take your sketchbook everywhere. Try doing five-minute drawings, and try to capture a person's character on paper in five minutes. Or do gesture drawings, which are quick drawings of a person's form and posture done in about one minute. This will improve your perception and expression of the body's frame and expressiveness. Try focusing on negative space. Or, attempt to mimic another artist's style in an original drawing of your own. These exercises might help to free you up and get your mind out of the rut you're reporting.

Tracy Calder

OMG! You're an awesome artist from the samples. I would suggest thinking outside the box. There are many free classes online. Many sites of similar artists. And great 'how-tos' either on YouTube or somewhere in this vast internet universe.

Christine Bennett

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