TRU

saaaaaaaaaaaaaame

pretty sure it means something like if you didn't go to art school or anything of that kind and such then you're a self taught artist? because you did it by 'yourself' in a way (even if looking at references/poses all that sort of thing is fine and necessary usually) that's the difference

Whereas this is a valid perspective, which I respect. The term self-taught artist is usually equated to those whom have had no art lessons from any persons or institutions that specialize aiding/guiding an individual in honing one's art craft. Being self-taught implies the artistic capability one has achieved has been entirely on their own merit and independent journey. There are those who make the decision to learn art with no prior aptitude or knowledge that learn from being taught from an instructor or other artist directly. Being self-taught is something of which one can take pride in as being something they crafted and honed entirely on their own with the exceptions of indirect learning such as by art books.

@BlackRoseVaigh says it all! I'm self taught too, and it definitely doesn't mean that people who are self taught are always better than those who are not. But it is true that people do teach themselves by practising!