At 9/9/23 12:28 PM, vlsrb wrote:

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make. I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it, but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out. I'm worried it won't be well written enough or have bad pacing or that after a few days I'll start to dislike it, and I know that these things are perfectly normal and bound to happen for a first comic, but I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing. I love getting constructive critisism, but at the same time I'm scared to share the comic to people if I do make it because I don't know if anyone will like it.
Anyone have any tips on how to overcome these feelings?

Honestly, I could have written this. I very frequently struggle with a lot of the things you mentioned here.

Don't know if it's going to be helpful, but a piece of advice I could give you (and that I should really start following myself) is: just do it. The only way your story is going to be brought into existence is if you draw it, page after page after page - no other sequence of events will lead to that outcome. Is it going to be perfect? No, you've said as much yourself. But nothing is ever perfect, not even published graphic novels by professional artists. Better to put in the effort to have your imperfect ideas actually exist in the real world than to cultivate an unobtainable platonic ideal stuck in your head, never to be seen by anyone.

I'm reminded of something I read a long time ago in, of all things, a Cracked article. To paraphrase: imagine two writers who both have a similar idea, but writer A pumps out 1000 words a day and writer B just endlessly thinks about their story and waits for the "perfect" moment to start working on it. One year later, A has the first draft of a novel and B has nothing.

Hope this was even remotely of use!

At 9/9/23 03:59 PM, captainsmilez wrote:
Hell, I starting to wish that I never drew in the first place. As having a performing artistic skill like singing or dancing is much more lucrative and glamorous than making art. I mean, I'm looking at K-pop idols or any mainstream musician in general, they're literally and figuratively out there with their faces on brands and TV shows, being physically chased by fans, and performing in front of people cheering on you under the bright stage spotlight. Being an artist is so behind the scenes and part of me regrets that because I am not out there, just my works. Unless someone asks whose work is that, it's going to be just known as some pretty picture or a silly animation.

At 9/9/23 04:32 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/9/23 03:59 PM, captainsmilez wrote:
Hell, I starting to wish that I never drew in the first place. As having a performing artistic skill like singing or dancing is much more lucrative and glamorous than making art. I mean, I'm looking at K-pop idols or any mainstream musician in general, they're literally and figuratively out there with their faces on brands and TV shows, being physically chased by fans, and performing in front of people cheering on you under the bright stage spotlight. Being an artist is so behind the scenes and part of me regrets that because I am not out there, just my works. Unless someone asks whose work is that, it's going to be just known as some pretty picture or a silly animation.

I don't have much in the way of advice about art-related insecurities, considering they're something I haven't solved in my own life, but because I'm a musician, I can at least say something for this part. For every one of these music artists who get merchandised and simped over, there are tons who are relatively unknown, who are struggling, or just only get gigs at local bars and make a living out of that.

It's an ugly truth, but especially when it comes to mass-appeal music like the mainstream artists you mentioned, the vast majority are hand-picked by the industry as safe bets that they're already sure the general public will like. Either they're the children of established artists (Miley Cyrus is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus), or they were recruited by the entertainment industry as a child or young teenager and have been carefully molded into what they want (Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus again, Justin Bieber, as well as every other former Disney Channel kid who has become a singer), or something like that. Look up the slang terms "nepotism baby" and "industry plant" and you can find tons of examples.

I also find it interesting that you bring up K-pop. If there is any one genre that beats K-pop in terms of being manufactured, it's J-pop; if not, then K-pop is the most strictly industry-controlled genre of music there is. East Asian pop idols, from the horror stories I've read, are handpicked specifically to look and act a certain way and fill roles that have been predefined for them, they must follow very strict rules on how to behave not only on stage, but in their personal lives, and generally they are supposed to be available for fans to fantasize about (i.e. no relationships, period), which allows for said fans to chase after them like they do. They don't come about organically, their careers are basically lab-grown. It's a completely different world than that of an independent artist or musician starting from nothing. Don't believe you can achieve that kind of stardom, and don't envy them; there's a ton of stress in having your life tightly controlled by anyone.

I hope this helps remove some of the smoke and mirrors about the popular music industry. Hopefully someone else here can help with the art part.

At 9/9/23 04:50 PM, captainsmilez wrote:

At 9/9/23 04:32 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/9/23 03:59 PM, captainsmilez wrote:
Hell, I starting to wish that I never drew in the first place. As having a performing artistic skill like singing or dancing is much more lucrative and glamorous than making art. I mean, I'm looking at K-pop idols or any mainstream musician in general, they're literally and figuratively out there with their faces on brands and TV shows, being physically chased by fans, and performing in front of people cheering on you under the bright stage spotlight. Being an artist is so behind the scenes and part of me regrets that because I am not out there, just my works. Unless someone asks whose work is that, it's going to be just known as some pretty picture or a silly animation.

I don't have much in the way of advice about art-related insecurities, considering they're something I haven't solved in my own life, but because I'm a musician, I can at least say something for this part. For every one of these music artists who get merchandised and simped over, there are tons who are relatively unknown, who are struggling, or just only get gigs at local bars and make a living out of that.

It's an ugly truth, but especially when it comes to mass-appeal music like the mainstream artists you mentioned, the vast majority are hand-picked by the industry as safe bets that they're already sure the general public will like. Either they're the children of established artists (Miley Cyrus is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus), or they were recruited by the entertainment industry as a child or young teenager and have been carefully molded into what they want (Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus again, Justin Bieber, as well as every other former Disney Channel kid who has become a singer), or something like that. Look up the slang terms "nepotism baby" and "industry plant" and you can find tons of examples.

I also find it interesting that you bring up K-pop. If there is any one genre that beats K-pop in terms of being manufactured, it's J-pop; if not, then K-pop is the most strictly industry-controlled genre of music there is. East Asian pop idols, from the horror stories I've read, are handpicked specifically to look and act a certain way and fill roles that have been predefined for them, they must follow very strict rules on how to behave not only on stage, but in their personal lives, and generally they are supposed to be available for fans to fantasize about (i.e. no relationships, period), which allows for said fans to chase after them like they do. They don't come about organically, their careers are basically lab-grown. It's a completely different world than that of an independent artist or musician starting from nothing. Don't believe you can achieve that kind of stardom, and don't envy them; there's a ton of stress in having your life tightly controlled by anyone.

I hope this helps remove some of the smoke and mirrors about the popular music industry. Hopefully someone else here can help with the art part.

I am well aware on what nepotism babies and industry plants. The thought of them adds to my hopelessness on my art because is this it for me because I don't know big name people nor come from a big name family? I speak this in terms of art like drawing digital stuff but it is obvious that they are in various fields. Hell, I envy them because their chances of getting themselves out there is far more easier and the fact that most of them started their stuff at a young age and hell I know that some of them are formally trained makes me have a bleak outlook on my artistic improvement.

Also yes, being a K/J-pop artist is hell as I often watch videos about the shittiness of the industry. But god... The glitz and glamour is what gets me really... I know that they are as toxic as Western music industry but they take it to the next level. But as well as the glitz and glamour- Having rabid fans make fancams for you, fawn over your style, be gaga over whatever little insignificant human quirk that they do-

I'm jaded really because, I'm starting to think I was meant for the flies and behind the scenes the moment I started to do art.

At 9/9/23 12:28 PM, vlsrb wrote:

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make. I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it, but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out. I'm worried it won't be well written enough or have bad pacing or that after a few days I'll start to dislike it, and I know that these things are perfectly normal and bound to happen for a first comic, but I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing. I love getting constructive critisism, but at the same time I'm scared to share the comic to people if I do make it because I don't know if anyone will like it.
Anyone have any tips on how to overcome these feelings?

Honestly, I could have written this. I very frequently struggle with a lot of the things you mentioned here.

Don't know if it's going to be helpful, but a piece of advice I could give you (and that I should really start following myself) is: just do it. The only way your story is going to be brought into existence is if you draw it, page after page after page - no other sequence of events will lead to that outcome. Is it going to be perfect? No, you've said as much yourself. But nothing is ever perfect, not even published graphic novels by professional artists. Better to put in the effort to have your imperfect ideas actually exist in the real world than to cultivate an unobtainable platonic ideal stuck in your head, never to be seen by anyone.

I'm reminded of something I read a long time ago in, of all things, a Cracked article. To paraphrase: imagine two writers who both have a similar idea, but writer A pumps out 1000 words a day and writer B just endlessly thinks about their story and waits for the "perfect" moment to start working on it. One year later, A has the first draft of a novel and B has nothing.

Hope this was even remotely of use!

At 9/10/23 12:46 AM, Micgronoldshtien wrote: Honestly, I don't know how most people keep it up nowadays. For the longest time I've been stagnating at everything Art/ Writing/ Personal life stuff. I get so easily distracted and caught up in other work 'n bullshit that I barely have time to draw, to actually work and strive for the profession of 'comic book artist'.

I really need some tips on managing my output right now because I'm trying to work on a comic for the big Multi-panel Update. It's mostly going to be me freestyling it, but it'll be something at least.

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make. I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it, but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out. I'm worried it won't be well written enough or have bad pacing or that after a few days I'll start to dislike it, and I know that these things are perfectly normal and bound to happen for a first comic, but I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing. I love getting constructive critisism, but at the same time I'm scared to share the comic to people if I do make it because I don't know if anyone will like it.
Anyone have any tips on how to overcome these feelings?

At 9/10/23 06:15 AM, Tenebrare wrote:

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make. I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it, but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out. I'm worried it won't be well written enough or have bad pacing or that after a few days I'll start to dislike it, and I know that these things are perfectly normal and bound to happen for a first comic, but I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing. I love getting constructive critisism, but at the same time I'm scared to share the comic to people if I do make it because I don't know if anyone will like it.
Anyone have any tips on how to overcome these feelings?

Been trough this, and I even cancelled before even posting a single image from them - my 1st 2 fan comics despite doing 100s of drawings for them. but this year i went back to all this and approach it all different.

Unlike previous 2 times, this time I acted the story out from start to end in my livingroom, taking notes. Writing script was not enough to pinpoint the flaws and/or points/dialogues I struggled with. Also playing it out allowed me to have more natural dialogue. So I spent more than month on that - writing and rewriting and re-rewriting the script while also drawing character drafts. By talking to myself and acting out I also was able to make sure that my story has clear start, mid and ending. Something often lacking in fan comics - "The ending" as they often are left half way as artists get bored of them and didnt know how to complete their premises begin with.

After all this I know how to easily draw characters consistently .. and fast.

I spent time to simplify my art styles to be less detailed, and then I designed every environment to appear in my story. I even returned to my living-room acting to make sure that if my character picks up coffee - their 'turn to face another character' is correct angle. I added visualization footnotes to my script.

Now 3-4 months later I was left with a working script and 2 folders full of studies, drafts, notes, sketches and illustrations. I changed from previous times focus from 'making the story for some audience to making the story I would have loved to have and made'. And above all there is no firm deadline for my project now. I do it when I have mood and time.

And with 4 months after I started I still had 0 panels. However I had learned so much about the characters and story that I have absolutely no problems to just hop into any part of the story and doodle it.

I also have been doing illustrations (or how they call it - key art in industry) of my stories key points. My story starts with memory scene, so I made illustration of the mood I am going to portray.

Now as for the 'making mistakes with 1st comic' - best way to learn is by doing those mistakes and I know I am going to fail with both English grammar and lettering, but why i should be embarrassed, its not that anyone out there did better job with their 1st work than i am going to do with my 1st one. It is not a Netflix film, or some corporate project - I do not need to fill in a 'quality' checklist. I do my best and go by that. I learn as I go.

I know I am going to make mistakes, and there's nothing wrong in it!

At 9/10/23 08:15 AM, MondoBilby wrote: Thank you. I definitely need to focus more on what I like and not what I think others would prefer. Even if what I like doesn't hit well with people, at least it's good to me.
I'm gonna try drawing rough sketches of the pages tomorrow, but I won't rush it. Also gotta deal with my perfectionism and accept that not every joke will land perfectly and not every page will look the best, but obviously I'll put in a lot of effort.
I liked reading about your personal experience with comic-making, it gave me a good view into how other people have overcome similar problems. Thanks!

At 9/9/23 03:59 PM, captainsmilez wrote: I often feel the crippling sense of inferiority and a nagging voice that says "Skill issue-"- whenever I see an artist whose art is far more better- Be it in appeal, attention, technical skills, etc- I haven't been drawing something good nowadays, let alone stuff I want- Hell, the stuff I have been drawing nowadays are mostly practice stuff- Mainly because of the nagging voice inside my head reminding me of my inferior artistic skills- The original stuff I draw nowadays feel uninspired and flat to me, like it doesn't hold on its own. Which is why I have been "avoiding" doing my own original stuff.

Hell, I even feel more horrible as my art posts on this website and other websites don't gain much attention and it makes me a sad. I mean, having a big audience look at your work gives you more opportunities to earn money and get your stuff out there. I'm almost 21 yet I feel horrible as an artist because I'm horribly lagging behind in terms of progress and artistic skill improvement. Hell, I'm starting to think that I should give up on art all together- Mainly because I don't have the connections nor the skills to make my works known, let alone make a living out of it.

Hell, I starting to wish that I never drew in the first place. As having a performing artistic skill like singing or dancing is much more lucrative and glamorous than making art. I mean, I'm looking at K-pop idols or any mainstream musician in general, they're literally and figuratively out there with their faces on brands and TV shows, being physically chased by fans, and performing in front of people cheering on you under the bright stage spotlight. Being an artist is so behind the scenes and part of me regrets that because I am not out there, just my works. Unless someone asks whose work is that, it's going to be just known as some pretty picture or a silly animation.

At 9/10/23 04:00 PM, S3C wrote:

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make.

why do you want to make it? what happens if you don't make the comic?

I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it,

start today, the earlier you start the more you'll thank yourself in the future.
that said, it's never to late to start an artistic pursuit.

but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out.

and if it doesn't...so??
do you think life is about enjoying the journey or getting the reward at the end?
if it's the latter, you could just put a few prompts into an AI generator, and let the machines poop something out.
if you're not finding some level of fulfillment in the creation process itself, then revisit question #1.
the world is your oyster. the process is diving to the bottom of the ocean, and grabbing the oyster.
and the vast majority of oysters do NOT have pearls inside of them.
if you are worrying about something "not working out", then your setting up yourself for a life of disappointment.

I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing.

everyone sucks at first.
noobs = cool
no-it-alls = fool
if someone disrespects or sneers at your humble beginnings they are just projecting their own insecurities.

At 9/9/23 03:59 PM, captainsmilez wrote: I often feel the crippling sense of inferiority and a nagging voice that says "Skill issue-"- whenever I see an artist whose art is far more better- Be it in appeal, attention, technical skills, etc- I haven't been drawing something good nowadays, let alone stuff I want- Hell, the stuff I have been drawing nowadays are mostly practice stuff- Mainly because of the nagging voice inside my head reminding me of my inferior artistic skills- The original stuff I draw nowadays feel uninspired and flat to me, like it doesn't hold on its own. Which is why I have been "avoiding" doing my own original stuff.

I don't come into these threads to blow steam up people's @ss...but since I have seen your art before, I'll just let you know I think it's rad

Hell, I even feel more horrible as my art posts on this website and other websites don't gain much attention and it makes me a sad. I mean, having a big audience look at your work gives you more opportunities to earn money and get your stuff out there. I'm almost 21 yet I feel horrible as an artist because I'm horribly lagging behind in terms of progress and artistic skill improvement. Hell, I'm starting to think that I should give up on art all together- Mainly because I don't have the connections nor the skills to make my works known, let alone make a living out of it.

1. you're not even an adult yet and you feel like your horribly lagging behind?? i assure you you're not, relax.
2. why do you need to be known? why do you need to make an art as living? are you afraid that having a career that isn't art-related won't give you sufficient time to make art on the side?

Hell, I starting to wish that I never drew in the first place. As having a performing artistic skill like singing or dancing is much more lucrative and glamorous than making art. I mean, I'm looking at K-pop idols or any mainstream musician in general, they're literally and figuratively out there with their faces on brands and TV shows, being physically chased by fans, and performing in front of people cheering on you under the bright stage spotlight. Being an artist is so behind the scenes and part of me regrets that because I am not out there, just my works. Unless someone asks whose work is that, it's going to be just known as some pretty picture or a silly animation.

so become a performance artist.
what's your social and family life like? humans are social animals, perhaps you are lacking attention in other avenues?
have you tried volunteering or joining a local art group or some other club relating to your hobbies?
this'll give you a greater feeling of community, if this is something you lack.
Then you may begin to decouple feelings of fulfillment from the process of creating art, and start making art more for the sake of, making art.

At 9/10/23 04:00 PM, S3C wrote:

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make.

why do you want to make it? what happens if you don't make the comic?

I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it,

start today, the earlier you start the more you'll thank yourself in the future.
that said, it's never to late to start an artistic pursuit.

but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out.

and if it doesn't...so??
do you think life is about enjoying the journey or getting the reward at the end?
if it's the latter, you could just put a few prompts into an AI generator, and let the machines poop something out.
if you're not finding some level of fulfillment in the creation process itself, then revisit question #1.
the world is your oyster. the process is diving to the bottom of the ocean, and grabbing the oyster.
and the vast majority of oysters do NOT have pearls inside of them.
if you are worrying about something "not working out", then your setting up yourself for a life of disappointment.

I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing.

everyone sucks at first.
noobs = cool
no-it-alls = fool
if someone disrespects or sneers at your humble beginnings they are just projecting their own insecurities.

At 9/9/23 03:59 PM, captainsmilez wrote: I often feel the crippling sense of inferiority and a nagging voice that says "Skill issue-"- whenever I see an artist whose art is far more better- Be it in appeal, attention, technical skills, etc- I haven't been drawing something good nowadays, let alone stuff I want- Hell, the stuff I have been drawing nowadays are mostly practice stuff- Mainly because of the nagging voice inside my head reminding me of my inferior artistic skills- The original stuff I draw nowadays feel uninspired and flat to me, like it doesn't hold on its own. Which is why I have been "avoiding" doing my own original stuff.

I don't come into these threads to blow steam up people's @ss...but since I have seen your art before, I'll just let you know I think it's rad

Hell, I even feel more horrible as my art posts on this website and other websites don't gain much attention and it makes me a sad. I mean, having a big audience look at your work gives you more opportunities to earn money and get your stuff out there. I'm almost 21 yet I feel horrible as an artist because I'm horribly lagging behind in terms of progress and artistic skill improvement. Hell, I'm starting to think that I should give up on art all together- Mainly because I don't have the connections nor the skills to make my works known, let alone make a living out of it.

1. you're not even an adult yet and you feel like your horribly lagging behind?? i assure you you're not, relax.
2. why do you need to be known? why do you need to make an art as living? are you afraid that having a career that isn't art-related won't give you sufficient time to make art on the side?

Hell, I starting to wish that I never drew in the first place. As having a performing artistic skill like singing or dancing is much more lucrative and glamorous than making art. I mean, I'm looking at K-pop idols or any mainstream musician in general, they're literally and figuratively out there with their faces on brands and TV shows, being physically chased by fans, and performing in front of people cheering on you under the bright stage spotlight. Being an artist is so behind the scenes and part of me regrets that because I am not out there, just my works. Unless someone asks whose work is that, it's going to be just known as some pretty picture or a silly animation.

so become a performance artist.
what's your social and family life like? humans are social animals, perhaps you are lacking attention in other avenues?
have you tried volunteering or joining a local art group or some other club relating to your hobbies?
this'll give you a greater feeling of community, if this is something you lack.
Then you may begin to decouple feelings of fulfillment from the process of creating art, and start making art more for the sake of, making art.

At 9/11/23 01:31 PM, captainsmilez wrote:

At 9/10/23 04:00 PM, S3C wrote:

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make.

why do you want to make it? what happens if you don't make the comic?

I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it,

start today, the earlier you start the more you'll thank yourself in the future.
that said, it's never to late to start an artistic pursuit.

but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out.

and if it doesn't...so??
do you think life is about enjoying the journey or getting the reward at the end?
if it's the latter, you could just put a few prompts into an AI generator, and let the machines poop something out.
if you're not finding some level of fulfillment in the creation process itself, then revisit question #1.
the world is your oyster. the process is diving to the bottom of the ocean, and grabbing the oyster.
and the vast majority of oysters do NOT have pearls inside of them.
if you are worrying about something "not working out", then your setting up yourself for a life of disappointment.

I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing.

everyone sucks at first.
noobs = cool
no-it-alls = fool
if someone disrespects or sneers at your humble beginnings they are just projecting their own insecurities.

At 9/9/23 03:59 PM, captainsmilez wrote: I often feel the crippling sense of inferiority and a nagging voice that says "Skill issue-"- whenever I see an artist whose art is far more better- Be it in appeal, attention, technical skills, etc- I haven't been drawing something good nowadays, let alone stuff I want- Hell, the stuff I have been drawing nowadays are mostly practice stuff- Mainly because of the nagging voice inside my head reminding me of my inferior artistic skills- The original stuff I draw nowadays feel uninspired and flat to me, like it doesn't hold on its own. Which is why I have been "avoiding" doing my own original stuff.

I don't come into these threads to blow steam up people's @ss...but since I have seen your art before, I'll just let you know I think it's rad

Hell, I even feel more horrible as my art posts on this website and other websites don't gain much attention and it makes me a sad. I mean, having a big audience look at your work gives you more opportunities to earn money and get your stuff out there. I'm almost 21 yet I feel horrible as an artist because I'm horribly lagging behind in terms of progress and artistic skill improvement. Hell, I'm starting to think that I should give up on art all together- Mainly because I don't have the connections nor the skills to make my works known, let alone make a living out of it.

1. you're not even an adult yet and you feel like your horribly lagging behind?? i assure you you're not, relax.
2. why do you need to be known? why do you need to make an art as living? are you afraid that having a career that isn't art-related won't give you sufficient time to make art on the side?

It just feels nice getting your stuff seen by people and it gives you opportunities like jobs, an audience, money, and more. The last thing you said is also one of the reasons I feel horrible on my art level right now because god know I may not improve as quickly as I can once I grow into a full adult. I just feel jaded because from witnessing most adults in general that they barely have any time let alone energy for such creative stuff because they have to pay bills or feed their families.
I'm negative that I'd have time for my creatives if I had a soul-sucking corporate job--

Hell, I starting to wish that I never drew in the first place. As having a performing artistic skill like singing or dancing is much more lucrative and glamorous than making art. I mean, I'm looking at K-pop idols or any mainstream musician in general, they're literally and figuratively out there with their faces on brands and TV shows, being physically chased by fans, and performing in front of people cheering on you under the bright stage spotlight. Being an artist is so behind the scenes and part of me regrets that because I am not out there, just my works. Unless someone asks whose work is that, it's going to be just known as some pretty picture or a silly animation.

so become a performance artist.
what's your social and family life like? humans are social animals, perhaps you are lacking attention in other avenues?
have you tried volunteering or joining a local art group or some other club relating to your hobbies?
this'll give you a greater feeling of community, if this is something you lack.
Then you may begin to decouple feelings of fulfillment from the process of creating art, and start making art more for the sake of, making art.

The thing is, I feel like it's rather too late for me to be one- I got not much opportunities to train myself to be one- I know it's likely just me being a whiney negative Nancy but proper voice/dance training costs money and you can progress only so fast if you're using free resources- Unless I get big clout on the internet and some company takes me in and mold me into some star, there's little to no chances of me that I'm going to be a popular glamorous performance artist, let alone a competent one- Hell, I already fail personality wise because I don't have a likeable personality and I come off annoying whenever I try to be myself.

At 9/9/23 03:59 PM, captainsmilez wrote: I often feel the crippling sense of inferiority and a nagging voice that says "Skill issue-"- whenever I see an artist whose art is far more better- Be it in appeal, attention, technical skills, etc- I haven't been drawing something good nowadays, let alone stuff I want- Hell, the stuff I have been drawing nowadays are mostly practice stuff- Mainly because of the nagging voice inside my head reminding me of my inferior artistic skills- The original stuff I draw nowadays feel uninspired and flat to me, like it doesn't hold on its own. Which is why I have been "avoiding" doing my own original stuff.

Hell, I even feel more horrible as my art posts on this website and other websites don't gain much attention and it makes me a sad. I mean, having a big audience look at your work gives you more opportunities to earn money and get your stuff out there. I'm almost 21 yet I feel horrible as an artist because I'm horribly lagging behind in terms of progress and artistic skill improvement. Hell, I'm starting to think that I should give up on art all together- Mainly because I don't have the connections nor the skills to make my works known, let alone make a living out of it.

Hell, I starting to wish that I never drew in the first place. As having a performing artistic skill like singing or dancing is much more lucrative and glamorous than making art. I mean, I'm looking at K-pop idols or any mainstream musician in general, they're literally and figuratively out there with their faces on brands and TV shows, being physically chased by fans, and performing in front of people cheering on you under the bright stage spotlight. Being an artist is so behind the scenes and part of me regrets that because I am not out there, just my works. Unless someone asks whose work is that, it's going to be just known as some pretty picture or a silly animation.

At 9/11/23 04:20 PM, lwpage wrote: I need advice on doing traditional drawings vs digital. I want to put an end to my endless OCD driven quest to be satisfied with an art program so I can get work done. It's getting on my nerves enough that I'm going almost fully traditional possibly. But is traditional really any slower than digital? Would it take for example 2 days traditional in comparison for what would take an hour digital?

At 9/11/23 04:30 PM, PH4NT0M117 wrote:

At 9/11/23 04:20 PM, lwpage wrote: I need advice on doing traditional drawings vs digital. I want to put an end to my endless OCD driven quest to be satisfied with an art program so I can get work done. It's getting on my nerves enough that I'm going almost fully traditional possibly. But is traditional really any slower than digital? Would it take for example 2 days traditional in comparison for what would take an hour digital?

I am more a traditional artist than digital. I like krita, I support KDE with bug reports, but...... its not a pencil. I can't smear like I want, I don't get paper roughness, or the same depth. However its much harder for me to share things because I don't have a high quality scanner. Sooo.....

Honestly, heres what you do. Both. Literally, go out, get whatever kind of notebook you like best. I like composition notebooks, lined paper and everything. Get a drawing pad, a notebook, whatever, get a pen or pencil you really like, and just scribble when you are doing nothing. Specifically, scribble the things you always get stuck on in digital, or what you are currently stuck on in digital.

Get a pen that you can't erase, and at lunch just bang out 40 different versions of a pose. No detail, just centerlines and outlines, or maybe theres a really weird angle you can't get the motion down for, so put your phone underneath and use the back of it as a "practice surface" to make the paper a bit smoother, and just bang out hundreds of trashy triangles till you get it down, then do it a few times digital and just.... keep one and move on.

OCD is more about making sure you don't fuck up later because of something you did now. If you always need something perfect, I find it means, at least for me, that I'm just not confident enough. Do something 10000 times badly where it doesn't matter, though, and you get confident at not giving as much of a shit where it matters, and you find it easier to just.... do the thing.