Always good to take time for yourself. Burn out is not fun.

If there's one thing I thought I'd always have easy access to, it was creating things. But oh my god, is that proving to not be true the past year. : Hopefully time to just post about my garbage sons and their found families will help dig me out of this hole.

I find that, if I am not being able of creating, it's generally because I am not interested in the topic I am trying to use to create. This is actually the reason why I haven't taken commissions: I hate being told what to do (I might have a problem).

There's also me not wanting to go through the hassle of figuring out the tax system for selling art on the internet, but really the main reason is what I said above.

Honestly, that's the right way to look at it all. You don't have to do art for money if you don't want to. It can be very soul destroying at times. Making the art you want because you want to is where it's at. :)

Good luck to you, loved the Walter you did

Walter was fun. :) With ArtFight, I only ever picked characters I knew I would have fun drawing, and he was one of them. :)

Hope everything goes well for you! Totally respect taking time for yourself.

Yeah. I have been noticing just a lack of interactivity with works here and everywhere. If there is a like system it is that at best. No comments, no interaction, just a consume and move on.

I know I don't say as much as I should either, but as a creative as well, I feel your pain.

Hope you find that fire again, I look forward to everything even if I don't say much.

Absolutely agree and observed that myself, both as a creative and a fan of artists. The only interaction I ever see is with big names, popular IPs, and drama. It’s really become bizarre and depressing since I remember a time I could talk to randos on any art piece on both FA and DA.

Totally feel the sentiment too; motivation dives when it feels like you create for nothing. I’m still picking myself up, so I hope only the best and also look forward to more when it’s possible. :’)

I've loved your art in general since 2010ish and would love to see your real passions. Good luck on your personal life.

Thank you! I certainly don't plan to stop doing art if I can help it and I want everyone to get to know my trash sons. :D

Take the time fer yerself. That's what matters.

Gotta do what's best for you.

I've always enjoyed your work and I love the pieces you made for me!

I had so much fun drawing Galis pics! :) This burnout is not anything anybody's done, I just need to spend some time with my own trash children. :D

Take all the time you need. Even if you never do commission again thats up too you, I understand. You got support here, go play with your puppy and enjoy your life.

Thank you. :)

Alas, no doggo. Ralph was not good enough at his job and went back to the school. I miss the goofball, he was a great house dog. Waiting to hear back from the school.

Do what you need to do to rest, recover, and find what path is best for you. And thanks for all that you have done, shared, and created so far in life.

Razz, I'm gonna be straight up with you. Please hear me out. Don't worry, I'm not angry with you, far from it...

I remember meeting you way back in 2009 at the first Texas Furry Fiesta. You brought my bunnysona to life, gave him character, personality, and charm. And for that, I am deeply grateful and owe you more than I could ever give to you. Yes, I did want a commission from you for old time's sake, but take it from me... You need a mental health break from your work.

I say this to you because I know the warning signs. I felt the same way with my Youtube content. I've been doing that since 2008, and in the later years, I've shown signs of fatigue that I purposely ignored to my detriment. Should I have taken a break then? Yes. Am I doing it now? Yes, again. If there's one thing I've learned from the 2010s, it's that life can kick you so hard in the ass, you'll want to give up...

But you should never give up. Instead, step back, assess the situation, and start building a gameplan to come back stronger. There was a time after I was medically discharged from the Navy, and I was working a dead-end job, struggling to stay afloat, taking out loan after loan to keep my pantry stocked to the point I was overdrawn every other week. I thought I would never come back from the depths of Hell, but then back in 2024, after years of fighting the government for my disability benefits, I got my backpay and started seeing the income coming in. I finally broke free from the depths and came back stronger than ever.

I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but I'm telling you my story to give you perspective: Once you've fallen into the depths of Hell, there is a way out, even if people tell you that Hell is inescapable. You've just gotta look in your heart, and find that one shining beacon of hope. There's ALWAYS a way out. I helped you, because you helped me, Razz...

When I was overseas, missing the second year of TFF, I remember the care package you sent me. I saw the badge, and what you said "I don't know why you're so sad about missing it! You're at TFF right now! You're at my booth, just like you were last year!" I say all of this to you because I do care about you. I see you as more than just an artist bringing my ideas to life, I see you as a friend who got me through some dark times in my life. And even though we went our separate ways for a little while, I knew one day we'd reconnect in one way or another.

I know I said it many years ago, but I'm gonna say it again. If you ever need to reach out, I'm on Discord, and I'm on Telegram. Hell, I still got my notes open. I'm willing to lend an ear any time. I know it may say I don't want to be disturbed, but it's only cause I want to be available to those closest to me.

As someone said in a video about a very sad Tom and Jerry short, I think I'll say it to you as well...

"I love you. And you will get through this." =)

Aww thank you!

You're very right, I've been feeling that things were going downhill for at least the past year and I hope putting my foot down now will give me the rest I've needed for a long time. Even just making the statement of intent by itself has me feeling more inspired and interested than I have in years.

And I am SO glad to hear you're getting back on your feet! Things were tough for you for so long. I'm glad you got that back pay and are getting what you need now.

Haha Discord is just about the only way to get in touch with me, but i don't list my handle publicly because I get overwhelmed by too many people. It's why my server is locked to Patreon, not because I am trying to gatekeep, but because I know myself very well and the fastest way to get me to leave my own space is having a bunch of people come in. XD

Feel free to shoot me your Discord name via a note and I'll send you a friend request. :)

I sent you a note. =D

Honestly I look forward to seeing whatever you decide post for yourself. I've missed seeing your OCs and reading your comics and stories about them. Youve always had such a fun and creative mind when it came to character design and development, especially the self-indulgent and deeply story-driven things you enjoy, both with fan-characters and totally original characters.
Burnout is awful and I'm really sad to hear it's gotten so bad, but I hope stepping away from commissions can help you find your inner spark again and find joy in creating things just for you!

Thank you so much! I can say for sure that at least one of these projects that has been simmering in the background has a lot of writing as well as illustration that I'm looking forward to sharing. But I'm also excited to just have the time and guilt free space to draw really weird stuff that wanders through my head again. :D I'm very glad you and others remember that I have ocs and enjoy them. :)

Omg I could never forget your ocs haha
Your work has always really stood out to me to the point of inspiration, and was one of the main reasons I joined DA back around 2007 when I was still just a teen, crazy enough (though I dont really use that site much anymore). I'm stoked to see what that future project is going to be along with any other weird and wild things you to create in the future! :D

I can only imagine the relief too, I see a lot of really good artists get burned out trying to keep commissions moving and it's always been one of my worst fears as an artist, getting sick of something I love doing that should be feeding my soul due to having to monetize it for survival. I'm lucky I've never needed to make it my main source of income, but having to toss my own ocs and stories to the side longterm just to stay afloat would absolutely drown me.

You can see some hints about two of the things I'm working on in the Silicon Delphi and Trinidad folders in my gallery. I've got tons more but those two are my big obsessions right now.

Yeah, I tell a lot of people just don't do art for money if you have any other choice. And if you do, be very strict about how you do it because burnout is very easy and once you fry those circuits you can lose your creative drive for years, if not the rest of your life.

This happened to me back in 2013-2023 and taking time to myself and doing things with friends out of the public eye was what helped me get my groove back. I'm sorry you're at this burned out point. It's truly awful. I haven't been very active on FA which is why I haven't commented or favorited, regardless of loving your art very much.

I hope that taking time away helps you so so so much!

I'm glad I'm finally doing something about it before things get worse. Just making this post has helped me a bunch in the past few days. I'm very glad you got your spark back!

Good luck with it all Razz ^^

Always glad to see art from you and look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Thank you! <3

u got dis <3

For sure take the brain time you need for you, Razz. Much love!