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Life's A Chibi: Out Of Place
This image has been stirring in my head for quite a while and I finally got the time and inspiration to draw this image. Took me a bit longer to do due to the detail in the image ( I think I spent a bit too much time on the small illustrations than the whole image ). But with the details in them compared to the one in the middle, I feel it works. When I was drawing this, I couldn't really describe the message behind it as clearly ( or as less whiny ) as the other Life's A Chibi illustrations. I was also in an "artistic-doubt" place during the time.
There are thousands of artists out there that could create amazing works of art - putting in details upon details into their piece, using advance tools and unique methods that transforms a piece into a one-of-a-kind work of art. They spend half their lives studying and improving their skills that they could now create a digital masterpiece that looks like it was done on canvas, or a painting that looks like it was taken by a digital camera. Art pieces like that instantly shine in the popular spot light. However there are those who have very little skill, a skill-road-block, or no skill and when they create something they believe is amazing, it is sometimes over shadowed by the more creative pieces or quickly gazed at before moving onto something more important.
Imagine an low, average artist, sitting in a room filled with other artists who are highly skilled in the advance art program or those who can afford to by the more expensive paints, and everyone is drawing. All the artists create illustrations that look realistic, highly detailed and complex while the one average artist can only do something what others might see it as simple. That artist might feel out of place with the others and no one really cares about a "n00b's" work compared to the next advance artist beside them. Having been there before in college and even in the real world, I can honestly say I felt small, insignificant and doubted my artwork. JEALOUSY, ENVY, and DISCARDED is how I felt. They called it "unfinished", "simple" and "no evidence of an artistic future" - words from some of my teachers and other artists. They didn't even have to say anything, but that feeling of giving me and my art the cold shoulder as they focus with someone with "real" talent or befriended someone with similar talents.
... But still, that didn't stop me from drawing what I want to draw.
Everyone's artwork should be appreciated and admired, no matter what skill level the artist is at. Each piece of art IS a piece of art, and everyone should treated as such. Everyone has their own voice. Some shout louder than others, but still that fainted voice shouldn't be silenced. DRAW what you want to draw, HOW you want to draw, WITH WHAT you want to draw. Draw what is in your heart and try not to compare your artwork to another. No skill, little skill, moderate skill or advance skill, if you can create something from your head onto a surface using any type of tool, you are an artist and no one else can tell you differently. If you created a piece of artwork that you feel shows that you are growing as an artist, treasure it.
artwork © 2016 Alex Cockburn
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I can't draw worth crap at all and I always wanted to be able to. But no matter how much work I put into practice I never seem to improve. Yeah yeah it's a long process. But it does not help that I have a bit of a nervous system issue that keeps my hands moving or twitching or something like that at all times to hamper anything I try to do.
And not to mention. What skill I DO have is misplaced I feel. I'm a writer. I can write stuff very well, I'll admit that. But the problem is... who even reads that much these days? To me it feels like the one thing I have going for me is pointless and useless.
But I somehow still make do with what I have as I continue attempting to improve on everything else since at the end of the day, what's truly important is that we don't stop and we don't give up.
And not to mention. What skill I DO have is misplaced I feel. I'm a writer. I can write stuff very well, I'll admit that. But the problem is... who even reads that much these days? To me it feels like the one thing I have going for me is pointless and useless.
But I somehow still make do with what I have as I continue attempting to improve on everything else since at the end of the day, what's truly important is that we don't stop and we don't give up.
I feel like this a lot, even though I've come a long way from my humble beginnings, and even though I'm still getting better and better all the time.
Especially when it comes to "being overshadowed by popular artists" - maybe I don't feel their skill level is close to my own, but somehow, some way, they still get more recognition than I do. And it makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong.
Especially when it comes to "being overshadowed by popular artists" - maybe I don't feel their skill level is close to my own, but somehow, some way, they still get more recognition than I do. And it makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong.
*gives very tight and thankful hug*
This is actually how I feel sometimes...like I ain't good enough compared to say "Jim and Mandy" it's like...as a low level artist. It's hard for us to develop because of the lack of attention. And it's what really turns most of us off from art...but this is a very motivational piece, and I thank you for making it.
Every low level artist shouldn't give up, and should keep fighting hard to reach their goals!
This is actually how I feel sometimes...like I ain't good enough compared to say "Jim and Mandy" it's like...as a low level artist. It's hard for us to develop because of the lack of attention. And it's what really turns most of us off from art...but this is a very motivational piece, and I thank you for making it.
Every low level artist shouldn't give up, and should keep fighting hard to reach their goals!
I was thinking something similar to syndicalism, in which artists create guild-like groups to promote each other.
So others can be notified of artists they might not have heard of.
I guess I'm hoping we can compete less and cooperate more. Act like a pack rather than lone wolves.
So others can be notified of artists they might not have heard of.
I guess I'm hoping we can compete less and cooperate more. Act like a pack rather than lone wolves.
Wow i dont normally comment or butt in on things like this but wow..
Im behind you. Writing is hard and it is underappreciated. Everyone has the ability to write. However not everyone has the ability to write novels or short stories with the added skill of doing it well. There is a massive difference between people who think that anyone can write and craps out a lil book compared to those that have honed their skill set and created captivating experiences.
Im behind you. Writing is hard and it is underappreciated. Everyone has the ability to write. However not everyone has the ability to write novels or short stories with the added skill of doing it well. There is a massive difference between people who think that anyone can write and craps out a lil book compared to those that have honed their skill set and created captivating experiences.
Another person on your side saying writing is easy is like saying drawing is easy because you can do a stick figure.
Both writing and drawing can be simple or very, very complicated with complex techniques and styles. I wouldn't say that one is harder or easier than the other expect to an individual specifically. It is a shame that writing doesn't get the love that visuals arts do. I suppose it's because it doesn't leap out immediately the same way. Still a shame.
Both writing and drawing can be simple or very, very complicated with complex techniques and styles. I wouldn't say that one is harder or easier than the other expect to an individual specifically. It is a shame that writing doesn't get the love that visuals arts do. I suppose it's because it doesn't leap out immediately the same way. Still a shame.
Looking at their page it seems likely that all they'd write anyway was pornographic fiction. That doesn't exactly require a lot of creativity and effort to please those who are into it, I'd say... at least in this fandom. Fact is, you can't compare creative skills, but I do agree that writers and fiction are really overlooked, especially in a fandom as visual as the furry fandom. Reading a story requires more effort than looking at a picture, and very few people are willing to put in that effort.
Actually I will honestly say you are absolutely wrong. I've tried both mediums, and while putting words on a page is technically "easier", creating fiction is not. It takes talent and a hell of a lot of practice to produce anything worth reading, that isn't full of writing errors or grammatical anarchy. If you were to read a fiction by someone who has been writing for a day, versus someone who's been writing all their life.
I'll be honest, you'd be an idiot to say either one is more difficult.
They're different art forms completely and take a different kind of talent and mental process.
I'll be honest, you'd be an idiot to say either one is more difficult.
They're different art forms completely and take a different kind of talent and mental process.
As both a writer and an artist, I can say without a doubt that you are 100% incorrect. In your limited experience (because we all are limited to our own experiences) you may find art more difficult, but it varies from person to person. An artist may find composing music more difficult than drawing; a composer may find writing lyrics or an accompanying story more difficult than creating music; a writer may find drawing more difficult than penning a novel, and the same can go in reverse.
As an artist I can tell you that writing is harder than it looks. I can never get a story and world created as well as a writer who has been practicing for years. And writing takes way more time than art when comparing a 40-50 hour composition and a month long novel so no, art is not harder than writing in a lot of cases.
Both are different skillsets and both require the same amount of effort to improve upon.
PS: If you think you can just write at a flick of a dime, please, tell us your character/fursona's riveting backstory and see how long you keep our attention.
Both are different skillsets and both require the same amount of effort to improve upon.
PS: If you think you can just write at a flick of a dime, please, tell us your character/fursona's riveting backstory and see how long you keep our attention.
Even I can disagree with this.
Ive been drawing seriously for almost six years now, and it has taken me that amount of time to develop the level of talent I possess today.
However I've also been writing for more or less the same amount of time, albeit a little less intensely. I'm not terrible but I know I've improved by a lot.
There is SO MUCH more to writing than just putting a paragraph into spellcheck. The design of a story takes Just as much time and energy to be created as making digital or traditional art. You cannot spellcheck into the level of talent that Walt Whitman or edger Allen Poe had.
These are just two different mediums for the same goal, which is telling a story, your story. My physical art sings the same song of Flora as my writing. Maybe you should change your opinion.
Ive been drawing seriously for almost six years now, and it has taken me that amount of time to develop the level of talent I possess today.
However I've also been writing for more or less the same amount of time, albeit a little less intensely. I'm not terrible but I know I've improved by a lot.
There is SO MUCH more to writing than just putting a paragraph into spellcheck. The design of a story takes Just as much time and energy to be created as making digital or traditional art. You cannot spellcheck into the level of talent that Walt Whitman or edger Allen Poe had.
These are just two different mediums for the same goal, which is telling a story, your story. My physical art sings the same song of Flora as my writing. Maybe you should change your opinion.
Regardless, the effort is less than when you draw. Most of the people disagreeing here are disgruntled writers trying to pump up their sense of self worth for their chosen art medium, just because the FA userbase has already spoken and said that their work isn't worth crap compared to drawings.
I don't normally comment, but you are a hypocrite. Writing is difficult skill. To be able to create a world and story, or even just an emotion, is a beautiful and underrated skill. Creating art, regardless of media, shouldn't be a competition of which is more difficult because there is no comparison. If you are an visual artist, then you disgrace us all, especially those of us who dabble in the writing side of creativity. To be able to wind and twist a written language to display/convey the complexity of life and emotion, or the wonderment of existence and the pure euphoria of the human condition, while maintaining a sense of control and direction, is one of the most difficult skills there is. Creative writing and writing in general is employment of diction, language control, and a connection to entire span of a person's life and literary experiences. Writers put themselves into a story, just as visual artists. You disgrace what it means to be an writer, an actor, a poet, a painter and a musician--every form of artistry, when you denegrade one of us.
I'm sure you'll find a spell-checked, badly composed story is still a badly composed story.
Also, a bit hard to practice making art if you're not already attempting to make it, that makes no sense. A drawing's worth isn't determined by the amount of time an artist has been an artist.
Also, a bit hard to practice making art if you're not already attempting to make it, that makes no sense. A drawing's worth isn't determined by the amount of time an artist has been an artist.
I know several artists in this predicament (And a few who feel this way but are mega talenred). I do my best to support them, both ecouagement and commissions, giving them praise as best I can. I want to see every single one rise up, improve themselves, and gain the recognition they deserve.
I want to believe every like that little one has at least one fan who adores their art and supports them.
I want to believe every like that little one has at least one fan who adores their art and supports them.
I have so many things in my mind, which I wish I could draw... but I don't have the right opportunity to draw by myself, nor do I know anything about the advanced art programs. I'm not patient with myself either: I want to be good, but I don't seem to improve at all... not to say, that I don't dare to draw when I have company around me as they might say, I'm a sicko. And almost all the time I have company around me, and there are no places where I could hide whatever I want to draw... or at least I want to try to draw...
So all I can do is to commission others who have higher skills than me, to make the things for me, and hope, they can do it at least close as I imagined it in my mind.
So all I can do is to commission others who have higher skills than me, to make the things for me, and hope, they can do it at least close as I imagined it in my mind.
As far as viewing artist that are "marginalized" you can always do a search here for image, flash, writing, etc.. by popularity in ascending order through the sites search engine this will get you art work that has not been viewed much by the populous. Unfortunately you are never going to be able to increase opportunities for artist because the person hiring an artist is always going to hire based on quality of design (buyers opinion or own view of what they think looks the best.) and monetary cost, aka most bang for your buck. If you want to get noticed you can always do stuff for free.
Doing the search I just mention will help you look for low viewed stuff, its good to do if your searching for someone that might be hiding out with a unique style.
Doing the search I just mention will help you look for low viewed stuff, its good to do if your searching for someone that might be hiding out with a unique style.
On another note, another way art is hard is how that your materials limit your abilities. Many artists have all the tools they could ever need. Expensive paints and inks, how 'bout a $3000 drawing tablet with adobe photoshop? It sucks to sit here and be stuck with mechanical pencils and Paint.net. But I suppose it only shows the true ambition in an individual to do more with less, rather than those who can only do mediocre with much more.
My girlfriend was telling me she was feeling miserable and almost suicidal because she feels that art is what she wants to do in life, but when she looks at the works of other artists, she feels insignificant and useless because everyone else is "better" than her.
I wanted to say EXACTLY this, but I couldn't find the words. Thank you so much for saying it this way. Now I can say something to her.
I wanted to say EXACTLY this, but I couldn't find the words. Thank you so much for saying it this way. Now I can say something to her.
I feel the same thing occasionally as well. The somewhat worst part is the fact that I'm not really an artist. I'm more of a story writer and a somewhat amateur one at that. Since my talent is in writing I feel its sometimes unappreciated since most people care more about actual art instead of stories. But I still keep on writing what I like to write about. Another wonferful Life's a Chibi message.
That cute lil picture needs a picture frame. I feel like this every time I pick up a pencil, because the people surrounding me are so much better at arting, and I do my very best at what I can. (Even though my boyfriend tells me I do wonderful art) So hang on until I recover from these feels, and we shall celebrate the creation of that little pawturkey...purkey...pawrkey...?
I am just starting school myself to learn how to draw, period. I have made friends with people that create such stunning works i always find myself zooming in on the piece and admiring the details, i watch the streams, to see how it gets created... its exciting invigorating. Then I do look at what I create myself, the speed in which I seem to be learning, the rate that even what seems to be basics is being obtained. And I feel like the one in the middle every day. I already struggle with despression/esteem issues. And it really rings true. Everything you said, 100%. It is how it is. I am having issues with traditional methods (where I am starting) but when I can play with digital I feel more confident with the speed that I am learning, but my ability still doesnt seem to be moving forward that well, but that might just be due to the lack of time that I can put into it.... I think of all the images you have done so far fornthis series, this one hit the deepest. And thank you. For the words, and for the image.
Never said you were rude to me. Hell, I can be an asshole sure. But you've far outdone me in assholery I feel. But that's just the opinion of some random person on the internet that you seem so riled up about.
My problem with you mainly lies on the "Writing vs Drawing" shit.
By undermining other peoples' abilities and passions saying they're not worth a damn.
My problem with you mainly lies on the "Writing vs Drawing" shit.
By undermining other peoples' abilities and passions saying they're not worth a damn.
first, I adore your work. I don't complement often, but I dearly love the style and what you talk about.
Second, as I learned while writing, do what YOU want to do. There is always someone better. There is always someone worse too. So what? You write for you and your enjoyment. And if we others happen to like it, great.
Second, as I learned while writing, do what YOU want to do. There is always someone better. There is always someone worse too. So what? You write for you and your enjoyment. And if we others happen to like it, great.
This is very true, and your image here is just beautiful. Every art style, being image or writing says a lot about the artist. Art is not a competition. Like it states, your art and style are who you are. I agree. Treasure your art and style, and don't let what someone else thinks put you down. Thank you so much for sharing this. I really needed this.
...Art became my only outlet to deal with the constant picking I had going for me at several middle schools as a child. It helped me calm down, focus myself and -as I continued- found myself improving in the anime styles I was mimicking at the time. By the time I entered high school freshman year, I applied to and was denied access to the art academy there. I was down, questioning myself, but didn't stop drawing, I kept finding animation in gaming too fascinating to give up! In my senior year of high school, I applied again on the recommendation of a basic art teacher and was accepted!
We were freely given a computer with art and video programs, asking us to freely make a presentation by the end of year to show what we were capable of making. In the end, my video came in second, but received the best crowd reaction! ^_^
Looking at what I do now and how I got here, this image really hit a deep note. and I thank you for creating this. *bows*
We were freely given a computer with art and video programs, asking us to freely make a presentation by the end of year to show what we were capable of making. In the end, my video came in second, but received the best crowd reaction! ^_^
Looking at what I do now and how I got here, this image really hit a deep note. and I thank you for creating this. *bows*
I know everyone else here has been posting relevance to this and I'm just going to put my two cents in:
I basically made a journal about this last night kinda half ranting and half life update. I had a few of my college friends ask me what I'm doing, why do I not practice or anything for what I want to do in my career as a game designer. I haven't made any games worth mentioning, I've applied to one internship, I haven't worked on any projects that actually were completed outside of classes. So what can I do? People say practice makes perfect, or that practicing makes you better as long as you keep at it, but my opinion is skewed. I look at other people in my field and think "I have no way to get to that point. I could practice, but they'll always be a step ahead of me because they've been at it longer." so I get discouraged and I don't follow that path. In other cases, I try to do something and get so frustrated at trying to practice that I give on it, like artwork as I can't seem to draw a straight line without erasing it seven times. My current skillsets are in memorizing lyrics after 20+ listens and then never truly forget it, memorizing voice lines and being able to mimic them with some effort, and prying open a game and finding what makes it fun. These are all skills I'm proud of, but when applied to my career choice, I get labeled as an "Idea Man" or mistook as a "composer" when I've never been able to make music ever. An "idea man" in my industry is unemployable and unemployed; anyone can have an idea so having a person in a specific position to make ideas isn't fair. So what can I do? I'm mediocre at best, and unemployable at worst.
So what can I do?
I basically made a journal about this last night kinda half ranting and half life update. I had a few of my college friends ask me what I'm doing, why do I not practice or anything for what I want to do in my career as a game designer. I haven't made any games worth mentioning, I've applied to one internship, I haven't worked on any projects that actually were completed outside of classes. So what can I do? People say practice makes perfect, or that practicing makes you better as long as you keep at it, but my opinion is skewed. I look at other people in my field and think "I have no way to get to that point. I could practice, but they'll always be a step ahead of me because they've been at it longer." so I get discouraged and I don't follow that path. In other cases, I try to do something and get so frustrated at trying to practice that I give on it, like artwork as I can't seem to draw a straight line without erasing it seven times. My current skillsets are in memorizing lyrics after 20+ listens and then never truly forget it, memorizing voice lines and being able to mimic them with some effort, and prying open a game and finding what makes it fun. These are all skills I'm proud of, but when applied to my career choice, I get labeled as an "Idea Man" or mistook as a "composer" when I've never been able to make music ever. An "idea man" in my industry is unemployable and unemployed; anyone can have an idea so having a person in a specific position to make ideas isn't fair. So what can I do? I'm mediocre at best, and unemployable at worst.
So what can I do?
1. Games, like movies, are team efforts. The talents of any one human being are going to seem like they never come close.
2. So what? Someone with 2 years more experience will always have 2 years more experience. Deal with it.
3. Some of the best artists I've seen around here literally scribble seven lines and then pick the best one. Their polished art is sublime, but their rough sketches, when they post them, look like wool in a fog.
4. You sound like you might be a voice actor in the making.
5. There IS a job for the "idea man". He's called the "director".
2. So what? Someone with 2 years more experience will always have 2 years more experience. Deal with it.
3. Some of the best artists I've seen around here literally scribble seven lines and then pick the best one. Their polished art is sublime, but their rough sketches, when they post them, look like wool in a fog.
4. You sound like you might be a voice actor in the making.
5. There IS a job for the "idea man". He's called the "director".
Some of your comments were nice, others were counter-intuitive. I'm not posting this to start an argument, but let me break what you said down into how I interpreted it:
1. Team efforts imply you're on a team. Individual talent is just as important because without it, you won't get hired. Period.
2. Someone with 2 years more experience applying for the same position as me will be hired 9/10 times. I'm trying to deal with it, but it's difficult when you're not good at anything. Also telling someone to just "deal with it" doesn't improve anything. In some cases, this not exactly being one of them however, it actually has a negative effect.
3. I've seen doodles and sketches of some artists look better than the actual artwork of some people. The rough sketches are usually just ideas on paper to remember for later and don't see the light of day. What I'm talking about is spending half an hour on a "rough sketch" and not being happy with it. Something that takes artists 30 seconds takes me half an hour to do. Hopefully that clarifies that.
4. Heh, sound like a voice actor. Audio puns. But yes, I'm trying in that sense, but only being a voice actor doesn't "put beans on the table" unless you get a famous (or infamous) role handed to you in a triple-A title.
5. The director? You mean the guy who doesn't actually have any say on creative matters, but controls the money so we have to oblige him? The guy who talks to the publisher, who also doesn't have any creative process in mind but still butt their heads in? What we say in my classes is that anyone can have an idea, so anyone can be a game designer. An idea is worth less than a cent, but prototypes and effort cost more.
1. Team efforts imply you're on a team. Individual talent is just as important because without it, you won't get hired. Period.
2. Someone with 2 years more experience applying for the same position as me will be hired 9/10 times. I'm trying to deal with it, but it's difficult when you're not good at anything. Also telling someone to just "deal with it" doesn't improve anything. In some cases, this not exactly being one of them however, it actually has a negative effect.
3. I've seen doodles and sketches of some artists look better than the actual artwork of some people. The rough sketches are usually just ideas on paper to remember for later and don't see the light of day. What I'm talking about is spending half an hour on a "rough sketch" and not being happy with it. Something that takes artists 30 seconds takes me half an hour to do. Hopefully that clarifies that.
4. Heh, sound like a voice actor. Audio puns. But yes, I'm trying in that sense, but only being a voice actor doesn't "put beans on the table" unless you get a famous (or infamous) role handed to you in a triple-A title.
5. The director? You mean the guy who doesn't actually have any say on creative matters, but controls the money so we have to oblige him? The guy who talks to the publisher, who also doesn't have any creative process in mind but still butt their heads in? What we say in my classes is that anyone can have an idea, so anyone can be a game designer. An idea is worth less than a cent, but prototypes and effort cost more.
For first time ever on FA want to fav something twice and give the little guy a hug.
Another sad moment is when you get a photo quality picture that took hours apon hours to do and show someone only to be told it's pretty, but it's not art, just a copy/still life... Never took another class
Another sad moment is when you get a photo quality picture that took hours apon hours to do and show someone only to be told it's pretty, but it's not art, just a copy/still life... Never took another class
this is totally true. and here's the fin fact... both the "high quality" artists depicted here had to spend some time where our budding artist is now. they only got to where they are by sticking to it. practice practice practice.
Art is supposed to be a labor of love, but to some people it can feel like an exercise in futility, or some bizarre form of self-torture and self-loathing.
most, if not all artists tend to form a love/hate relationship with their work and themselves.
and a lot of this is from my personal experience... and i'm not even going into the psychological part of it... that's a WHOLE other can of worms there...
do what you love, love what you do, and the road to success and happiness will be yours to walk. sometimes the road just needs a little maintenance before it looks nice :P
Art is supposed to be a labor of love, but to some people it can feel like an exercise in futility, or some bizarre form of self-torture and self-loathing.
most, if not all artists tend to form a love/hate relationship with their work and themselves.
and a lot of this is from my personal experience... and i'm not even going into the psychological part of it... that's a WHOLE other can of worms there...
do what you love, love what you do, and the road to success and happiness will be yours to walk. sometimes the road just needs a little maintenance before it looks nice :P
This speaks to me on such a deep level because a teacher looked down on my art because it wasn't "college level". I'm in my last year of high school. Her constantly telling me there was something SHE didn't like in the piece really hit me hard and I found it hard to even come up with something to draw without her voice chanting in the back of my mind.
It was hard for a time and when I look at this it makes me feel small yes, but I feel like I can at least try.
Thank you.
It was hard for a time and when I look at this it makes me feel small yes, but I feel like I can at least try.
Thank you.
Even though I've been in this "Furry" art game for almost thirty years now, I can still feel rather intimidated by the artworks of my contemporaries. I really like the "Feeling" in this image, and I can't help but have a little empathy for the downcast looking lop in the middle.
Ugh... this hits so close to home it isn't funny. Ever since I went took classes to prepare for art school and getting into one, I just haven't been able to feel any good about my work. Felt out of place around my graduating class, everyone around my age, all drawing at a level that was light years ahead of mine. Ended up dropping out close to the end of my junior year after struggling to get my scholarship back and feeling like the teachers just weren't helping in the manner I felt I needed. Was either they gave me these long drawn out criticisms with a failing grade and not really say how any of the issues could be fixed, or in other cases, it just felt like they were just patronizing me saying that there wasn't anything wrong with what I was working on and not giving me the feedback I would always see them giving to the "better" students... Even worse I feel was that I was pretty much a nobody to the rest of my graduating class. Nobody went out of their way during group critiques to discuss my works unless the teachers happened to choose the piece which usually ended bringing the class into an awkward state. It was like the teachers had to practically force people to say anything...
Even though I had garnered some interest from folks on the web during my time in art school that somewhat kept me going, I had many moments of running into folks that kind of had a similar effect on me that my teachers at school had on me, some even worse than them so was stuck in a void of lost confidence thinking that any nice statements were just people paying me some bit of charity or pity even though I knew that wasn't the case for all of them.
Just haven't been able to draw anywhere near the same output that I was able to before college, back when I wasn't worried about what I should be able to do at my age and also where I should be at from how much I've worked at drawing. Just stuck with all these doubts of never truly being good enough to call myself an artist, these thoughts of inferiority cause I seem to improve at the rate of a snail, and the growing disinterest in what I used to love doing so much for fun and for therapeutic uses (venting stress from being constantly bullied, fighting back, being punished for defending myself, and venting a growing hate at the time I had for my family and the schools for not being any help or actually intentionally making it worse as one principal did for a whole school year). I also dreamed of doing some big things for other people cause I just liked trying to make folks happy and at the least, like me.
I have so many regrets about having gone to art school even if I did learn some stuff. It just doesn't feel like it was an education worth $30k+ in loans and mental health and therapy costs. I just really don't know what to do nowadays. I still do small sketches here and there but sometimes even those bring me feelings of inferiority due to having seen what others my age called sketches; friggin' pencil drawings that were pretty much done, nothing remotely even resembling a sketch...
Just wish this post did more for me other than bringing up the memories of what has me locked into this state.
Even though I had garnered some interest from folks on the web during my time in art school that somewhat kept me going, I had many moments of running into folks that kind of had a similar effect on me that my teachers at school had on me, some even worse than them so was stuck in a void of lost confidence thinking that any nice statements were just people paying me some bit of charity or pity even though I knew that wasn't the case for all of them.
Just haven't been able to draw anywhere near the same output that I was able to before college, back when I wasn't worried about what I should be able to do at my age and also where I should be at from how much I've worked at drawing. Just stuck with all these doubts of never truly being good enough to call myself an artist, these thoughts of inferiority cause I seem to improve at the rate of a snail, and the growing disinterest in what I used to love doing so much for fun and for therapeutic uses (venting stress from being constantly bullied, fighting back, being punished for defending myself, and venting a growing hate at the time I had for my family and the schools for not being any help or actually intentionally making it worse as one principal did for a whole school year). I also dreamed of doing some big things for other people cause I just liked trying to make folks happy and at the least, like me.
I have so many regrets about having gone to art school even if I did learn some stuff. It just doesn't feel like it was an education worth $30k+ in loans and mental health and therapy costs. I just really don't know what to do nowadays. I still do small sketches here and there but sometimes even those bring me feelings of inferiority due to having seen what others my age called sketches; friggin' pencil drawings that were pretty much done, nothing remotely even resembling a sketch...
Just wish this post did more for me other than bringing up the memories of what has me locked into this state.
I feel this way too frequently around my artist friends, and I felt like the furry of the picture for years. The sad thing is, I know some friends feel like this now when I'm around with other friends, and my art isn't especially beautiful.
We all will have people above and behind us, and its our duty as artists to be nice with all art, even the one that isn't up to the skills we may have. Because a nice word can shape the world.
http://zenpencils.com/comic/kevinsmith/
We all will have people above and behind us, and its our duty as artists to be nice with all art, even the one that isn't up to the skills we may have. Because a nice word can shape the world.
http://zenpencils.com/comic/kevinsmith/
I never really had perspective on this until I started finding people who were intimidated by MY talent. I'd never really considered my writing to be of an unapproachable level, but I was flattered, to be sure. I guess there are people all over the spectrum, and we're better for it.
But see, If I personally was that artist, I wouldn't just sit there feeling sorry for himself or thinking I can't do anything. I watch everything they do, see the programs they use, the paints they use, and more, and then I dissect it. take it apart piece by piece and figure out how to develop my own style from pieces of everything I see and feel around me. I never get discouraged from someone else doing something better, so long as I'm not prevented from following, mimicing, learning, and eventually with my effort, possibly, just maybe, surpassing them.
The bunny in the center of the work isn't prevented from making their art. Make it! Live it! Breath it! Doesn't matter what everyone else is doing. It really only matters what you're doing. If you dig a ditch and roll in the ditch crying.. Then you're rolling in a ditch crying. If you're making your own art, You're making art! Its a simple little thing I feel too many people seem to forget.
Also Expense does not equal greatness. Just because you throw down hundreds of dollars on a machine won't mean you can pump out masterwork quality art. There are people out there that draw with burnt pieces of wood, who paint with nails, and more. I myself Prefer cheap printer paper and the cheap clear BIC pens.
The bunny in the center of the work isn't prevented from making their art. Make it! Live it! Breath it! Doesn't matter what everyone else is doing. It really only matters what you're doing. If you dig a ditch and roll in the ditch crying.. Then you're rolling in a ditch crying. If you're making your own art, You're making art! Its a simple little thing I feel too many people seem to forget.
Also Expense does not equal greatness. Just because you throw down hundreds of dollars on a machine won't mean you can pump out masterwork quality art. There are people out there that draw with burnt pieces of wood, who paint with nails, and more. I myself Prefer cheap printer paper and the cheap clear BIC pens.
Thank you for making this. Very relevant. And really cute. And lotta d'awww for that bunny in the middle ;A; that's so me, and it makes me wanna support all the upcoming artists I've seen and known ;____; *hugs*
an awesome piece with lots of strong meaning and it's worthwhile spreading. Q_Q7
an awesome piece with lots of strong meaning and it's worthwhile spreading. Q_Q7
;n; Every day I feel like my art is trash, but then I have my fans who tell me they look up to me, that I inspire them..
That I am amazing ;v;
It reminds me that its ok, and time makes beauty.
Practice, and learning.
I really like this image, I might share it on my IG {linked back to you} ;v;
That I am amazing ;v;
It reminds me that its ok, and time makes beauty.
Practice, and learning.
I really like this image, I might share it on my IG {linked back to you} ;v;
Usually I agree with you, but this time it's different. An A for effort is not what keeps the audience interested in the artist, as harsh as it sounds.
There is artwork which does absolutely not match my taste, but the artstyle is great or something like that. I can appreciate that nonetheless. On the other paw, if there is artwork which has all my favorite things in it but the artstyle looks just plain unexperienced and not very clean I'm probably not gonna like it, and the amount of effort put in it doesn't really affect my opinion.
I'm an artist myself. I struggle a lot to get pictures at least near where I want them to be, and I dare to say that I got one or two nice ones. But those realistic pictures took between 20 and 40 hours to finish, which I'm sure is due to my lack in experience. But still, I can not publish artwork that I'm not satisfied with. And that's how all artists should act in my opinion. If you upload a picture with weird anatomy, I'm itching to comment exactly that. But since most "artists" on here seem to not handle criticism well I just walk along (unless they explictly ask for criticism). I'm sure you've seen those guys that like to draw their own furry porn, but it looks like they've never hold a pensil before. I don't consider those "artwork", I consider them "practice", and you shouldn't try to find appreciation for your practice when you don't present - or even recognize - it as such.
In art school it's a different story though. The teacher should help you with your problems, that's what schools are for. Maybe even your classmates can help you out. One advantage of classes is the collective knowledge, there are many people that have the ability to help you out. You just have to ask them, and they have to be willing. But I feel that's a bigger topic to cover.
If you publish something, you are open to criticism. So before publishing I always ask myself "what would I comment under that?", and if it's not what I want it to be, I don't publish it. My folder with unfinished artwork is huge for exactly that reason. Even though there are hundreds of hours just growing old on my hard drive, they're not wasted. They helped me practice and refine my skills. I'm glad I did them even though they might look like crap - but I'll never ever publish that stuff.
The important thing is to reflect on yourself, always strive for higher goals, don't go easy on yourself, others won't either. If you feel your artwork is crap, take a look at it and figure out why that is, so you can practice and eliminate your weaknesses. That process is called "learning", and unless you're a genius you'll most likely have to go through that phase. Just like you did Alex. You say you were one of the slower ones in art school, but look at you now. Your artwork is not only clean, fluffy and always adorable, it even strikes important topics. That is why you are one of my absolute favorites, but there was a long path for you leading to this level of skill.
Sorry for the long text, I hope you at least read it.
There is artwork which does absolutely not match my taste, but the artstyle is great or something like that. I can appreciate that nonetheless. On the other paw, if there is artwork which has all my favorite things in it but the artstyle looks just plain unexperienced and not very clean I'm probably not gonna like it, and the amount of effort put in it doesn't really affect my opinion.
I'm an artist myself. I struggle a lot to get pictures at least near where I want them to be, and I dare to say that I got one or two nice ones. But those realistic pictures took between 20 and 40 hours to finish, which I'm sure is due to my lack in experience. But still, I can not publish artwork that I'm not satisfied with. And that's how all artists should act in my opinion. If you upload a picture with weird anatomy, I'm itching to comment exactly that. But since most "artists" on here seem to not handle criticism well I just walk along (unless they explictly ask for criticism). I'm sure you've seen those guys that like to draw their own furry porn, but it looks like they've never hold a pensil before. I don't consider those "artwork", I consider them "practice", and you shouldn't try to find appreciation for your practice when you don't present - or even recognize - it as such.
In art school it's a different story though. The teacher should help you with your problems, that's what schools are for. Maybe even your classmates can help you out. One advantage of classes is the collective knowledge, there are many people that have the ability to help you out. You just have to ask them, and they have to be willing. But I feel that's a bigger topic to cover.
If you publish something, you are open to criticism. So before publishing I always ask myself "what would I comment under that?", and if it's not what I want it to be, I don't publish it. My folder with unfinished artwork is huge for exactly that reason. Even though there are hundreds of hours just growing old on my hard drive, they're not wasted. They helped me practice and refine my skills. I'm glad I did them even though they might look like crap - but I'll never ever publish that stuff.
The important thing is to reflect on yourself, always strive for higher goals, don't go easy on yourself, others won't either. If you feel your artwork is crap, take a look at it and figure out why that is, so you can practice and eliminate your weaknesses. That process is called "learning", and unless you're a genius you'll most likely have to go through that phase. Just like you did Alex. You say you were one of the slower ones in art school, but look at you now. Your artwork is not only clean, fluffy and always adorable, it even strikes important topics. That is why you are one of my absolute favorites, but there was a long path for you leading to this level of skill.
Sorry for the long text, I hope you at least read it.
This beautiful piece certainly stirred some feels today. And it's an absolutely beautiful moral message you've presented here too; That all artwork is equal and should be treated as such. But... I've read the comments, and people have undeniably proved the point I was going to make; that's just not how the world works. Or will ever work. Fledgeling artists will get downtrodden and ignored, this fandom's got too many great, pretty much naturally-gifted artists to really allow for those who are still finding their footing in an already overly-competitive field.
But that won't stop me from trying, at least. I'm pretty much a self-taught artist, and have been pursuing it as a semi-serious hobby for about two years now. And I'd still say I was very mediocre, and not worth your average fur's time. But it doesn't stop me from practicing. But, like most people here, I do get that feeling from time to time, that I should just stop trying, and go back to what I know (writing), but I'm determined to leave an impact on people. If my artwork is ever able to make at least one person smile, then all this practice and struggling with my low self-confidence will be worth it.
And to whoever scrolls down reads this, you should never stop trying either. Keep practicing until you reach your full potential; that is, never. Because everyone's potential is limitless with enough practice. So get out there and get drawing...or writing...or composing!~
But that won't stop me from trying, at least. I'm pretty much a self-taught artist, and have been pursuing it as a semi-serious hobby for about two years now. And I'd still say I was very mediocre, and not worth your average fur's time. But it doesn't stop me from practicing. But, like most people here, I do get that feeling from time to time, that I should just stop trying, and go back to what I know (writing), but I'm determined to leave an impact on people. If my artwork is ever able to make at least one person smile, then all this practice and struggling with my low self-confidence will be worth it.
And to whoever scrolls down reads this, you should never stop trying either. Keep practicing until you reach your full potential; that is, never. Because everyone's potential is limitless with enough practice. So get out there and get drawing...or writing...or composing!~
I used to feel like this, but I put a cork in the feeling by thinking of it like this: I'm going to be one of those good artists someday, everything I'm doing now is just the practice to get there!
Also, it helps in my case I got serious about art later in life. Sure, I'm drawing like [insert big name artist here]'s old art from when they were a teenager, but I didn't really get into art until I was about 25, and they got into it when they were 12. So if I can draw at 40 like your "average" talented artist did at 20, I'll take that as a sign I'm on the same learning curve.
Also, it helps in my case I got serious about art later in life. Sure, I'm drawing like [insert big name artist here]'s old art from when they were a teenager, but I didn't really get into art until I was about 25, and they got into it when they were 12. So if I can draw at 40 like your "average" talented artist did at 20, I'll take that as a sign I'm on the same learning curve.
If one thing is certain when starting out as an artist is developing insecurities. Those insecurities will come from comparing your skill to others who, in the eyes of others, are more talented. This happens with everyone who gets into creative media. The only way to combat this is like you said: Be yourself. Know that you are the only one that can draw like you and no one else can follow that, but you can be an example for someone new and inspired by you.
You mean the right one?
You're too good in drawing. I adore your art and I find you just "envied". People doesn't care about you because caring about you would mean to admit that their art is faulthy. You're hot, intelligent and fantastic. And you're my boyfriend. I love you, my cookie *hugs and kiss you passionately*
You're too good in drawing. I adore your art and I find you just "envied". People doesn't care about you because caring about you would mean to admit that their art is faulthy. You're hot, intelligent and fantastic. And you're my boyfriend. I love you, my cookie *hugs and kiss you passionately*
Can definitely relate to this and its something I do struggle with a lot as its hard not to compare, especially when your trying to improve yet feel like your not getting anywhere if people don't stop to give you any sort of critique to know if your doing something bad or good. So..its one of those things you try not to let it get to you, even if you feel like giving it up entirely at times.
Being good at be sides of the spectrum is a great talent
I know a lot of friends that struggle at there work and i usually tell them that..
When i feel im getting bad at my digital art i go back to traditional art to get refresher on my hand motions and use those as drafts for the digital art.
I know a lot of friends that struggle at there work and i usually tell them that..
When i feel im getting bad at my digital art i go back to traditional art to get refresher on my hand motions and use those as drafts for the digital art.
Aww dude, I've been there. And still am, to be honest. I went to a specifically art-oriented college, and so I was always surrounded by people with amazing artistic talents. And when I compared them to mine, I felt insignificant, ashamed of my art, and I felt like maybe the people who accepted me into the college had made a mistake in doing so. But it also inspired me. I looked and studied other art that my peers had done, they even showed me a trick or two, and I kept truckin' on. While I didn't believe I was as good as some others after I had graduated, I had realized that I can still draw. I had created my own style, and i enjoyed working with it. While I still get discouraged from time to time, especially seeing others on this site get commission after commission when I've only ever received one, I keep truckin' on. It's all I can do, and it's all I want to do. :)
I can't even begin to describe how much i relate to what you wrote, but when the time comes when i start to doubt myself i look at all my older artwork and see how much better i have gotten over the years, and then i think "hey, the only way i can go now is up!" Sure i see plenty of artwork that makes my work look like it was drawn by a three year old toddler, earlier it made me feel like the poor dear on your pic, but nowdays it makes me think, "if i try hard enough, then i might be able to draw like that in the future."
In short, sometimes we need to see other brilliant pieces of art in order to inspire us to try harder and make us push past our own limits, after all, even the most amazing of artists was a novice at one point.
In short, sometimes we need to see other brilliant pieces of art in order to inspire us to try harder and make us push past our own limits, after all, even the most amazing of artists was a novice at one point.
wow this brought a tear to my eye. This isint true just in the art field but in just about any field. Ive been that person that has been outclassed and out-skilled before but ive never let that stop me. I know what I made is not the best but I take so much pride in it cause I put everything I had into it. I know its not going to be a huge hit but just 1 person giving you praise, no matter how small, make you feel like you can take on the world.
What bugs me is that I really do think it's so important that people make stuff - I wouldn't mind if everyone out there drew, it's better than just being the passive consumer that this society seems to want - but I worry I probably still also do the cold-shoulder thing myself. Who might I be hurting without ever thinking too hard about that?
I feel like this all the time. I want to be an artist and I do draw, but I want draw better. However learning to draw properly is pain even though I've taken many classes. And I want to have unique style, but that's very difficult for me to develop. So I tend to keep my drawings to myself and rarely show people.
This is so true, it hurts like a knife. You wouldn't know it from looking at my FA page, but I actually do draw stuff. Trouble is, I feel so utterly outclassed by all the other artists I watch that I've gone and let my talent stagnate. I don't draw nearly as often as I did in my youth and what stuff I do draw doesn't get uploaded anywhere (except for the odd Sonic drawing on DA), and nowadays I just don't feel the creative juices flowing. :(
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