not bad actually and if you work at it, it could get better--I do like getting the full color, etc. I have a problem btw putting text into the stuff I do with paint but I'll
figure it out somehow

If you saw the type of drawing I did in, say, the mid 90s, you'd say "you improved a bit". People do get better with practice. At the very least my raccoon face drawing was bad but I've gotten better at that. And I hope you don't hate the world, etc.; give it time and things will improve. I'm 47 and sometimes things don't work out but I have given effort and gotten things back in returns: friends, travel, accomplishments...

and as for quality of work, even my best stuff isn't nearly as good as the pros on here but I try to do the best I can and whether people like it or not, hey, it's mine and some people DO like it (hence the favorites and good comments).

Thank you, but I think it might be easier if I didn't have to zoom in to 300-400% and draw small lines so they aren't all shaky =P

The problem I have with this world is that it's rapidly decaying, nobody is making real effort in actually fixing the problems of humanity or those caused by it, and my generation (which you already know how I feel about) has been given this mess and told "all this is yours now! It sucks, it's not getting better, live with it." Most of my peers either haven't come to this conclusion or they just don't want to and stay in a state of regression/ignorance.

I don't think using pros' artwork to compare quality of my own is a good idea, because I get depressed on how bad I suck compared to them. No, I try to find people who have about the same artistic ability as I do and then make it a competition in my head to do better >.> does that make me a bad person?

lol no it doesnt
i used to do that with a friend on here XD

but he stopped drawing so i kinda passed him up a lil too much o.o
so now i need to find someone else :B

aww the poor foxeh *hugs tight*
thank you so much
and you dont suck D: i love your drawings

*hugs back*
You're welcome, but the only reason I think I suck is because I always forget my rules I set up for myself. This one being: "Never look back and see what could have been, instead always look forward and try to make out what could be."

I'm still holding out hope for the world. One thing's for sure: as bad as things seem in this country be glad you're not in some other part of the world where they are a lot worse. Lack of freedom, oppressive government, bombings and beheadings and war. Look around you. For the most part it's a lot safer where you are.

I'd hope with practice or maybe some free software like Gimp you could do better. I have said before in some cases where I have a very small character I draw him separately and use Gimp to insert him into the pic. It takes a bit of doing but it works.

--Draw one character with Paint. Open up the pic w/ Windows Picture Viewer and crop it.
--Draw second character and do the same.
Open both pix up with Gimp

--Use lasso tool with Gimp to trace around the char and right click to save then paste it into the other picture. You can move around the char, resize him (re-do layer) etc

Getting back to the world situation, it may seem that your generation indeed is being handed the problems but I'd hope things can work out. All I know is I'm glad my Dad, who is 88 and retired on Cape Cod, went through a lot on World War II and managed to survive (many others weren't so lucky) to hopefully preserve our way of life. I didn't have to serve in a war (by the time I was old enough the draft was taken out anyway) and don't think I'd have the courage. War isn't good but sometimes sadly it's necessary to defeat the evil-doers (I know, I sound like George W. Bush when I say that, etc.) Both our generations (I'm at the tail end of the baby boomers) have had good and bad accomplishments. I try to be optimistic and live each day to the fullest.

heck, I'm not in the best of health and for all I know I could die in my sleep tonight...so I try to do the best I can and enjoy life the best I can. With time
your life will fall into place, with a little effort there will be a big reward.

>>try to find people who have about the same artistic ability as I do and then make it a competition in my head to do better >.> does that make me a bad person?

not at all. I have had people criticize me for my work--one guy on DeviantArt called me a "cunt", and people have put it down but many have praised it. They like the work and so do I, and I try to do better. I also realize I can only do so much. Some can't do as well as me, Some can do a lot better. That's the way it is.

I did use gimp with this. Not gonna lie, the burn tool is the best thing ever. Found this out with photoshop when I still had access to it.

And I agree with you that I'm happy living here in the United States of America, where I'm able to speak freely about stuff like this. But I''m not talking about just the US, I'm talking about the world as a whole. Decreasing forests, global warming, holes in the Ozone layer, garbage problems, overpopulation, world hunger, wars, etc. Humans are selfish, needy creatures that are willing to put everything else at risk just so they can live in the comfort of their homes and not care. It started a long time ago, and my generation is only going to make it worse.
What hope could there possibly be in this hell-hole that we've made for ourselves? That's what religion is for. People can't hope for this world, so they get together and set up a set of similar beliefs and traditions and pray that there is a next-life which they can look forward to. Or they form religion to give life meaning other than we're on a rock in space, floating through the cold endless abyss, but instead strive for a/many omnipotent being(s).
However, yes, there is good in this world. Is it enough to outweigh the bad, maybe or maybe not, but it's always there to give a try. I have friends, I've had friends die. I have family, I've had family die. I've had pets, I've had pets die. I have an active imagination, I may also be insane. I like to draw, there's always going to be someone better than me. I play video games, it's just another way to escape the real-world (that's part of the reason for the furry fandom too, isn't it? escapism from the real-world).
I'm not just going to shoot down everything you say; just point out every negative thing in this world. Life would be way less interesting if I was that pessimistic. I'm just saying that it's so much easier for all the bad things to shine through, it's hard to get a real sense of what was supposed to right having these things. I enjoy good philosophical debates such as this one, but somehow, my friends turn anything philosophical into cynicism and hate.

I'm not sure if there's an afterlife or not but maybe heaven is when things go well on Earth, hell is when they don't. Some people get more religious as they get older since they know they will die eventually and want their life to continue on another plane of existence so to speak. My attitude is make this world better and we'll see if there
is an afterlife or not...do good, be well

I'm not totally convinced about the global warming stuff; it may exist but perhaps not in the alarming way it's been portrayed--many scientists are now debunking it and saying the world goes through climate cycles (when I was in my teens in the 70s the concern was global COOLING). Yes, we should try to do all we can to conserve
and recycle etc but I'm not so sure about the melting of ice caps, rising of oceans, etc. Think of how we are small little fleas on this huge world --even with industry, etc. how would we greatly influence the weather? I do know I got a kick out of people who were holding global warming marches during snowstorms in March in New England (and I'd joke, global warming? I'd LOVE some! Bring it on!)--later they started referring to it as "climate change". Be concerned about the environment but also realize there are scare tactics out there. (And politicians who preach about conservation while their mansions use up the power of a small city!)

It's a fine line between caring enough for people and this world and being too consumed with it. Many people out there care, too, and are trying to make the world a better place even though many others want to make it a worse place. You just do what you can, worry _just enough_ but not too much, or else you face a very bleak future. Yes, times can be bad, but you can only do so much and hopefully can enjoy your life despite the bad things that can happen

Yes you just try to have a positive outlook with one part of you in realism as well...and one part in fantasy. Fantasy is good.