artist-confessions:

I don’t have any “artist friends” for the most part and I don’t know how to go about making them. I don’t like drawing fan art all that much unless it’s a really obscure series. I don’t care about being “tumblr famous” or anything like that, but a pat on the back to show I’m at least going in the right direction would be amazing. I’ve been thinking of starting a separate art blog for a while, but any inkling of self-esteem as an artist I have left would probably die if I went months without any followers/notes. I basically wanted to start a short webcomic, but now I’m not so sure.

I think this is the most common dilemma for artists; is that everyone is worried about being popular and seeking validation from other people, assuring them that they’re good. I really used to get bummed out that I wasn’t a popular artist, but then I had the privilege (?) of moderating some clubs on DA and it really showed me that some really crap images get alot of favorites and comments while some really good ones are left to the wayside. Alot of it is the fanart vs. original, naturally it’s easier for people to like fanart because they can relate it to something they know or search for it to actually find the image XD I know for sure that the fanart in my own gallery has infinitely more favorites than my original pieces. But some of it is a style thing too, like 90% of anime clubs I can’t seem to get accepted to with my artwork because of it’s style. There are without a doubt a limited number of anime styles that are very popular, and if you don’t draw in that style it throws people off. I remember once getting a comment from an individual that gave me a link to the style I must really be trying to do and how I should improve on that style XD But they had a point, since it’s true that I’ll probably never be popular with the current style I have.

So there comes a point in every artist’s life when they have to ask themselves, who am I drawing for? Am I drawing to be popular and to get praise and validation from other people? Or am I drawing for myself, because I want to see my ideas come to life? Eventually I accepted that I was drawing for myself and now I’m alot happier with my artwork since I like it even if other people don’t. But if you want that validation from other people then you will have to unfortunately cater to what it is they want.

Oh! I do this too! Mainly because I’m curious if what I see wrong with the image would in fact actually improve it or if I’m crazy.

I learned that this is not really a good critique method unless you want to be called a dick and start a fight XD Not unless they specifically ask for it anyway.

(Source: artist-confessions)

(Source: animangaconfessions)