Am I getting worse?

[Mari]

So I updated this thing I've been doing since 2006 (don't judge my edgy teen self from 2006 thanks) and I feel like I need to squint to see progress and I feel even more so that I'm just progressively getting worse xD

[Rodimus13]

The artist hubby says you are obviously gaining new skills and techniques- but its just your style keeps changing which is not a bad thing.

[Wumbl]

You're definitely getting better and it's easy to tell looking in from outside - I think you've just gotten cooped up in your own head about it and haven't been able to properly notice all that you've learned.

It's pretty normal to think you're not getting better when you actually are, though. It takes a pretty big shift in attitude to realise you're improving.

[Cavechan]

Mostly comparing the 2009 and 2019 ones and there is definitely improvement between them. Especially the linework, the coloring, the proportions, and body tone have improved. I feel it's hard to compare with the 2016 one because it looks sketchier than the others, but like Rodimus13 said, it's a lot of the style changing. Maybe you need to focus more on keeping your style consistent?

[zammap]

((the 2009 is my favorite...))

yeah the style changes a lot and I think you are applying a lot of what's popular at the time rather then what works best for you

[Mari]

I'd like to point out that never in my life (except like in 2004 when I got into mango and animoo) have I altered my style to suit what is popular and I take a little offense to this : p

[qwerty]

2019 is def the best IMO. Compared to 2016, the colors look better and less muddy, and I can see more confidence in the brush strokes.

The first three really clearly get progressively better each time.

I do like 2012 more than 2016, but I'd be really hesitant to attribute it to a decline in skill for a couple reasons -

• 2012 seems more like an illustration with painterly elements, while 2016 seems more like an actual painting. Seeing as painting is an inherently more "advanced" technique than drawing, it makes sense for there to be a certain barrier / learning curve there.
• From experience I know the quality of individual pieces of art vary a lot even within a short timespan, so it could be random variation due to factors such as mood, time available, etc. while making those pieces.
• You're already really good - and once you reach a certain level of ability it inevitably starts to become harder to notice the increasingly incremental gains in skill over time.

[ble]

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[Trevor]

Am I getting worse?

...

[DokiDokiTsuna]

I think it's not that you're getting worse, it's just that certain things are progressing and certain things aren't. You've definitely learned a lot about color technique: the shading on 2019 is astounding. ^^ But your anatomy hasn't actually changed that much since 2012. If you want a more dramatic improvement next time around, I'd recommend working on that.

Also, I think 2016 might be throwing you off; it looks a lot more "uncertain" than both 2012 and 2019. And that's okay, everyone has experiments and rough patches. Just don't let them fool you into thinking you're regressing when you really aren't. ;]

[punkarsenic]

no! i think your clearest advance has been in colour - youve been moving away from using black for shading, and the colours in your 2019 drawing are far richer and more balanced.

your form and gesture have also improved - the 2019 image is far more expressive and full of life

[IdiotWithPencil]

first lol on edgy teens being edgy teens
second no you aren't getting worse,
you are a level 100 artist so of course you're gonna see less progress than when you where level 50 you need to grind more and more before you level up=P

[Rodimus13]

you are a level 100 artist so of course you're gonna see less progress than when you where level 50 you need to grind more and more before you level up=P

This. Soooooo true. It has all the truth. Listen to this if nothing else.

[LCT_m_a_d]

What makes you feel as if you are getting worse?

[Darkstrong]

My artist wife keeps saying that she's not improving, too. But, I think, that's just because when you look at your own picture, you see the potential, and not the objective result. The more you can actually do, the more you come to expect from the end result, that's why you keep feeling that you didn't improve.

[Mari]

Idk I feel like I peaked in 2012 and just continue to get worse

[LCT_m_a_d]

Do you feel the quality has gotten worse, or that its more difficult to create at the quality you want.

[Mari]

I think a mixture of the two. I do know the quality is down partly due to me not having the patience to work a piece for 20 hours.

[LCT_m_a_d]

I can resonate with you on that. I take on projects that I think would be my best work if I were to put more time into it. I think I have the drive, just not the same trust in myself anymore.