Ugh, honestly! At a certain point, I don't get it. For any field that involves creating things, there always seems to be a lot of self-deprecating and low self-esteem, and like.. as common as it is to not feel good about yourself and your creations, no one ever talks about letting yourself feel happy with what you've made, let alone feeling proud.

Like, it's okay to acknowledge that you're not the best, and that there's always going to be someone better. That's fine! But why is it then acceptable to be so mean to yourself? Just because someone else is better doesn't automatically mean your stuff suddenly drops in value! The world's got more than enough critics for you, you don't need to be one of them too.

I just deal with it, I know I'm bad at art so all I can do is practice and just deal with all the self hate and low motivation until I might get better. It is what it is and all I can do is practice and wait.

Well, what's wrong with that? admitting that you are proud of something allows you to grow as a person, what you do, what you think is good for you and the way you act.

If it wasn't like that, if we weren't proud of what we do, for example, publish a comic or a novel here. it wouldn't be worth it

. w. I like all my own novel posts cause I'm really proud of my work. If Tapas changed so we couldn't like our own posts, I'd be down 140 likes.

Totally, but I think it's more of a general society thing of "arrogance bad" and artists are just more susceptible to it because we tend to be more observant about people's feelings and attitudes because that's what lets us create content that resonates. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that artists are supposed to 'starve and suffer and hate themselves', but I've heard plenty of people say we must always keep improving, and never be satisfied with where we are, and also call people 'arrogant' or 'egotistical' like it's a bad thing.

Thing is, I don't see any way in which arrogance on its own is EVER a bad thing. When people accuse others of being arrogant, it's really something else they take issue with, like:

• putting other people down. Thing is, you can think you're great without thinking other people are trash. In fact, I feel even worse if someone thinks of their own skills as trash, because then I'm like "what does that make me"? At least if an arrogant person thinks they're better than me, I can be like "well of course they think they're better than me; they're awesome; but that doesn't mean they think I'm trash :D"

• refusing to listen to criticism and acknowledge the flaws they do have. Thing is, you can acknowledge other people's criticism of you as valid and STILL think you're great overall.

• acting entitled to attention and/or compensation for their great skills. Thing is, you can think you're great without acting like people owe you their attention/respect/money for being awesome.

In general, I think people should just stop criticising people's egos with words like 'narcissist' or 'braggart' and instead criticise what they actual problem is; they they're 'entitled' or 'elitist' or 'gatekeeping' or 'refusing to listen to others'.

In fact, I see plenty of people in artist circles encouraging each other to be kinder to themselves and believe in their work, but because of this underlying cultural attitude towards arrogance, we can't really take it to heart. This is illustrated by the fact that those very same people who tell others to love themselves and their art have trouble saying good things about their own art.

I may take issue with your claim that people think "artists are supposed to starve and suffer", but I like your post because you put your money where your mouth is and actually talk about what you really think of your talents, and even have the guts to claim you're not the only one who thinks like this (which is 100% true! I'm like this too :D) So let me take a deep breath and join in on the shameless self-aggrandizing:

I think I'm pretty darn talented. Learning and critical thinking just comes naturally to me, and I've figured out perspective, lighting and the power of fudging details all in the past year. I feel like most artists my age who majored in something non art-related tend to be specialized towards characters, but I'm confident in my ability to draw anything.

I've dabbled in composing (and came up with a melody and lyrics I'm pretty proud of for my comic's 'anime OP'), and that gave me insight into writing. I feel like I can see the underlying structures of everything and I know exactly how to tighten a piece of writing to make it more concentrated on the good parts. I feel like I have a deep understanding of how people's attention works, and I'm confident in my ability to promote my work once I get more of it done and there's something I can actually point to. In fact, I looking forward to it

Finally, I feel like I truly have a unique perspective on things, and I have profound things to say that will stand the test of time. In spreading my ideas, I think I have a leg up on most people by making my work public domain, and my math background has helped me do some pretty neat worldbuilding I haven't seen in many other places. I honestly don't think I'll die in obscurity unless I suddenly kick it in the next 5 years before I get the chance to get my stuff out. Even if my name is lost to history, the seeds of my ideas would permeate society!

But yeah, that felt kind of icky. I feel like some manifesto-writing serial killer XD Next person, please join us! Normalise self-aggrandizement so we don't have to feel icky :'D

I wouldn't say that's a digression, since that's the part of your comment that's making a point and the rest is kind of just saying you liked the rest of what I said But yeah, I guess I hang out mostly in circles with independent artists doing their own thing, and don't really pay attention to the culture of the more mainstream industry, so I didn't really know that kind of attitude was prevalent :'D

I agree! I feel like a lot of artists are super self depreciating which is sad to see since art and comics come from passion, it means a lot to the person who makes them most of the time, so I don't think hating on your own work will help you progress (easier said than done) There's a difference between being critical and self depreciating.

I've definitely compared myself to other comics and artists which has caused me to feel down about my own work, but I know that feeling is temporary. I sometimes need to take a step back before making any drastic changes to my work.

And I wouldn't be making comics if I didn't adore making them. I adore my story. I think it's great and I reread my script on occasion and feel excited about the story all the time. I think I have nice, appealing art and a unique style that makes my comic stand out. I have a lot of confidence in my work and I know that all my hard work will result in an amazing comic.

And people want confidence when you're showing them your work! I would never say 'oh my comic is bad and the art is kinda bad' because nobody wants to hear that and I don't believe it. I will continue to talk about my comic and show it to people proudly because I am my comic's number one fan first and foremost.

There's a saying "you are your worst critic" which is true, we as a person tend to look for things we lack, imperfections that should be corrected, we remember things we did before telling ourselves that we shouldn't have done those while others wouldn't recollect any of those. It's normal to criticize ourselves to grow, but I agree... sometimes praise can help your mentality, your 'unstable state' and make you happy. but also to me, giving myself sympathy damages my 'pride', I shouldn't praise myself because to me it should be earned not given. (though every artist / author here earned theirs)

I never heard 'starve and suffer and hate themselves' but I always heard from my family that becoming an artist will be my demise, it won't give me money to eat, and that there's no future for me if I continued to be arrogant

this actually encouraged me to like my eps XD

Heh this is something... that I wouldn't say I struggle with, but I'm complacent to. I was raised to hate myself, not intentionally, my parent was just a victim of trauma and I happened to have the face of her traumatizer. I grew up knowing what he did, how I looked like him and unintentionally shared his mannerisms. So there's this life long, deep seeded distain for myself I've lived with. I'm better than I used to be, I can tolerate my own existence for the most part, but even the thought of self-praise is nauseating. Like praising a monster. This extends to art too, I don't like what I create because I created it. Although I'm objectively aware of my skill level, what I can do vs. what I can work on, and how far I've come, so I guess that's a step forward.

Generally I create because it helps me vent and communicate, couldn't care less about the final product, the process of creating is the most valuable. That being said I do my best with what I make, because not getting your thoughts/feelings out in an comprehensible way is like trying to talk in a crowded room, but only mumbling comes out so no one hears you. There will always be people who talk over you anyway, but at least if you can talk clearly most will be able to hear you.
That being said I've also never been much for getting attention, the more eyes on you means more expectations, and the harder a failure hits. Staying in a small niche is much easier to deal with. A part of me thinks it would be cool to see my comic on shelves, and seeing a bunch of people talk about it (Good and bad discussion.), but only while being an anonymous fly on the wall. I wouldn't want people to pay attention to the creator behind it.

Regardless of all that I do agree that society discouraging self-love, pride and all that is pretty shit. I'm not sure about other countries, but I know in the US it stems from Catholicism/Christianity bs, with how "pride is a sin" and all that. It's nurtured a really destructive social mindset about self-deprecation/"humility" is good, while self-love/pride is selfish and bad. Everyone would really benefit mentally and physically from practicing more self-care and self-praise.

Well your work would definitely become more valuable, your family could probably sell your sketches for $$$$. The masses only really care about artist's work after they die, especially if the death is tragic.

Reminds me of an artist my mom knew on Facebook, she was about my age, but her work wasn't very popular. I don't remember if it was an accident, illness or self-deletion, but she died about 8-10 or so years ago and people were coming out of the woodwork to buy her art for thousands or dollars. I think her family declined the offers for personal reasons.

I was very encouraged to draw as a kid and only got to hear positive comments while growing up, I think it was first when internet and art communitys started popping up that I started to get a feeling of not being good enough and thinking my art simply sucked.
I still have that a lot, like, drawing something Im really happy and proud with, you post it online and its just silence - its hard to not think your art is bad then when noone else seems to like it

I have to take breaks from social media now and then caus it just gets to me way to hard.

But trying to think more positiviley and joining smaller communitys to share art have helped me not feel to crappy and just share positivity among other artist friends

Also that I got a bit of positive receiving of my comic have boosted my confidence in contiuing this story and Im having a lot more fun with my comic right now than my "regular" art.

And I agree I think as artists we really need to let ourselfs be more proud of our work and say "I really like this" and not be judged as arrogant or over-confident or whatever

Truer words have never been spoken...

I believe its one of society's greatest flaws;

Our generation is blessed to have so many creative people exposing themselves so openly and with a variety of mediums. In the past (when even our parents were kids or our age) all those platforms didn't even exist and to make a name for yourself you needed a) money, b) a decent background, c) people around you who knew the shortest ways to the top, which is also kind of the reason why many artists ended up homeless, without a penny and dying in vein. I'm not saying that this is not happening anymore but thank god not to this extend.

Now, our parents' generation is used to encourage the kinds to pursue careers with the most profit; medicine, law, etc.etc. Creativity to them is not a career path but a hobby and this thinking have been deeply carved into our minds by them. When they encouraged us to study hard and be successful with a successful job "keep on writing, drawing, never give up on your HOBBY", cause drawing is childish, writing stories is childish. So, without even realising it there is this conflict inside; if i focus too much on my passion will i end up losing everything and end up as a looser with no money? How those close to my environment would think? Its a cruel world and finding a job is not easy. Nowadays we are focused on surviving rather on living and its a very important and vital point; surviving vs living, so deciding whether we take that leap of fate is pushing us backwards.

Someone could easily say that were never praising ourselves so we won't have to go through this dilemma. All i can say, is that even though my parents have always been supportive over my passion for writing, there were total random people surrounding me (some peeps from school, work) whose criticism, words like: "get a real hobby, focus more on important things" brought me to a self-doubting state. When those close to you support you all the way, its the strangers' opinion that can crumble you down. And you are never good enough to convince them, your work is too rushed to be professional, creativity is not a skill, drawing will get you nowhere, writing fiction is keeping you away from reality.

We are being constantly hit by those cruel comments that no space is left in us to feel good; to look at our creation and feel proud for accomplishing that. Yes, we didn't bring back the dead but we did something that others couldn't even think of. I can't possibly remember every single freaking math formula i've learned in school but i will feel damn proud for finishing that novel back in quarantine; for when everyone was sitting around and complaining, i brought a character into life and gave him purpose. I will feel on top for reaching out Tapas and joining with my story despite my demons and those saying that It's useless since there is no profit. And i might as well agree when readers tell me that they like what they read; for i made them waste their precious time on my creation, and thats as much important as coming up with a new chemical formula, or selling a product or winning a case in court.

It's not us the problem, but the society we live in. The moment we are born we are taught that feeling proud is a sin, feeling good for ourselves is bad and frowned upon; if i say something good about my self im going to be called a narcissist or selfish. Hell yeah i'll be selfish when i need to and we all should!

PS: I always apologise and feel like crap; ive never said a good word about my self and what i can do and hell when some stranger gives me a compliment i feel like flying yet i throw my self to the deepest abyss by saying; "Nuh, im not that good anyways..."

Advice to live by!

Having a positive attitude about your work is a vital skill for being a professional. If you want your work to go places, you need to be proud of it, you need to be able to hold it up and point at it and go "look at this thing I did! You can get one for just £25! I can make you art for all your art needs! You should check out my comic, I think it'll entertain you!" The only people who don't need to be the number one advocate for their own work are those lucky enough to have a friend, family member or partner who will do it for them. For most of us though, we have to be our own salesperson.

It can be hard sometimes, because depending on your background, you may well have been raised to always be humble, never boast or sound too full of yourself and stuff, but then building an art career requires you to try to avoid even expressing negative feelings about your work in public. I'm definitely from an area where 'having ideas above your station' is something discouraged and ridiculed, and I had to basically learn to construct a confident, positive persona for selling my work, be able to slip into the role of somebody who says "YES! I can do that!" to any job even if inwardly I'm thinking "oh my god, can I though?"

I've been in charge of recruitment for positions for artists and designers before and oh my god, you would not believe the confidence some people who have absolutely no relevant experience and just terrible skills have. Worse, they often get jobs because a lot of clients and employers don't really know much about art, and will assume if somebody sounds really confident and positive, they must know what they're doing.
Seriously, put your work out there. Hold your head high and have confidence! The worst that can happen is a polite rejection from a client or company, or some arse who doesn't put their work out there and is endlessly negative so their work never gains traction will make snide comments from the sidelines. Just keep going!