Comparing yourself with other creators... How to overcome this?

[zelkats]

I noticed that people generally seem fine with comparing their own art with art by seniors and big names who have been at it for years because they aspire to be like them some time in the future. But when it comes to people close to their age or younger who appear better at drawing, that's when some people fall into this spiral of self doubt. Thoughts like "Am I not doing enough?" and "I've been drawing as long as the other person. Am I simply not good at it?" may pop up.

I can't exactly tell anyone to stop comparing themselves to others because that's a very hard thing to do to some, and everyone is wired differently. Comparing is a pretty natural thing we do whether we realise it or not -- it's part of our learning process.

What to do then? Well, if it ends up crippling your progress, try to avoid looking at the other creator's work completely but temporarily (until you feel confident again). Instead, look at other works of art (doesn't matter what media it is) that have different styles as yours so it's not easy for you to compare your work with. Who knows, those might be a good influence to your art.

[tzuba12]

It's hard but all you need to do is look at your art from a few years ago, and then look at your art today. The only thing that matters is the progress YOU'VE made as an artist. Whenever I am feeling like my art isn't good, or that I'm stagnating, I just look at something just from the previous year and I can tell I've improved.

People grow differently. Your experience is completely different from anyone elses. You WILL get there. You just have to keep striving to improve. Look at their art and instead of saying "I'll never be that good" say "I WILL be that amazing some day and I WILL surpass them". Its great motivation. Let them motivate you to do better.

[LCT_m_a_d]

I never wanted to become a comic artist until a year ago. I was just a dead-end artist living a content life and a 8-5 job. Until I had a story in my mind I wish someone would tell. Then I realized, I have the time and negligible artistic skills to visually tell it myself. The truth is knowing my specific and unique reason for wanted to create a comic and valuing it has become the driving force behind improving and making comic art as opposed to achieving a dream that's already been sold.

[PorcheJ]

These are all wonderful advice. Thank you guys for sharing. I hope that future artists understand that we are all unique in our own way. Everyone has a different gift. As long as we stay positive and learn more, I believe that anything is possible.

[stevenalvarez1366]

You just have to go at your own pace, this is your comic and we have over billions of people in the world. Not every single one is going to like it, but just as many people would dislike your work. The other half are going to praise it, enjoy it and want more. Looking at other people stories should be your attempt to see what they do right, but not to copy them. If you feel your work is beneath what you want it to be, there will only be self conflict.

Just keep moving forward with your story, make it the way you envision and never stop to change it just because someone wants to see something different.

Personally I look through other comics because I enjoy the tale they spin, but I want to do better then them. No matter how many people say it's the best comic/story/etc. I want to write an even better tale, a challenge brings out the best in the person is what I believe. So it's how I usually overcome this with a good old fist Fight!

[Damatris]

When ever I start to compare myself with other people I remind myself that I have no idea how long they have been drawing / making comics. With more practice product is obviously going to get better. Seriously, sometimes I go all "Oh...!" when I read a post and realize they have been making comics longer than I've been alive. That is quite a bit more experience than my about 2 ½ years. Besides, checking out my old pages sure reminds me that I've progressed a lot since the start and will continue to do so.

Another thing is that most of the time I look other people's work as goals / ways to learn and improve myself or simply as a fan. If someone has amazing way to compose panels or use colors I try to figure out what makes me like it so much and then try to combine it with my own style. Sometimes it works, sometimes I realize that it's not what I'm after. But it makes me learn new things.

[timinabox24]

I'm not worried about comparing myself to others, I'm worried because I know everyone else will compare me to others

[GesuGesu]

I just don't. I don't read other people's comics except the first one that lured me to Tap, and my friend's comic.

The first one is simply popular because it's long-running and an early comic. It's relatable and I don't feel jealous towards it.

My friend's comic is definitely 5 times more popular than my own comic, but just the same, she started hers way before I started, and she's much more sociable online so she gets subs from friendly shoutouts in other comics.

I only pay attention to my own comic's popularity, so I don't really know or care about other comics on Tapastic.

[Aspie_Gamer]

I just focus on doing my own thing. Comparing yourself to others just weighs you down in the long run. Instead of wishing you had more subs like your friend does, do something about it so that you have more subs. Providing updates even once a week is a good start as any. Mingling with other creators even new ones who don't have that good of art skills definitely helps as I've been told my art for my comic Life of an Aspie isn't particularly good by any stretch, but I've found especially back when I barely had any subs a few months ago is that subbing to a series that you see is struggling to get recognition often gives the creator of said series that boost they may need to their self esteem and encourage them to put out more comics and if you yourself are in the same boat, they may return the favor.

Of course, don't sub to random series just to do it. Commenting and liking on a person's work, Engaging them in a conversation shows you aren't just a bot behind a computer screen.

[Jewe11s]

Do your best to look at amazing artists and their work as inspiration. If they could work hard for many years to get to do that: you sure as hell can too. All you need to do is get back to it. It's more FUN to create art when you're doing it simply because it's what you LOVE to do.

[Dan_Lucifer]

Don't worry about it.
Try to do your best and get better, but always remember that many comics have become very popular despite looking awful.
If you have something to say, that's the most important thing.

This world is big enough for everyone

[PurpleGround]

Ohhh... there's a lot of stuff like that its normal. Youtube: So Many Artists Better Than me
Take a look at this vid. Apparently, this feeling has been encountered by Pro artist as well - Adam Duff is a senior concept artist, art director, advanced concept art teacher and visual storyteller based in Montreal, Canada. Hope this help.

[neilallen530]

Personally, I never feel discouraged when I see someone else is doing well, or someone else is at a place I would like to be. Rather, it's exactly the opposite for me. It's encouraging to me. It's a sign that it's possible to get to that level. If I see someone else did it, I know that I can do it, too, if I apply myself and work really hard toward it. I look at the other person, and see what they're doing that I am not, and if that is working for them, I implement it in what I am doing if practicable.

So, in short, I look at the situation totally differently. I look at what some others are doing for ways I can improve myself, rather than be discouraged.

[PorcheJ]

Well said, guys! The number one thing is to NOT WORRY. If we keep worrying what other people think or compare our work, who knows what will happen. You either worry yourself till you have grey hair (or worse), or you give up.

Just don't compare yourself with others in a negative way. Instead, see them as an inspiration to strive forward on your work.

[jaydiii1]

I understand where you're coming from. Just starting off myself it can be intimidating sometimes. But a lot of good points were made by the others. Learn, grow, appreciate your own work ,be you and hold on.

[BeetleMilk]

This is very hard and I'm sure every artist has been through it! I literally ask my husband- who writes our comic, I illustrate, if this is even worth pursuing at all. Do So much time goes into it, so is it even worth It? What if it doesn't go anywhere at all?
At the end of the day you do it for you! I know sometimes it's hard, especially when you might see someone slightly better or ahead of you. But you also have to remember that everyone has their own path, and their own style!
Plus there is a potential age gap- the person you compare yourself to might be ten years older, thus potentially with much more experience. You just never know!

[Delphonse]

Omg you have no idea how jelly I got of you xD

I love my series and was really happy with how quickly it was growing and I was like. Look at this I actually have a good chance of getting recognized on webtoons at this rate. I was doing random number crunches to see how well I was doing compared to other creators on there and was happy to see that my initial push was really helping me.

Then your beautiful piece of a graphic novel shows up and completely anialates my feeling of success and I was like.

O.O what is this magnificant work of art and then I saw you were poping the pages out like daily and I just curled up in the corner like. Please end me now lol

But now that I have been working on the series as long as I have I stopped number crunching and stopped comparing my series and am back to enjoying reading comics and working on my stuff ^.^

[leishariddel]

All right, hopefully as one of the older creators on this platform (or so it feels like) let me tell you - when I spent a long time especially in a competitive Arts Bachelor (Animation) comparing myself and wondering where I would be and who I would be employed before.
Now I've been in the industry for six years as a concept artist, an animator and even as a manager and let me tell you - everyone else has literally zero influence on your success unless you're a bad person. If you work hard, and push yourself as hard as you can go without burning out (please take care of yourself) you'll succeed. It might take longer, it might take shorter than others, but in the end the product you present is your work. It's not your work, co-starring everyone else who was running against you. In the end, everyone is just trying to be their best version of themselves, and the way to do that is to just work on you.
Good luck, you'll get there.

[haleymewsome]

Channel all that nervous energy towards yourself! Pour over your past work, identify the weaknesses, and become someone who your past self would be jealous of. I stuck to that method for a while and now some of the people who seemed impossibly better than me have around the same amount of subs as I do! Just focus on your own growth, it's all you need to do. c:

[haleymewsome]

Hey, do you mind if I PM you about your transition from student to concept artist? I'm graduating with a character design degree this year and I need some advice, but I don't wanna bug you if you don't have the time. c':