So my girlfriend is an animation student and illustrator, I think she's way better than me (and vice-versa), but currently, she doesn't have much of a following, due to being busy with school and life, whereas I took a gap year so I had time to do some big projects. I don't think either of us have developed a complex about it? (I asked her, she says no.)
We do critique each other's work occasionally, however when we do it's solicited (having your SO give you a critique out of nowhere is waaaayyyyyy worse than just some rando or a friend. It can really mess with your head/confidence so we just try not to do it unless we're prepared for it.)
We have attempted to do some collaboration, I've mentioned one project in some other threads where I'm doing the writing for a story idea that she's had for forever, and then she would draw it. It's not a project that's very far along though. Earlier this summer we also tried to make an animated music video with some friends of ours, that one kinda fell apart? It might get picked up again later but I think for now everyone is busy with other things.
We'll also do studies together and in general just hangout and draw sometimes, usually to relax. She goes to school in a different city though so this is only something we can do while we're together.
I think in general we don't really talk about art stuff that much though, just cause it's sorta borrrrrinnnng? like we're both around art people and are talking about art stuff and thinking about our projects like... basically all the time, so when we're around eachother we'll usually talk about something else.
We do occasionally draw eachother's characters. That's always pretty cute.
Also In the 2.5 years that we've been dating our styles have sorta influenced eachother a bit? Like my art used to be a lot more angular and shape-based, whereas her work used to be very rounded and line-based, nowdays my work has become more line-based and round and hers has become more shape-based and pointy? My work is still more pointy than hers and her work is still rounder than mine, but it's gotten closer together.
I dunno, I think it's a pretty typical relationship except we sometimes draw together? But like, normal couples work together in the same room too and that's kinda the same thing?
Here's her tumblr in case you're interested :V She's been talking about maybe doing some minicomics and putting them up here on tapastic so maybe in the near future???