Feel bad about my comics (just speaking out)

[unknown_user]

Thank you. These words really mean a lot for me. I'll try to keep them in mind.

[unknown_user]

the paradoxical 1970'-like documentation documenting advanced technologies..

It's because I myself have a weird inclination to old-style documentation, ancient console programs (like vim), and new, advanced technologies in the same time.

[jensrichard77]

I feel you bro, and have a similar problem.
I put a lot of time and effort in my comic. And I just got the questions in my Q&A
"Do you know how draw well?"

That Is a fair question BC the comic is intentionel made with low key.
The dilemma I have now is what to answer.
"Yes I can" = disappointed reader that I don't delver hig end art.
"No sorry" = disappointed reader that no longer will take me serous.

But no matter what. The readers is there, and we shall continue.
And as @kirschwassen has pointed out.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of comics in Tapas. If someone thinks your comic isn't up their alley, they're just a click away from reading another. The fact that people stayed, anticipated for upcoming updates, and even drew fan arts about your work means they genuinely care about it. They're staying because they want to, because your comic is worth it.

And here is what I always tell myself:

[vothnthorvaldson]

Well, that's a great choice in my opinion!

I love the old doc too, I grew up in it, literally (there are pictures of me crawling on that). Born in 1980 from a computer guy haha.

[vothnthorvaldson]

And I just got the questions in my Q&A"Do you know how draw well?"

That Is a fair question BC the comic is intentionel made with low key.The dilemma I have now is what to answer."Yes I can" = disappointed reader that I don't delver hig end art."No sorry" = disappointed reader that no longer will take me serous.

Maybe tell them the truth, which is, if I remember well, that you CAN draw more conventionally, but that is not the point of this specific comic, which is more about non-conventional and interactive storytelling (I suppose?) than about art? It's NOT a easy comic to describe!

(Now I go to work, everyone feel free to shout at me if you see me here haha)

[inactive_account]

Oh man, I feel EXACTLY the same. Just as if it was me writing these words.

And since I'm struggling with the same problems I'll just stick to this thread for more positive ideas.

You're not alone.

[simplykit]

hey buddy, cheer up , ive felt this too when making my manga or just drawing stuff

but i hope you dont give up, your ideas are cool, so hang in there bro

[LCT_m_a_d]

Im starting to find that that what I wanted to make isn't where I was being led. So I resisted, and as a result not only was I fighting my growth, but also expectations that didn't serve me or others properly. Sometimes, your unshakable weakness is opportunity for your greatest strengths to manifest.

For what its worth your writing is very impressive.

[TheSpaghettimobile]

Hey man, the fact that you have decided to go down the comic route (which is a very difficult task requiring lots of time and passion) is already amazing. Don't compare yourself to others - everyone learns at their own rate, and that's fine. Knowing that you can constantly improve your own work is what makes a good artist

[beta1042]

Definitely feel this way at times... I just keep on going knowing that one day it'll get easier (some things already have), and I hope then one day I'll just be able to do the type of art I see in my head.

[ble]

This post was flagged by the community and is temporarily hidden.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

Maybe my opinion won't be needed or appreciated here, but I feel like I should say something as one of your readers. No, I won't share sappy "Be the best of" or "Keep working until you make it" kind of lecture because I'm not the best one to tell it.

I think we share sentiment of hiring another artist; unless they're someone we know and/or involved in the development, I fear things won't be portrayed as it is in our vision. Also a part of my selfishness wants my own work to be mine and only mine, you can't call it yours if you share it with someone.

What defines "Better" is different from person to person, it's about the taste. I honestly can't concur how someone can choose a popular romance cookie-cutter webcomic over a meticulously crafted story by a smaller creator. The proof you have active subscribers and got fanart means your work is anticipated and appreciated, there are people who like it, there's a market for it.

Just because a work is popular and widely liked, it doesn't always mean it is good; most of population just happen to know and like it.

I personally follow your work because it takes a simply weird idea, but still have substance that I don't get lost in it. It's something weird that you don't know why you're attracted to it. While it's true that the interaction is a bit stiff and there are still many available improvement for the art, note that it's still the beginning that even you will improve later on without you realize.

[Darkstrong]

I am just going to say, that your drawing is so much better then mine =) And it is really cool, that you are able to both write and draw your comic, it will probably take me at least a year to get to your level. On the other hand, if you are struggling with getting better, maybe it is time to iterate. Wrap up your current story; take everything you have learned and start something new. It is often very hard to improve, when you are burdened by something that is already done: style, flow, plot. Maybe if you will start something else, you will be able to see just how much you have improved, and in turn have another leap in quality.

[amortelito]

Makes me sad to read that you are struggling. What I see in your comic is sincerity without filters. You have a story you are passionate about and I think that you are telling it pretty well. I quit reading so many professional-looking comics because they seem like copies of other stories that have been done before so many times. Heavenly art doesn't equate to good entertainment.
Your comic is fearless and I respect the fact that you are doing what you want despite not being what mainstream or mass readers are looking for.

I get the struggle of not being able to show the world you have in your head accurately when you have to draw the pages. I can't make action scenes, they look always look stiff and I have to redraw things a lot. But it is easy to forget that some other artists have been practicing for years, and professional comics/manga/TV shows often have a team devoted to make the project. If the main artists are not good at drawing backgrounds the editor brings someone who can take the chore, or if a panel is looking messy the editor can help the artists to fix it. Here in freelance comics, we are learning on our own.

Making comics is literally a job that we are learning in our free time, so it is also a matter of being patient and work to develop the skills you need. Maybe it will never look "perfect" but I hope you can reach a point in which you are happy with the results.

[unknown_user]

What defines "Better" is different from person to person, it's about the taste. I honestly can't concur how someone can choose a popular romance cookie-cutter webcomic over a meticulously crafted story by a smaller creator. The proof you have active subscribers and got fanart means your work is anticipated and appreciated, there are people who like it, there's a market for it.
Just because a work is popular and widely liked, it doesn't always mean it is good; most of population just happen to know and like it.

Yes, this is true...

I personally follow your work because it takes a simply weird idea, but still have substance that I don't get lost in it.

It's good that you mentioned this. One of my major worries is that readers will be lost and will not understand what's going on because of my lack of ability to express things. Nevertheless, due your comments I see that you not just understand key things clearly, but even notice some subtle hints (which I didn't think will be noticed from the first reading). It's really important for me. I think every author would be happy to have such an insightful reader.
But what about less patient and thoughtful people? I'm afraid that they will be disoriented from the very beginning and will not bother to read more to sort things out. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[unknown_user]

@Darkstrong @amortelito @simplykit19

✿ڿڰۣ—

[DasIstWunderblyat]

I don't think you can please all kind of readers. Also no matter how much a thing is liked and popular, there must be people who dislike it for various reasons.

I was on the same dilemma with my old work; some readers regard my work was hard to understand, yet there are some who read far and appreciated it. While I'm keeping myself open for the former one, I focus to work for the latter one.

[unknown_user]

To be entirely honest, I've actually started to think about all of this after these threads:

Heyyy guys! :tea: Doing character ref sheets is quite a fun thing to do for me yet an important thing as well since it will serve as a guide for drawing your characters consistently in your comic so they wouldn't go out of model, etc. Plus it feels so goood having an official character ref sheet for your ocs. Especially if you have tons of 'em and you don't have the good memory to draw them all from your head. Here are some advice that I learned from some people I could probably give that …

In my current comic I reach the battle segment of my comic and though it be a nice topic to see how others do battle scene in their comics. I think is one of the hardest to do cause of the various poses one has to do to make it feel fluid and interesting. On top of that you need to understand motion lines to make it feel like movement is happening!! If you have scene from your comic where battle happens feel free to show them. Let's give battle scene some love. I'll start by showing my OLD bat…

Because literally everyone else here did battle scenes and character sheets better than me.

Probably I really should stop to compare myself to others or concentrate on things, which I can do better.
Thanks everyone for responses, anyway

[Nerdicon]

My advice would be to look at anime, manga or comics in general that do action scenes and see how they compose the shot to sell the action. At the end of the day you can polish a scene however you like until you think its perfect but if you strive for perfection too much you can get lost in doubt and never be satisfied.

Art grows the more you repeat and improvise as well as experiment thats the beauty of it.

[Daknight]

I used to compare myself to others and it got me down about my own art (specially on the first version). I turn that around by instead analyzing and admiring the art and trying to piece how it was done. At least for battle what I did is re-draw some action scene from comic (just sketches as a learn how). I know there is this fear of redrawing some establish art, but it is great practice (no tracing though). I seen your comic and you have a more american comic approach so I would suggest checking out action scene from those to learn

Also I actually compare my current art with my old stuff instead of comparing it to other peoples art...it helps my motivation seeing MY improvement done instead of comparing myself to other great artist that also took years to developed there style and talent I just admired them and try learning a bit from them (seeing streams of them working helps a lot!)