How do you stay motivated

[RatTastic]

I've been trying to make a comic, but every time I look at my own finished work it ends up looking real bad and far from what I want it to be. It makes me feel unmotivated to continue since I feel like I might not just be cut out for this

Does anyone have any advice on keeping yourself motivated in this kind of situation?

[33rdCenturyCaveman]

Why you make comic? How long you been doing creative stuff?

[Azifri]

My personal advice is to just keep going. Maybe have friends read your comic so you can make sure the story is understandable, and then continue regardless if your art isn't there yet. That's what I did and I don't regret it; if I hadn't started drawing this comic, I would have never made so much progress in my art. Working on a comic gave me a better idea of the aspects I needed to work on, and I practiced them besides the comic. Over time, improvement happened Sure, my art still needs a lot of work, but I know it won't happen overnight.

That being said I do lose motivation quite often it's okay to take breaks or work on other artistic projects you enjoy. For example, I also paint miniatures and do acrylic paintings. Sometimes I just draw even when motivation isn't there D: just to get over it.

[Kelheor]

Learn to love what you do and practice more. No one makes you do it, you're doing it for yourself first and foremost. You will become better. Not in a week and not in a few pages, but you will.
If you just started drawing, it will be harder, but practice makes perfect, so just don't give up. You can try and post it here to ask us, other people are usually better in judging your work than yourself.

[Callirai]

Honestly, something that helps me is looking at old work. Sometimes we don't even notice that we are improving and all we see is that we still aren't where we want to be. But when you compare an old piece to a recent one, you can see you have improved. But you won't improve anymore if you don't continue working at it.

Another thing that helped me yesterday actually. I was looking at an artists work and I was feeling a bit down because I wanted my stuff to be that good too. But I ended up coming across one of their old pieces from a year ago. It was completely different style and quality. It made me feel better. Because if they could go from that to what they have now, in a year! Then I can too! I just have to keep working.

Both these things help motivate me with my art. I hope it can help you too!

[Riisana]

I feel you! I always deleted my work and then went on months on hiatus because I hated my stuff.

Eventually I didn’t want to keep doing this.. so I drew with a little bit less effort. “This is not my best work.” Then I could post it because I’ve already accepted that it’s bad~ hahaha. (I know people will already say “no!!! Why put your trash online!” But I really needed something I was okay with posting)

Then I could keep going. So I went a few more chapters in that I could never get to before because I kept getting demotivated. And then I’m still working on it there~ But that’s just me!

[PorcheJ]

Keep at it. Like @ladybugheart1998 said, it's also good to look back and see how you've improved. Don't worry about views, likes, and all of that other stuff. It's great to have readership, but never forget that this is your passion. Also, if you feel the need to, take a break. Draw sketches or fan art. That's very helpful.

Checking out photo references, taking pictures, and watching video tutorials definitely helps. Especially if you need to work on anatomy, buildings, etc.

I hope you find the motivation you need. Keep your chin up. You got this.

[unknown_user]

I don't (character limit)

[DogshitJay]

I personally like reading comics that start out rough and improve with the artist. If you have a story you think is worth sharing, and you can capture it with your skills, then just post away, you can always redo the beginning later if you like. Learn by doing!

If you can't capture the storytelling with your current skills, then you may have something specific to focus on, so make yourself a plan for how you intend to improve. I can't function personally without a plan or outline for all things. Then you just have to move along a path and don't have to worry about creating new motivation each time.

Good luck!

[darkone4587]

Take a break every so often when you feel exhausted. Self-Care is still somewhat important over all.

[Shanny8]

It depends...sometimes I will do as @ladybugheart1998 said and look at old art & pages; a lot of times, that gets the creative engine revving again.

There are times where looking at old stuff doesnt do the trick- at that point, I just kind of take a break. Sometimes I'll look at other influences; other times I do stuff like watch TV or anime...but I come back to my work when my mind is refreshed, and I feel that I can start tackling art again.

[LadyN]

Easy, pretend you have motivation. That’ll trick your brain into thinking that you’re persistent.

[puddle]

this is gonna be some scattered thoughts

• Any update I'm making to any project is because I don't want the last thing up to be a representation of my "best work"... because it never is. lol- I always have to cut corners on parts of pages...Sometimes I go back and fix pages/chapters, but usually people assume your best work is your most recent update-- so I keep making updates lol

• try to zone on whatever part of work is directly in front of you (without consciously thinking too hard about the scope of the full project and getting overwhelmed) and let yourself create what you're gonna create, errors and all. don't die on every hill when you're nitpicking panels.

• every update is practice for the next update.

• novelty makes us remember things better. do a study of something and incorporate it into the page/episode/chapter you're currently working on. then you can look back and go "oh yeah, episode 4- I practiced perspective stuff before that. It shows." / "oh yeah, I studied the pose for this panel by taking a photo of myself for it-" you'll remember those things better if you can find somewhere to implement it.

• again, permit yourself to make errors. maybe someday down the line you'll be ahead of your work and have extra time to go back to old pages and improve them. I've heard "save it for the bluray" said for more than just anime, lmao.

• ...or maybe you'll never wanna go back and change it!! it'll have a charm to you just the way it is and you'll be onto another project you love!! and every update to that project will be practice for the next!!

it's hard to train your brain to stop looking for perfection, but it's easier to convince yourself that just making something, good or less than great, is cool as hell.

[phantasos]

Something someone taught me a long time ago is still good advice. Start small. I used to be in the RPGMaker community, and the common sigh is when starting out people want to make this magnum opus. It's way better to make a short game (or comic) and finish it. Three things happen; you gain experience of finishing, feel the joy of finishing, and learn from what you made. Your next short project will be even better! And so on, until you feel confident in your ability to work away at a big project.

[borzoiteeth]

Give yourself smaller goals within your bigger goals if you have a large project. Its very easy to feel overwhelmed even if you are on the right track. Constantly being reminded of how much more you have to go is a huge moral crusher. Smaller goals stack up and makes it easier to see momentum.

If one of your goals is to keep improving, @puddle's advice is crucial- as much as it sucks! If you can see the flaws, that means for the next time, you know what to watch out for. You want every page to be better than the last.

For me, the biggest help had been finding a support group. Finding a group of comic peers whose works share something thematically in common with everyone else there. It makes it easier to share the ideas you are fleshing out and double checking if you are being too harsh on yourself! I'm constantly 2nd guessing my thoughts and having others to assure me that I'm overthinking it has helped me so much. Also nice to feel not so much like a failure of art when others are echoing your same thoughts!

[RatTastic]

I've been doing silly comics when I was young and started again but with just cutesy stuff for fandom, but right now I want to make a more serious story that I've always wanted to and feel like my skills are lacking in creating the story that I want

Honestly, something that helps me is looking at old work

Oh! I never thought about it that way! I've always been too embarrassed to look back at my old art, but it never occurred to me to see it in the perspective of improving!

it's hard to train your brain to stop looking for perfection, but it's easier to convince yourself that just making something, good or less than great, is cool as hell.

I guess I just feel a lot of pressure that what I'm making is never how I usually visualize it. But I think you're right in that. I'll try to improve more but not be so hard on the errors I make!

[RatTastic]

I think you may be right. I'm trying to jump immediately to a really long story Maybe I can make a short story first before going ahead with something too overwhelming ....

[33rdCenturyCaveman]

No no no, go with story that feel right for you. As for your skills, the only way to truly learn how to climb mountain is to climb mountain. You not sure you can do it until you do it. Then it just become a matter of doing it better.

[BeautifulDoubt]

Dont worry about your skills rn.
Youll develop as you go.

I stay motivated because I have a story inside of me, thats really important to me. and I care for the characters and the world that Ive built.
I tried starting with a fancomic cause I thought other people would like that more but I didnt like it so I stopped...You really have to do what YOU like and your people will find you. the motivation is that every week I post, i get one like and one sub and I post my comic on my other medias and more people get to love my characters like I do.
and thats something I want more than anything.

[frogpurpose]

Music and reading other people's work helps me usually.