I'm shy of my drawing talent

[keac]

I'm kinda shy when I draw in school. Because I think people would think it's "plain" or "This is not anime!" And I'm not interested in drawing manga.

Though, I saw one classmate of mine, drawing (or maybe doodling) while discussing a lesson in school. So I said "Oh glob, I think people won't see my drawing talent if I'm not showing it to them!"

Even at home. When I draw alone in a room and someone comes in, I cover my drawing because I'm just shy. Then my loved one told me "Are you doing something wrong? Why won't you show it to me?"

So yeah, I'm really shy to show my drawings, any advice there? (I have a lot of problems)

[Silerna]

I think alot high schoolers don't even know what Anime is(at least not here). Be confident in yourself , let others think what they want . Because most of them can't even draw a stickdoll.

[zelkats]

Start by showing your drawings to one person you're close to (a friend or relative) often maybe? Preferably someone who is encouraging. Ask the person what they want you to draw for them, play drawing games with your pals like drawing a scene in a notebook and letting others continue it with all sort of silly random stuff so that you won't be alone in this.

If I were back in my parents' house drawing, I would still hide my drawings from my parents even if the content was completely innocent, so.. you're not completely alone in this XD. There are people whom we are naturally comfortable sharing our art with, just like secrets. All you gotta do is find them. Then build you way towards a wider audience in real life. It's much easier to post art on the internet (even more so anonymously) than showing it people in real life because we feel nervous about how they react in front of our faces. I have super talented colleagues who still hide their wonderful drawings from me and I'm like c'mon man, lol.

About the "This is not anime!" thing? Psh, the whole world doesn't revolve around it, so don't worry. There are people who know little about comics and its various styles so as long as your work is interesting, they might go "Hey, cool!" I was the only person in my primary school class who was into anime and nobody minded that my drawings had big weird eyes and unrealistically pointy noses.

[malwdark]

There's nothing to be afraid of, you're showing your drawings on the internet and that's more risky xD
Probably, your classmates just will ask you to draw things for them.

[jshockmo]

So here's the deal, some people are going to LOVE your style of drawing and some people won't get it.
When I was your age I wasn't drawing anime I had a disney type drawing style because I enjoyed drawing disney characters. Further more drawing a manga was the furthest thing from my mind when I was in highschool and I wish that I had started sooner.
I'm about to be 28 years old, and I started drawing Gimme A Break! in Janurary 2015, if I had known when I was in highschool that drawing a manga is what I LOVE doing, I wouldn't let anyones thoughts on the matter affect me (thats the sorta person I am).
Just put blinders on, and do what you gotta do.

[joannekwan]

My advice is don't get too hung up on what others think, or what you think they'll think. I drew throughout my early school years, I didn't care what my classmates thought, I just knew I liked to draw so I'll very well do it.

I was more guarded with my first comic series though. It was back in high school, and I would only show it to my dad. I remember being so encouraged as I watched him read and laugh at the jokes I wrote. I still never showed my high school friends that series, but that's okay. I was just glad to share it with my dad. So for something you're really unsure about, show it to someone you trust.

[nunomiguelleal1]

My thoughts on this matter are that you should show every one what you can do. Kinda like when you go to the beach and you want to enter the water but its too cold, some people take a while entering, but there is always that guy who jumps right in, yeah he feels cold, but within seconds it stops, the other ones fell colder for way longer.
With this i mean, show everyone your work. Take that plunge right in to those cold waters. Some people might not like it, but some might like them.
And yeah, the people who don't like can be more vocal than the ones that do. My advice on this is, hear what they don't like about your work and decide if it is a good idea to make some changes. If they cant tell you what they cant like about it than they probably don't know what they are talking about.(ex: p1: i don't like it.; you: what don't you like about it?; p1: i dunno, it sucks.; you: well that don't tell me much; p1 arhhhhhhhh)

One last thing, the hardest thing to do in this area is to get recognition. So suck it up, put on your FU boots and show everyone what you can do.

Hope it helps, i always went for the fk it approach.

(not english, so sry for the possible mistakes)

[jessiepolfliet]

To be honest, I was just like you a couple of years back. Especialy with my comic.
I wouldnn't show it to people because I was afraid they would laugh at me or say something negative.
But the truth is: These people only show interest in what you are doing, giving constructive critisism at times( I am not saying you should do what everyone says to you, but a different viewpoint to your work is always intersting in hear.)
And yeah... sometimes people don't like your work, but if you love what you are drawing then it's okay.
Slowly show it to people, start with the ones you trust. Work your way up to people in your class. Hope this helps.

[yvettegustafsson]

Well, you're here, that's a good start You're showing your stuff here, and that counts just as much as showing it to someone sitting next to you!

I'm trying to come up with some good hands on advice. Maybe... going to an art class where you have to show off your work, because that's like half the thing about a class is getting critique/advice from someone else. Maybe it ends with an exhibition and your friends and family get to see not everything but at least something you've made, and they know what time and effort could lead to. It's always difficult showing the stuff that's not finished, because you don't want them to think it's finished and say "that's all you've got?!" or something, I dunno.

[stephanielopez]

hello. I was like that too. I wasn't until my Senior year of high school when I started to show people my artwork and story. I feel the "anime/manga" style art is like an easy way to begin because almost everyones art style is like that. even mine, however, i am trying to get away from that. Create your own style or use the western style of drawing, Not everything is about anime and manga. Show your artwork to a close friend or relative you trust. You got this and don't feel shy about showing your work. You will find people who will like it and it will be the best feeling you have. I wish you luck