I've realized something and I think other people should hear it as well

[grovylegirl]

Pretty much over the past couple of weeks I've been agonizing on everything, from my lineart to my coloring style but I finally realized something that I should've realized years ago. I've been to obsessed with how other people do their art that i've lost sight of what I've loved most about drawing. Doing it for myself.

I'm not the best drawer, but I don't care what other people say. I've been focused on other people and what they think I've been putting myself down to much. So i've realized that I need to go on my own and try to not think about what other people think.

I've been only drawing for about four years now, I don't have a lot of experiences as compared to to other people but I still love drawing.

I know that it is still good to take advice from other people, but if you focus to much on what other people think you start to lose sight of what you originally wanted to do, this can be applied to many things as well. For me it was writing I was to busy thinking about how to please others that I got so frustrated with writing.

I know that some people do want to draw for others and that's fine, but for me I need to start drawing for myself again.

Again this is just me but I thought that other people should hear this, especially beginning artists, you can't give up and compare your self to other artists and try to please to many people, you should try to please yourself first.

[VermillionWorks]

Amen. Draw what you want because you wanna. XP

[Koffyhouse]

Yeah! Draw what comes to you, feel your own flow. Thats gow you become great anyway!

[saerel]

I cyclically come to the same conclusion and it's always a great relief.

But you know, I think even the best artists feel frustrated with what they can't do, every now and then. Because everyone is walking their own artistic path. And that's normal! Being satisfied by what we're doing means we've stopped improving. So yes you're absolutely right. Let's enjoy the journey.

[TheVoidchildProject]

It's an excellent insight. Too often I feel like I see people who draw for validation. And do, what you might've done, agonise over their art. I think sometimes of oftentimes it might be more a case of general low self esteem.

I feel like anyone who feels that way should ask themselves why they do what they do. And also if what they're feeling comes up in other aspects of their life. If you think little of yourself in general, it's going to be hard to put yourself out there. And validation can be like a drug, feels good when it happens but it doesn't necessarily solve what needs fixing.

Bit of a tangent there. Short version: Good for you!

[Simon_M]

I know that it is still good to take advice from other people, but if you focus to much on what other people think you start to lose sight of what you originally wanted to do, this can be applied to many things as well

This is critical. People don't get that stories are not objective realities. People at NBC thought Seinfeld wasn't a good series because everyone else had a very strict tried and true formula, and Larry David's writing broke that because he based the writing on real life, not formulas. The result is that, at the beginning, it feels weird, since you're not used to that in the genre. But he kept doing it, and thanks to that, people finally get it, the series forces itself into existence, into becoming a "thing". And then, that series shapes people's opinions on how series should be...

That's the paradox. The reader bases his opinions on what he's read before, that's all the scope he has. But he doesn't realize that usually, the earth-shattering experiences he had came out of left field, you cannot feel suprised or in awe when you're reading Shonen Manga #32. So the artist/writer needs to know that.

[niinasalmelin]

You're very right. I think most people start to draw because they enjoy it and many people again lose that passion if they start to overthink it compare themsevels to others. Instead of 'where am I now' it's always 'where I should be'. Improvement is always something I want to encourage others. But everyone should find their own pace and way to do it. Find your own personal goals and work towards them.

[infectedbloodcomics]

You're absolutely right. Draw for yourself first, enjoy what you are doing, and compare yourself to other people only to improve - never to please them. I also need to hone in on my skills a lot, and I'm working hard on this. I do follow other people's advice, especially when it helps my weak points, but in the end, the reason why I make comics is to express myself and to tell stories I care about and I don't see out there. Personally, I think it's the best strategy to avoid burning out and to keep a healthy relationship with your art and yourself.