The Comparison Game (Discussion of Art Style)

[MeltingCORE]

First off, I love talking to you guys on this forum. It's nice to have actual conversations with people vs. the smol snippets on social medias. So, this is another topic I was thinking about in relation to my plagiarism topic the other day: Why do some creators freak themselves out so badly by constantly comparing themselves to others? If you are one of these people, is it a fear of plagiarism? Are you afraid your fans will like other, similar artists better? What's the deal? I've known several creators who constantly look for comparisons between their works and other creators' works. I find this to be so sad because 1) if you're that worried about being compared it actually sounds like you're doing your best to not plagiarize which is a good thing! and 2) there will always be similar creators literally no matter what you make. Just be their friends! They don't want to eat you.

[TheGentleArtist]

It's the fear of not being original, someone being better than you and getting called out for copying when it was not your intentions. So I can see the fear being understandable

I'm moreso on originality, but I can bite the bullet and just do it with my own swing to it.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I personally like receiving comparisons to other artists, especially when it comes from other artists. Because it helps me to study the person I'm being compared to, to see what they do that I'm not doing. If the artist is successful, then I need to learn from them as much as possible.
Some of my art was recently compared to Stan Sakai, creator of Usagi Yojimbo. And once I began to look at his work, I could really see some areas that I could improve on.

But yeah I can understand getting comparisons can freak people out, it used to bother me. I just changed my perspective is all.

[therosesword]

My dad stopped that kind of thinking when I was a little kid.

"Never worry about the other guy. The only person you need to compete with is you." Then he'd go on about being better today than you were yesterday etc.

He also would say that you never knew what other people had to deal with to get what they got so just hunker down and keep trying to improve.

Oh, he also used to say: "Good enough... isn't"

I heard that all the time when I was growing up. If someone has success I'm happy for them and I don't envy them, again, you don't know what they had to go through to get there. The only people I'm a little bit envious of are taller people. I'm 5" 1' I get tired of asking other people to reach things for me.

[skicoak]

Some of my art was recently compared to Stan Sakai, creator of Usagi Yojimbo. And once I began to look at his work, I could really see some areas that I could improve on.

Stan Sakai is the bomb.

Anyone could benefit from a study of his work.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Yeah he's really good. I need to get a hold of the comic, it's been a long overdue read.

[skicoak]

Yeah he's really good. I need to get a hold of the comic, it's been a long overdue read.

I have been reading it through the Hoopla app. Super convenient during these times.

[MeltingCORE]

Your dad has some wise words! My mom would tell me similar things and as such, I also learned to be happy for others' success instead of wigging out because it's not me. And it has paid off since my "time" has finally started to come after all these years.

[honeyandcreambutter]

For me, I compare my art because I want to achieve something. I often compare my art to better art because I want to achieve their level one day or if I want to learn from them. I tend to do visual studying on whatever art that catches my eye and see whether I can reproduce or at least attempt to reproduce into my own artwork or comic. I don't see it as plagiarism or art theft in the slightest. To me, art theft or plagiarism is when you trace and claim it as your own art.

I've once seen a famous IG artist put a disclaimer in their bio "Do NOT steal my art style". Honestly, I don't believe in art style theft. Everyone has learnt from someone else one way or another, whether it's liking how another artist draws eyes and applying it on your own art, or if you like the way someone colours. What I do believe is that art style is a cumulative of everything you've learnt

I do admit that comparing your art to a much better artist tends to be a double-edged blade though. On one hand, you get to learn a lot, but on the other hand, it also hurts your self-esteem a little because you aren't at that level yet

[nathanKmcwilliams]

That just reminds me of my own father's words:
"It's a good start..."
Which I must say was always painful after working on a project for hours and thinking it done.

But as frustrating as it was to hear, without it, I probably wouldn't have cultivated the drive I have to succeed now.

[VibrantFox]

I think my biggest struggle with comparison lately has been constantly wondering (and worrying) about the appeal of my artstyle. I'm always seeing ppl talks about marketable art styles every now and again and I'm guilty of worrying that mine just isn', which isn't entirely true I've managed to gather a pretty decent following but the idea that in comparison to other folks with a similar style (in the general sense of cartoony, anime, western, etc) that mine is only mediocre or boring.

One the one hand I compare because I want to see how I can grow or learn or improve but I also suffer from falling into a pit of self doubt and questioning things like "should I even keep going". It's a tricky balancing game so sometimes I'll just block things out for the sake of well being and in some cases I can look at tons of stuff to fill my creative bank account. It depends

[therosesword]

Isn't it funny how we look back at those things now with a different attitude whereas before you just wanted to run from the room screaming? LOL

[Prometheus]

These are good questions! I admit that I am one of those artists that compares a lot. I think for me, it's a lack of confidence in myself. There's some of that there. I am an extremist when it comes to trying to be as original as I can be, so seeing something similar to my stuff can freak me out. However, I'm starting to get over that, as I'm starting to notice that similarities really don't mean anything. It's not like my work is invalid because someone else has something that has similar tropes/story beats. I always have to remind myself that execution in stories and art still merits it's differences. But yeah, for years it's been because I don't want to plagiarize, or be branded a plagiarizer. But I'm getting over that now.

With that being said, it kind of depends on how my work is compared. Someone once told me that my art reminded them of the Fire Emblem: Awakening games. It made me really happy to hear that. (Even if I don't agree.) But if a character of mine keeps getting compared to another specific one, it gets kind of worrisome, I think. Especially when the character doesn't look like the compared character - yet if people keep comparing designs, there must be some design element that is similar to said character. But being compared stylistically to actual mangaka has always made me happy.

So I think it's really just the design aspect of character comparison that bothers me - and probably because of that part of me that's an extremist when it comes to originality.

[rajillustration]

I think it really depends on where my head's at. If I'm really going through a hard time emotionally, I'll do whatever I can to NOT compare myself to others, because my headspace is kind of negative. But, when I am feeling more confident and I know it's time to improve, then I can open the doors and compare myself to see what I can do to improve and make things that are more appealing and more current with the times.

Plagiarism is a whole deal, and something to try and avoid, but it's harder to plagiarize than you think if you are already starting from an original concept and an idea that is already vibing with you. It's more of a problem when it's like...you're referencing another artist a lot, or referencing photo reference a lot and might be skirting that line. But if you take the time to get more photo reference, or maybe even take your own reference, and if you take the time to refine your work--it will eventually become so different that it shouldn't be a problem.

And honestly, plagiarism is more of a problem with composition than it is for style stealing. Style stealing is like...most people ignore accusations like that because very few artists are really that unique from all the styles that have come before us in time. But composition stealing (like stealing layouts of pages and panels is a problem in the comic industry even for professionals) is more like tracing. There's pretty big differences between a generic style and layout.

[MeltingCORE]

I think that's a great mindset tbh! Avoiding it when you feel down but using it to your advantage when you feel fine... Yeah, I think that's a great way to use art comparison.

And absolutely - basically every style has been done before hence why I don't worry myself over it. Every time I find someone else who does demon or dark sci-fi manga I get excited instead haha. I do agree though that it can be annoying to be used as a reference over and over. I don't mind like... people looking at my art to figure out what I'm doing but I have had a few cases where people just straight up took my compositions and redrew them with their own characters. I feel like that leans into disrespect. (I mentioned this in my plagiarism thread.) But if people just want to know how I'm doing certain things or how to draw in my style, heck I tell everyone in my speedpaints.

[carreonaiwille]

I think I have the opposite problem though. A schoolmate back in college complimented my style for being distinct and 'me' despite not being that appealing. His style was more pretty to look at, he got his start copying and experimenting with art styles from famous anime while to me at the time, referencing and studying other's art style was still a foteign concept at the time.

[carloswebcomic]

People are so obsessed with being unique. It really means nothing at all.
People keep telling me me I should be happy that I have my own style, but it really hasn't helped at all.
If I could go back in time, I would've copied a really nice style and build from that. Instead, I got a rather distinct style that Is more of a hindrance than anything else.