The Most Demotivating thing you have ever been told

[ratscout]

One of my siblings basically convinced me to stop drawing by saying, "No matter how much you draw, you just don't seem to improve while (other siblings) just keep on improving." And that was pretty much it for me drawing seriously. Nowadays, I only do it for fun every now and again. XD

[akemikae]

"You know there's 16 year old's that draw better than you." (I'm 26)

"When are you going to start drawing something better than that cartoon stuff?"

And a billion other versions of the same question asking when I'll start doing "real" art. It doesn't bother me all the time, but a lot of the time it really makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong by drawing what I like. (even though I arguably have worked hard to make it my own style...)

A decent amount of stuff I get told has already been mentioned...but the age one really gets me.

[drawnbyyannan]

When I post an "art improvement" thing on instagram and there's always that one person that says they like the old one better. It ticks me off especially when they don't say why.

[drawnbyyannan]

Totally feel you on that age thing.

[cherrystark]

I know that feeling. I stopped doing art as a kid because whenever I brought it up, people always talked about how good someone else was. Took my desire to practice since I never got the chance to use it. On the flip side, if someone knew I was skilled in a certain medium, that's all I ever did. It became a circle of stress and demotivation

[sorrelyn]

"I love you."

"Okay."

[oshirockingham]

I don't wanna talk about it.
It's too demotivating to remember.
Now I'm demotivated.

[Possum]

Gotta say, I stan the character development from the teacher???

[Carossmo]

Dang that sucks... I became an animator once XD it was fun while it lasted haahah

[gmaximin]

Me asking after 2min of passionate explanations about an episode I was particularly proud of:
“So, what do you think, do you like it?”
My wife: “...
... ...
... ...
... ...
by the way... what for dinner?”

That was slightly crushing...

[ar-ninetysix]

Quite frankly.. The most demotivating thing that's been said to me doesn't exist.

I used to often ask for feedback on little previews or full songs of music I've made when I post 'em online and usually no one responds. That lack of response has been more demotivating than any potential mean comment. At least with a mean comment, I can ask what I could change, but to just have no one say anything???? It always gives off that vibe to me that people don't care about what I have to put out there, and that's never the case bc literally everybody I've talked to in person about my music always tells me that they see something great in what I can do. But again, since there's so little interaction with the actual thing online (those same people included), it just comes off as a compliment out of pity like "man, nobody cares, nice try though"

It's because of that I've never been fond of promoting my music much, but that's also why no one's able to say anything about what I'm working on either, and so I just tend to get stuck in this destructive spiral of a catch-22 that I created My music's for me obviously, but god, do I want people's opinion on it

[CommanderMarty]

I fucking feel you on that, I have even said in the past that I would rather get hate than no feedback.

[DiscountedArtist]

"When are you going to start drawing something better than that cartoon stuff?"

I don't get why people say this. A big part of the future of art is the "cartoon stuff." Cartoons are literally the reason why many people start art. And cartoons generate much more money than realism.

[Inspector_Spinda]

"You're STILL drawing that children's stuff?"

omg I'm sorry. That's exhausting I know how you feel

[Inspector_Spinda]

I honestly have never been told anything strictly demotivating, because I don't usually share my comic with people I know. I guess the worst is when people don't say anything when they're a friend and you show them.

Personally whatever people say doesn't matter too much to me, but I do go through moods when I'm in a better or worse headspace about my work. I will suddenly develop crazy anxiety about how things were all a waste of time and I'll never really grow my following. Then it passes, and after a few weeks or months that feeling comes back.

[Kann]

"Maybe your art will be famous after you die?"

[Azifri]

Art related:

Someone looking at my art: "oh, you have talent for that".

How silly of me, why did I take all that time off from work or stay at home for vacation, trying to improve my art, when it was all a natural talent.

[LadyN]

oh, you have talent for that

That alone just pisses me off.

[malwdark]

I got that question for a friend years ago and the next time he asked what I was doing I answered 'Still drawing those comic you hate' He laughed and told it sounded like a good life-motto.

[malwdark]

For real? An illustration teacher against guidelines and references? That sound like she doesn't knows how to do her work. I don't know any illustrator who doesn't use references. Its totally normal.