I've struggled with this for years (Like...13 years) and have only recently gotten to the point where I won't reflexively criticize my work. Everyone who posted has made some really good points and I agree with.
What I do want is to share is this quote by Ira Glass that I think every artist ever needs to hear (heck it works for anyone in any field tbh, especially creative fields). It's this: (Just the first half)
Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, itâs just not that good. Itâs trying to be good, it has potential, but itâs not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesnât have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work.
There's still a bit more to the quote but this is the key of it. I think artists, at a gut-level, notice that their art is lacking that 'special something', I like to call it. And it's different for each artist.
But what I'd like to focus on is this: We get into comics and art because we LOVE comics and art, right?
The problem enters when we start comparing to others and then berating ourselves. I'm not saying it's easy to pat yourself on the back when you feel like you don't deserve it, but here's the thing: You do.
You do deserve it. You deserve the fact that you're here and your making something. More importantly that you're finishing something and uploading it! The majority of people DON'T create because they're paralyzed by the fear that it'll never be as good as they imagine. Not letting that stop you no matter how much you criticize yourself, I believe, is a sign of strength.
I want to mention that it's equally bad to be full of yourself or your art. A healthy pride is one thing, a bloated ego is another. But sometimes I believe that artists ought to, at least privately, indulge in their hard work; compliment themselves and tell themselves that , "yeah, I did good work and I like my work." Even if it feels selfish, especially if it feels selfish. 'Cause it'll only feel like that at first.
I don't believe learning to like your work will make you want to be lazy and sit on your laurels; if anything, from my experience, it makes me work harder to make even better work.
When you feel good, you produce better work. I draw every single day, mostly because that 's what professionals do and I want to be a professional. I notice when I"m bright-eyed and bushy tailed in the early mornings, my work is really good, and I enjoy it, even with the flaws and mistakes, because my mental atmosphere is positive. The same is true in the inverse.
Gosh, I wrote a lot and I have strong feelings at this topic xD If you coudln't tell.
But for the TL:DRs who scrolled down I just want to say: Allow yourself the criticism, but also sneak in some praise. Start tricking your brain into some treats if you can't get yourself to stop at your criticism. Or at the very least, begin to catch yourself or at least NOTICE when you've begun to criticize your work. It's only when you realize you're doing it that you can begin to turn it around.
