If it helps, I love your art - I think it has a unique look and style that's your own!
And I've also enjoyed seeing the way that you've been experimenting! (Though I do get wanting/needing to focus in a direction)
Of course, I'm not saying that you shouldn't find ways to push yourself and your art in the way that you want it to go - I'm just trying to say that it helps to take stock of what's unique to you, I think.
I did also find myself comparing my writing (my art of choice, which is a bit different than yours, to be fair 😅) with others that I viewed as being more successful than me. After talking it out with some friends (who were willing to listen to my long rants, they have my gratitude! 😆), I gradually began to step back so that I could figure why I was writing in the first place, and what made my writing unique to me and my voice.
Sorry for the rambly comment, I hope that it helps in some way... 😅
Oh, and by coincidence, I watched this video today where a creator also talked about experiencing something similar: https://youtu.be/wL93C0lm0nQ
Many thanks for the kind words. Writing and art are very similar in that way where we can compare ourselves a lot to others! You're right in that it's important to step back and remember what brought us to this chosen path in the first place -- why are we doing what we do? What drives us? And then, how does that come out in our art?
This is honestly why I got rid of my social media. There's an oversaturation of absolutely amazing art with techniques and metrics I can never live up to. It was getting to the point where I felt overwhelmed that I *should* be spending like 50 hours per piece of art like they probably do or maybe try to get more into photorealistic coloring or something super stylized or whatever and it just wasn't healthy. I felt like the world was telling me that being me isn't "good enough" and I need to be more like the "successful" folk.
I can't tell you what's going to work for you and hopefully my advice isn't super annoying, but what about taking a little vacation from social media and becoming an art hermit for a few months? What I mean by that is keep making art specifically for practice, not for social media. Take some time to mess around with different styles and techniques, maybe find an inking style you really like and then practice coloring that over and over again in dozens of different ways. It's repetitive and annoying, but eventually something will click.
I'm sorry you're feeling down about your art, MJ. I think you have a unique style that works so well for your stories. It's a definite stand out. Would it help if you reminded yourself about why you're making art in the first place? What made you want to make comics and tell stories?
There is so much out there in social media and it can become overwhelming! You are clearly dedicating a lot of time to your art, and I really look up to those who can make something amazing through this means, it takes a lot of skill.
I hope you find the way to where you want to be, I believe in you.
More than happy to help with feedback and critique if you're interested. I have been in the same boat myself where my art was pretty stagnant in skill level up until a few years ago when I really sat down and just studied what I really needed help with.
Cavechan! I didn't realize before you were on Substack, so I'm glad to see you here. It is really important to take those moments to step away from producing and just dive into study mode. I think that's what I'm in need of at this time, to just take time to study and practice to start moving forward again.
I joined a few months ago, though my poor newsletter only has one update so far. lol
I think that's a great idea! For me I had to really focus again on the basics and I found that just get a really good foundation for the basics helped out a lot. And studying anatomy way more. lol
I'm really sorry you've been feeling down about your art lately. It happens to us all. If it helps in any way, I adore your art! Your watercolour paintings are so beautiful and your ink work is so amazing too! 💖💖💖
If it helps, I love your art - I think it has a unique look and style that's your own!
And I've also enjoyed seeing the way that you've been experimenting! (Though I do get wanting/needing to focus in a direction)
Of course, I'm not saying that you shouldn't find ways to push yourself and your art in the way that you want it to go - I'm just trying to say that it helps to take stock of what's unique to you, I think.
I did also find myself comparing my writing (my art of choice, which is a bit different than yours, to be fair 😅) with others that I viewed as being more successful than me. After talking it out with some friends (who were willing to listen to my long rants, they have my gratitude! 😆), I gradually began to step back so that I could figure why I was writing in the first place, and what made my writing unique to me and my voice.
Sorry for the rambly comment, I hope that it helps in some way... 😅
Oh, and by coincidence, I watched this video today where a creator also talked about experiencing something similar: https://youtu.be/wL93C0lm0nQ
I hope that helps too!
Many thanks for the kind words. Writing and art are very similar in that way where we can compare ourselves a lot to others! You're right in that it's important to step back and remember what brought us to this chosen path in the first place -- why are we doing what we do? What drives us? And then, how does that come out in our art?
This is honestly why I got rid of my social media. There's an oversaturation of absolutely amazing art with techniques and metrics I can never live up to. It was getting to the point where I felt overwhelmed that I *should* be spending like 50 hours per piece of art like they probably do or maybe try to get more into photorealistic coloring or something super stylized or whatever and it just wasn't healthy. I felt like the world was telling me that being me isn't "good enough" and I need to be more like the "successful" folk.
I can't tell you what's going to work for you and hopefully my advice isn't super annoying, but what about taking a little vacation from social media and becoming an art hermit for a few months? What I mean by that is keep making art specifically for practice, not for social media. Take some time to mess around with different styles and techniques, maybe find an inking style you really like and then practice coloring that over and over again in dozens of different ways. It's repetitive and annoying, but eventually something will click.
I'm sorry you're feeling down about your art, MJ. I think you have a unique style that works so well for your stories. It's a definite stand out. Would it help if you reminded yourself about why you're making art in the first place? What made you want to make comics and tell stories?
There is so much out there in social media and it can become overwhelming! You are clearly dedicating a lot of time to your art, and I really look up to those who can make something amazing through this means, it takes a lot of skill.
I hope you find the way to where you want to be, I believe in you.
Hellforged and Concrete Arcanum look really good!
More than happy to help with feedback and critique if you're interested. I have been in the same boat myself where my art was pretty stagnant in skill level up until a few years ago when I really sat down and just studied what I really needed help with.
Cavechan! I didn't realize before you were on Substack, so I'm glad to see you here. It is really important to take those moments to step away from producing and just dive into study mode. I think that's what I'm in need of at this time, to just take time to study and practice to start moving forward again.
I joined a few months ago, though my poor newsletter only has one update so far. lol
I think that's a great idea! For me I had to really focus again on the basics and I found that just get a really good foundation for the basics helped out a lot. And studying anatomy way more. lol
I'm really sorry you've been feeling down about your art lately. It happens to us all. If it helps in any way, I adore your art! Your watercolour paintings are so beautiful and your ink work is so amazing too! 💖💖💖