Why even try to reach their heights? You got your own style, rock with it. Dont try to compare your art to someone else's, it's just going to make you feel worse about yourself.

Thank you Trayvonity :)

<3

Hey Dragon. Don't give up. They reached those heights by years of work and you have had commissions from some heavy hitters in the Tf community. Hell I'd like to get one from you one day myself. With each drawing I try to keep this in mind. I try to do 1% better on each one. If you need to vent or chat hit me up with a note.

Thank Dreythalion for the encouragment. I wasn't going to give up, just take a break and practice some creature designs and possibly take art course. I feel like I'm at an apex with my skills and I want to grow.

Anytime. I just hate to see people who are talented throw it in when they hit a wall. I'm constantly challenging myself in my music and my art and I've grown and I still consider you better than myself. Take it from someone who looks up to your art. Only way you can go is up and while you feel like your at a wall. The changes in your art from when you began are clear. Keep it up and keep on. An artist I'm taking courses from screams at me all the time to practice practice practice. I know you got this.

I hope the hiatus helps clear your mind up! I know I probably sound like a broken record, but it'd be a shame to lose your talent. Sometimes taking a little step back is refreshing, after all. Though I hope it wouldn't be the end, in any case.

Thank you SWV. I always appreciate your support. I'm not leaving the tf scene. Just taking a break to expand my skillset learning creature design.

Hopefully you get to have some fun with it while you're doing so!

I have to deal with similar fellings about looking or comparing myself to others, it is something that hurt oneself more than anything, but i know how hard it is to deal with it.

Don't hesitate to take all rest you migth need, but don't forget to remember that you are your own artist and no one would be able to do something in the way that you do.

Your artstyle it's Unique, it's Personal and it have it's own charm than no one else would be able to Replicate.

Take it easy, Dragonsica.

Thank you luckyboy for the encouraging words :)

You are easily one of the most talented artists I know of. As an artist, you will see faults with your own art that others just don’t see. You have great attention to detail and lighting and shading. Your style is unique and instantly recognizable. I really think you’re too hard on yourself. I’d consider you among those artists that you mentioned in terms of talent, and easily more talented than me. It’s really a shame that you’re so down on your own work. I wish you could see it the way we see it. You’re honestly one of the greats. It’d be a shame to see you go.

Although it is understandable to need a break. I just hope you decide to come back afterwards.

Thank so much UndeadDragon. I'm honored you feel that way about my work. About being more talented then you... Don't feel that way. As artists we all have our strengths and weaknesses. There is a reason I watched you back because I enjoy your work.

Thank you, and the feeling is mutual!

You are talented in your own ways! :3 you can take a break, as it can get mentally tolling. Just know that your art is still appreciated for what it is!

Thank you Lucariofan. It means a lot.

of course!

Take all the rest you need and don't sweat it. Everyone can improve in time.

Very true. There might still be hope.

Comparing yourself to other artists is a recipe for always feeling bad about yourself. You shouldn't do it.

Very true. But I seem to have trouble not doing it. It's something I need to work on

Stop comparing yourself

I try. its difficult sometimes not to.

I can be a little more open here unlike Twitter.

‘Sica, I am very happy that you wish to take some time off and gather yourself. We all need it, heck, I was gone for over 5 years! This fandom will always be apart of my life, just not what my life used to be. Taking time off can really make you reset yourself, not only with you, but with remembering what is important that makes you happy from this fandom. We can easily get lost in the need to be heard, seen, loved, admired…and forget what is most important; ourselves and our happiness.

Now, for the other part; my friend, there is no reason to ever feel the need to match, meet, or become someone else’s style. You have your own, unique, beautiful style. If every artist aspired to be the same, there would be no variety in the world. We need that variety; what people might find sexually attractive in, say, Tojo, I don’t see that. We all have different tastes in what draws us to an artist: Expressions, styles, colors, depth, lighting, detail, in a TF case, it can be what parts are shown, the progression, the expressions the TFee shows as their body makes the change, the use or lack thereof with genitalia, or how they are aroused by the transformation themselves. These are all factors that can be why you might be that artist people follow, and not the supposed ones you think you SHOULD be. I can honestly say, I do dabble in TF art as an interest fetish, but it is not one I am fully versed in. I don’t even know the artists you mentioned. But I know YOU. I found your art without help, I liked it, and you know what else? I liked YOU as a person. That’s a factor many artists forget, and that’s how they engage your audience. Some are so big and busy, you’re just a spec in their crowd. But sometimes, just being that person who shows appreciation for their individual followers appreciating for their art, can be big. But, if your passions do eventually take you to that top you want, then let that hard work be yours and yours alone, not because you are them, but because you are YOU; don’t be those artists, be Dragonsica, be one of those names, not LIKE one of them.

At the end of it all, be good to yourself my friend. 🤗 if you ever need some good vibes, you know where to find my garden.

Tea for the soul-
Chamomile 🍵🫖

Wow. Thank you Chamonmile. That was very encouraging to me.

You deserve it. Please understand you have a talent, and it is yours alone, no one else can be it, nor should you make it like someone else’s. 🤗

I have a bad habit of equating views and favorites with a successful painting. I know it's stupid, I will try to stop doing that.

Yeah I'm feeling a bit burned out with all the TF sequences. I want to do more detailed illustrations like this: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/48031676/ . These take me many hours to finish. However most appear to like the toony tf sequences more. I cant offer detailed illustrated sequences because it would be cost prohibitive for most and they would take me months to finish. It has been conflicting me for some time.

While haven't gotten a rise from drawing TF stuff in a long time , I still enjoy the drawing them because it feels almost like a puzzle. How do you turn one thing into another thing and make it convincing? I still plan to stay around the TF community. I just need to draw other things for a while.

Your right about thinking more positively about things. I'm very fortunate to have the success have on FA and am thankful for the encouragement I got here.

I know that there are a lot of lurkers who look at my stuff. It took me years myself to finally join the TF/Furry community. But I can totally understand them not wanting to be directly involved with the community. telling people you like seeing things transforming into other things feels weird.

Sometimes I wonder how much of an impact I make in this community. I'm rather a small fish. But I'm thankful for the friends I've made in the community so it is fine,

I miss the old internet art galleries. DA is not the same and other gallery sites are either stagnant or have disappeared all together. I kinda like how FA hasn't evolved much, it gives me a little comfort. Twitter is a monster. It' algorithm is a nightmare. I want to leave it but I have many friends that watch me solely on that.

Glad you didn't do anything reckless, anyways I feel you're underrating yourself but take all the time you need.

Thank you. I'm just taking a break for a month or so and drawing some critters, perhaps improve my 3d sculpting and take a short course on it. I don't plan on leaving the TF community even if I'm a little burned out with drawing them right now

I'm really sorry you feel this downtrodden, and hope that a hiatus can help you.
We all love your TF art, though. It has such a cool style to it. It doesn't have to surpass any of the artists you listed for it to be good!

Thanks Phantom I very appreciative of the support you have given me :)

The feeling is not the reality. It's a powerful feeling and it likely will come back over and over. It's something to work on with time and attention.

You take the time you need, talk to people you want to, and take a look at your work and self when you're not as stressed and tired. I'm struggling with the same thing right now as I have for almost 20 years.

Regardless of what I feel I have grown and I have improved in ways I didn't think I could. I'm sure the same will be said about you. Take your time and take heart.

Thank you K-Libra. I fight with self doubt a lot. I keep forgetting that I'm not the only artist that feels this way. I should talk to artist in the community more. Thank for your encouragement ^^

You're welcome. That struggle will return, but the best goal is to make the conflict in you healthier to manage with time. Try not to be tough on yourself when the feelings come back. And sure, talk to other artists if you like. Worth a shot if there are people you would like some insight from.

Well enjoy the break and who says you need to "live up to their heights"? Look at me, i do lots of random art because i find it fun and enjoyable as i finally get to share the world my bits and pieces of imagination. You should also rethink on ehat you said and remember this: "everyone starts from somewhere"

You think those artist like black rat and nyhgault were just BORN with that kind of talent? No! They started from the ground up like you are. You can't just magic hourself yo become famous and popular, you got to work hard to prove it and you shouldn't be nervous on showing what YOU like

And as for "what it means to be a artist" just let that noodle of yours do its magic and imagine

Thank you AJ for you kind words and advice :)

Hey don't sweat it my friend
https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10286810/

Sometimes it's good to take a break to take care of your mental health and I have no shame saying sometimes I've taken some too. I'm not an artist myself but I can surely say that your style and technique is like no one else's I've seen and can appreciate all the work and effort you put into each piece. My advice is to try to be the best you and not the best someone else because that always leads to misery and to do the things. Just know, that at the very least, I will always treasure the piece you made for me as one of my favorites from a great artist and that I will always be on the lookout for your posts in the future.

Taking a break can be a good thing. Maintaining both an artistic activity AND an active page on social websites/being active in the communities is an extremely tiresome task. Do not be surprised if you feel yourself drained by one or the other sometimes.

Practicing art takes years, and I'm still learning a lot about anatomy and colouring techniques! I do think you have a unique style. But one's style is also allowed to evolve. It is normal that sometimes you feel like what you do is not good enough. I have these feelings too.

You can take a break to let your artistic and/or social batteries recharge. But don't do anything reckless like deleting your whole page or art. It will only hurt you more in the long run, and it will also hurt others because you wouldn't suspect how many people sometimes remember a picture they saw and liked and want to find it again only to see it vanished entirely.

Feel free to drop me a PM if you need someone to talk to

Gosh wow. Thank you so much for the encouragement, you're one of my favorite TF artists in the community. It means a lot.

Theres no need to comparé yoursemf to others in such à way, youre great at what youre doing !

Thank you. You're right.

I never thought of you as the next Black Rat, just the first and only Dragonsica, I never thought of any other artist in regards to your stuff, just, "wow, this is some cool stuff".

I only followed you a week or two ago but you've put out many imaginative and creative things that I found to be unique and worthwhile.

Sometimes even among many artists I like, I need to blow up the thumbnail to see who's work it was, with you it was always instant recognition even at tiny resolution, and I took note of that.

I hope if you come back it's on your own terms and not because you feel pressured to try to be "as good" as anyone else in particular.

I hear that! This guy has a style that makes it clear who made the picture. I love it. I mean there are only a few people that I know of who have such a unique art style that I can tell who did it with just a glance. That is what makes some of the best kinds of art if you ask me.

Wow. That mean a heck of a lot. Thank you ^^

wow. Thank you so much. It means a lot. I'm happy my style stands out. Dont worry I will still be around :) Wasn't planning on quiting

Everyone needs to take a break from time to time, even from things which they love; so I hope that this break does you well.

Now, in regard to your art, I want to say that I find it interesting that the two other TF artists you mention are artists I do not follow, yet I do follow you.

While they are both wonderful artists, I find their work are generally more toony than I care for and greatly prefer your style. Your compositions, expressions, colors and details are always a delight to see. I can point to many of your pieces which not only look fantastic, but also portray so much emotion; beautifully capturing what the characters are feeling.

You have a wonderful way of conveying the fears or desires of transforming, and I would hate to see you lose that. Never downplay your abilities and talents, because they truly are wonderful.

Thank you so much. It's nice to hear I'm getting the emotions correctly in my sequences. I've said it before but I truly mean it, It means a lot. I will continue with improving.

make sure to take care of yourself above all else and good luck

Thank you so much Joltink, you as well ^^.I plan on doing a personal transformation sequence and then practicing a creature course for a couple week so I'll be around ^^ take care

Maybe I'm commenting too late, but I hope you feel better now. It's okay if you're going to take a break for a while.

I would suggest that you should stop using Twitter for a while whenever you feel bad about yourself. Twitter is a place where you can easily compare yourself to others, so try not to compare yourself to anyone. That's what I do when it happens to me.

And try not to expect anything from posting art. You never know which work will be popular. It's a good idea to try scheduling tweets when you post art, so that you won't expect any results or expect less from it. That's what I do to maintain my mental state as well.