I want to open up.
3 years ago
Libra Labs Update! I know that opening up emotionally in a public forum is sometimes in bad taste, but I feel explaining an issue to my audience.
A few are aware of my personal life and background, I've been dealing with a lot of a abusive people in my life even up to recent times. All of that baggage created a lot of self loathing and low self esteem issues that translated into my art. A lot of my friends and people that know about my art have asked the same question: "Why don't you draw more of..." Take your pick, High Gear Club, Bonding, Strings, Trick or Treat... etc?. Well, up to a month ago, I had a break through with my therapist about my issues. This very important breakthrough with my emotions explained why I did (didn't) do the things this way. I seem like I stalled or not really doing much of anything for a while. Well, I never stop drawing, in fact... I always draw, it has become my coopping mechanism and stress release. The truth is that I haven't posted most of my art at all. A few close friends have seen some of it, but over 80% to 85% of my art has never been posted (and never will). Why because its either vent art for myself or drawing other's characters and art styles for practice.
Why am I opening up about this? Because, its a symptom of an emotional issue that I've been dealing with, I don't love myself or my characters. I was drawing comics and pin ups of other's OCs and I realized, "why don't I draw my own? Why don't I show this level of love to my own characters?" All the practice in the world won't make up for the lack of attention to my own imagination and worlds. I saw what I was doing, it wasn't practice, it was just a way to dodge my own art and imagination. A coopping mechanism became just an escapist mechanism for me to justify abandoning my own concepts. This is why I didn't draw Libra outside of commissions or some (rare) vent art, this is why it takes me forever to draw comics that include my own characters. I feel like I've betrayed myself and let others down because of my own inactions on dealing with my emotional issues. I kept coming for excuses on why I didn't continue certain projects or why I never drew my OCs anymore... the reason, because I didn't like myself enough to draw them.
All of this stemed from years of abuse by my parents as a child and others later in life. Please don't take this journal as a "oh, woe is me." There are no victims, except for my audience, because I feel like I've let you down. Yes, there have been legitimate issues that have slowed down my progress, but I am at fault when there was opportinities to draw my own things I didn't take them. Too often I went "Oh, how about I draw this character, I would like to practice that style." Or "How about if I drew a short comic about this character and he was a suit all this time!" In most cases, I could have used my own characters and I could have double or trippled my gallary by now if I had. Thanks to this epiphany, I will close that chapter of my life and I have started to concentrate on my own art, OCs and concepts. Actually I'll start posting them very soon in fact.
I want to apologize to my audience for failing to deliver when I could have. I didn't mean to drag anyone into my own emotional baggage. I hope you can understand and you'll see changes pretty soon.
A few are aware of my personal life and background, I've been dealing with a lot of a abusive people in my life even up to recent times. All of that baggage created a lot of self loathing and low self esteem issues that translated into my art. A lot of my friends and people that know about my art have asked the same question: "Why don't you draw more of..." Take your pick, High Gear Club, Bonding, Strings, Trick or Treat... etc?. Well, up to a month ago, I had a break through with my therapist about my issues. This very important breakthrough with my emotions explained why I did (didn't) do the things this way. I seem like I stalled or not really doing much of anything for a while. Well, I never stop drawing, in fact... I always draw, it has become my coopping mechanism and stress release. The truth is that I haven't posted most of my art at all. A few close friends have seen some of it, but over 80% to 85% of my art has never been posted (and never will). Why because its either vent art for myself or drawing other's characters and art styles for practice.
Why am I opening up about this? Because, its a symptom of an emotional issue that I've been dealing with, I don't love myself or my characters. I was drawing comics and pin ups of other's OCs and I realized, "why don't I draw my own? Why don't I show this level of love to my own characters?" All the practice in the world won't make up for the lack of attention to my own imagination and worlds. I saw what I was doing, it wasn't practice, it was just a way to dodge my own art and imagination. A coopping mechanism became just an escapist mechanism for me to justify abandoning my own concepts. This is why I didn't draw Libra outside of commissions or some (rare) vent art, this is why it takes me forever to draw comics that include my own characters. I feel like I've betrayed myself and let others down because of my own inactions on dealing with my emotional issues. I kept coming for excuses on why I didn't continue certain projects or why I never drew my OCs anymore... the reason, because I didn't like myself enough to draw them.
All of this stemed from years of abuse by my parents as a child and others later in life. Please don't take this journal as a "oh, woe is me." There are no victims, except for my audience, because I feel like I've let you down. Yes, there have been legitimate issues that have slowed down my progress, but I am at fault when there was opportinities to draw my own things I didn't take them. Too often I went "Oh, how about I draw this character, I would like to practice that style." Or "How about if I drew a short comic about this character and he was a suit all this time!" In most cases, I could have used my own characters and I could have double or trippled my gallary by now if I had. Thanks to this epiphany, I will close that chapter of my life and I have started to concentrate on my own art, OCs and concepts. Actually I'll start posting them very soon in fact.
I want to apologize to my audience for failing to deliver when I could have. I didn't mean to drag anyone into my own emotional baggage. I hope you can understand and you'll see changes pretty soon.
FA+

As for disappointing your fans and commissioners, I'd say your art quality has been pretty consistent- it can only get better!
As for your characters and stuff, drawing things you don't feel like at the wrong moment is only going to make it worse, and for how much we can like your sona and certain subjects, we'll wait for you to show us any related work you might do whenever you feel up to do something nice with them ^^
I'm really sorry about what took place in your life. I may be quite familiar with the whole abuse and toxicity in our nearest environment that we just can't escape... and I don't wish it to anyone.
I didn't took it as you victimizing yourself, I hope no one did. There is a difference between whining, showing yourself off as a poor harmed soul, asking for sympathy or something... difference between that, and simply trying to explain things, tell about what the situation is, inform people who follow you how things are, keeping people informed. Possibly sharing your story.
Also venting is another thing, letting our feeling unbottle, better not shove all of them inside of us so they can destroy us from the inside one day. I didn't took it as a vent either, but the second 'option', you informing people. And even it there was some vent in there - that would definitely be understandable, at least by me.
I bit don't know what more to say aside of "I wish you'll get better", "Hope and wish you that you'll sort things out, work them out", "Wish you health, both physical and mental."...
Being in your situation is something that nobody should and the fact you are in therapy is a big step. You must take the time to love yourself.
I never asked myself what your suit-art means, I just liked it because it was so unique.
I don't know if this helps, but I'm sure that all your OC's are looked at you wanting you to feel the best you can
One saying I always love to say to myself that might help you is, "Blood makes you related, but it's the bonds you find and create that makes someone your family." Find the people in your life you want to keep and ignore anyone that only hurts you or brings you down.
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to fans like me. I'm just glad you were able to find a way though it and
are on the mend. Trust me, as someone with substantial emotional and
mental issues myself, this is one of the hardest things for a person to
accomplish.