FA+
Shop
Struggling creatively.
a year ago
When you've drawn fetish art for as long as I have, you occasionally find yourself asking questions like
"is this really what I want to be remembered for?" and "is this really what I want to keep doing as a creator
forever?"
I've dismissed these questions for a long time because I figured at some point I'd just stop altogether and
fade into obscurity. Once I found something to actually do with my life, I'd move on. My creations would
live on as a few peoples' entertainment and nothing more. But recently, my thoughts on that have changed.
A lot.
I found myself crushing on Loona recently and as a result it got me into finding out more about the show
she's from, and subsequently its creator. The creator of Helluva Boss is a furry herself, and she has not only
been able to express her character designs and personalities through something actually meaningful, but has
built a massive community around them as well. She chased a dream and achieved exactly what she wanted,
in just seven years. It caused me to look at myself for weeks on end and it ultimately resulted in me asking
myself a solitary question:
What have I, as a creator, as a furry, meaningfully accomplished for this community?
And the answer to that is... nothing.
Sure, I make lots of fetish art that people like. Sure, I've created multiple characters of my own. But what
have I done with them beyond just using them as vessels to fuel my own degeneracy? Absolutely nothing. I've
never done anything meaningful with them, or made any stories about them, or hell, even just drawn them without
massive fucking bellies even once. As a member of the furry community, I've provided absolutely nothing of meaning
for anyone. Can I even call myself a member of the community at all at that point?
Lately I've been brainstorming ways I can bring my OCs together in a scenario that doesn't involve anything fetishy.
I've tried sharing my ideas around but it's nearly impossible to get any engagement from people about it because my
whole community just wants more bellies. I know the only way I'm going to ever get anyone's attention is by actually
drawing these characters in non-fetishy scenarios, like in a comic maybe, but with how busy my life is outside the internet
I'd barely be able to get a single page done in a month. I'm frustrated. I want people to know that I can create things
beyond fetish art, but everyone seems to overlook my work when it isn't something they can pleasure themselves to.
I honestly don't know why I felt the need to post about this in the first place. I just needed some way to vent my
frustration I guess. Maybe this is only a temporary feeling. Either way, it's been eating me alive from the inside out
for nearly two months now, and is partially responsible for my inactivity as of late. After drawing nothing but fat animals
for almost a decade you begin to question your path as a creator. I want to do more. I can do more. I just want people
to join me on that journey.
"is this really what I want to be remembered for?" and "is this really what I want to keep doing as a creator
forever?"
I've dismissed these questions for a long time because I figured at some point I'd just stop altogether and
fade into obscurity. Once I found something to actually do with my life, I'd move on. My creations would
live on as a few peoples' entertainment and nothing more. But recently, my thoughts on that have changed.
A lot.
I found myself crushing on Loona recently and as a result it got me into finding out more about the show
she's from, and subsequently its creator. The creator of Helluva Boss is a furry herself, and she has not only
been able to express her character designs and personalities through something actually meaningful, but has
built a massive community around them as well. She chased a dream and achieved exactly what she wanted,
in just seven years. It caused me to look at myself for weeks on end and it ultimately resulted in me asking
myself a solitary question:
What have I, as a creator, as a furry, meaningfully accomplished for this community?
And the answer to that is... nothing.
Sure, I make lots of fetish art that people like. Sure, I've created multiple characters of my own. But what
have I done with them beyond just using them as vessels to fuel my own degeneracy? Absolutely nothing. I've
never done anything meaningful with them, or made any stories about them, or hell, even just drawn them without
massive fucking bellies even once. As a member of the furry community, I've provided absolutely nothing of meaning
for anyone. Can I even call myself a member of the community at all at that point?
Lately I've been brainstorming ways I can bring my OCs together in a scenario that doesn't involve anything fetishy.
I've tried sharing my ideas around but it's nearly impossible to get any engagement from people about it because my
whole community just wants more bellies. I know the only way I'm going to ever get anyone's attention is by actually
drawing these characters in non-fetishy scenarios, like in a comic maybe, but with how busy my life is outside the internet
I'd barely be able to get a single page done in a month. I'm frustrated. I want people to know that I can create things
beyond fetish art, but everyone seems to overlook my work when it isn't something they can pleasure themselves to.
I honestly don't know why I felt the need to post about this in the first place. I just needed some way to vent my
frustration I guess. Maybe this is only a temporary feeling. Either way, it's been eating me alive from the inside out
for nearly two months now, and is partially responsible for my inactivity as of late. After drawing nothing but fat animals
for almost a decade you begin to question your path as a creator. I want to do more. I can do more. I just want people
to join me on that journey.
I don't want to say "your art is pointless and you should KYS" But I've come to the realisation that fetish art of any kind is just not sustainable for any artist. Because the demand always out ways the creators overall passion.
I started writing fetish stories when I first started here. And even though I took my breaks, I came to the realisation that I never liked doing this and that I was convincing myself otherwise. I wouldn't say you personally don't enjoy your work.
But that we're always trying to trick ourselves into working just so we get things done. Like we say "we need to go bigger" or "Lets try something new" in hopes we can be more productive. But we fail to realise if we're even enjoying our hobby in the first place.
I'm sorry to be so existential here but I wanted to give you some personal advice in hopes you get better. All I say is that from an outsiders perspective, you have certainly proved yourself as a great artist.
In this case I committed to doing more things with my own characters that don't influence fetish things, although I could still do something fun.
At least I want to make my characters recognized for something more than just fetish things.
That's why... many times I am struggling with my frustration and self-loathing...
So I don't think this is just like a fetish content thing even if it has different feelings and stigmas around it. I've found the most successful transitions, at least for me was at least when the artist didnt hard pivot and get rid of all their old stuff and trying to get everyone onto the original stuff, but when they'd kinda slowly transitioned into doing more of the other stuff they wanted to do.
So I guess like, in this case, I'd try to create something with at least like a fat girl character to pull the old fetishheads in to checking more out, doesnt have to be the mean one or be as big or dress provocatively, but like i think it'll tempt people to start getting invested, or at least that's the hope.
in any case i hope you'll feel better soon
That question implies that you have to contribute something of value to be a part of the furry fandom, and that's simply not true; I've contributed literally nothing to this community (of value or otherwise) and you don't see me getting told to hit the road. Furthermore, the idea that that you need to either make a super successful webtoon or be a squeaky clean SFW artist or you can't "contribute something of value" is unfounded, and it borders on being harmful, especially to yourself.
The point I'm trying laboriously to get to here is this: just be yourself, and if being yourself means you draw fetish art because that's what you wanna do, then do it.
For others it's their escape, the one time they can just turn their brains off and let themselves fall into a fantasy for a little while as they create.
Best I can offer is to never take it for granted, art is as satisfying as you make it to be. Sometimes you gotta look at what frustrates you about doing art, ask yourself if it's really worth getting frustrated about. Like for me art has become a struggle to find my creativity again, and i've been having to relearn how to let my creative imagination flow free once more. I realize I get too distracted, or focus too much on a lot of specific things I struggle with, instead of just letting myself chillax and flow through with what I'm drawing, and then allow myself to speculate about my skill afterwards.
I find so much value in just being able to sit down and draw something for yourself without a care about who'll see it, who'll enjoy it, or even if it gets posted. I miss that feeling, of just scribbling in my sketchbook for myself and not worry about a single damn person but myself in the end.
I wish you the best in finding your mojo so to speak, we all have our own wants and needs with art, and no one specific piece of advice will suffice nor fix any problems, but I hope all our insights in how we handle and feel art can help you come to a more comfortable conclusion