*hugs*

:)

Hope things get better, yeah.

Thanks man

Are you kidding me? YOUR art is <BLEEPEN> AWESOME!!!

Thank you. I just fell on my face. Sorry about that. :<

Aww,
well, I really hope things will looks up for you again soon.

Things are getting better. As they do. I just need to be not so attached

erf , get better soon

<3

"real" art is boring anyway ;)

lol I guess so

humph if freinds say that shit to you... idk i wouldnt conaider them real friends. just cause you draw different subjects doesnt make you less of a artist and hell you most likely make more in this fanbase then doing portaights of humans. just cause you dont go to school r draw furries doesnt make your art not "real" art... you ask me... abstract isnt art... all it is is speckles of color or shapes... i mea... wht. you arts amazing and i just found you the other day i spent a good half hour looking at only four of your picture imagine if i looked through the whole gallery a day would be spent full of awesomeness xD

Actually, this artist and I draw similar subjects with a sort of similar style. I always thought we were matched but I think she is a little more competitive than I have realized before. I try to be casual and have fun with my work. That way its easier for me to punch out commission work. I just want someone artsy to jam with in RL. I play off their creativity and they play off mine. It has not been working out that way.
So you can see where I have been shattered a bit here. Its an artist similar to me pulling me down. When I dont need to be down. I should be up and not worrying about this person at all.
Shoulda coulda woulda. Blahblahblah.
Its all talk for me. I needed to just remove myself and be myself for a moment, which is what I did. And I find sometimes opinions and comments stick to me especially on these art sites. Critiques were hurting me when they normally wouldn't. Build up Build up. etc. Bee goes and flips the table.

I would consider this person a friend. She has shown me kindness. It's just I am a little frustrated with her attitude and her attitude towards my art. I don't know. If I could change other people, but I can't. So I need to change my approach with her maybe.

I don't really think anyone can be allowed to dictate what being a 'real' artist is. :|

you can't let people put you down like that. It's just bad for you in general.
Always do with yourself, and your art, what you want. It isn't fair for anyone to ruin it for you.

Just try and feel better. you'll get it together. <3

It is pretty shocking. And was a fair amount to swallow.
Thank you for your kind words. I have taken time out and it's true that you can't have anyone ruin it for you. It's not fair on yourself and it strains the artist even more.
I'm starting to piece things back again. So everything is good. Just a little frustrating.

Good. <3
Anyone who would be so cruel as to do that to you was never a true friend to begin with.
I hope thing get less frustrating and instead easier from here on.

Imposter syndrome strikes again. :(

Your art is wonderful! If people don't like your art, that's fine, you'll just need to shrug it off and keep on doing your own thing. But if they say you are bad or inferior as an artist, they are either jealous or pretentious idiots.

If you don't believe me, here's Neil Gaiman to say it more eloquently: http://vimeo.com/42372767

This is absolutely brilliant.

That video is beautiful. This needs to be shared with everyone.

Oh I believed your words. I think a seed of worry and doubt crept in when I wasn't looking. With comments and critiques and so many things happening around the time it piled together and built up around me. I'm not yet as strong as I'd like to be, and I don't handle 'popularity' very well (I know I am not popular at all, but this amount of feedback is more than I have ever seen for my art) Positive or negative all the comments started to influence me. And I did not enjoy that. For a day or two there, work felt like work. And it should never.

And so, knowing myself. I had to take a few steps back. Draw by myself for a while and get back that flame. I am feeling better and comments said arn't effecting me as much anymore. I need to change my approach on my friend. But its a fixable problem.

Thank you again for sharing that video.

Glad to hear it was only a temporary dip in confidence!
My pleasure, I'm just happy that message reached you. :) (And I agree, everyone should watch it.)

I hope it wasn't more than a misunderstanding on their part, RL friends are often the ones you can rely on the most. Whatever has, or will happen, hope you're feeling better soon.

I rather not go into details. An attitude that I rather was not directed at me, that's all. It happens. And this time I was hurt, but nothing serious.

I am doing better. Some other people let me rant at them and things are feeling less prickly for me.

*hugs*
I for one think your art is among the most amazing I've ever seen, and I've been to the Louvre and seen the Mona Lisa, da Vinchi aint got shit on you X3
I suppose this was why you weren't at the meet the other day, it was pretty boring there anyway so you didnt miss much.

That's a big compliment. Thank you hehe, I do not feel any artist is better than another. So this attitude from my friend was a little hard for me to deal. Since I wasn't aware of the competition between us to begin with.
Thank you :) I have been a little on the agoraphobia side of things again. I struggle to be social most days. I find it very stressful, I am sorry . Also JD has been working till late. If we were to show up we would arrive at 9pm. :< His work needs to hire more people, Hopefully we should be back doing things again soon. I need to push myself. It's the only way I can get through this. The last two weeks have been strange for me.

It's my birthday soon! I am planning on renting the Tribal Theatre. :D So you should come to that.

If his work needs more people I'm looking for a job, depending on what it is.
Tribal Theatre? I dont know that place, sounds interesting though :3

Gah.. how are you not a real artist? D:
Arts should be about what you enjoy doing, and what you are able to get out of that. I wish you the best with finding some means to see things in a better light again. After doing so much fabulous art for a while I can see why you'd feel a bit overwhelmed though.. :o Just take your time there, I am sure the mojo will come back to you. :3

Thank you Zara. I appreciate it.
Oh but one of the comments made "I thought everyone had a DailyDev" o-o; Is that what it means to be good? Attention from DA? I am going ahead here and I am doubting that.
All that needed to happen was to step away. Find my feet again. It's a very laughable situation. Hurtful. but I am going to laugh anyway.

Don't listen to them, continue to be awesome *nods*

Thanks Joey :) I appreciate it all!

Never seen someone use color like you do, your a unique and one of a kind artist.
Just let 'em talk, we all know your better then that, and so do you.

Anyone who can crank out 12 amazing pictures in a single sitting/day for no or absolutely minimal pay (you're really underselling yourself) is probably as close to a pure artist as I can imagine (art for arts sake and doing it well!). But in the end I believe artist status is determined by oneself and not by the comments of others- though I too am sensitive to what others say. I find it helps to separate individual pictures from your overall skill set and self image.

I'm not sure why your friends said that to you (if it was some twisted/poorly phrased means of caring or simply ill-intentioned), especially as other artists, but if they did mean it in a way to put you down you may might want to reconsider your relationship with them or confront them about it depending on your confidence level (I'd probably be a bit too shy for the later). If they say/do (or perhaps a lack of saying/doing) things that upset you (especially so if its done with intention) its often not worth the stress and emotional discomfort to deal; besides real friends shouldn't put you thru that in the first place.

I'm not sure if furry art has anything to play in this but wolf-nymph recently made a tumblr post on the topic that put it fairly eloquently (the title is reference to other's opinions):

http://eskiworks.tumblr.com/post/23.....not-a-real-job

Not sure how much my opinion means to you but you aught to know that I do respect you as an artist and hope you continue with your work.

i agree,tottaly! he really IS underselling himself! D<

I think your art is awesome. You ARE a real artist as long as you are drawing what you love to draw. That's all that matters. And personally I find what most people classify as "true art" is rather boring and all looks the same. You're very talented, don't let others' opinions rain on your parade.

I've followed your art for over 5 years now and I've always been amazed at what you can put out. Honestly, I think anyone that would tell you or make you feel like you're not a true, blue artist is either: asinine, stupid, jealous, or just a bad friend.

It sucks but people are always going to do things to keep you down, even if they don't mean it sometimes. I always look forward to seeing new pictures from you and I hope you pull through this slump.

I asked a friend and scholar once: "How do you know if something is art?" His response: "If people say it's not."

Everyone is saying very true things here, I can't say anything that they haven't already said. But I want you to know that I like your art too, no matter what other people think. I liked it way back when we first met and you were a different character, and it's awesome to see you now and what you are able to do.
I would miss you if you were to disappear or anything, not like you are going to or anything.

Sorry about missing you last night on skype :( I still wanna see that WIP, hopefully I can catch you at a decent hour soon.

i think you are a smart artist; you have interesting techniques and it looks like you have fun doing it. your commission offers look very attractive and i think you should up your prices

I think you are too hard on yourself, but everyone is like that sometimes... keep your head high! we'll be here for you when you return. if you decide to pause anyway, that is.

either way, feel better soon!

awwws :c

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2.....re-d39dk8e.png

a charming comic about being an artist. I hope all these kind words and the support of JD bring you back around.

:c <3
/hugs
/rubs face on

they're just jealous that you're covered in bees and they're not!

D:.....
but....youre....so...fantastic.....:<
i really hope the drive/motivation/muse returns soon man <3

yeah i have to agree with a lot of people here. theres no term for 'real artist' I'm sorry but its true. people sell fingerpaints of a 2 year old for thousands and cell them genious artists.

and i'm sorry but...... your a billion times better.

i'm considered a 'professonal' went to school and everything. and your still a billion times better than ME. If i'm considered a 'real artist' then you are BY FAR

not to mention i don't know anyone in the world that can sketch or paint like you do. period. it's absolutely incredible and unique and.... yeah... just wow. i'm flabbergasted at that fact some RL friends would make comments like that. you are whole different on your own. you have a one of a kind look that separates you from ANY art i have ever seen and that.... right there... makes you more of a 'real artist' than most of anyone here.

Head up char, you're stronger than this! True Artists.... REAL Artists.... get it tougher than anyone else in this world. What don't kill us makes us stronger. Prove em wrong.

:C I hadn't seen this sooner. Ugh! People are stupid. Seriously stupid. I've had people whom I really cared about and admired tell me that all my work was shit. It hit me really hard and I was lost for a very long time, but It shouldn't be about them anyway. Your work is amazing and as long as you enjoy it who cares what they say? I know that you can't make yourself feel worth while but I PROMISE you that you are talented and it won't go away no matter what people say. Eventually you will pick up that pencil and start doodling again, not because you need to make a few bucks, but because you HAVE to. You are wired just like others to create and you do a damn good job of it.

I mean you went from like 300 watchers to over 1000 in like a few weeks. THat is amazing.
And also I honestly am somewhat competive with my work as well, but thats how I learn. Part of me was somewhat afraid that you were talking about me. Part of me still does.
I make mini "rivals", but it's usually because I admire others and what they do. By making it a competition I force myself to get better. I try to keep it to myself though and try not to make it an actual competition. I'd love to find someone to art jam with, which is why I've been trying to get YOU to collab with me.
Idk, I'm just saying I've noticed that I hadn't seen your work in a while, which honestly I don't do very often. i'm pretty scatterbrained. But I'm worried about you.

So sorry to hear that. I just found your account today, and I have to say I'm seriously impressed by your work. Don't let anyone else define art for you. Best of luckto you.. I'll be keeping an eye out for your return.