man, do i agree with you on that fair argument

I know this feel, bro. -A-

Wanna be mutual friends? :D

ughhh people should never make you feel like you're not allowed to have problems just 'cause youre "more skilled" in their eyes. it doesnt matter what skill level you're at, everyone runs into issues because nobody is perfect and every artist is their own worst critic

i know how suffocating it can be to have people who do little more than fawn over you though, it's very uncomfortable sometimes OTL FOR REAL IM SUPER SORRY IF MY EXCITEMENT GOT OBNOXIOUS

ITS JUST TOUGH THO Y'KNOW cuz the close friends I do bring up my troubles too are always like 'o oh.... /stares at own art and feels bad about self now' and YOOOOOO I just want a moment for me without making it seem like I'm degrading you HUFFS 8(

And psh NO OKAY I've been subtly trying
to make friends with you
for a couple years
ahahaha ahaha /ollies out

SGFGDSGSDGS IM SORRY I AVOID MAKING FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE Im.. SO.. bad at holding conversations cries

BUT LIKE I HAVE SKYPE AND EVERYTHING

laugHS WE COULD TRY
I mean
dude
for reals
we've been dancing around each other since TegakiE days
that was HELLA long time ago

BUT UH well my skype's no secret ( the_jotaku ) so if you ever wanna hit me up that would be cool /would be down for that ;v;

But I've always wanted you to notice me, senpai ;_;

Haha I hope this wouldn't offend anyone, you're just being honest and I hope your friends don't regard this as an insult. Your post is basically the reason why I think being "the best in class" when it comes to art is actually the opposite of fun. It is terrible. I'm spoiled in that my roommates are exceptionally skilled and always have advice I can learn from but yeah, on that note, it's kind of a bummer when you don't have people who make you want to be better. I think this would become less of a problem for you as you get older? Talent is everywhere; you should try contacting an artist you look up to and establish some kind of bond. I squeal like a little girl when I get an email back after asking questions of this one artist who was recently hired at a major studio. He just gives tips and is the nicest thing ever.

But ^ that isn't really a friendship. Fudge, I made my closest artist friends in art school and we all just so happened to be furfuqs or became semi-furfuqs through osmosis.

LIKE I SEE nothing wrong with trying to connect with someone because you like their art. There is interest there, there's admiration and a reason why you wanna connect with them. This is a-okay! But it's just
really something amazing when you can ACTUALLY be friends beyond the art. And I would looove love to get that at the same time. IVE GOTTEN CLOSE but we always drift apart despite my pathetic 'baby come back!' attempts fffff

It's kinda hard to grow enough balls to really contact someone you admire, though. I think it would probably help me if DID grow a pair.

But ye I feel ya about art school. It's kinda the same thing, remember being in some CC classes. I'm competitive so I really LIKE to be the best. (also didn't help it's CC) ahah It just get tiring, though, always being looked up to. I MEAN ITS GREAT but I don't wanna be a role model all the time either.

Yeahh haha I've never really been in that position, I was kind of a retard in my first term of art school and spent all of adolescence drawing really bad anime. I personally suck at maintaining online friendships anymore but if you've got that ability you should just bug people for their Skype or something haha. Ya never know.

Bwaha well yeah, I guess it is natural to want to be the best- I guess I should have rephrased that into 'you don't want to be the best while everyone else is leagues below' since I think it'd just get dull.

If I were a perma role model I'd prob get uncomfortable and just draw dicks and tits all over everything

/laughs forever
Wouldn't that be the biggest troll/bird finger at everyone ahah

And that makes sense, I think. There's definitely no point in being the best in that situation, I can agree. Part of the pull of art is to be able to improve aaa

(Tho dude, you've obviously come a LONG way from really bad anime, just saiyan.)

i know exactly what you mean ;n;
its like "just cause im your friend doesn't mean im gunna draw you stuff or always trade with you"

FFF LUCKILY
people who try to befriend me for this
get the real picture quite quickly

But this is another awkward side of it like
Art is time, and time is money. There can be friends you absolutely freaking aDORE and would go to ends of the earth for! But maybe their art just... isn't QUITE THERE for you. And trades just don't feel equal. And this is really tough too. : ( Cuz you don't honestly wanna insult anyone! @3@ jfks; But you also want to get your times worth...

Then you just get the person who blatantly asks all the time if you're open for requests fffffff

UGHH OH MY GOSH I KNOWW
AND ONTOP OF ALL THAT one time i was hanging out with a friend and we hit up tacobell and they covered the bill (pssftt only like $5) then once we got back they were like "oh you should draw me something cause i got you lunch.

wow

if you had told me you were gunna sneak around like that i would have just bought my own shit.

but at the same time their like your best buddy and you dont wanna start shit

FFF UM NO
You shoulda just
grabbed the receipt
and doodled an angry jigglypuff on it or something
ya here ya go BI

I KNO

BUT I WAS JUST SO TAKEN BACK

LIKE

TAKE ME HOME NOW PLEASE

_CUNT

Shoulda punched them too

LIKE NOT REALLY
but given all the squnty eyes
for just an hour straight
like ho im on to u

guh i know

made me so huffy

I wish people could actually
puff up
like miyazaki style AAA

ERMERGERD
I'd be friends with you and not about the art but i'm fukkin shy ;n;
i never know what to talk about so art is like my first option.

I GUESS i could start off with a what kind of things you like convo, maybeh.

but yeh, when i make friends it's never focused around the art, if that comes up? awesome, kew, we got stuff in common in that.

o3o what kind of RP's you do though? we could talk about your characters, or my characters, OR BOTH xD cause that makes it fair!

kayi'mgonnajustcrawlintothiscornerandbeshyagain haha<3

IDK LIKE
I have
NO PROBLEM
with making friends with people because of art. Like that isn't an issue. Whether they admire me or I admire them--I am always down for friend, and I always keep my skype and notes and everything open because of this! ITS JUST very one-sided to people who admire me for art while, I MAY LOVE THEM DEARLY, may not admire them for their art. IT JUST GETS AAH tiring
after a while
like I want a breath of fresh air ; o;


I ACTUALLY never RP anymore. I'm stupidly ridiculously picky and forum-styled and write BOOKS and just
I don't bother with it cuz I've met so few people who meet my standards XDD;;;
Hearing about people's stories and worlds and characters and whatnot is fun to me, though, when they've got them really developed and worked out.

WALP My stuff isn't fawn-worthy, but it's okay and and stoofs XD haha
-fans you-
xD breath! breath!!

omg, me too ;n; i only RP with my fiance' lately, we've been fleshing out this world that an old friend of mine keeps on and off abandoning so we've been building on it for a while now.

III suppose if you ever felt like getting into forum RP's again i could show you how we roll haha and you could decide, BUTSTILLLL
I got tonnnss of characters, like, 100+ xDDDDD; I NEED TO STOP
sohard to stop though its so fun creating characters with interesting backgrounds and hngngh~

we should totes talk some time
i need to bed soon, but man i'd like to talk a little more, i've been trying to break out of my little scaredy butt cocoon again. xD

I also like that you've got quite a few 'people with animal ears' in your gallery -u- our RP is focused on them -nodnods-

I legit don't think I've RPd since... /thinks
oh my god it's been three, maybe four years FFFF jeez
IDK THO I'd prefer to get to know you/characters and stuff first, and even then I'm so hesitant about such things ahah XD
But holy jeez
I really only have my adopts, besides characters with their own unique worlds or stories AAAA and those obtained adoptables are like... 30 characters.. or so... /uses maybe 5 OOPS

But sure dude if you ever wanna add me on skype, it's the_jotaku
by all means : )

YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT THO OKAY

Ayahahah it's hard to find good partners that know how to keep your interest and even harder to find a role-play you'd feel comfortable starting in, so I really honestly understand where you're coming from there x3
I am a-ok with anything you decide!

Ahman adoptables, those little shits are addicting, I am all over DA getting ferals to redesign and or keep feral xD

Still, I had most of my characters before I started getting adopts. XD I'll send you my skype in the morning and add ya :D

And I shall sleep like a rock! 8D

well, if you want, I wont look up to you :P

Oh man, I agree with coy! Though, I haven't been on either end, really, because I don't fully understand looking myself down when a skilled friend is troubled by something. (I have friends who feel this way too aaa) I just want to help them any way I can! t(-`д´-t ｡) and if I learn in the process, that's just a bonus.

As for being the senpai myself, I only had 1 other person to call me that and I've become pals with them that they don't even regard me as such anymore. (= u = )b*

IDK MAN FFF I'M just more for making friends and bouncing stuff off of each other regardless if they're 'more skilled' than I am~ Because that person can be really great and stuff beyond the whole... I want to fawn over them/their art business. _(:3/L)_

I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW JOJO that there are people out there that wouldn't think this way and would be more than happy to befriend you and stuff~ And collab and do all sorts of stuff with you! I'm sure some day you will find someone yesyes (/w\ ) sdklfklds ihopeireassureyou my wording is kinda off at 3am in the morning aaa haha sorry

I don't think I've ever been on the receiving end of stuff like that from someone I look up to.... though I have had friends who I think have great unique styles that I really really look forward to seeing go places get down on themselves A LOT and that's really rough too. I def try to help them out, and I have no issues trying to lift their spirits! It is a bit tough if it happens a LOT though... I MEAN I honestly DONT get this way often. Every now again it hits, though, y'know? And it's like you gotta talk to an artist to really understand it... but I always worry I'm gonna somehow upset/insult people if I complain about things like not being noticed enough (to what I feel I should be, or something) IDK IT JUST. REALLY AWKWARD FFF

--also this is totally kinda left field in the midst of replying to you, but I love your smilies/emotes omfg--

THO OKAY your art is fabulous and you should have more oh god
what's the term
KOHAI yes, you should have more of those /fffff jfc okay enough weeb talk from me

Oh man I agree, though. Like story/world/character building is the best things and more people should talk to me about it /lays down

/whispers If this is some subtle PICK ME
/whispers more
/whispers you should add me on skype ye
/done whispering

aa that part too, that is a big downer and is wayyy too draining if it happens a lot. I can totally empathize with ya. ;u;9

mMMJFG lmao I'm glad my emotes entertain you ///// (^ Q //^

PSSHH YOU FLATTER ME JOJo omg t(v//vt I WILL TURN ALL OF THOSE KOHAIS INTO FRIENDS

lsdkjfdfklmsd lks

//sweats a lot and adds you
//picks up towel and covers my red face ok omgifeelsoobviousandembarrassedomfgggg //wheeze
//diesonthefloor

I've wanted to badly to make a journal like 'looking for artist of same skill level to just be art bros with'

but as you said people get SO BUTT HURT SO FAST

especially if you get those that 'think' they are the same skill level and no matter how politely you decline...they take it personal as shit.

OH MY GOD P MUCH
AGHHFHSFDS
SCREAMS THIS TO WIND

AND THEN LIKE
sometimes people are really good artists actually
but draw/focus on stuff you have NO INTEREST IN and it's awkward then too
Like oh woooow that is uh
nice hair
/avoids everything else about the image contents OTL

But so m uch feels here, like
As though so many people aren't trying to get to you BECAUSE of your art too, an artist isn't necessarily gonna see their fans as individuals until they get a chance to see them as such. And so naturally they're just going to see the people they view as peers and wanna connect to. AND ITS JUST
All my friends are amazing and I love them and want them forever -- and I'm sure all artists think this way too!
But I don't want to JUST have them as friends for always. No I gotta catch em all like pokemon.

OH MAN THOSE FEELS.

I have a really neat artist friend but she is so into vore and i'm so not and its like ._. ily but....uhhhhhh loolol

all of the feels more feels.

just...#artistsproblems seriously.

I have this issue because of the commissions I take haha. A lot of my personal work has nothing to do with most of the stuff I post. I don't mind drawing all of the overly fetish stuff but it's so hard to find people with the same interests as me cause of that ;n; I just want art friends that will talk to me about my paintings and vice verse!

Maybe you should try making an alt account, and use that one for commissions or something if you find that happening a lot? : O
I know a lot of people make adult or commission accounts cuz they don't want to drive certain people away

I've done that but people are really lazy with following over. I just use my tumblr for posting clean works a lot. People who want to see them know where to follow 'u'

I KNOW JUST HOW YOU FEEL

it's always been hard for me to make friends, especially on art sites and on tumblr
some people think that people who have talents or are "popular" have the best lives and are always magically happy and have no problems and if you do you're just whining or seeking attention, and don't even dare say you're lonely because oh you have x amount of people following/watching you, you couldn't possibly be lonely!

and when you do make a friend there's a possibility they're just looking for art or they only like you BECAUSE of your art, like they dont try to see the person behind the art, you're just that, an art machine and if you move on to something, a fandom or a different thing you want to draw, then they lose interest

i have made a few wonderful friends despite this but i cant count the times i either couldnt make or lost friends just cause of "status"

^THIS^

OH.
THIS.

This sums up everything ever orz
And I open myself to adds and friendships a lot! But a lot of the times those friendships are really brief, barely even friends. If pressed, there are so many people I talk to but can't even really tell you anything about. :(
In the end i have maybe 5 friends (out of around 100 skype contacts okay--and this AFTER just clearing everyone I don't talk to off) that I really connect to and feel I can talk openly about most things, that I go out of my way to find and such because they've reached that level of closeness with me. (and one of them is actually my roomie and all we do is send tumblr links to each other while sitting five feet away fff)
And ye that's five whole great friends, but they're not always on, and I do get lonely despite so many contacts. IT HAPPENS.

As I've said, I don't mind people trying to make friends with me because of art. Either they end up sticking around or they don't. But I think there are a lot of people who don't ever lose that view of who I am when they think about me. That their first thoughts, even after months of contact, are 'that artist'
And those are just the people you're never gonna truly connect to. I mean THATS OKAY /so long as they don't expect me to draw for them fff --but it doesn't change, like you said, that artists have troubles and problems too, and sometimes things really do bug them but can't really vent about without looking badly cuz of that @3@

all of this

I definitely emphathize, and I definitely hold off on making friends because I'm so bad at communication. But hey if you wanna be art buds, hit me up!

You should be able to talk to your friends about anything, regardless of your art skill? If they think you're looking down on them or something then that's not right D:
You shouldn't feel bad for wanting friends who aren't just all about the art. You deserve it uvu

AH I do have friends who don't really focus about art and such
But there are some things that, like, AS AN ARTIST who really WANTS to continue pushing forward and getting better and better, naturally I hit spots where I'm really down. Like something didn't get as many favorites/as much attention as expected, sometimes I don't get noticed by people I really WANT to be notice me, etc-- REGULAR ARTIST PROBLEMS OMFG
But sometimes I just feel like such an ass when I get disappointed about these things, because a lot of the people I know enough TO whine about this to, I feel would get a little upset/down on themselves.. or they just wouldn't care because I'm still better off or something.

There are just certain aspects where, having someone who I view on the same art levels, would take away the awkward worry of being an insensitive ass for talking about some of my woes. @v@

Oh no no, trust me--I get down on my art like constantly so I understand how it is, when you feel down when you don't get as many favorites or views, etc. So, anytime you want, you can always talk to me (You know where I am, on the Skype) I wont mind to listen to your woes I will simply just do my best to try and cheer you up uvu

I can't say I know these feels.
I don't have talent when it comes to drawing. But...it's hard for me to make friends with people who CAN draw. Because there's always that little voice in the back of their heads that says. "They only wanna be your friend to get free art all the time..blah blah blah."
now, free art is nice and I'm sure no one could really turn down good quality free art.
BUT.
I do not want people to think that's why I want to be friends with an artist. I am a friendly person, I like talking and finding things in common with people. I mean being a furry is hard when not one if my friends here is one. But I have FA, an entire site full of people sharing that with me. Whether they're artists or not, I talk to everyone.

Its nice to have some friends to talk to about something so important in my life.
And it kinds hurts when someone doesn't want to talk to me, just because they think I wanna buddy up to them just to get free art.
I might not have money to buy more art right now, but I'm not going to be a sneaky fuck and weasel my way into getting some. If someone chooses to draw my characters for free, then I would be incredibly happy and appreciative.

I will never ASK for free art..
If it's being offered, I'm gonna be like everyone else and throw up a reference.

Bottom line. I will not expect art from an artist even if I'm friends with them. It's a sweet thought of it's given to me. But I'm not the kind of person to lower herself to that level just for a sketch or something.

I just want some good friends that treat me like they would like to be treated. Is that so much to ask?

I can't speak for other artists, but for myself this is absolutely NOT what I think people are trying to do when befriending me UNLESS they give me reason to think so.
Maybe call it being an optimist, but I don't like thinking people come at me for that. (Most people have far better manners)
IF someone tries to get free art, I tell them straight-up no. If we're really close, I may do it! But everyone close to me knows there is like only a 10% chance, IF THAT, with me... cuz I do so much commission work, the last thing I want to do with my free time is draw for other people. Even when I WANT to, chances are it just won't happen.
And then, hey, maybe they take it in stride and we get past it and become friends!
Or maybe they don't, and then no sweat off my back cuz I don't need people like that in my life.

IDK, it's just not as scary as I think some people make it. No one is going to ATTACK you for not giving them free things. You'll just get someone sucking up to you for a while and then WHO KNOWS maybe a real friendship will bloom! /rainbows and sparkles \o/

THO IT IS TOUGH and I know a lot of artists are very hesitant because they run into it maybe more than me. I guess just, advice is, to stay constant, stay friendly. There's a good chance you'll win people over. : )
THat's DEF how I end up making a lot of my fans-to-friends. JUST ALWAYS BEING THERE ffffff

I have met and happen to be friends with some artists, not incredibly close but friends nonetheless.. but I just really don't want anyone to get the wrong idea and think me being nice is just trying to con them or anything. Maybe it's just me and my paranoia. Idk xD.

but I do hope to talk to more people and make friends.
especially when I don't have many as it is lol.

I think you can very truthfully say this without looking like a booboo head, I know the feeling.
It feels awkward when your friends call you out all the time because you've been drawing your whole life so you're a little more experienced than friends who started drawing in like highschool and they're like "well if only we can draw like ______" or they talk about your pageviews in comparison to their and you're like hhhhhhhhdoesn'tmatter, don't do this 2 me.

I feel pretty comfortable with Pink right now since she draws really good so I don't have to deal with that with her, but a lot of my other friends feel like they need my input to draw or that need to constantly put their work down around me to lke save my breath or something??? when tbh I don't care, I'm just glad other people want to draw.

I hope I'm not totally off track here /digs grave

Exactly, it's not a contest, we're all developing at our own paces and none of us ever finish getting better so why not just share that common ground

^ This. ;;

omg I finally found you on FA!

no it's okay, I see your icons on the lj communities(hint hint) and I've been absolutely fascinated in your characters. They're so unique and I never found an appropriate time to ask.

I think it's best when you can be an artist who is comfortable and confident with what they do, and want to be better/improve, but don't necessarily care about the fame side to it. I AM NOT THIS PERSON FFFFFFFF
And I think that's my hold up a lot. I mean, I know those people who get really down when they don't get a lot of views. It's a legit thing! But hey, I get it too. And I dont' think people realize I get just as bummed out at times. Even though I'm considered a GOOD artist, with a big following, etc, that doesn't mean I still don't wish I were BETTER. I'm always lookin' up! And then people kinda turn it around on you, like BECAUSE you're a good artist, you're not allowed to have these moments. You have it so much better off, how can you be like that. 8((

I'm DEF jealous of you and Pink's great broship. It's really fun to see what you guys create together and stuff AAA
That is exactly what I'd love to get at with someone. CLOSE FRIENDS + no worries about the draws, just an equal standing type thing. /whispers to wind - Someday...

/also no way man, total valid points

what the hecks is a "sempai"

FFFF it's actually 'senpai' but my tired self mixed it up
it's essentially 'upper classmen'

It's an animu thing, and has kinda gotten taken to mean someone you look up to/want to be noticed by

It IS a lot of pressure. Generally I don't mind it, I like attention and helping people and all that, but I don't want it ALL the time. Yeeee @3@
I've had a few people who obviously just want art, but in the end learn they're not gonna get it. And either they go oh well and stick around anyway, or they go away. Luckily I've never really had any terrible experiences. I also have thick skin, so it doesn't drag me down so much when things go a little rough in that aspect.
For the most part I definitely LIKE being the senpai for people--in the sense that I'm competitive, I wanna be the best I can as an artist, and I also like to be helpful/have people look up to me. But this isn't all I want out of life. I want to be collaborative and draw with people without feeling like I'm getting the short end of the stick and dealing with it cuz these people are my friends. AND I MEAN, I do enjoy working with a lot of my friends, even if I AM viewed as the 'senpai', but YE IT SJUST
I don't want it to ALWAYS be that way. XD
Is what I'm
obviously going in circles around here.

i do this dumbass thing where i assume if someone's art is better than mine, that they don't want to be friends at all because of this stuff. like. i have no problem myself having artist friends that aren't as skilled as i am. but for some reason when it's someone else i'm like NO THEY ONLY WANT FRIENDS THAT ARE AS SKILLED AS THEY ARE. and i get all stupid about it.

But as you said you have NO PROBLEM having less skilled artist friends, you just long for some same-or-higher-level buddies too. which is totally okay and there's nothing wrong with that! i often find myself wishing i had local friends that were as skilled as me, for drawing together and such. where i live right now there are no other professional artists that i know, and i'm really bad at maintaining online friendships because of social anxiety stuff. ;n;

i don't consider my art to be as skilled as yours but if you want a friend who won't pester you for tips and free art and such, i'd be happy to chat at you on skype and such. Just. don't be surprised if i'm quiet for long periods of time unless you poke me first ;3; disclaimer!

Yes, exactly as you said, this is never an issue for me. I like friends of all types! Just, want it to not ALWAYS be that way ahaha
/doesn't mean the friendship boat is closed to people who don't fit the bill of artist I like or something like that???

It is really tough to maintain online friendships I feel ya, I think with me it's not social anxiety so much as, I either end up with a LOT of adds and once, and it's hard for me to filter through everyone and keep active conversations with 20+ people ahaha
Or I just get busy/fall out of touch on accident and then the friendship is just never really the same/doesn't come back. Which is a big shame. 8(


But yeah dude, if you ever wanna add me that's fine! ( the_jotaku on skype)
I MAY BE BAD ABOUT UH saying hello first, too, but I'm trying to change that so I CAN TRY
For the record, I actually don't mind redlining for people or helping out artwise, SO IDK that bit doesn't bug me.

added!

I've lately noticed that I enjoy friendships with people who are skilled in other things than drawing, cause then you can both look up to eachother and it's really nice that way ;_;

And it's superduper awkward when you originally friended someone with the same drawing 'level' and used to treat eachother equally, or in some cases I even looked up to my friend, but then I just kinda... went past them and now it's like I DONT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS D: But gladly it's only the subjects about drawing that are awkward, everything else stays the same, but then you kinda avoid talking about art and that's not nice either...

Yes, this is nice too! Sometimes it's nice to have friends who aren't artists (or are, but with different aspects, like sewing or what have you) and have absolutely NO interest in drawing themselves. That way there is absolutely no pressure either way. ;V;
Don't have many of those, but a couple. And it's definitely nice.

AND MAN I have not had that happen
BUt I can see where it can be weird
I don't stand still with art, so I have people I've looked up to and then end up feeling like I'm better then after some time. AND THAT IS WEIRD OH MAN.
Like. Blows my mind that not everyone else is pushing to progress in art as much as I am XD

i do admire your art but i also admire your designing skills. but at the same time it is also fun to talk to you about anime that you fan over. prospective of other animes. but i am unsure of all of this oh oh my head hurts. I do ask for tips.. ;.; i am sorry but mostly your noses.. dear joyness them noses. :D i love them. they are so button like.

But i don't really understand this problem as i don't have that point where people want to look and ask me tips yet lol. :) but I am always up for talking about anime or your designs the Latchkey. >< cosplay is my profession. I love crafting so much. so i also fan over talking about stitching and stuff. :D

But really even if i admire your art i know you are human and thus sometimes wanna not talk about art and just like wanna talk about shows you have been watching and stuff.... no if you talk about supernatural i will not understand D: it is an odd subject the show is so BORING to me lol. >,< lets watch American horror story YES :D

okay wow i rambled i am sorry Jo you are still awesome. in a human who is cool and likes anime/games/designing and SEWING costumes way. ^.^

Ahaha it's cool, friend.
I get where you're coming from and we always have pretty decent conversations

/Hey though Supernatural is great what are you on about!!
/I need to watch American Horror Story still tho AAAAAh and hannibal I wanna watch hannibal

I really doubt I can say much that hasn't already been said, but I feel ya... Hopefully no one will be upset, cause like others have said, there's no reason to be - you're just sharing what's on your heart, and there's nothing wrong with that! And like I said, I know da feels.. cause like, I know I'm not the BESTEST EVARRRR but, I mean, I know I have quite a few artist friends that aren't on the same skill level...and like, for one example, I generally feel the need to walk on eggshells whenever they ask me for help on redlining their stuff.. cause if there are red marks all over the picture cause you're trying to help them as much as you can, then you feel like a monster... and on the other hand, if you intentionally skip over redlining most stuff to avoid that feeling, you feel like you're being dishonest instead. >A>; It can be quite frustrating and difficult to find just the right words without feeling like you're gonna come across like, "I FROWN UPON YOUR WORK, YOU SUCK, JUST QUIT NOW" ahaha.. cause that's never what you're trying to say, but some people can be reeeaaallllyyy sensitive... and believe me, I understand the feeling of wanting to have artist friendships like you were talking about. There are lotsa people I look up to and would love to get to know better both as a person and an artist, but I'm usually too scared to talk to them. A lot of them also live in Japan (people on Pixiv aha..) and they speak very little to no English, so fuu.. ;; I mean, I know I should try to make contact with some of these artists anyway, but it's intimidating I guess? Haha... ahh I dunno where I'm going with this, but I wish you all the best. You're definitely not the only person that feels like this/has gone through it, so just keep your chin up. ;~;

YA THANK YOU
As the overwhelming amount of comments this has gotten
Obviously I'm not the only one
And it's good to post stuff like this sometimes, I thought I would regret it but it's really helped me get the pent up frustrations off my chest ahaha

I SO FEEL YA THOUGH. I get nervous when people want critique, cuz I've had people ask me for my opinions and turn around and snap at me for giving them. : /
I don't mind redlining, though, and I always try to be as nice as possible. I haven't gotten any bad responses in quite a while, thankfully. @3@;;
It's really stressful, though, I agree.

aND YEA GOSH IT IS
SO HARD
To try and make contact with artists you look up to ahaha
I think it's harder if you're more well known as an artist, just cuz you know what it's like to have people come at you in waves and not be able to see people as individuals properly. You don't want to view people like that, but it's hard sometimes. And knowing that, it's like I don't wanna just be another fan that comes up and gets brushed off @w@

*nod* ;~; Also, pretty much having the same feels on another thing that Gforce said just below my post... I'm not a furry either, I just love to draw anthro when I'm in the mood to do so...so yeah, whenever I post humans, elves, kemonomimis, and other stuff like that and then get little to no feedback it's like AHHHHfffffff wry did I even bother, haha.. and like, while you know that there ARE still those that do appreciate it, at the same time it's still like a lil voice is screaming in the back of your mind "STAAHHHP NOBODY LIKES THIS CRAP".. it can be discouraging and hard to ignore, despite knowing it's not true. T~T;

And yeah, I don't mind giving redlines either...it's just that I sometimes feel...I guess almost nervous? I mean, depending on who they're for since not everyone takes it the same way I guess... Like how I have one friend that sometimes seems a bit uneasy, and then another that absolutely LOVES it because she wants very much to improve as much as she can! Idk, it can be rough haha.. XD;

In any case, I'm really glad that you were able to get some of it out of your system - it's good to do that from time to time. ;~;

YE honestly the thing that brought me here originally were the adoptables. Because they're less about anthro/furry, and more about design and markings and what you can put on a body. I really enjoy that, and I think so many of them are freakin' cute as heckers!

I understand though, furry community, not as much hyper for non furry art. But man, if you wanna post it I say go the heck ahead. I'm sure there are people who would still like to see your art, even if they don't go out of their way to voice it, regardless of the subject matter. u_u

I have some friends like that, too. Generally the people who ASK for redlining, though, are really appreciative and that's very nice ;w;

Ahh yes, I love adoptables! I've purchased two of 'em here, and I adore them so much! ;v; I've actually been trying to make an auction/adoptable thing myself recently, but ugh.. every time I try I get too attached, which is completely the opposite of what I NEED to be doing haha.. it's just so hard to make something cute/appealing and then let it go I guess~ ;;

And yeah, I do still post my non-anthro art whenever it's sometime I really want to share - I just get a lil down sometimes I guess, like if I was REALLY fond of it and it gets like...1-2 comments from my friends that always comment, and nothing else haha...whereas if it were anthro, it might get three to four times that. And like, I don't mean that to sound like "ermergerd NEED ATTENTION jkljasf" just.. well pfff, I'm sure you know where I'm coming from - those lil bits of appreciation honestly do feed an artist and make them feel warm and fuzzy inside! So yeah, I'm not complaining or anything.. fff, I just hope that all made sense - sometimes I feel like I really suck and wording things. ;~;

*nod* The people that I've redlined for always asked. I'm not like "GIMME THAT I NEED TO FIX IT FOR YOU" ahaha... it's just kinda hard sometimes when they ask and then seem to wilt when you give them what they wanted. @v@;;

FF I GETCHA
but then you just gotta be like 'will I actually use these characters?' usually the answer is no, then I realize I should give them away XD;

TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, no I so get it. Y'know, not gonna lie, I like attention. If I couldn't show my art, I probably wouldn't draw. There is nothing about working hard as an artist, and wanting to get noticed and become recognizable, that is bad. I don't look down on people who value comments or favorites or watches. Because, hey, that's the best way to measure yourself! And those watches are clientele, and as an artist wanting to make something out of myself AS AN ARTIST, that is extremely important. So it does get discouraging when you post something you really like and no one really stops and looks. AND THEN IT COMES BACK to the topic at hand, because if you try to talk about these things with people (especially if those people are lower on the art level), it comes off really bad. Like you don't appreciate what you get--which isn't that at all! It's about how you want to grow, and get better, and that feedback TELLS you how you're doing. If you feel you're growing, and no one pays attention, it's like a punch tothe gut. 8((

YES THAT EXACTLY fff... I never, EVER want to come off ungrateful, but at the same time I just can't help wanting to express my feelings on the subject at times! Gah, couldn't have put it better myself haha..

I have to say, I have been here a couple times myself. Honestly when someone gets all like, attached and worships my art it kinda chokes my muse to death >>; I'm not even the best artist ever. It thankfully hasn't happened in a long while now but yeah... One of the biggest frustrations with all that was something like this "Ugghhh, this part of the drawing/anatomy etc is bothering me, I can't get it to look right ;A;" Then your friend is all "OMG NO IT IS PERFECT I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD SAY IT IS WRONG!?" That doesn't help me get any better as an artist and didn't really help my feelings at the moment either. xD;

I haven't made any artist friend really in the last few years either because of that and a few other reasons (I helped a few people learn the basics of drawing too and they shortly quit after >>;). I've also not had too many FA friends because usually all they'd want to see is anthro art and show no interest in anything else (which I understand because it is mainly an anthro site after but fffff I like to draw my elfs and kemonomimi's darn it and it'd be nice to have someone even show a little interest >>) I mean, there are artists I admire and wouldn't mind speaking to but at this point I've just become too shy and it's intimidating to do so xD;

So I guess I ranted a lil bit myself. But, I just wanted to say that you should stay strong. There was nothing wrong with your journal. No one can fault you for wanting an equal level artist to collab and have art funs with~ But yeah, I wish you the best with all this ;;

OH MAN I KNOW
I mean
sometimes, depending on how people compliment your art--it can REALLY make you feel good and help you. I have at least one person who is very good about being supportive in a way that makes me feel good about myself (though, ironically enough, they're not an artist at all--just a buyer)
AND YA THAT blind 'oh but you're so perfect already!' type view
Drives me nuts
No I'm not perfect. I make mistakes, I have long strides ahead of me. Don't lessen my desire to better myself by making it necessarily about you and how I am better than you UGHFjlfj dsweeps

And I feel ya, this problem definitely applies to dA and tumblr for me. Not actually being a furry, it's harder for me to properly connect with some people on FA, even though the community here is generally super freakin' nice. AND GOSH so tough. Like, if you like an artist, you try to be more there and comment and whatnot, but it's hard to keep up with that. @3@ And you don't wanna be annoying to them by trying to wiggle your way into a friendship ya aaaa

And thank you for your support and stuff aaa ;v; /touches

Yeah, the community is generally really nice here. That's why, not being a furry myself, I have stuck around here for so long now x3 I've got at least 1 friend where I can always show art to and get honest opinions though.

I'm glad you were able to get this off your chest though and find out you're not alone in these sorts of things haha. I only just found your page and watched you a little while ago but I hope you can fill all of your art desires and keep producing the art that ya love!

I'm always very 'detached' from my art when it comes to friendship. Sometimes I do offer help but it's rare that I'll have people asking me instead, I think mostly because I don't give off that 'artist 24/7' vibe x3

Everybody has troubles, no matter how talented, There's always something off or something that needs improvement, even if others can't see it. Growth is a partially SUBJECTIVE process, so all viewpoints on what you do may not be the same.

As for the rest, people are people no matter what they do. I'm glad you wanna be treated as one and not some "art god" like others seem to do. *chuckles* I can't draw a straight line, so, unfortunately, I'm far from that equals group you're looking for. I like anime, music, and junk, though, if you ever want to talk (kami.yama.).

This actually reminds me of a funny story. About two years ago I became a big fan of , not just because he's talented but because he lives in my town. By chance I finally got the opportunity to meet him for lunch and, a short time later, was invited into his home. Over the course of my visit I saw a piece he was working on and the subject of art came up. By the end of the night I ended up critiquing his entire creative process; we are now good friends. xD

People do what.

HOW DOES YOUR ART SKILL MEAN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS? I never understood that, I don't know a single person who doesn't have anything bad to say about their art, even if a bunch of people look up to them and stuff, so I dunno where this "your art is godly you have no issues you make me feel bad by feeling bad" mentality comes from.

It's nice to look up to someone for certain aspects of what they do/can do, but it shouldn't be something that... I dunno... I guess backfires like that? @ ___@;

AND IT HAPPENS TO ME A LOT
There are just
a couple people
absolutely love them
but if I get on about my art and how I wanna do things better or how these things are frustrating me
they just go into 'o oh... ;w; ' mode
And even if they don't say anything, I can tell that MY insecurities make them feel worse about their own art and just /lays down

What does this 'sempai' mean?

ahah it's actually senpai, but my tired mind mixed it up
It essentially means upper classmen

It's an animu thing, and has come to be taken as someone you admire/look up to/want to be noticed by XD

Ah, you know I heard that word in an anime but never knew the meaning. XD

Ugh gurgh, your art is so good. I wanted to dive into this response with a whole bunch of stuff about being friends and how I'm tough enough to be your punching bag, but just going through your gallery is like getting kicked in the crotch by talent. It's a very clear declaration of the difference between our levels as artists. I have so much to learn about digital techniques, coloring principles, composition, anatomy and character design. I look at your work and I instantly see myself sneaking up behind you in dark alleys, ripping open my trenchcoat with half a dozen dangling unfinished drawings, pleading and begging for critiques and direction. I imagine everyday you have new people clamoring at your castle gates and a lot of them will have that misconception of what it would be like to be your friend, whether that's asking for art or aspiring to the absolutely enviable position of being your kouhai.

It feels like I'm trying to say just "deal with it," but that's not right. There's no consolation in the loss of friendships for any reason but I want you to know that it's not your fault. People need to come to the realization that talent is relative and that everybody can always improve. If they can't handle legitimate criticism, that's entirely on them. They'll need to learn that if they want to improve as artists and just to become better people.

Anyhooo, if you don't mind the fact that I yell out penis in every conversation (except this one I suppose), and my very open plans to conquer FA with penis filled smut, I hope it will be alright if someday I say hello, maybe on skype.

With love,
Minted Rose.

I'm gonna admit I laughed really hard at this actually. /Good mental images
ITS NOT SO MUCh that I mind people wanting critique or redlining or whatever. Sometimes I'm too busy, but often times I'm okay with sparing a couple minutes to help out. I WANT to help people, for sure. It's not fun if everyone stands still. It's really enjoyable to see people improve as artists, I think.

BUT YEAH luckily I haven't seemed to lose anyone over this (on the flip side, I've made a handful of new friends)
And maybe not all of them I feel I could still go off about my art woes without them being like 'wow Jo shut up okay you're good everyone knows it now I feel bad about my art thanks' FFFF but I think a couple wouldn't mind and that's nice ;w;

ANYWAY UH yeah dude if you wanna add me that's chill, I don't mind.
It's the_jotaku

Kdndkdos

I have this friend at school who's always like... "Senpai, draw this for meeee"
No joke. ; w; It's like... Really awkward 'cause she puts herself down a lot, and is sorta depressing, and she goes off practically treating me like a holy figure since I'm one of the few people that actually hang out with her and stuff.

And I don't want to say anything that may get her depressed, or hurt, or mad even, and it's just... Ifnridldkdk
I don't know. But that fact that she praises me, and puts herself down really bothers me, especially with art where she thinks that there's a secrete to my "good" art that I'm not telling her when really, all it is is practice.
And she doesn't accept that as a response. x wx
This relationship is really tensed up, but I would feel terrible breaking it up, because, in the end, I do care about her. ; w;

Oh man, friendships.

OH MY GOD THE WORST ONES THO
are the ones that are all 'youre art aaah it's so good aaa senpai!' but then at the same time are double edged 'oh man I wish I were so good, but my art sucks so much'
And this gets me CRAZY because
first off, I instantly will SCOLD anyone who refers to their art negatively. It is counter productive, and you should NEVEr think that way. /gets huffy
Second, it comes off manipulative, like they're trying to wring you into noticing them through guilt UGHHH

Especially if, when you get past that, you really like that person, like for you. 8(
Art is SUCH a sensitive subject sometimes.
I can def think of one friend who I really fuckin' love, and her art is really unique and cool as is. But she gets really tense and defensive and down about it a lot, and even if I try to be supportive it just doesn't work out. Some people just WANT to feel bad, it seems. And it is so opposite of me, I have a hard time understanding or being properly patient with it @_@

>.< I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL!!! I would get that all the time in art class, when I was in high-school. I would hate to draw something because everyone would be like, "Oh that's so good, mine sucks!" It get would get annoying ... I mean my gallery doesn't reflect my real drawing skills they are more or less doodles! MEHHH I'm so glad someone made a journal like this haha Man if everyone could draw then it wouldn't be that special to us artists ... blah I'm just venting now hehe In short I feel ya, I understand your feels LULZ

Naw naw I pretty much touched up on this to the previous person but
the whole 'compliment while simultaneously putting self down' thing
UGH
such hair pulling

LIKE
it's one thing, if you're approach it like 'wow you're art is so good! I really wanna work to be as good someday!' vs 'omfg your art is so prettty cries mine is terrible and sucks orz'
I don't want to coddle you. I'm not gonna sit here and lie to your face about how good your art is if it doesn't fit my fancy. But that doesn't mean you should stop drawing, and that doesn't mean you should look down on yourself either. If you're unhappy with your art, look to where you can take it! I will be MORE THAN WILLING to help out in any way I can if you honestly want to improve just AAAA
/huffs

And so when you try to bring up your personal art troubles to these people, they just instantly turn it around like 'ahaha well my art sucks so....' type comments 8(

Ahh I see where you're coming from now!! It's like they feel bad for even saying that or just want to avoid talking about it ._."

-raises hand-
I could care less about art being the reason we'd be friends.
Your personality is awesome enough.

ahah well I'm always up for new adds so YOOO
if you wanna, it's fine, hit me up! : )
skype is the_jotaku

I AM HONESTLY ALWAYS cool with new friends, art or otherwise. Or, at least, trying to make new friends xD

I'm sure your ''art friends'' won't take offense to this, but like maybe you can tell them your feelings? If they admire you and whatnot and if you tell them in a nice / polite way without sounding like you're superior to them I'm sure they'll back off on the art stuff. I'm just hoping I understood your qualm written in your journal enough cuz it just sounds like you want something deeper like having a different connection like movies and going out to the mall or music taste?

Naw it's not so much that--I have a lot of great friends, who I absolutely ADORE SO MUCH aah /much love for my friends
But sometimes I get down about art, or I want to rant about things that I know EVERY ARTIST FACES, but because of my skill level, can come off greedy or pompous or insensitive. So it's, like, I would really love artist friends that don't look up to me, or if they DO, that I look up to them just as much. Someone I feel is an artistic equal, so that I can express these things and know I'm not being insensitive or rude because I'm better off than them or whatever.
And while I have so many amazing friends that, like I said, I love to talk to all the time and are great! I don't really have any that I connect ON MY LEVEL with art as one of our commons.

lol, ah okay I get it. lol i guess i got lost in some of the comments i just became blind to what you originally wrote. O.o

well don't worry. I think every artist, no matter if they're like way professional or freelance, gets down every now and then. Like, you totally have a right to feel like you need to push harder to get better. And I can tell from your skill level that like you work so hard to get ahead and to learn and achieve making believable composition and stuff, it can kind of be overwhelming to constantly try and be better every day.
I can tell you, you will have no problems making friends who are highly talented people. Like my shit isn't even that great but like there are a few like WOAH AMAZING artists who watched me and I'm like wtf my shit ain't even that special. So like, if that can happen to me I don't think you should worry about making a friend who has a similar or higher skill in art than you. : )

Ugh I know exactly what this is like, and especially when you know you are better than them too at art overall, but like, there are plenty of people out there better than us so it's not like, I dunno. I do look up to your art especially because your string points lie where my weaknesses lie, but especially friend to friend with another artist I know exactly how frustrating it can be to be the "senpai" all the time, its a hell of a lot of pressure too that just shouldn't exist between friends, especially not close friends. I always see the flaws in my art and I know I'm my own worst critic but when Im not proud of something its just "WELL YOU'RE STUFF IS BETTER THAN MINE SO STFU" that's flattering the first few times but it gets old real quick, and I cant even say I like their stuff cause its like "NO YOU DON'T YOU LIAR FACE YOU'RE SO MEAN JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME" like I'm not allowed to not like their pictures because I'm better than them and they look up to me but I'm not allowed to like their pictures because I'm better than them and they look up to me, and then Im also not allowed to dislike my own pictures because I'm better than them and they look up to me but I'm also not allowed to like my pictures because Im better than them and they look up to me, either way I'm either gloating and arrogant or I'm or I'm an attention craving art whore.


it gets reeeal old.

yeah lol sorry I kinda ranted back there a second.

Oh my god, no, it's so fucking true though.
I mean not everyone I talk to is like that obvsly
but I've had the types
And it's super frustrating, all the way around. I can't like what I draw, because gloating/bragging, I can't dislike what I draw, because I am so awesome and perfect and I am just seeking attention obvsly, and if they show me stuff IDK ARGH it's like
You get these people
who fish for you to notice them, just so that you can notice them. But are very passive agressive and manipulative about it
I DON'T GET MANY OF THESE THINK FECK
but I've had them
and it's super tiring.

I know I mean I don't have like hoards either but I know some people like this towards me and its not like their terrible people they're still my friends but I cant bring up art AT ALL to them because its just so much effort and its so exhausting. and its especially annoying when they're all going off to try and chase their dreams and all that stuff but like they're artists on the side, for a fun little hobby and it's just, I put so much into my art I try really hard on all my pictures even the ones that I do faster or I don't do as well I still put a lot of effort into them and this is what I do, I'm not going off studying to be a doctor or a pilot or anything I am an artist. its like my effort is completely invalidated because my dream is their silly hobby. it's not like Im against hobby artists Its just frustrating being belittled by someone who "admires you" because of it.

also I totally don't get like that if I love your picture Ill tell you and Ill get really overexcited about it because I'm hyper and excitable but I don't particularly hold anyone on that high a pedestal, despite my terribly self image and anxiety. Except for Matthew Bellamy. I pretty much die when I breathe the same air as him.

I guess I'm cool with it because I love art but I'm a musician so eh? Maybe I misread the whole thing. x)

Many times I look to another artist and long to get to know them on a more personal level, not just seeing them as an 'artist'. I get so self conscious and afraid that they'll think that I JUST want to be friends with them to get art/free art, ect. I'm not an overly self conscious person but I do have some walls that are hard to get over. It's always so awkward just trying to start talking to someone for no reason or just being like 'I want to be your friend' because friends don't work that way heh.

I've got a little different problem. I have a best friend and Im better than her a drawing, but it's me who always wants to do stuff like trading etc.. but she dont. want to do it sometimes..
Btw more than trading I prefer doing gifts, when you dont want enything in retern. And everyone is happy