Shit I think that way too. Don't feel so down all the time. Just keep doing what you're doing for yourself not other people. Fuck them. That's what keeps me going when I feel like a hamster on a wheel. Some of my best and hardest pieces I've done get shit for faves or comments and the ones that I put no effort into for some odd reason do well just because, there is TITTIES! I feel like I'm at a HUGE stand still in my art world but, I've seen your improvements though out these years. Sorry I've never really commented on your things OR anybody else's for that matter cause, I hate being at my computer for too long. I just wanna look at my things and watch TV like a real art bum. Your stuff is really fun to look at..........IM NOT SHITTING YOU!

No doubt you're already on hiatus and possibly still are. But I will drop some advice here in case you check back here.

Stop worrying about the popularity aspect. It will destroy you and any enthusiasm or passion you have for your art.
The best way to BECOME popular is to simply create great pieces of work and let time do the rest. Sure it's nice when
a freshly posted pic get's a ton a views at first, but it's the slow accumulation over months of people sharing or coming
across them that feed that counter and your overall popularity.

But like I said, it's all about passion.

Got a great idea for a piece of fan art? Go for it! But do it because you had a great
idea for one, not just because you think drawing Cloud just standing their will get you 'teh tops vues'.

Wanna develop your OC's? Do that. Personally, I love Janessa and Mizu and would love to see their story finally play
out. And that's also the best way to make people interested in your OC work.

Hell, if your still that concerned about the numbers, sexy pics always get additional bonuses because a vast majority
of people like it. It is a LAAAARGE demographic that can be added to just about any other. And it's not the cheep
guarantied success people like to criticize it as being. A shitty and in-passionate nude pic is still a shitty in-passionate
nude pic. Style, quality and effort still matter. I've literally dismissed thousands of pics on dA because of this.

Overall point, you're good, so just have fun and give it time.