This is something I have struggled with for many many years, and I've gotten no closer to the solution. sometimes I think I may have caught onto something only to end up feeling the same way about it as every other attempt I've made (that it's bleak, lifeless, and just plain no good.)

There are so many of you out there that do such beautiful, amazingly crisp and clean lines and I'm just curious, how do you do it?

I've tried hand-drawing them, they always turn out shaky and uneven.

I've tried using illustrator's pen tool to do the lines. They turn out lifeless and bulky.

I always try to put in varying thickness to the lines, but it really never comes out, should I try a more drastic change in the thickness instead of just one or two points? Would that make a difference?

I've tried doing the "color the lines the same color as the object itself" method, but it always comes out looking terrible. Is there some art to doing this correctly?

I've tried using the same method in photoshop (pen tool) and tapering off the ends of the lines myself, and if anything this has given me the best look overall, but still doesn't look anywhere near as good as I hoped it would.

So, over all, what am I missing? Is there some integral important part of doing lineart that I just am not getting a grasp on? Or am I just doomed forever to have icky, lifeless lines that don't stand out at all and just look bland as all hell?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can give me some advice, I truly need it!