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Life's A Chibi: Jealousy over Ability
by o-kemono
Chibi / Kemono Artist
12 years ago
Ever watched someone pull off amazing feats that you thought it was humanly impossible? Ever witnessed impossible acts that leave you breathless and amazed? Ever gazed at something that you thought it was impossible for any human being to create out of nothing? Deep down, do you wish you could do something like what you just witnessed - the need to be just as good as the talented person, or sometimes even better? Do you compare your skills to theirs and feel like you are not talented at all? Do you feel envious over something that you can't do to save your life?
I wanted to do an image about this for some time now but I didn't want it to be just about artist, but about other unique talents and trades. Now and then, I would watch some interesting videos online of people doing amazing stunts, pulling off astounding tricks and creating works of art that takes one's breath away. I would watch them repeatedly, just to see how it's possible for someone to be so amazing at what they do. I start to question my own abilities and feel rather small compared to what I've just witnessed; comparing myself to them and what they can do. This also goes with artwork too. No artist is the same. Everyone has a different style and a different method to do a piece of artwork. Some are simple and laid back, others are more intense and interknit, leaving you questioning how is it physically possible to create something so amazing.
You start to feel like your talents are inadequate. You start to feel down about yourself and question your own self worth. What makes you so special compared to other people? Why can't you be as talented or creative as the ones you admire? What are they doing differently? What are you doing wrong? Will you ever be able to do something like what you just witnessed? The more you ask yourself these questions, the more you feel down about your own talents and your self-esteem plummets.
The hard part is to constantly remind yourself that your own skills are unique. Yes, there are people out there who can do better than you. They can do something you do with quicker speed and talent. But you need to remember that they were taught differently. They had different study habits and skills that you were never taught or experienced. They used different tools and methods that were unavailable to you or something you can't physically perform. However, the way that you were taught and create and personal talent is unique in itself. You can do actions and have personal skills no one else can copy or be as good as. They may try to copy it or try to pull it off, but only you hold the crown for having a unique ability. It's the small things you do that make your ability and talents unique. It may not look impressive or flashy as the next, but it's your own and it's unique. I constantly have to remind myself, that as much as I want to be as good as this artist or that artist, my own personal style and talent is unique and I'm good at certain things I know others have a hard time trying to do or pull off. It's what makes me a unique artist and person as well.
You have your own voice, your own style, your own talents, and your own strengths. You may be jealous of someone's work or talents, but there will always be people out there who will be jealous over certain things that you can do. It might be someone that you are jealous over as well. You may feel like your own talent and abilities are not important or a waste, but others will think the complete opposite and say what you can do is amazing.
artwork © 2014 Alex Cockburn
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If you want to get better at something, the only thing to do is do it. Don't worry about how good other people are or aren't at it, just do it for yourself, and keep doing it, and you'll get there in time.
I feel that showing that the one who has multiple abilities being amazed/jealous by the other person's simple skill would better show how we tent to focus on other peoples abilities to do things rather then appreciate what we can do ourselves.
BTW Yo-Yos are as dangerous then Nunchucks. When you mess up and it decides to retract half way through a trick, the results are not good lol.
Also I think it's important to know your limits. At snowboarding I will stick to freeride and won't go for freestyle, no matter how awesome it looks, cuz I'm a wuss and afraid to break anything. At paragliding I won't go for aerobatics, I don't want it and it might end up badly. And of course you prolly seen the guy who plays on a synth by juggling the balls? That's just nuts and very unique skill to try to achieve.
They honestly walk past my eyes, and go straight to my brain and heart...
I really get all of them, some are hard to admit, but all of them make sense.
And I have to thank you for making these, it always helps to reflect~
It's like you said. Be you, you've your own talents. An jealousy is alot like a grudge. It's a sandbag and it only weighs you down
that feeling i know well but i have to remember that they also worked hard to get the talent they have now and so must i.Learn from failed attemps and try even harder next time
Well said, everyone is unique in their own way. Don't give up
Thank you for writing it; I like it a lot
I love the chibi's they are actually RIGHT
And if you are reading this, that means that you too are on a road to your awesomeness... even if the skill is amazing laziness. :3
(well little might not be the right word but you know what I mean)
Most of them come at just the right time to have the most impact on my life
(and so cutely drawn <3)
Thank you
Thank you.
TLDR version: This is something I and others can relate to on so many levels.
Long version:
While a point could be made on one end that this drawing speaks volumes for a lot of people, for this or any piece of art or really thing, how a person responds to it can also be seen as how that person can be in more ways than one.
That being said, personally this, along with many of your works (and many things from others) to me does say a lot about myself, as I have found myself then and now in many ways comparing myself to what can be regarded as 'the best'.
Such fields I attempt to not suck at include but aren't limited to illusrations, writing, playing any number of video games be it a series, or genre, to things like even house keeping.
It can affect one's confidence in their ability to do something in any number of ways, and that can be positive, negative, neutral, any combination of beforementioned and then some.
how or why is specific from person to person of course. I'll be here all day attempting to describe examples in my case so I'll narrow it down to two specifics...illustration and gaming, specifically fighters and racing games.
Far as illustration goes, it was artists including Chalo, Manuella Cote, and Lady Laguna among others that gave me a reason to maybe try my hand at doing art. I already had done things in regards to at least drawing cars years prior, and I figured I may as well at least try.
That was some 12+ years ago, and while I've made much progress, I still find myself comparing my works to others, including those younger than I whom have managed to (far as I can tell) achieved more in far shorter a timespan.
I try to avoid comparing myself to other artists on some level becuase to an extent, you may set yourself up for an impossible goal, not to mention one may step back and ask why the hell one even tries to do any venture such as drawing to begin with. But sometimes it's ineveable for many a reason.
I've been doing so because apart from attempting to get to some long-overdue trades and gifts on my own end, if I ever want to attempt to do comissions, I have to push for a higher standard. But a more personal reason is being able to realize with greater ability an attempt to illustrate ides I have in mind, and not be 'limited'.
I put that in quotations because to breifly go off topic, it was a reason why I had initially pursued writing as I ASSumed it was an 'easier' venture, but I've leanred over time that illusration and writing, both require time, effort, care, passion and anything else to properly get something 'done'.
to say nothing of the fact writing itself can potentially contribute to illustration as I need a way to try and 'plan' ideas ahead of time, be it what could be written or illustrated in some way.
It's also a potential danger to compare one's self to others because it may be easy to forget that said artists themselves, have their own struggles to some extent, and I know from both experience, and observation that what's created does take time and effort.
But that in itself, being conscious and aware that pulling off anything takes time and effort, be it mere minutes to whole months or even years (if not decades) can also be a potential discoruagement as well...
To say nothing of how everybody has their own unique appraoch of anything, not to mention problems that again, are specific to each indvidual...there is no 'general' solution outside of 'pratice makes permanent' and even that can be doubtful for too many reasons to explain/ramble/rant'.
I've got many issues and sometimes I feel like either giving up or not bothering, becuase it's been beaten into my head that if others have it far worse than me and can somehow manage better...what the fuck am I here to begin with?
Although...that whole 'others have it worse so you can't complain' mentality...while good in intention is a whole toxic clusterfuck in itself far as I'm concerned.
Point being...artwise, yeah, I look at others and it makes me wonder if I'm even 'trying', even though I am. it can be a motivation to push forward yet it can also make one feel like no matter how good one gets...they aren't there yet....I think at least once per month if not a week, somoene should be able to feel good about something they've done, cause it is an achievemnt that can't be simply brushed off becuase another artist may do something 'better' than you.
I was going to cover gaming but that is a whole different ramble on it's own, so I'll just leave this comment at that..I doubt I'll even get to a separate journal anytime soon (if ever) but...we'll see.
...and if anyone has actually read up to this point, you have my thanks and aplogizes for having to read trough my half-coherient mess of a comment.
Why'd you have to make yo-yo kitty look so pitifully sad? Makes me wanna hug him so baaaaaaaaaad!
One day I'll know all the yoyo tricks, then I'll show them, I'll show them all!
I see what everyone does on FA and how they're infinitely better than me and how I'll never make anything close to what they make. I just get so mad and frustrated and depressed I want to kill myself.
Artwork, programming, the more notable and visual creative styles...they all seem to eclipse writing or editing...and sometimes I feel like I get overlooked because people don't like to read...
I'm glad there are people out there who have proven me wrong! <3 :D