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Ngl, I think I'm going to stop using social media soon. I really enjoyed working on this piece, but posting art and getting next to no notice at all has really been wearing on me lately.
Keeping up with social media is something I struggle with but have been pushing for the last 2-3 years in hopes of trying to grow, because I've genuinely been so happy with my art and wanting to share it with people. But then I go and post and it's the worst reception it's had in a long while - it really feels that if you didn't have growth years ago that there isn't much of a chance to get any notice now.
For the longest time I always thought my art was horrible, and maybe I just needed to push for improvement to have something I could control to try and help. Because the alternative was realizing that luck plays a large part in things and sometimes there's not much you can do. I've been pushing for as much improvement as I could where I genuinely enjoy painting now. But I'm also just... Tired of the effort it takes to keep up with everything. I may start painting just for myself and not sharing because at least then I'll be kindling that enjoyment of art and moving forward where it truly is just for myself.
Because right now I've actually lost a lot of followers online and only have wrist pain to show for it.
I'll try and keep FA/telegram/discord updated with most art, but not going to share many personal thought after this because I fear it ends up pushing most people away.
Thank you to everyone who has commented/watched my art. I'm going to go rest now in hopes my wrist recovers over the next week or so.
Ngl, I think I'm going to stop using social media soon. I really enjoyed working on this piece, but posting art and getting next to no notice at all has really been wearing on me lately.
Keeping up with social media is something I struggle with but have been pushing for the last 2-3 years in hopes of trying to grow, because I've genuinely been so happy with my art and wanting to share it with people. But then I go and post and it's the worst reception it's had in a long while - it really feels that if you didn't have growth years ago that there isn't much of a chance to get any notice now.
For the longest time I always thought my art was horrible, and maybe I just needed to push for improvement to have something I could control to try and help. Because the alternative was realizing that luck plays a large part in things and sometimes there's not much you can do. I've been pushing for as much improvement as I could where I genuinely enjoy painting now. But I'm also just... Tired of the effort it takes to keep up with everything. I may start painting just for myself and not sharing because at least then I'll be kindling that enjoyment of art and moving forward where it truly is just for myself.
Because right now I've actually lost a lot of followers online and only have wrist pain to show for it.
I'll try and keep FA/telegram/discord updated with most art, but not going to share many personal thought after this because I fear it ends up pushing most people away.
Thank you to everyone who has commented/watched my art. I'm going to go rest now in hopes my wrist recovers over the next week or so.
Category All / All
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I understand feeling frustrated at the lack of engagement on social media. It's something I struggle with as well. Doing what will make you enjoy the process most sounds like a good play and if that means less online posting so be it. It's at least worth experimenting with. I wish you the best and hope this dark cloud passes you by quickly.
I appreciate the comment. Honestly I just miss the days of oldschool deviantart where you maybe didn't get the most interaction, but it felt way more friendly than a lot of the options we have today.
If nothing else.. I'm at least having an amazing time painting lately, and trying not to lose that. Best of luck to you as well, staying hopeful that things may improve in the future.
If nothing else.. I'm at least having an amazing time painting lately, and trying not to lose that. Best of luck to you as well, staying hopeful that things may improve in the future.
From what I have seen from, luck does at times come to play if you want to get noticed and get attention.
However, that also comes down to the fact that there is a lot of people who are trying to do the same thing, and for years on end too. For some it takes a bit of time before they blow up, while others it can take years on end before even being noticed.
It is understandable that this drives you to stop sharing art on social media because of reception is not in favour or positive, that should not stop you from keep posting your lovely art online though.
Art, as in been said, is subjective.
There is no point other to gain traction if you are trying to keep with up the web, which is gonna wear you down if you can't predict the future. So painting just for yourself is probably the best thing you can do to yourself. Seeing peoples artwork of what THEY want to show or tell is more important than trying follow a trend or something alike that.
I do hope though, that you keep posting your artwork online, but also understandable (but sad) if you don't want to.
However, that also comes down to the fact that there is a lot of people who are trying to do the same thing, and for years on end too. For some it takes a bit of time before they blow up, while others it can take years on end before even being noticed.
It is understandable that this drives you to stop sharing art on social media because of reception is not in favour or positive, that should not stop you from keep posting your lovely art online though.
Art, as in been said, is subjective.
There is no point other to gain traction if you are trying to keep with up the web, which is gonna wear you down if you can't predict the future. So painting just for yourself is probably the best thing you can do to yourself. Seeing peoples artwork of what THEY want to show or tell is more important than trying follow a trend or something alike that.
I do hope though, that you keep posting your artwork online, but also understandable (but sad) if you don't want to.
I appreciate your explanation, honestly.
I've been trying to post/be active since 2006, but there's a lot of factors (those in your control and those not) that go into it.
I'm trying to do more of what I like specifically, but it's also very daunting when I've already been doing that - it's just now leading to more experimentation now.
If nothing else I'm hoping to at least keep FA as updated as I can, even if utilizing scraps more/posting things a little after they're done.
I've been trying to post/be active since 2006, but there's a lot of factors (those in your control and those not) that go into it.
I'm trying to do more of what I like specifically, but it's also very daunting when I've already been doing that - it's just now leading to more experimentation now.
If nothing else I'm hoping to at least keep FA as updated as I can, even if utilizing scraps more/posting things a little after they're done.
Having only just seen this, figured I should respond too. I'm gonna move my ramblings to the bottom, so you can skip if you want. c:
I think your art is gorgeous and really captures a beautiful middle-ground between traditional painting and digital art. It has so much motion, texture, and a really unique softness with lots of hidden detail in every piece. I never know quite what to say because they're just awesome to look at and enjoy and I'm sure many others feel the same - a total loss for unique words render us all a little speechless! ♥
Whatever you decide to do, I hope you find joy in whatever path you choose to take, and I really hope your wrist feels better! Get plenty of rest! You deserve it and all the happiness in the world. ♥
(Rambling ahead)
I mirror a lot of the same mentality you and others in the comments have noted, and wanted to share my thoughts because I took my own little social hiatus for some time, and have just started to get more active here and other places again. Same mindset - Pushed to improve so hard that I got burnt out, and wasn't sure what I did wrong. Instead, the last couple years I've focused on doing art for me and drawing gifts of my choosing to single individuals in various communities, rather than pushing for paid commissions or big views.
And you know what? I'm SO much happier now! Not monetarily richer, but personally enriched. :)
I didn't stop drawing - never have, never will! - but I'm keeping it to things I enjoy, and I'm not posting it all over the place anymore, just sharing with friends or rarely online. I'm making time for myself and my own projects rather than whatever is trendy. It's not... profitable or popular, sure, and stuff with my OCs doesn't always get a response, but after having someone in my family pass away, leaving many of his art/music projects unfinished, and seeing how much of his art supplies were unopened / unused -
and after hearing this quote- "Better to have a short life that is full of things you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way."
it suddenly clicked for me.
In this day and age, if you enjoy drawing - great! Do that, but do it for YOU. Forget the rest. Life's too short to stress over popularity contests and clawing your way toward making it big. You just have to find your crowd- no matter how small- and once they're there to support you, the real ones will support you regardless.
Realistically: The pool of artists is just too vast and the tools more widely available than they were when we were kids, so unless you're the first person on a new website to gain a following / to corner the market, the chances of going viral purely by luck are pretty low, so you're better off just doing what you enjoy and let your passion shine through.
I know that's not the ideal mindset, but that's just how the online market operates these days.
I typically see sharing my art online as more of a.. "I'm posting this for ME, not for you" kind of way, instead of seeing as an obligation or need to beat an algorithm, which helps a lot in my expectations online. It makes me happy, and that should be enough. I'm not making life-changing art over here or anything, and I don't have the energy for "the grind mentality" so I may as well draw silly catboys and cool looking dragons and be happy with it myself, whether my viewers like it or not! :b
Your art is gorgeous and you should be proud!
I think your art is gorgeous and really captures a beautiful middle-ground between traditional painting and digital art. It has so much motion, texture, and a really unique softness with lots of hidden detail in every piece. I never know quite what to say because they're just awesome to look at and enjoy and I'm sure many others feel the same - a total loss for unique words render us all a little speechless! ♥
Whatever you decide to do, I hope you find joy in whatever path you choose to take, and I really hope your wrist feels better! Get plenty of rest! You deserve it and all the happiness in the world. ♥
(Rambling ahead)
I mirror a lot of the same mentality you and others in the comments have noted, and wanted to share my thoughts because I took my own little social hiatus for some time, and have just started to get more active here and other places again. Same mindset - Pushed to improve so hard that I got burnt out, and wasn't sure what I did wrong. Instead, the last couple years I've focused on doing art for me and drawing gifts of my choosing to single individuals in various communities, rather than pushing for paid commissions or big views.
And you know what? I'm SO much happier now! Not monetarily richer, but personally enriched. :)
I didn't stop drawing - never have, never will! - but I'm keeping it to things I enjoy, and I'm not posting it all over the place anymore, just sharing with friends or rarely online. I'm making time for myself and my own projects rather than whatever is trendy. It's not... profitable or popular, sure, and stuff with my OCs doesn't always get a response, but after having someone in my family pass away, leaving many of his art/music projects unfinished, and seeing how much of his art supplies were unopened / unused -
and after hearing this quote- "Better to have a short life that is full of things you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way."
it suddenly clicked for me.
In this day and age, if you enjoy drawing - great! Do that, but do it for YOU. Forget the rest. Life's too short to stress over popularity contests and clawing your way toward making it big. You just have to find your crowd- no matter how small- and once they're there to support you, the real ones will support you regardless.
Realistically: The pool of artists is just too vast and the tools more widely available than they were when we were kids, so unless you're the first person on a new website to gain a following / to corner the market, the chances of going viral purely by luck are pretty low, so you're better off just doing what you enjoy and let your passion shine through.
I know that's not the ideal mindset, but that's just how the online market operates these days.
I typically see sharing my art online as more of a.. "I'm posting this for ME, not for you" kind of way, instead of seeing as an obligation or need to beat an algorithm, which helps a lot in my expectations online. It makes me happy, and that should be enough. I'm not making life-changing art over here or anything, and I don't have the energy for "the grind mentality" so I may as well draw silly catboys and cool looking dragons and be happy with it myself, whether my viewers like it or not! :b
Your art is gorgeous and you should be proud!
I want to say, thank you for the kind words!
I'm trying to remain positive about things, even when it's frustrating. I think the main problem for me, is that I've been spending almost 15+ years doing art and really pushing myself where I'm super happy with what I've been able to achieve where I just... Want a chance to be able to show people, but there feels like there's a veil covering everything preventing that from happening.
You're right - doing art for yourself is what matters the most and it's still the main driving force behind what I do. That want for validation is still a part of me though, and a lot of this is trying to make peace with it not happening. Isolation and lack of community feels like it makes that worse, though I know I need to work on being active more (where that's partially on me).
A part of it is also just getting a lot of negative comments in the past that were criticizing what I've done when I enjoyed it where that stands out in my mind stronger than it deserves. So I almost feel like I need to search for that approval that the time I've put into everything wasn't a waste.
Even if I know it isn't, truly.
Thank you again for the comment! Also man, I need to paint more dragons, they're always my happy place when struggling a bit mentally.
I'm trying to remain positive about things, even when it's frustrating. I think the main problem for me, is that I've been spending almost 15+ years doing art and really pushing myself where I'm super happy with what I've been able to achieve where I just... Want a chance to be able to show people, but there feels like there's a veil covering everything preventing that from happening.
You're right - doing art for yourself is what matters the most and it's still the main driving force behind what I do. That want for validation is still a part of me though, and a lot of this is trying to make peace with it not happening. Isolation and lack of community feels like it makes that worse, though I know I need to work on being active more (where that's partially on me).
A part of it is also just getting a lot of negative comments in the past that were criticizing what I've done when I enjoyed it where that stands out in my mind stronger than it deserves. So I almost feel like I need to search for that approval that the time I've put into everything wasn't a waste.
Even if I know it isn't, truly.
Thank you again for the comment! Also man, I need to paint more dragons, they're always my happy place when struggling a bit mentally.
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