@Keba Si Rota:

*huggles*

That's a perfect place to start!

Aww Keba~ thankyou, my friend :3

@Keba Si Rota:

You're welcome!

@kita mikichi:

Thank you, Kita. *Hugs back.*

You have improved! And I love reading your stories (though, I know on here, stories don't get much feedback). You are very talented, to be an aspiring musician, writer and visual artist! *hugs*

@Keba Si Rota:

Oh I see ^^;; I was worried I forgot to reply. I hope you get rid of your artist block soon! ^^ Take it easy

Small Lady

@envythejealous:

Thanks for the observations on what gets noticed. I'll branch out and try something new.

@elricbrothersfan:

Oh my gosh. *Hugs tight.* I don't know where to begin with your huge comment.

I'll take your advice to heart. I once kept a little drawing journal. I gotta pick that up again.

You are not a butt!!!!! You're one of the people that I "talk" to the most on theO. If you forget to add something of mine to your favorites, I won't take it personally. Despite the age difference and the fact that we've never physically met, I consider you my friend.

@SmallxLady:

Thanks, Usa. I realize that I judge myself too harshly. I'm trying to figure out how to break the cycle.

I'm glad you're posting art now and that you're rid of the block. I'll eventually snap out of it, too.

I don't think you've been ignoring me. I was referring more to people who I want to make friends with, rather than those who I already know.

I understand where you're coming from. I cannot draw a decent face to save my life.
It is indeed very frustrating to see all those people who are wonderful drawers (I have a best friend who is such) and to feel like you're never going forward.
But I think you are. You're very good at anatomy and you can draw a good face. I've seen many artists (myself included) who draw shoulders too wide, legs too short, and eyes too close together or too far apart. But you've got these basics under control, which is a good place to start if you're trying to figure out where you want to improve. I've noticed that on this site people seem to favor colored work over uncolored work in general, too. When colored it pops out on the front page and is more likely to make viewers click on it for a closer look. It also helps to draw "new" things, by which I mean a pose / idea that has not been used very often or at all in art you see on the site in general. I noticed on several of my artworks, one of which included a hand holding a picture and the other of which was of a character in the foreground with a character walking by in the background, I got more likes on those pictures. My busts and headshots got way fewer likes.
I don't think that your art is necessarily why you're not getting a lot of traffic — when members have less subscribers and don't post in all categories on the site (wallpapers, comics, etc.), they aren't as noticed.
Anyways, I encourage you to keep drawing. I can tell that you're already improving with drawing and coloring on your tablet, and it's fun to see your original characters. But don't give up, because you can't improve by doing that.
Yesterday I was so mad at myself that I was ready to throw my sketchbook in the trash, but instead I got out a basic drawing book and focused on what I needed to work on in drawing a basic face. And it helped because it came out looking better than when I don't use those refs.
I hope I'm not being preachy, but I wanted to let you know that I totally understand how you feel and you are not the bad artist that you think you are. Don't be discouraged that there's better artists out there (there always will be for each and every one of us artists), but be encouraged that you have the skills you do.

I guess you are opening yourself up for attacks... of love and appreciation, that is.

*huggles* Keba-san... art block is a thing that goes away on its own. Sometimes if you can find inspiration, it'll go away faster, but for the most part it's a waiting game, I find.

Just because you don't think of yourself as a skilled artist doesn't mean you aren't! You can at least draw something more realistic than a stick figure, right? That takes skills! And your drawings are so awesome, to boot!

*moar huggles* If you want to improve on your art, then POST POST POST! Or keep a file at home of all your artwork if you really don't want to post it. It's all about still working at it even if you don't feel like you want to.

Improvement comes with time, and lots of studying. When I say studying, I mean: others' art styles, anatomy/how to draw books, real life. When I was trying to improve my skills, I drew something in my sketchbook almost every day. Even if it sucked, I still used it as a learning experience. Each drawing brought me closer to better proportions, more realistic renderings, and overall more aesthetically appealing art. Heck, the improvements I've made were based mostly upon showing my art to others (no matter how horrific I feared their responses to be) and listening to what they thought, commented, etc.

*even moar huggles* Sweetness, you don't sound like a brat, you sound like an underappreciated genius. Just because people might not pay you any attention doesn't mean you don't deserve their attention! They're just complete butts, okies? Butts.
I'm kinda a butt too, since every time I log onto theO (when I have a spare second) and see your art, I either forget to favorite it and comment, or run out of time to favorite it and comment, and then I forget about that lovely fanart you submitted because it got lost in all the 50-something tabs I've got open at the same time, and then you go and feel underappreciated because people like me who are butts forget to tell you how much we love your work.

Greatness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. I don't think I'm great, but I think you're great. Amazing even! You've such a passion for art; though you might not think so, I can see it. I know you want to do better, and I can see those little improvements, small as they are. Heck, with your Lee fanart, you magic'd that pencil eraser shaving right off with your computer-magic skills! Did you have those kinds of Photoshop skills a year ago, or two years ago?

In short, everyone progresses at their own pace, in their own way. Some progress slowly but steadily, always climbing up and up and up. Others progress so fast they plateau and don't have room for improvement. You're progressing more on the steady end, but don't worry, you're destined for greatness :) After all, it's impossible for you to get worse!

Hey don't feel bad Keba =p I'm not a good artist either. Half the time I don't like my art after I post it and I consider taking it down >.< sometimes I get a little discouraged to the point I feel crappy about how my art looks, but when I see a better artist I try to make that skill level my net goal.

I just recently picked up my pencil again after a terrible year and a half block x.x so I know how you feel there. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you are your own worst critic. Don't feel bad about anything you create (I know I need to take my own advice right here >.<) its something you put your time, heart and soul in. That's by definition what art is all about. Don't let others or yourself make you feel bad about what you create. I for one enjoy you art ^^ I think it looks very nice.

I don't think you're pushy or bratty at all =/ I think you're a very kind and wonderful person. If I've made you feel like I've been ignoring you I do apologize. Sometimes I think I've replied to people but in reality I haven't >.< (I'm a ditz sometimes v.v I'm sorry) so again if I've made you feel that way I am very sorry. If I don't reply right away let me know ^^;; I've got a lot going on right now and I don't want to seem rude. anyway, I hope you feel better soon and have an awesome day! ^^ -hugs

Small Lady

@Keba Si Rota:

It doesn't have to necessarily be an official teacher. When you see someone whose work you think it better than yours, you can ask them for pointers on your own work. That way, it can be anyone, stranger or friend.

@CelestialSushi:

Thanks, Sushi. Your words were encouraging, especially when you mentioned the whole "tools vs. artist" thing and applying it to life.

@KyraChan:

Kyra, you're absolutely right. Art should be fun. You gave a lot of good tips, too. I just don't know where I can find a mentor. I once went to a little art school, but then I left. Five months after that, the place closed down, and I just recently saw that the building has since been demolished. I don't know if I can find a place like that again.

@Artgrrl:

Thanks for the advice. I think I might take a little break from art and catch up on all a bit of the anime that I've been meaning to watch.

Don't worry about not commenting. If I was on the phone looking at art, I'd be very distracted if I tried to type out a comment.

@XxArrancarFanxX:

Thanks, Nikki.

@ItachiSasuke:

You know what? You're right about the focusing thing. Instead of comparing myself to others, I should compare my art with the way I used to draw.

Don't worry; I don't think you've been ignoring me. We haven't known each other for that long anyway.

No worries; we all need time to rant. If at least one person listens, then it's worth it, right? :)

I hear ya on the owing people drawings thing. But your reason for not having done people's drawings is arguably more important than mine: sheer laziness >_< I still owe people some drawings, including a challenge winner from over a year ago that I've started but haven't finished yet... ugh. I'm a procrastinator.

Also, we all have our own art styles. Yes, we all have room for growth, but everyone's art is unique. We can aspire to imitate other people's styles, but it's important to appreciate our own, too. I look at people's amazing super-fantastic photorealistic artwork, and then I look at mine (cartoony as HECK) and I'm like, "heh heh, yeah, ain't no way I'm ever gonna be THAT good." But drawing more brings about improvement; you get used to drawing and things get easier to do. I remember when I loathed construction lines XD Now I hardly ever draw without them.

Also, I hear you on the underemployment thing; I'm a college graduate, amazing GPA, but working part-time. It can be a real discouragement sometimes, but on the plus side, employment is employment. It shows that you're doing something as opposed to sitting around doing nothing :) That has to count for something.

I guess in the end it's all about perspective and doing the best you can with what you're given. I've heard a saying that "it's not the tools, but the artist", meaning that you could have something like Microsoft Paint, but an artist who, despite the simple program, creates a masterpiece. I guess the same could be said about life. Masterpieces are the lives where people took what meager means they were given and made something truly great out of their lives. But every artist needs practice to get to that point :)

I hope I could offer you some encouragement, if at the very least a little :) Also, Itachi's right and has some great advice :D

Oi-oi-oi-oi! If you're looking at how good other people are at what they do, and you don't want to draw because of how good they are, then you're not drawing for the right reason. The reason you should draw is for you, not for anyone else. Think about it - there's gotta be a reason you wanted to draw in the first place, why? Come back to your roots. I've entered in numerous contests since joining, and I haven't won a single one of them. Yet I keep making them.

Second of all, you could try to look at things from a different perspective. Realize that every single artist started out at your level. Even Leonardo da Vinci started out scribbling with crayons as a little kid. Er, or at least he would if crayons were invented at that time. There's gotta be a way they reached that level - look at what they're doing that you aren't, and fix that. They're not your competition, they're your example.

Third off - if you can, find a mentor. A mentor is someone higher than your level who will both encourage you and give you honest pointers. I've found in any art medium I'm in, if I find a mentor, not only will it encourage me to do it more, it also increases my esteem overall.

Last of all, WE ALL LOVE YOU AND YOUR WORK. Don't think otherwise - I'm pretty sure you get a lot more traffic than you think. Don't worry. c:

Hello Keba. I just want to say I know how you feel. I know artists who are around my age or younger than me and they seemed a lot more talented than I am.
But when you make art into a popularity contest it stressed you out and makes you depress. Then you just want to give up.
Take a break from art don't force yourself and do something relaxing and fun. (watch a marathon, read a book/listen to an audio book)
And then start drawing again just for fun or if you're bored or if something inspires you.
Sorry you're feeling bummed and I hope you out of this funk
I'm kinda glad I read this post because I thought I was the only one and that me feel bad.
And if I'm one those people who don't reply to your comments I'm sorry. I'm usually on the phone when I log in theO and these days I'm mostly on tumblr.

Oh no, don't say that! I think your art is unique and you have a very nice style of drawing. I actually enjoy your art very much!
I really hope you feel better soon!

Heyo Keba!
Well, I just wanted to say that the not drawing/art block thing is going around lately...I feel really lazy to do anything actually xD
But your will to draw will come back, as it does for all artists. Sometimes you just need to take a break...like when you draw for a while, and then you can't really draw because that's your body telling you to rest for a bit. We're not like those pro's who can just draw and draw until there's no tomorrow! ;)
I also wanted to say, every artist, not matter how long they've been drawing, improves on SOMETHING. Sometimes it's harder for us to realize, and we need someone to tell us that we are. Besides, we are our worst critic! You have improved, believe it! :) You've grown as an artist. Sure, when I go on DA or on here and see some artists...I think "geez, I'm never gonna catch up!" but then I realize that art isn't about catching up, it's about expressing who we are until we tune our art form to what represents us. It's hard not to compare, but sometimes, you just have to focus on your growth, because if you don't, you'll loose focus (like I've done so many times xD).
I'm like those creepy Otakus who reads stuff and never comments...I'm sorry if I'm one of them who you feel is ignoring you...I sure don't mean it! Q__Q
Best of luck :)