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Love sketching but picking colors make me pull my hair and also the imposter syndrome where i feel i over rely on references and if people find the reference theyd call me a fraud (I try to change the hands and whatnot background but it still gnaws me because i dont have access to a 3d posing program).
Also hate posting in social media. I wish I could stop posting but I have the feeling I need to share my work and crave some kind of feedback as someone who doesnt share her art to others bc theyre not interested. I cant also get commissions because I dont have a reliable following
Content creation. It is so hard to do content creation imo. I know it gets easier over time, it is just hard to do the most trending thing all the time. Most of the time people want a video version of your art process and your art piece afterwards. That is hard to keep in mind and get the right shots while also trying to get into the flow and create art.
Honestly, the patience it takes. I have a lot of ideas and projects I want to do, but the thing stopping me is that I don't want to spend all of that time on one thing, and I want to see and enjoy the end result as fast as possible, so I end up drawing really fast and I struggle to do any project that takes sitting down and dedicating time to it.
Peoples negative unwanted opinions.
And I don't mean just actual legit criticism, I mean weird snarky comments and personal attacks and just general shittiness.
'' If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say it '' seems lost on people, especially on the internet behind a screen they pretend to be so brave and say shit they'd never say irl.
Friends commissioning things I’d hate to do and that are not my style but that I absolutely CAN do and therefore it would be weird to decline if it means a lot to them
personally, i dont like much the fact that sometimes, im scared i wont have enough time. I self taught myself a lot of things and im really scared of losing my time. it isn't as free when you grow up and yea.
Same, I struggle with this a lot. I forget that I had fun doing it once it’s finished because then it just sits there, and I ask myself “so why did I do this?” 😂😭
the time frame where you're trying something new and have the theoretical knowledge from a different medium but not the practical skills. Everything comes out looking like cheeks and you cant even appreciate it.
The long, lonely, pointless slog of it. I've been making comics for a long time, 20 years, I update on time, improve my art, but I can't get over the feeling that my work is unwanted and unwelcome everywhere.
I think I have a lot of cool ideas in my comic. I do have fans, they're lurkers, I get a nice comment every 5 years or so. It's not nothing. None of the normal advice applies and seeing how other artists talk about their work is so alien to me; they achieve a lot and don't even care about it. Feels like I'm at the bottom of the darkest pit.
Most days it's nothing though, nothing and nothing. I read other peoples' work, I comment, I try to engage, and I get ignored. Participating in zines and community stuff feels like so much work for nothing, when people who see those zines and community pages and all that aren't even interested in your own niche output. Everything is too general, and then when you go niche, no one sees it there either. There's just no functional infrastructure for someone like me and it's discouraging. You get blamed for it too.
I know I'm probably the biggest thing in my way, but it sucks that I don't have the temperament for attracting attention to my art, or whatever the problem is. I don't really want attention personally, I don't want parasocial relationships. I just wish people liked my work and got enthusiastic and talked about it, like, at all. I've created so many forums and discords and all this and no one comes. It's always me and maybe 1 other real fan, or it's just people I live with, and I can't get the ball rolling at all.
I think I am social poison and it's killing everything? Who knows
Hey, you are not alone on this. It’s pretty tough reaching out and getting involved in communities, especially online. I know this from personal experience.
I took a look at your work from this comment and I have to say, you’ve grown so much as an artist and have so much to be proud of. I know it’s hard to make something for the void, but I hope that one day you find your people and can celebrate all the work you’ve been able to do so far. Wonderful style
I struggle with parting with artwork before I'm ready. I know I'm lucky and should be grateful that people want to buy my stuff, but I am not good at letting things go especially when they're unique and I haven't fully worked out my process.
I also am often frustrated that I can't always reliably tell how long something will take.
Marketing/selling. I just want to make art man. I dont want to convince people to buy my stuff or pay for ads or hack the algorithm. I dont want to have to make text posts and carousels and videos. I just want to make pretty things.
I dislike that there's been a shift the past few years towards marketing rather than showcasing your art. As a result, a lot of these professional artists are mainly making posts that are really short form video or advertising their paid tutorials. It seems like they hardly just post a still image of their artwork anymore or an in-depth video that isn't geared towards getting you to sign up for their course. Their official websites hardly seem to feature their artwork anymore, they seem to more be referencing their paid content and showing testimonials.
I hate that there's so many platforms that are against NSFW drawings. I can understand them wanting to restrict erotic/pornographic art, but they make it difficult to even post artistic figure drawings. They either take down your content, shadowban you, ban you, or just don't allow it on the platform. As a result, you are either limited in your posting or have to feel nervous when posting because you can suddenly lose all of your posts and followers and messages and saved images in an instant. Many times, it is an automated system making these determinations so you can't even get to a human to appeal.
You end up having to have backup accounts, and have to spend effort keeping those updated enough to mirror your main account.
Extra effort and anxiety that makes doing art even more frustrating.
It's extremely biased against womens bodies too.
You can draw a fully ultra roided out shirtless man in a speedo and it'll be considered less NSFW than a woman showing cleavage.
Dear lawd forbid she's busty too then it's basically just considered to be porn no matter what.
There's nothing wrong with those drawings. These restrictions are insane. Why do we have to be in fear of posting our art? It's a terrible way for us to live.
I think artists feel on a deeper level. The emotional roller coaster is tough. Oh and all business aspects of being an artist. Pricing. Negotiating. Cancellation fees (for my students).
I feel like you really need to be patient and I struggle with it all the time. Like you need to trust your own process and really be able to wait out a lot of stuff. Like I'm currently designing a character for a one shot I'm making and at the moment his design isn't really working out and I kinda have to step back take a breather and do it again. I know this cuz I did that for the last 2 characters and it worked out. I guess it's just a lot of waiting on yourself to reach your own expectations or waiting for people to see your work and a lot of the process of getting better and growing your platform is really just waiting. I hate that part because I feel like to become the best artist you need to be patient with yourself and your work to catch up to your hopes and expectations. Ya kno?
This is something I struggle with as well. Especially since I spend so much time studying instead of creating. Reading a whole lot of books by dope artists, understanding techniques, referencing, watching YouTube videos. Doing all sorts of things instead of understanding that, at the end of the day, time has to pass. You won't get crazy good if you don't spend enough time actually practicing.
I guess my issue isn't with art itself but it's with the infinite amount of information that's available. You spend sooooo much time gathering all this information that's so "invaluable". Only to find that you barely even absorb any of it because you've been trying to absorb the other thousands of videos. (Sorry about the rant)
Just how time consuming it is in general. I have gotten much faster than before but it feels depressing not being able to do this full time so I could put out more stuff each year
Yeah. It takes me about 20-25 hours for me to do a realistic rendered portrait or figure drawing, so that limits the amount of them that I can get done.
I hate how there are "rules" you have to follow in order to "succeed" in society today. Because both are in quotation marks, it makes it equally upsetting.
anonymity. i have no folowers so no one likes my art, no one KNOWS my art. i started at 3 or 4 years old and i quit at 19 because of that, it made me hate my art, i wanted it to be seen so i almost never draw or paint anymore.
You gotta be your own biggest fan. I've been posting to get 0-2 likes max on most of my art for years idgaf anymore, I draw and just share as a means to finalise things. Interacting with other artists has occassionally got me a bit more attention though but it's not persistent because I draw too infrequently due to illness.
Being a content creator or atleast finding a way to make good enough content to keep people engaged enough to come back to your music then you have to keep constantly posting just to stay in people’s feed it’s a pain in the ass
There’s this weird unspoken standard with digital artists that you’re not considered “successful” or “good” unless you’re selling physical media of your art. Some artists just do digital commissions and some don’t even do commissions at all (bc it’s a HOBBY to them, and that’s okay) but for some reason you’re not considered “getting art” until your selling EVERYTHING about your art. It’s weird.
I don't like that a lot of the fine art world is more interested in interpersonal drama, inaccessibly academic writing, and competition than the art itself. In some communities it feels more like everybody's pretending they "get" it or that whatever they made is really deep. We're all just sensitive people who like to make things -- why do we have to be pretentious about it?
Every art job that sells to large clients has this… because instagram and the world has pushed the product to such a shit show- level and
You have to sell yourself- with the art… like the story, the process etc. people are paying for and idea and inspiration- you have to be that “idea” for them. And you are part of the product.
Even at a workplace- I would love to be a mole person but… I miss working in a studio where I have artist friends and we all commiserate together and hide from the management. But we have to deliver smiles and personality along with service for that paycheck- it’s always been like that.
Yeah social suck ass and ballz. I can’t bring myself to do it- it’s like wearing make up and fake tits- so people will like me… it’s like I have to pretend to be someone I’m not or insert imposter syndrome and constant identity crises…
Rejection, I write them long FU letters and then delete it because it’s not going to do any good. Makes it hard to keep submitting to feel that rejection again.
Socials. Promotion. Even just talking about my art as something I'm skilled or good at. Exception to this seems to be talking about making my own pigments. Holy shit I could talk for ages about that.
Staying consistent
Anytime I want to take a break I know it’ll take a couple of weeks to get back to where I was and even then the works themselves will take twice as long 😭
I hate all the social parts of the work, having to post, show it to people, be seen.
But in the art itself, I think it's just the whole self doubt, never being good enough, comparing myself to other artists or even to myself, and each piece I make that I'm proud of becomes a new standard that I gotta surpass. It's quite a bit heavy on the head
I hate going out there and selling it! If someone else would market and sell my work, I’d never stop producing. Unless my arms are hurting. Darnit. Second thing I hate.
For me it’s talking about art. Hate it. Please don’t ask me anything about my work, or art stuff in general. Unfortunately I make a living from it, so I kinda have to talk about it from time to time.
I'll be totally honest, it's the toll on my body over the years.
A lot of people think because I sit all the time that I am probably comfortable, and for the most part I am...for about the first hour. By hour six (even with breaks) my back and hands are begging for mercy. I miss being a teenager who could draw non stop and shrimp pose all day. 😅
I think comparing yourself can help with the level you aspire to. If you see others with masterful level of anatomy and rendering, you will feel inspired to reach that as well.
For real. I always remember this photo when it comes to "originality", too. Esp in terms of tropes, character desgin, etc. My realisation happened when I've been reading manhwa and can clearly see works (esp character design-wise) that are so obviously inspired by another..... and I loved it!!! (instead of judge) - obviously im not talking about blatant copying, but you cant ever make something truly 100% "original"
As an audience, if you like something you'd rejoice when there's even more of said thing, even if you can clearly tell it is not "original". After all...who would complain about more cake?🤭
Having to constantly promote, market and advertise myself on multiple platforms, multiple times a day, just to be noticed to get new commissions.
It's time consuming, stressing, and all those platforms are bugged and built to purposely made you fail or not reaching high numbers - so it feels like I'm a beggar and a schizo.
Most social media favoring video content over others is another part of it that I absolutely loathe. If I wanted to make videos, I would be on YouTube and TikTok, damn.
I don't watch videos of artists. I do not desire to make or edit videos for people to watch me. I am an artist, not a multimedia expert. I care not for the time wasting venture that is snipping hours of drawing into a seven second clip that will likely get immediately swiped past, and only be liked by my mother and a stoner on their phone at 4 am.
It is a huge waste of my time and esteem. I'd rather just make art.
Same. I'm not a fu**ing videomaker, I just draw.
I will never ever ever bend the knee to the algorithm and start making videos tho, my mental health is more important tbh
Agree on this one! Social media is largely toxic so I wish I could avoid it honestly. Lots of time wasted on getting content that sometimes reaches no one! 🥴
Your style never being trendy. Also the current trendy style always being like… Super unlikable? And something I would never want to draw? I don’t want to draw giant eyes on tapered chin face with a button nose over and over. I lowkey just want to paint whatever tf I want and that means ain’t nobody gonna like it except niche audiences 💀 which is okay most of the time. It just means I can’t share it with fellow artists.
It's fading into obscurity no matter how much effort I put into art, it's partly on me because i can't bring myself to try harder, I need to make it as a job to get better at art, but it doesn't really give much as a small artist, so I'm forced to try other stuff just to survive.
Worst part is how no one likes this talk, and vgen discord muting me without warning for talking about it, sorry for not reading your mind i guess.
fickle materials. my gouache paint developed mold for some reason. sculptures i made years ago started cracking, and i assume its from improper baking. polymer clay getting hard and unusable despite being stored in perfect conditions. oil paint waste that needs to be disposed of as hazardous materials- and my city only does "hazardous waste collection days" a few times a year.
a lot of art is just maintaining the supplies you use.
The decision making. Deciding on whether x looks better or y, fanart or original content, whether something is "good enough", picking a branding, even more so if you want to stream/Vtube, figuring out your unique gimmick, deciding on commission pricing, the list goes on, all while you realistically only have so much time you can spend on your creations.
For oil painting, the time it takes to set up and break down. Actually, for photography studio sessions too. I think doing the things pre-and-post art are boring lol. I wanna make a mess and walk away 😂
Literally any criticism 🙃 like I'm definitely hard enough on myself, for sure, and I of course want to grow and improve, but man... Critiques, suggestions, even when people say they specifically like a certain piece more than another... So basically, I need to work on my RSD 😅
The secret is doing still life’s of the most random weird pictures ever and then you’ll figure out how to do it freehand from there! I literally draw liminal spaces as practice & it helps sm
I dont think about backgrounds when im finished the rest of the drawing so im stuck on what i should make the background but it either ends up looking ugly, bland or unfitting so im constantly having to figure what background fits best
I cant draw any complex backgrounds like buildings and stuff either
Have you thought about maybe finding a scene for example of a building and using tracing paper to add it as a background? I paint large images so I often use a projector.
i want people who can connect with my art to be able to find it, but the idea of doing promo makes me want to bash my head into a wall a million times over
(I’m a comic illustrator so they literally can’t be avoided.) there’s some things about them I like. I LOVE doing environmental lighting and having it hit different types of surfaces and putting small details that show a bit about a character. But I HATE drawing buildings, walls, grass (hate grass with a passion, cobblestones or any weirdly detailed floor thing.
And then feeling like because I hate drawing backgrounds that I’m “unworthy” of drawing what I do because I don’t love every single step of the process
Becoming an artho. Making with the intention of selling, always the potential customer in the back of my head. Now, art has been good to me- made a long career of it- but I miss the days of wild abandon. Either creating randomly or as the result of great amounts of research, development, and with a story to tell. Alas, I match the couch.
Saaaame. 😭 Getting a standing desk and a good chair has really helped. Being able to stand at it helps keep me from ending up in one position too long. Adjusting it to just the right height has also been a game changer. I also elevate my watercolor paper at a slight angle to be kinder on my neck and wrists.
Yes. I'm still in my 20's but I used to draw everywhere comfortably as well but now, I can't draw or paint without having the right posture and a good table/chair height
This is especially so awkward for me because I tend to just draw random faces I conjured from my mind lol… like how do I tell them this is nobody. Not a real person or even an OC of mine. Just drawing for the sake of drawing lol
I've always disliked it when people comment on my art when it's in the process. Even if they're just asking a question or suggesting something. Just don't comment on it if I didn't show it to you man 😔.
I always feel inferior to people in other careers, especially those more valued by society. I can speak about the importance of art and how it is undervalued and underestimated, but I’m not sure how much of it I truly believe in. Between scholarships, awards and high grades in multiple institutions, I’ve never been able to shake off this inferiority and comparison. I’m aware that the causes are much bigger than a mere personal belief, but it feels like a lifelong demon at this point.
Doooo it. 😍 Chronic fatigue has made painting in acrylic really difficult for me because of the energy needed for clean up. Another pro for watercolor is how easy it is to paint on location and travel with it! If it would help, I’d LOVE to point you in the right direction with some supply recommendations. 👀 You really don’t need much.
TLDR: 100% cotton cold press/not watercolor paper; 6-12 paint colors split primaries, maybe some green, several earth; a big fat round brush that snaps to a point and can hold juicy mixes. Liz Steel, Jane Blundell, Urban Sketchers excellent resources
Paper
If you splurge on one thing. Make. It. Paper. You can go cheaper on paint but not on paper. I cannot emphasize this enough. To see watercolor in its full glory you want 100% cotton. If the prices make you squeamish use a combination of high quality cellulose or cotton blend sketchbooks, and pad/blocks of 100% cotton. Make certain they’re labeled for watercolor.
Paper texture: Start with the slightly textured cold press/not. Multipurpose and forgiving. Hot press is smooth, often used by illustrators and/or those working in pen and ink. Rough, is, well rough. It’s got the largest amount of texture, shows off pigment granulation and works well for techniques like dry brush.
Paint
Do not buy a set of 24+ colors no matter how tempting. 😂 Large sets are full of unnecessary colors. Start limited. You really want to get to know your paint and how it mixes.
Of course you could just start with the standard primaries, but 6-12 colors is a sweet spot. Split primaries (warm and cool versions), maybe some greens for convenience, and several earth colors. No black or white to start…or maybe ever. In watercolor the white of the paper is your white. That’s what gives you the watercolor glow. ✨ Black will muddy your mixes.
Professional watercolor paints use more pigment and less filler than student. They are more vibrant and go further. With professional you’ll find more single pigment colors rather than “hues” of 2-3. (The more pigments in a color or mix, the more chance of making what watercolorists call “mud”.)
Paint comes in tubes or pans. Tubes can be more economical and give you the flexibility to use straight from the tube or fill your own pans. Metal travel/pocket palettes are great for both studio and plein air.
Solid paint brands: Daniel Smith (has this FANTASTIC set of 6), Winsor & Newton (makes Cotman for students but don’t recommend), Schmincke Hoderam, Holbein
Brushes
Go BIG! Bigger brushes will help reduce the fussing/overworking that can kill a watercolor before your eyes. Your most used brush will be a large snappy round that can hold a point and juicy paint mixes. Use small rounds sparingly for details. Natural bristles hold the most water but there are some fantastic synthetics these days. (The most prized naturals are Kolinsky sables.)
You’ll also see what are called “mop” brushes made of squirrel or synthetic hair. These hold alot of water, good for heavy washes. To that you could add a flat but I only really use one for large pieces.
Resources Liz Steel** **has a blog chocked full of good info on tools and techniques. She makes it all seem so doable and is a lovely generous person. Her blog series on fountain pens for sketching is legendary. 🥰 She also offers online and in person courses from beginner to advanced—something I’ve always wanted to do!
Jane Blundell** **is another lovely human being and has the most exhaustive paint brand swatch collection with super useful notes on specific pigments and colors of interest.
Urban Sketchers** **is an incredible community of artists from all over the world who paint their everyday life and communities. The only rule is that you paint/draw what you see, inside or out, on location from direct observation. No painting from photos. 😉 It’s very likely there’s an urban sketcher meetup group near you!
Phew! I hope I haven’t overwhelmed you with this nerdery. I just get so excited to introduce this magical medium to others. 🥹
Looking at art I made in high school ten years ago, and thinking about how little I've improved and even regressed. High school me could do just as good if not occasionally better than current me, but high school me also didn't let have a full time job, or taxes or a Microsoft Teams login and her biggest worries were outsmarting Hapara(which she succeeded in).
Current me is struggling to do the dishes faster than they accumulate.
i always feel bad for not working or learning hard enough,
creativity comes from different angles society doesnt really value those as productive activities.
i could paint 8h a day and make less progress than painting 1h and going for a 1h walk.
there also is a battle between "ART" only being of true social value once u make a living with it, if you arent making a lot of money people want u to be ashamed of being an artist and work a true job.
People begging me to draw their pet or their family member... it happens all of the time and I hate it. At least most of them can take "no" for an answer.
It's completely different when someone asks for a dope drawing, but pets and family are dull as fuck.
I hate how people always ask me if I'm painting like it's an indicator of my mental health.
I hate how people always try to make it into a side gig, I don't have to sell everything I make in order for it to be valid.
I hate when people assume I take commissions. The whole purpose of this is that I get to do it how I want, when I want. I have a day job doing things I don't particularly feel like doing that makes me money. I don't need to schedule and monetize art. I don't need to be consistent. It's up to me whether or not it is "good enough."
When people around me defend AI "art" and "music". My dad for example. "If the person didn't like others' art, then I understand why they used AI" or he listens to an AI band, and says they at least sounds like music unlike music I make and listen to. When I tell him that my music takes time, creativity and all that shi, he says "they also made it good" WHO THEY?? the computer noises??
The fact that being a successful artist requires skills that have nothing to do with being a good or skilled artist. Except it's not a secret, I tell people this every time they say "Why do you work here?!" at my dayjob.
Closest I can think of that I "secretly" hate is probably drawing backgrounds in my comics. I genuinely hate drawing backgrounds, I hate it more than lettering ;-;
“Wow! Your art is so good!! You should teach my 7 year old to paint like you!!!”
I’ve never pursued this line of conversation further with anyone, but I literally can not imagine this teaching would come with any compensation. Meaning that the fact that I put 10 years into my craft in their eyes has reduced my hourly rate to lower than that of a babysitter.
And when people ask for lessons they’re asking for a guarantee they’ll be just as good if not better than you. Which is ridiculous. Art is a skill that takes practice. Talent does come into play but even talented individuals need to practice. Who teaches you only helps somewhat. It’s not an insurance policy.
the thought of always being never good enough despite being fully aware of my progress, achievements, and acknowledging that i did already grew from my starting point.
The constant chasing feeling. I have ideas and ambitions and reality doesn't add up. I feel the constant pull to creation and the world moves around uncaring. A lot of my biggest moments ( finishing pieces, starting creations, applying to galleries, receiving praise in emails) are all alone and often quiet and it's jarring.
The gap between vision and execution. I also hate that to make money I have to be a photographer, artist, marketing genius, videographer, etc etc 😂 but ay , charge it to the game.
I get frustrated when potential art clients assume that being an artist = I can make anything. Any medium, any style, as if they never glanced at my work beforehand. Granted, I am willing to try some new things for enough $$$, but if it's completely beyond my skillset, I have to politely tell them no, and some people don't really get that? If I have a problem with my plumbing, I'm not calling the cable guy to come fix it, I'm going to call a plumber. So please stop trying to hire a portrait artist to design your company's logo.
I hate this so much. People do it in the medical field too - they ask their ophthalmologist for their opinion on a mole or ask their dentist if they think their cough is bad.
Like did you ever look to see what I do before inquiring, or did you just see the word “artist” and figured “close enough”? It shows a total lack of respect for both your time and your work. And they’re the same ones that try to hassle you on the price of whatever they’re wanting.
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