#love to do a visdev i had a lot of fun...here's to more!

[circuscountdowns]

Hi! Wanted to start off by saying that I LOVE your cotl art its such a huge inspiration to me :D! I recently picked up drawing again and I've unfortunately been upset? envious?! of others' skills and just wanted to ask if you ever experienced this as a fellow artist and if so how do you not do that lol. Sorry for the weird question. I just thought some insight and advice from a fellow artist could helo. BUT I hope you still have a nice day and look forward to any more cotl art or anything you draw really :D!!! (also is okay if you don't answer it is a loaded question I just be in a silly goofy mood lately okay bye!)

oh wow being on the receiving end of a question like this is surreal, I’m honored my work inspires you! Thank u, you’re sweet, it’s not a loaded question at all! Here’s my long reply sorry

so unfortunately that comparing yourself to others thing doesn’t go away ever asdfgjkl. I suffer it every day, it sucks, feels bad. I’ve had industry people tell me they feel this way and they’ll have some of the most gorgeous visdev/boards/animation I’ve ever seen. Disheartening to hear, But! I’m a big believer that comparing your artworks with others is best used as a tool and not a punishment to yourself!

When looking at art you like, try to turn thoughts of, “Man I wish my stuff looked like that, my shit sucks,” to, “What is it that I like about this piece? The line art? The perspective?” Sometimes I’ll see work with thin line art and I’ll get an itch, and I’ll draw something with thin line art. It’s a conscious effort of keepin emotion out of that itch, keeping it as, “I saw art with thin lines, I want to do that. Yay I did that!” Compartmentalize it, the itch was simply to do thin line work, not to remake the piece you were inspired by. And you got a piece of art out of it, and a single piece is progress no matter how small!

If you want to compare, do it methodically! Why does my work look different (never use the words better or worse)! Oh, I see my piece doesn’t follow the rule of thirds, so the framing is different, I’ll be aware of that next time if it bothers me. Or, Oh I see they shade by hatching along with the form, I’ve just been going horizontally, I’ll try that other way!

it’s a learning curve of training yourself, like all corrective behavior.

like, I kinda have the warning feeling of dread when I’m about to compare my work with something, so before the self-deprecating thought can even start I have to think What do I Like about this?

I’m no expert at it, though. Actually getting myself to think this way is a struggle, but I find when I make Thoughtful Observations I level up. Not by a lot most times, but yknow.

and this part is just my personal experience:

Fanart and the internet can be the biggest Art skill killer sometimes. Get offline and cater to the audience that Really matters to your passion: You! I improved the most by spending 2-3 years doing doodles/comics/models for my dnd campaign ocs because I was that obsessed and I simply wanted to have it for me!

and after all that, then there’s the hardest skill of just accepting your work as is.

like, to me, my work is just scribbles. I see other artists’ stuff and go “Man they’re so good at comics and colors, man, why can’t I color?” But do I need to??? I don’t like coloring, do I need to be good at it? This isn’t a career, this is supposed to be fun! I scribble because I like it! I’m glad this persons good at coloring, I don’t need to be! Yay!

if I Want to be good at it, I’ll take the steps to get there! But if not, my scribbles are just fine :) I love black and white and values

I’ve been having that one on repeat for a while. It helps

(acceptance and denial go hand in hand btw lol they sound the same)

I wish there was a little off button for envy, but ah well! I hope that you take comfort in knowing we are all feeling it, and find joy in even the smallest little doodle you make! Have fun stay goofy!

#I wrote this in part so it might be a rambly mess. #I have a difficult relationship with art after 5 years of college for it. Cotl has been helping me find ways to love art again. #ty for liking my work!

[pixelpastry]

updated anael ref + close ups :]

#dnd art #dnd 5e art #dnd character #original character #character design #my art #love to do a visdev i had a lot of fun...here's to more!

[lexicals]

The rules: answer 17 questions & tag 17 people you want to know better!

Tagged by @ultrasopp !! Ty for the tag!!

Nickname: Tbh I consider lex to be kind of a nickname bc only ppl online call me that. It’s good though

Zodiac sign: Pisces/aries cusp

Height: :v

Hogwarts house: Honestly I haven't touched any hp media in years but I always liked the sound of ravenclaw. I am nothing if not a nerd and a tryhard

Last thing I googled: Something about superbikes? Idk it was for work

Song stuck in my head: None bc the radio is on but That is playing one week by barenaked ladies lmao

Following and followers: Following like 2600+ and somehow my dash is still dead lmao I need to follow more people in other timezones. Followers I just hit 1900 o:

Amount of sleep i get: I try to aim for 8 or ideally 9 hours bc that’s how much I need to function like a human being but usually I hit about 6.5-7.5 I think. Idk I wake up in the middle of the night a lot

Lucky number(s): 3 7 21 gotta love the classics

Dream job: Someone pays me to work on my passion projects & draw fanart and write fic all day lol. Idk I’m pretty happy with my day job rn but more visdev/character centric work would be fun

Wearing: Black jeans rainbow striped long sleeve shirt cowboy boots o: Also a big ol shawl thing cause it’s cold

Favorite songs: Currently very into just all of anjimile’s music, and uhh idk ‘the villain I appear to be’ from that one animation slaps a lot. Also mango love

Instruments: None ): My hands are too small for things like guitar although I have tried, I’ve had a go at a bit of piano & ukulele here and there but nothing seriously. I like singing though! I guess that could count as an instrument, I like to think I’m at least decent

Random facts: I have a scar on my face that’s pretty faded now but when it was more obvious it looked like the lower half of one of those anime eye scars. Also I’m very scared of bees

Aesthetic: If you just throw vampire hunter, cowboy and emo/punk into a blender and then normie it up a bit for office work that’s probably about right. Just Gay Y’know

Tagging: I think most of my mutuals have already been tagged but um @fortzancudo @deerchan @shadowkat2000 @nonbinarydisaster @ivyontheholodeck @ccomilk @themusicisimpossibletohear ?? Idk 17 is a lot if you wanna do it go for it

#wastepaper basket #ask meme #Before anyone comes at me telling me I don't need to be scared of bees I KNOW THIS #I love and respect bees this does not stop me having an instant terror reaction to buzzing #I always get to these things late bc of timezones so everyone has been tagged already :/