Getting Noticed is Hard, Right?

Yeah, it is.  Working in the Artistic Field isn't a cake-walk.  It's more like a run down a steep mountain on the verge of an avalanche with poisonous plants lining it.  Just when you thought that you found a path to walk down BOOM you stepped too far and the ledge crumbles then BAM you fall right into an unsuspecting mountain lion.

You can never expect things you hope for to go exactly as planned; unless you laid out a path for yourself with no regrets or expectations don't expect shit.

I came across a post on a Facebook group where the OP was complaining about the group having such-and-such amount of people and their post only got a few likes.  I won't sugar coat that it was mainly them looking for people with the same problem to validate their issue.  Look, it happens.  Not everyone will like your stuff, especially in a group of artists who do the same thing as you.  There are preferences in the anime/manga world and The World in general.

Would you listen to a mix tape if the sample soundtrack the person played while you walked by had shitty quality that sounded like he recorded the voice while a jumbo jet was flying overhead?  Probably not.  So why would someone be drawn to an anime with shitty graphics?  I'm not saying this person's work was bad.  The guy with the mix tape could have great lyrics, you don't care at this point so you ignore him and keep walking.  This person's art did not stand out.  On Facebook, if something catches my eye I like it and move on otherwise I scroll pass it and never think about it again.

Something that peeved me while I was sifting through these comments was when they were comparing their work to "shittier scribbles that got more likes than theirs".  Stop comparing your work to others unless you look up to theirs'.  Stop comparing your work to "shit".  I don't look at a pile of dog shit and think, "Oh how I wish my art looked just like that..."  No, you don't do that!  If their work gets more likes than yours so the hell what?  Does that make it better than yours?  Does that mean they deserve any less and you deserve more?  Are you aiming to be mediocre or great?  Don't think about taking a step backwards for some pity, it won't get you anywhere.

When I began digital media I started from the picture shown above.  She had no knees, minimal shading, and was just crappy but don't even let me get started on my traditional art before I even dabbled here.  It took me a few years to even get to that first taste of digital media.  Even someone who turns out to be a prodigy has to move up.  If they were a prodigy at 13 and stay at that level until they're 33 they'll probably fall off the map as that-one-artist-who-formerly-was or some shit like that.

Even being here with the few things I'm proud of there is always an up.  Whether your up is in views, likes, monetized gain, fame, or even skill you need to work for what you want.  Aim higher, try harder, and stop whining for sympathy because you won't go anywhere with that mind set.

Painting is almost erotic

Aside from drawing anime, I love to paint.  Painting is like. . . an uncensored version of creating for me.  

Drawing, to me, has a process of sketching, lining, then coloring.  Painting is just something that let's me live a little more.  I love it.

Painting makes me feel so free.  Not as structured, but more in control in a messy sense.  Even if things look choppy it still allows me to live in that unorganized sense, with mixes and mixes of color that just make everything fit together so well. 

  Here's the product of last night.

Being a Self-Employed Anime Artist

Being an anime artist has its perks and yet it has its depressing times.  

It's hard to take the step and become a full time anime artist, you're taking a risk.  Aside from being self-employed you're also doing an art that doesn't get too much attention in mainstream media.  It's very popular on some sites (DeviantArt, Anipan...ect) but over all its a hard job to come by. 

When you do happen to come by a job it's a chance/chance situation.  There are many other people who want that job and sometimes you won't have the art they want.  You could come across a job offer that says "Comic Artist Wanted!" but they may not want you.  They could be asking for an artist with a "western" style or a Superman vibe style, you never know whether or not you're right for the job.  It's like that in the "real" work force too, but the advantage to that is you can make an impression that you're able to do whatever the job offers in person.

Adapting to certain styles is probably the most frustrating thing with this job.  Sometimes your work isn't "quite" what they want but you feel you can tweak it to make it what the client wants.  With that process it might take you longer to actually finish the picture than it would if you were to just draw how you usually do.  But, with those sorts of jobs it gives you the opportunity to practice with adaptation.  Adaptation is an important trait to have.  It shows that you're able to do multiple things aside from just that ONE particular style you do well.  It also helps to broaden your artistic abilities.

Sometimes this job makes you wonder if you're cut out for this.  If you can say to yourself "I want to work this job for the rest of my life".  It'll make you question whether or not this job will put the bacon on the table (with a plate or without).  Risk is important in this job, if you can't fully commit and one day you just want to quit don't start in the first place.  I'm not saying doubts won't be there, we're only human and the most important thing is to survive and be happy while doing so, but you've got to realize that it's the choice you made and it has its challenges.

I've gotten to the point to where I'm actually thinking about getting a small part time job just to make some extra cash during those in between moments for jobs.  I quit my first job for this though so I'm going to go through with it without wavering.  I can tell you this, it's hard but rewarding.