A note to artists, and generally everyone
I’m sorry but this is just getting out of hand honestly.
First of all, as an artist you should want to expand and to grow for yourself.
Second of all, I’m sorry but Tumblr is probably the shittiest website if you want to grow as an artist.
Most artists I see who are VERY talented are struggling with art because they can’t compete or they don’t get likes.
FUCKING HELLO?
People get a goddamn infinite number of these, they literally mean nothing.
Likes on tumblr are equivalent to facebook likes, to FA likes, and deviantart likes.
In no goddamn book is it written you are judged by the number of likes you have.TUMBLR IS A BLOG SITE. In other words, a social networking site. You as an artist and person “compete" for likes with popular shows, webcomics, movies, games, and the like.
There is literally in NO WAY is it physically possible for even one of the most popular of artists who uses this site to get more notes than a funny gif of a cat playing the piano or a caterpillar in a birthday hat.Fucking show me if that’s the case.
As an artist you NEED to grow! You can study as many anatomy books and watch tutorials as you like, but fertilizer does nothing for a plant that tries to grow. (More on this later.)
You can look WAAAAAY back on any artist right now and all of their art and how they grew. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH HOW THEY WERE TO HOW YOU ARE. EVERYONE GROWS DIFFERENTLY AND EVERYONE DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I’m sorry but you are NOT going to be the next Michael de Angelo, Shakespeare, Miyazaki, or Darwin. You are going to be the next YOU. No matter how hard you try you can only do what YOU can do and what YOU are comfortable with. This does not mean don’t try at all.
If you like an artist here on tumblr, go up to them and fucking ask “Hey, I like your art! Could you teach me a little about X or Y?“
Try to avoid “communal questions” if you want to get better, no offence but people tend to not say much when they know they’re gonna be seen by others.
GET DOWN AND DIRTY.
Another thing that ties in with this is that “We must all be all for or all against.“
Like I said before, A plant does not grow without fertilizer, but will not grow if it does not try. You can’t do what they can do all the time, but you can TRY.
What am I getting at here exactly?
BALANCE. FUCKING BALANCE.
Yes, friends will do things with you! No they will not always hang out with you!
Yes, you can eat cake. Don’t eat the whole thing!
Yes, you can draw and write every day! Take the time to do something else too!
Yes, do anatomical studies and coloring practice! Don’t forget to flex your imagination!
Yes, you can be an asshole to someone. You’re probably gonna get punched in the face for it though!
Yes, draw that goofy guy with tons of belts. Make it believable!
I can go ON and ON forever, but it does nothing if people don’t learn.
In short,
- Draw for yourself.
- Likes don’t fucking matter.
- Balance yourself in everything you do!
- Learn from the people, not the community.
- Treat other artists with respect and ask for pointers
- GO MONO A MONO for help.
- Get multiple opinions.
