Why Is That...........?

Question

I just got done inking and coloring a picture and posted it on Deviantart. I was happy at first because I think it looked alright and I think I improved. Then after awhile I was sad because I didn't get as many favs or views on it and I really tried hard on this picture. Then I decided to browse through other peoples pictures and noticed that there are some people who can't draw as well as me and have more favs, views, watchers, and ect. but then there are also people who are better than me but don't have barely any favs, views, watchers, or ect. So it kind of makes me feel like no matter how hard I try it won't matter. I could be the best artist ever and I still wouldn't be happy... Just thinking that made me a little depressed and hopeless. When I draw I always try my best and yet it may be all for nothing?

Answer 1

Have you ever heard "art is in the eye of the beholder"?  Well you can't please everybody's eye, so if you are happy with your effort and effect then the ART is for YOU.  If others are moved by it too, that is a bonus.  I am an artist too, and I learned this a long time ago.  There will always be those that are much better than you and those who are much worse.  Be happy with what you do, challenge yourself to be better, and always practice, and explore your potential.  Good Luck.

Answer 2

Don't think that just because you don't get alot of favs, comments, and views that you aren't good enough. I know how you feel because when I was in school it felt as if I would do the best I could do and yet my teacher would always pick someone else, but I didn't give up art. I kept trying and you know what? I won 2 gold medals for my art when I entered a art contest. So Don't give up keep trying!!

I know it may seem that your art isn't good but I bet it is. Its just that sometimes a person may have a bunch of friends and tell them to look at them and then their friends may fav and comment their art. Don't just give up!! Keep tyring!!!!

Answer 3

You've just had a glimpse of the chasm between making art and marketing art. Although sites like Deviantart, and the internet in general, make it much easier than it used to be to get your artwork visible, it doesn't do the advertising for you.

There are a lot of ways to direct more traffic to your site or piece, but most of them require a lot of time and effort and a big, cast-iron ego. When you're just starting out, it's much gentler and more fun to continue making your best work, posting it and directing friends and family there, but not to get into a big popularity contest-style "choose me, choose me" thing unless that's really your cup of tea. If your work is there to be seen, you can just leave it there and not worry about it.

Another thing to bear in mind is that online, just as in real life, a lot of the time people are a bit intimidated when they see someone's artwork. They just don't know what to say, and are afraid of not seeming knowledgeable or of hurting the artist's feelings, or whatever.  So you could have had any number of people viewing but not marking or commenting.

It's a bit of a desolate feeling to have worked hard and put your lovingly created work "out there" and then get little or no response, but it's just the nature of the game. Most artists who eventually get their work widely shown and appreciated have one thing in common, and it's not genius, it's PERSISTENCE. (no, Y!A, I'm not shouting, I'm emphasizing. If italics were available I'd use them instead.)

There are occasional times when lightning strikes, and someone becomes very famous very quickly, and most often these are just people who are in the right place at the right time. I have seen this happen over and over; someone knows someone who's in a position to promote them, or someone happens to have their work visible at a time when someone else is looking for something like it. The only way to increase the chance of this happening is to have your work as visible as you can make it, sort of like buying as many lottery tickets as possible, and if you do this at the expense of developing your skill then (I believe for myself, anyway) it will not make you happy. I know some very successful artists, and they are always looking at who's doing better in the market than they are. They are often anxious, and their work suffers.

So yeah, I'm not trying to be depressing, I'm just saying I know how it feels and/but that's pretty much just how it is. Making art is so much fun that everyone wants to do it, so of course it's pretty competitive; we need to watch out that we keep focussed on the part of it that is good for us and makes us complete, and keep the market skirmishes reduced to a proper perspective.

So don't give up! It's definitely not "all for nothing" as long as you're enjoying doing it. Why not post a link here to your picture on Deviantart? Then some more of us would go have a look:)

Answer 4

One of the problems is that you depend too much on Deviant Art responses to validate your work.

If you really wanted, all you have to do is to talk your friends and family to go on to the site and post some good reviews.  But would those posts make your work any better?

A real artist does not create for the sake of reviews.  A real artist expresses his or her views through the medium.  That's it.

Do you feel as depressed if not everyone agrees with all your spoken opinions?  Your art work should be no different.