Question for the Artists here

[Kujacker]

Hey everyone.

To anyone that is an artist here, my question is this… what keeps you doing what you do? To me, art feels like a bad habit that I hate doing, and should have quit a long time ago, but just can’t. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t have an audience that enjoys it. When I was younger, I had a lot of people online and offline that enjoyed my stuff, and I had mandatory art classes in school that allowed people to see me working and there were people in those classes that liked my stuff…and that kept me going. But I don’t have that anymore, and with every piece I make, I ask myself why. Why am I doing this. What is the point.

Every time I complete something, it just gets thrown in the cabinet or a random place and it’s instantly forgotten (just today I was looking for a movie and found a piece I did last month in there. I was just like “oh yeah. Forgot about this” and then threw it back in the cabinet. Now why did I put it with the dvds…). I don’t have a single piece of my art on display. And every so often, I just throw my stuff out. No matter what I think of it, I’m like well “why am I keeping this” and toss it (I had a [super popular artist that has a huge internet following that lives off their art] tell me I should put them up on the internet for sale and let someone else enjoy them but like? No one would ever buy them? So it rolls back into the why bother).

And yes, I’ve heard [super popular artists that have a huge internet following] tell people that the joy is creating the work not the people that enjoy it afterwards but… not for me? I don’t enjoy doing art. I always said I’d quit drawing before I was 20. Hence why I think it’s just a habit. I think it was a habit that came with everyone around me telling me to create, to draw, and now without that I don’t have a reason and yet I still continue to do it.

Basically everyone I know is like “I don’t know about art, I don’t care about art, so I can’t give any advice”. So I just kinda wanted to hear what other artists have to say about it.

I don’t mean to sound depressing or anything like that, nor am I looking for pity or what have you. I just can’t get an answer from anywhere at all. Specially when I have people telling me to quit then the same people are asking why I haven’t drawn anything in awhile.

🙂

[Landipan]

For me, I’ve been drawing and doing some kind of art/craft my entire life, and sometimes I do go through periods(from months to years) where I don’t do it at all, there’s an ebb and flow to my active creativity. And when I am drawing or painting sometimes I can get stressed and frustrated with what I’m working on and wonder why I do this to myself, but at the end of it I push through and am generally happy with what I’ve done. I like to tell people ‘art is pain’ at this point in the process, or it’s like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, as in it’s frustrating/terrible/and I keep torturing myself into a ball of anxiety but in the end I’m happy that I did it(most of the time). x’D

I think it also helps that I have had some luck selling some of my art in the past, not every time, but in the case of my Windstone Pyo’s I’ve been able to sell every one of them which allows me to continue painting them. If I couldn’t sell them I would likely very rarely paint them as I wouldn’t be able to fund buying them and the brushes I find essential in getting the effects I want. Plus, much like you, I don’t really have a huge desire to keep the things I paint or create, mostly because I need the space for the things I buy from others xp

But  I don’t draw to show to the world or make some kind of profit, it’s kind of like you say, it’s kind of a habit. I have TONS of sketch books filled with sketches and drawings that have never been seen by anyone, but I enjoy doing them as I always try to recreate what’s in my head onto paper or in paint. I’m rarely successful but it’s all about the desire to make something I think looks good.

My next artistic endeavor is to learn how to make plushies, I know it won’t be easy at first but I dream of making plushies that look as good as some of the plush artists I admire so much! I have so many design ideas and I want to be able to bring them to life to cuddle!

SO in the end, what keeps me doing any kind of art is that I enjoy it in the end, even when it frustrates me or gives me anxiety. I don’t have any plans on making a living off it(I don’t think I’ll ever ever be THAT good), it’s really mostly for me, though it is really nice and helpful when I can make money off it! 🙂

 

*Formerly meowmix101
Not currently open for PYO commissions.

[Bodine]

It keeps my brain firing.

I am in no way on the level as you,probably why I don”t plan on ever stopping.I truly enjoy art in all forms but my favorite is painting.I can’t keep enough things around to paint.

I wish you luck and peace.

Every act matters.No matter how small💞
(Wanted......Brimstone Lap)
Male Hearth....one day🤞Dream on.

[StormDancer]

For me, I only do art projects when I am in the mood for them. I used to draw a lot when I was younger but I have not done that in years now. It’s just something that as much as I loved doing when I was younger, I have not found much enjoyment from the last several years. Painting the PYO’s I enjoy, but only if I am in the mood, otherwise it ends up a project of frustration. Which is why I generally only end up doing a few a year. There are a few I started that then got to sit for 4 or 5 months because my muse went on vacation without notice.

For me art is a zen thing, in the right mood, it all flows and somehow things end up looking good enough that other folks seem to really enjoy them and are willing to purchase them. And the threads we can put here  that allows us to show off some of our work I find very inspiring. Even if someone doesn’t care for something and tells me, the feedback for me, helps me to improve or to perhaps look at trying something in a new way or a color I hadn’t planned on. I never look at art, in any form, as I HAVE too, only as I WANT too. That keeps it relaxing and enjoyable for me.

Good luck finding a way to enjoy your art again or coming to peace with taking a break from it for however long you need.

Looking for:
"COSMIC SHIFT DRAGONS and KI-RINS" and the "OCTOPUS TANUKI TEST PAINT #1"

[etruscan]

No advice, but I’m curious.  I know that people will buy your PYOs because I have two of them.  Is your conviction that people won’t buy your non-PYO art the result of experience, or because trying to sell them doesn’t seem worthwhile?

[Dragoneer_88]

You’re obviously a creative person. Maybe you want to create, but not sure what to create sometimes? Perhaps that’s what drives you to draw even though you don’t like too. Or maybe it’s a mental release for you? Some studies show drawing can have a calming effect, unless you’re like me and try too hard and then get frustrated because it doesn’t look like what’s in your head! Maybe you want a light creative challenge that’ll flex your brain muscle? Maybe it’s just something to do…like folding laundry. I don’t know of anyone that truly enjoys folding laundry. Ideally, a person could just toss unfolded clothes into a dresser and be done with it.

I don’t like puzzles and I rarely do one but somtimes I buy a 1500+ piece puzzle and sit there for days until it’s finished, all the while getting frustrated with it. I start to question myself. Why am I doing this? Why am I like this? I like to think the human brain likes a mildly frustrating, creative challenge once in awhile.

I have a half brother that can draw the kind of elaborate stuff that you see in tattoo shops or on t-shirts, however, he rarely draws. He’s had no training or taken any art classes. Makes me sick he can draw amazing things so effortlessly and have it look amazing and here I am with an art degree and my drawings are…meh. Sometimes he just feels like drawing and then goes for long periods without drawing.

With me, I mostly like to draw things that don’t exist, like sci-fi and fantasy creatures and landscapes. I hate still life drawing unless it’s really interesting on a personal level. I can’t tell you how many times in school I had to draw fruit in a bowl and how mentally irritating and boring that was. Occasionally, I’ll draw existing cartoon characters for style study. I think it’s a fun hobby. However, most drawings and paintings get tossed or deleted, when digitally created, because I’m my own worst critic. I get really frustrated with it sometimes and quit for awhile, and then draw again. The cycle repeats over and over, hence why I shouldn’t do anything artsy for a living. When I’m excepted to do it, it’s no longer fun. I just like drawing for myself and if someone happens to like something I create, whoohoo. Also, I do the big no-no and compare my work to others and just get discouraged. Two things I was told is, “You’ll never be able to create a work exactly like you see in your mind” and “there’s always people out there that you think or actually are better than you at drawing.”

[Kujacker]

(Looks like the forum is doing the thing where it doesn’t actually post your replies. So apologizes if this reply ends up suddenly appearing multiple times!)

@Landipan You sound like me, just you end up enjoying it! I go for months without doing any art as well, and I don’t feel like I’m missing anything at all.  Yes, art is definitely pain… and while I generally enjoy what my finished pieces look like, I think I end up neutral about them anyway. But I’ve definitely dug up pieces and said “oh, I still really like this”. But at the same time, I’ll look at works I did in my teens and think “How did I LOSE skill?”
I’m not looking to draw for profit either… but I’m beginning to think I can only enjoy my art if others enjoy it at well. I think it’s the conditioning effect of having being raised/schooled around people that wanted to see my stuff. Now that no one wants to see it, what’s the point in making it?
OH I’d love to learn how to make plush toys. I see these plushies online that people make and ugh do want. A friend of mine is also making it his mission to try and make plush animals. He’ll probably figure it out way before I even think to start (but he has a head start, he’s been knitting for years).

@Bodine I really don’t feel like I’m good in the slightest… and that’s probably part of why art is so frustrating to me. Nothing seems to ever go right with it for me. Like I’m destined to fail before I start.

@StormDancer I definitely understand the muse part. I’ve had half finished pyos sit around for a year or more. Ahh you mention feedback of any sort, and that’s what I don’t get from my 2d art anymore that I use to. As I mentioned with the mandatory art classes and all, we were forced to put work on the wall and talk about it, get critiques and stuff, I don’t get that anymore. But those people in class, along with online back in those days, wanted to see my stuff. In class, people were always excited to see what I had drawn for that week, and how I executed it. I didn’t get paid for any of that, but people enjoyed my work so I enjoyed creating it. Without that, I think that’s why I don’t enjoy art…

@etruscan I’m between jobs and in a huge financial bind so I can’t paint pyos like I use to (though I’d love to). But, there were a number of PYOs I was unable to sell and I still have them. I tend to enjoy painting pyos… though I’m positive it’s because all of you enjoy them! If I was painting them and no one enjoyed them I doubt I’d paint anymore. Even if I couldn’t sell any of them, I would still enjoy painting them. I’m starting the think that I can only enjoy my art if others enjoy it… but without an audience (well, for my 2D stuff) I just can’t enjoy it at all.
Back to your question, it’s experience. In the 2D art world, you have to have a huge internet following to sell anything. You have to be “known”. Have a “name”. Without eyes to see your stuff, you’ll never sell anything. Even if I were to say, offer commissions, even if I offered dirt-cheap prices, no would would buy because, well, audience and I’m a no-name.

@Dragoneer_88 Oh gosh, I don’t think it’s a mental release at all. It’s pure stress and sometimes hate and anger lol And you’ve met the person that enjoys laundry right here 🙂 I’m the guy that will run a load 5 times a day if they could. I can’t tell you why I like laundry so much, but I do. A friend was talking with me about moving in with me, and we joked about assigning tasks and I said he’d have to downright fight me if he wanted to do the laundry. At the same time, my brother enjoys mowing his lawn, another thing most people hate…
Back to the topic… I like working with my hands. THAT I know. I can’t tell you how many models I’ve built. So I think maybe art is just something I can use my hands with, along with a habit at this point.
When I was younger, my brother drew a lot as well. He doesn’t draw anymore, he stopped a long time ago. He was really fantastic drawing muscles and such, something I always envied. I’m good with bones and skeletal details, skin stretched over bone, but muscles completely elude me.
I’m the same. I could never do still life. I draw monsters and creatures. Animals. I love “creepy” and macabre things. I never took any “real” art classes (just the ones in high school), so thankfully I didn’t have to do any still life. And any time we had to draw human models in my high school classes, I was the model just so I didn’t have to draw.
It seems like my whole life everyone was trying to get me to do art for a living. My parents, friends etc all told me to do art for a living. My brother STILL tries to get me to do it (“here I found this job listing”) and I keep saying WHY would I do something for a living that I hate? I already do that in standard mundane jobs. I even ran into my high school art teacher not long ago and she was surprised when I said I don’t do much art anymore and no, I’m not making a cent from anything. “Oh but you’re so good! What a shame!”… but you couldn’t remember my name, are you sure you remember my art? LOL She also tried to force me to make a portfolio in class… something I actually refused to do, that made her angry actually.
“I do the big no-no and compare my work to others and just get discouraged” gosh me too. I try not to but sometimes you just can’t help it. I think most artists do it whether they want to or not. I ENJOY LOOKING at art so much, I think it’s just “I love this person’s stuff! …but why does my stuff always look so bland even when compared to this simple sketch?” kind of thing.
“I’m my own worst critic. I get really frustrated with it sometimes and quit for awhile, and then draw again. The cycle repeats over and over”. This right here. Lots of my stuff gets tossed or digitally deleted like you said.

[Zexious]

For me, the answer depends on how we define art. If we’re including things like literature and music, my answer is going to be considerably different than if we’re limiting our focus to more traditional mediums.

If we’re talking more in terms of traditional art (painting, sculpting, drawing, etc), I think I do it because on one hand it’s something I greatly admire, and on the other it’s because I enjoy tokens of completion. I’m a huge fan of professional pieces (especially originals) ; I only wish that I could produce to such a capacity, so sometimes I try my hand at it almost as a sort of homage or gesture of respect.
My skills are generally pretty lacking (and I tend not to do things I’m not at least inherently /decent/ at) so I don’t create art in this form all that frequently.

Music is something I do almost out of social necessity (a poor way to describe it, but I can’t think of an alternative). It’s like… other people in my social sphere do, and so I must as well. I don’t particularly love it, but I don’t hate it either. I don’t play as frequently as I used to (I think I peeked during my adolescence in this regard).

Writing is something that I do constantly, both professionally (I can’t say how fortunate I am to have this as my career) and leisurely. It’s honestly just an extension of myself, and I can’t imagine not doing it.

I wonder if you could fill this ‘compulsion’ (a word I use not in the clinical sense) with something else? Do you have any other hobbies you enjoy? Going to the gym, creating in some other capacity, hanging out with peers? If it really doesn’t bring you happiness in any way, shape, or form, I would consider finding something to fill the space.

[Kujacker]

@Zexious “other people in my social sphere do, and so I must as well”… that, is a fantastic way of putting it. I KNOW that’s why I first started drawing. And now here I am, not enjoying it but still doing it.
I think people that are able to create music are awesome. I can’t even begin to figure any of that stuff out lol.
(I did purchase my favorite Vocaloid though, even though I’ll never be able to actually USE him hah)

Oh I wish I could write. I have a friend that is an author, and he’s always been like “It’s easy. Just start writing words”. To that I say, well art is easy just put the pencil to the paper… but he disagrees hah. I’m not sure if he enjoys it like you do. He seems to always been kinda grumpy about it all.

Unfortunately, I do not have any hobbies at all :/ I can’t tell you how many times I’ve browsed the hobby stores for something new to try, only to realize that no, I don’t enjoy any of these things I purchased. I’ve only ever been to the gym when I worked at one, and I only have a few friends. “Peers” don’t always mean friends, I know, but otherwise I think of conventions or other such get togethers (which I do not have the money for… but I use to participate in and sorely miss).

[Kim]

Sorry you feel that way about your art but I am sure you would have an audience somewhere that might like your work!  It sounds like you are maybe feeling depressed about not having anyone to appreciate your work or not having other hobbies to take it’s place.  I am kind of the opposite in that I always loved art and wanted to do art and I was good at a lot of mediums when I was younger including drawing, painting, sculpture and crafts.  I even had an art teacher tell me I should do pen and ink professionally the first time I tried it but I was always discouraged from pursuing art as a career because my dad said I couldn’t make a living at it or I would be a starving artist.  So I stopped doing art for the most part and I feel lost a lot of my creative thinking along with it.  I also used to write all the time when I was young and I stopped that too.  The only things I continued doing for fun were singing and dancing but never as a career.

I wish I had never listened to my dad and just pursued it because now it would fit in great with me running my own online business and I am sure I could sell lots of pieces online or at craft fairs and such.  I love going to craft fairs and markets and supporting other local artsts’ work and I would also love to do my own.  I have a lot of ideas and inspiration for what I would like to do but I think I have been a little afraid of failing because of what my dad drilled into my head.  He is even the one who used to sit and draw with me as a kid so not sure why he discouraged it as a career.  I am now getting back into it slowly starting with painting and making crafts again.  I did a couple pyos before and I was actually scared to do them because I am such a perfectionist but I was actually really happy with how they turned out.  I am still trying to motivate myself to paint more pyos I have here.

I also did ballroom and latin dancing for years which was a passion of mine until it became too competitive and not fun anymore and I decided to take some time off to pursue other things.  It made me realize that I still like danced as I missed it but I didn’t miss certain people like my teacher who was too strict and made me feel like I wasn’t good enough.  So now I do it once in a while just for fun and am looking into other things to do with my time as well.  My advice would be if you don’t enjoy something anymore then take a break and find something else to do to help release your creativity.  Look into other things and then pursue whatever you enjoy most.  If you are good at working with your hand there are a lot of other things you could do like you mentioned building models or maybe doing mechanics or other things you might enjoy more than art.  If I were you I wouldn’t do something just because people think you should just the same as if you want to do something you shouldn’t let people talk you out of it.  Do what makes you happy and if you can turn it into a hobby or career, recognition will naturally come but even if it doesn’t at least you will still enjoy what you do.  And if you find you miss art you can always go back to it.

Looking for rainbow or pink & teal grab bags!

[Landipan]

I agree, I think finding a new hobby to take the place of art would be good for you. You could take on a physical hobby, maybe like Kendo(I’ve always thought that looked kinda cool) maybe try out one of those rock climbing gyms, I know of people who really enjoy doing that all the time. Or you could of course find a non physical hobby, like gaming! Maybe one of those cool looking RPG games, I know a couple years ago I spent an ungodly amount of time, and fun, on a horse RPG called Horse Isle. I also plan on joining Flight Rising soon, looks like fun where you can breed different kinds of dragons for color, they look really nice!

No matter what you do, don’t feel bad at all for not enjoying art anymore, and don’t let any friends or family try and make you feel bad for not ‘making a living from you talent’, because most of the time those same people know nothing about what it takes to be an artist, the amount of emotional energy and endurance that goes into it.

*Formerly meowmix101
Not currently open for PYO commissions.

[Author]

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