Nobody knows the answers before the exam

If someone wanted to publish your work, then that means that your work is publishable by their standards. Commercially, that's all that matters. If you choose to do this professionally, avoid pointing our your faults to anyone else who can potentially use your work for some type of project, especially if you expect a big payout for it.

I had the same issue, actually. I am currently in art school but I was having issues with motivation to do art even before then and certain classes and assignments began to feel like chores. However, I recently reaffirmed my passion for illustration and the drive to create is slowly coming back.
If you feel like you are being overwhelmed with projects and work that you are given, it might just be helpful to take a break. If you have no drive right now to create work just for yourself, you can take a break from that as well so you don't feel like you're trying to force something out of you. You can also try to temporarily find another creative outlet such as music or writing. Block and lack of drive is a thing that comes and goes, and this may be something that can get better with time. If that is not the case then it may be something else in your life and you might have to just identify what's wrong compared to how you were feeling previously and attack the issue head-on if that's possible.

Also, in terms of using reference or tracing and the like... it's a bit different with commercial illustration. Assuming that the reference isn't something copyrighted or easily recognizeable (or even completely original; taking your own photographs for reference is a plus since it's entirely from your perspective) an art director or editor would much rather see a finished illustration that utilized reference to create the most accurate picture possible than if you didn't. Just try not to use it as a crutch, and practice enough that it can come naturally enough that you're not relying on it completely. Source: Professors of mine who have been working in the industry for years.

I wish you luck, and I certainly think you're capable.

If you tell yourself that you're not publishable quality then you won't be. Clean your act and get it done.

Just be happy your getting work. Take some buisness classes. Being highly technical and skilled at art is nice but thats only half the battle to being successful.

Nothing is going to change until that attitude gets better.

You have a chance to get PUBLISHED and you're dropping the ball.
You do not decide if your art is good enough, the person who recruited you for the project already made the decision.

I posted this in another forum but thought that some of these tutorials and stock images may help you.

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Check out the rest of these people's galleries if you like what they have since I've only posted a small amount of work from each person. These have helped me in the past and may help you.

I second all the above for motivation. It's hard to see your own work as good, but if you've been commissioned, this person obviously thinks your art is good. To that note: your art teacher is one person. I know we're supposed to treat teachers as the gatekeepers to what is right and good, but especially in art, teachers are just one person. So what if this teacher didn't like your art? This teacher clearly didn't know how to actually teach, since "go deeper" is about the most useless piece of advice ever given.
My question is when you talk about your "copied" art VS your "drawn from scratch". Are you not using references for the freehand drawings? Freehanding is hard and anatomy is complicated. If you're looking for a pose, don't be afraid to look it up on google and stockphoto. Seeing how "real" bodies move and sit is a huge advantage and most successful artists use multiple references for each piece. It's not copying, it's referencing.
You might need to sit down and just bang out a few of these pieces just to prove to yourself that you can. Even if they're awful and you hate them, e-mail them to your friend and tell them they're WIPs, see what they think of the art, I bet it'll be good. Update/redo it if you need to, but I think you need to just prove to yourself that you can do them and that other people like them.
You're gonna be fine, don't worry. *internet hugs*

Are you getting payed? No? Then just finish them, learn what you can and move on. You don't get better at drawing by not drawing and since you know what you are lacking you know what you have to learn.

I also failed art in high school. It's no big deal.

Stop doubting yourself. You are only sabotaging yourself continuing to put yourself down. Think reassuring thoughts and just have fun. When you let go of the stress, art becomes fun instead of painful.

I have the same issue. I have been commissioned to do an entire comic series and have had to focus on not psyching myself out. I understand having art be painful but just do some concept sketches and go from there. You really can do this.

I'd say these images (particularly the last one) have nice illustrative qualities. Work toward a style (like one of these) instead of just toward realism and I think your art will become stronger (especially for this book).




You can do it! Message me if you want a critique or help on this commission. Good luck.