Considering deactivation


Dev807v's avatar
I'm on the verge of completely giving up on Deviantart and my art. 
I'm never good enough. it doesn't matter how much I practice or anything. i'll just never be good enough. People on here are a thousand times better than me and knowing that it just makes me want to toss the towel and give up. I just want to give up and delete everything, stop doing art and never do it again, because I'll never be good enough. ever..

......
Comments29
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poisonedcuppiecake's avatar
Please don't leave T^T I really love your artwork ♥ And you seem like a nice person Lol If you'd like to be friends, I would honestly like that  :)  Coz your art is soo cool, it makes me happy  :D   But if you want to deactivate for whatever the reason, I hope that you are happy :)
magjc's avatar
You have a very unique art style, I'd be sad to see you go. :( Maybe you could take a break from drawing for a few days and come back to it when you're ready? 
Citrus-Chickadee's avatar
I mean... if it really upsets you that much, then no one's gonna stop you from doing it. :shrug:

Maybe try taking a break for a bit first, though?
LavleyArt's avatar
There is one truth: you will never be good enough for your own standards.

But also why do you think that is bad? I personally get the joy from drawing a thing and imagining how my future me would redraw it, making it look freaking awesome. Since I love redrawing my old drawings chances are high that this will actually happen.

Also since I am having my ten year anniversary of making art this September I looked back at my very first beginner art and I saw that I have reached the goals I've set for myself back then. Now I dream about how awesome my art will become in the next decade and I try to figure out what I need to get there.

We all encounter art depressions and not too long ago I was at the same point as you have been, wanting to quit art and all that. Just then I found out that art became too much of a habit for me to quit it - it's like quitting to brush my teeth before I go to bed. So I decided to face my struggles and problems with my art instead :D

For now the though of "what if...?" keeps me going. I will find more motivational causes for sure the more I recover from my latest art depression.
Larry952's avatar
okay. stay cool.
Raybets's avatar
Art popularity has skyrocketed thanks to the internet. Indeed way more people can draw compared to 10 years ago. 

But do you remember why you started drawing in the first place?

Was it just for the attention? Or did you genuinely enjoy it?

Has that changed?

If validation from strangers mean so much to you then by all means quit drawing and end the suffering. Spend your time on something else that will make you feel better. (:

Personally, I draw because I like it and have been doing that for myself since long before I owned a computer. And that's what I'm going to keep doing even without a single like in my recent pieces.
Dev807v's avatar
I Started drawing because its my way of expressing emotions. 
i guess my neeD for vaildation got to my head
Raybets's avatar
Wait it out for a few days and see how you feel.
ANBU-Kosuke's avatar
Great artists aren't born perfect either.
They got that level of skill because they worked hard.
You just don't see that hard work, their failures, their practice pieces, their doodles.

You only see the result of hard work.
You need to learn more, try out more, practice more, seek critiques and advices.
HorsmensWhiskey's avatar
I'm surprised that I haven't found a reply on the grounds of general complaints on Da XD
I've been on here a while and had other pages, that is in the past.
I've seen all categories of art, styles, natural hand drawn work and graphic art, crafts, so on as well as different levels. 
For me I do a statistic count on art that gets comments then others along with the quantity and to what I've already noticed a LOT of art is not recognized based on being given comments or faves.
I honestly think the core reason is NOT always and the majority about the art in general, its indifference. A lot have left believing what you believe but I'm on the border of doubt.

Seeing work where the art is in the doodle category but having porn themes to it held out a lot of lavished comments-I was shocked..
And I've seen works, be it with natural media and then the graphic computer art pretty much in the pro fictional and fictional works would have not ONE comment and this in 2005 up until now, low. 
So please rest assure that the problem is widely complex then what you feel and think.
For me, as an artist I hope for you to not abandon your work over people. Deny yourself of freedom and talent given, your only erasing apart of you and what you enjoy and how you convey it.
I had a great friend like that, so it burns me to hear someone give up their for people.
I can say this for myself, I get way more commentary in real life then on DA, its VERY interesting.
I'm not one for big exploration and truing to get attention, but I LOVE my art and all that I'm good at doing to where I want it to be and if folks don't care, so what?
How I feel about it is number one but it IS gratifying to get others to enjoy it too :D
So exploitation can give you positive feelings and negative. Its a burden, just like living. But we are all experiencing it here on DA. Its stupid irony to me...-.-
But don't feel alone. I realized some or even a lot of people won't admit it on here of what issues they have on Da.
I've read complaints similar to this a lot, so its best, I think to remedy the problem to look for a mutual, friend, group, ect. I've had awesome friends on here-not too many but they were worth it esp what commonality we had :)

But just don't give up your pride as an artist!
I've been through that crap and back and it sucks. Mutuality is everything.
Bioniik's avatar
Nuuuu don’t leave, friend D:! You are such a big inspiration to me and it makes me miserable to hear that people on DA aren’t giving you the respect and attention you need ;-;
Pakaku's avatar
I mean... deactivating won't magically solve everything.
Daisy-Designs's avatar
Of course there are a lot of people on here that are far better than you. There are a lot of people in the world, that are better than you. That is just how it works. In any passion, there is always someone out there who is still BETTER than you. But that doesn't matter! Stop allowing that to fill you with jealousy and despair. I know the feeling. I used to feel the same, when I was younger. But then, I started getting excited about it instead. I would study what they were doing that was better than me; practice those bits until I could get them down...Continue to improve myself until I had seemingly surpassed them, or found a level I was perfectly happy and comfortable with, regardless. It isn't ABOUT being better than everyone else, or anyone else at all. It's about art. It's about improving yourself. Studying. Practicing. Having FUN with it.

So stop wallowing about other people's art being better, get your pencil, and DO something about it. And honestly, I'm not going to tell you not to deactivate. If you think it's really that big of a distraction against you and your art. DO IT! You can come back whenever you feel you are ready. But just think about my words, and remember, it isn't about all that. You can improve, and you just have to be willing to try, and to change your mindset to something more positive.
Dev807v's avatar
Im conflicted, because I suddenly have people telling me that I shouldn't leave, they enjoy my stuff.
now i feel bad. 

LavleyArt's avatar
apart from the feeling bad thing... that's how it should be :D Don't give up, overcome the dark times! You'll thank yourself later!
Aituos's avatar
I know how you feel because it's very difficult to take a step back and look at your art objectively, or without judging it too harshly. I believe the majority of artists struggle with this. They see their own art as inferior, or feel that they are stuck. It seems to be pretty damn normal and common, and I feel exactly the same. Even the "top artists" (whatever that means) paradoxically have this issue. Take a moment and let that sink in.

Your art is good and has that certain unique vibe to it that makes it special, it doesn't feel generic like a lot of the stuff that's out there, and I'd hate to see an artist like you give up. I know that deep down you want to continue, you wouldn't have created this post otherwise... so all those hours you've spent to get to this point... don't let them go to waste!

It can be difficult at times, but it's difficult because it's worth it. Please don't quit.
Dev807v's avatar
it's hard. Im constantly criticizing my own work more harshly than anyone else ever could.
when i do recieve compliments, i feel bad and gulity, like if i dont deserve the attention that i wanted in the first place
Elgrig's avatar
If it doesn't bring happiness then quit.
HorsmensWhiskey's avatar
Happiness is a choice believe it or not.
I admire people who can master their feelings and minds then anything but I realized it is a choice. I have a medical situation and I'm understanding this more and more.:D
I've meet a lot of amazing people at my two hospitals, so its really interrogating and enlightening.
As an artist I would never ask anyone to quite their God given talent. Its up to them not me. 
Elgrig's avatar
Feelings aren't choice.

 If it doesn't bring you happiness, stop doing it and find something else.
People bitch about "wasting talent" it's sadder to waste effort.There is no point in doing something if it doesn't make you feel good. It's fucking weird that some depressed artists don't wanna quit because they think talent is everything.I still remember years ago when dumbshit school quizzes and teachers kept tryna push me to the science related career over my "talent".
Tigron666's avatar
WHAT!? You're freaking amazing!
Madrono's avatar
Honestly you're better than the majority of people on here.
Dev807v's avatar
what do you mean