Am I FALLING BEHIND in my Art Career? 🫠 | Dealing with Imposter Syndrome + Comparison

[@michaelebron1280]

This was such an eye opener for me. I'm going down the same mental spiral right now and it really does suck. What hurts more is I have big artistic dreams, but I feel like I need to speedrun my art improvement to even get a chance to actually achieve them. And seeing so many great artists out there who are already doing it, makes me feel like I am never working hard or long enough to get to their level of skill. Or worse thinking I'll never be able to achieve my dreams. Thank you for sharing, this really put me back into the perspective on why I wanted to be an artist in the first place and why I'll continue to improve my mindset moving forward.

[@Haleyangelo]

This is so relatable!! I really struggle with the same things. I have dreams of being a full time artist someday but have only decided I want to serious pursue it since last year. I’ve never felt confident in my art and 10000% feel like I’m always falling behind other artists. It’s so hard not to compare. I see other artists on Instagram who I’m rooting for, but at the same time I feel panicked because they are succeeding so much faster than me. I used to just post for fun but stopped when I put pressure on myself to make perfect pieces or “shareable” art. I’m working past that since we chatted on patreon about making art for yourself and for fun first. My goal right now is to not worry as much about making things to sell, but making art I enjoy first! The rest will fall into place! Thank you for sharing your experience and art journey. Your openness about this topic is really helpful to pay attention to what is causing that spiraling feeling and a healthier way to look at your own relationship with art and the creative process! Thank you! 💜 By the way, this piece is phenomenal!! It’s so fun seeing your process of making this piece! I’m always in awe of your work and all the details! I had to stop a few times and rewind to make sure I was paying attention to what you said because I was so into watching you create! 😆😁

[@racnoi17]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been dealing with so much of this too to the point where I have been debating giving up my dreams of having an art career. Hearing that an artist I respect so much goes through this too, and how you’re working through it actually really helps.

[@rf21able]

Dang it’s like your voicing all my struggles for the last few years. Thank you for talking about this!

[@Nadiaxel]

aaaaaaa thank you so much for this video, Erika! This is just what I needed to hear and listen to today TwT

[@chickenanddoodles]

i had been in that same mental space for most of my art journey comparing myself to others and always wanting to be better but not being patient enough with myself to be able to actually want to draw all that much, i struggled with a perfectionistic mindset in a lot of areas of my life but im glad i was able to finally let go of that in the past couple years and just enjoy the process and the journey, and not try to force myself to draw a certain way just because it feels like i should be, but to draw for the same reason i started to when i was just a little kid, because i love it, because its fun, because i can make my own little world where i can feel safe to express myself, putting regulations on how im allowed to do that wasnt helping anything and just made me miserable, even now i find myself falling into certain patterns that my brain expects me to draw and i start worrying that my art is stagnating, but i have to remember that im just in a growing period, and that might be a good time to experiment outside my comfort zone and focus on enjoying the artistic process not just the result. im always learning and growing and changing so i shouldnt have to worry too much about whether or not im improving fast enough, again learning to be patient with myself and go with the flow instead of trying so hard to fight against it when it starts to feel like im not good enough anymore, at those times it might be better to take a break and remind myself that i dont have to constatly be creating even if i do enjoy it if it becomes something of a chore or something i expect too much of myself, im allowed to focus on other things and recharge. thank you for this video and talking about this, i feel like a lot of artists dont really talk about their insecurities but i think its important to remind us that we're all human and trying our best, and we dont have to be perfect and its totally normal and okay to feel not okay about your art sometimes

[@odduckOasis]

It's hard to focus on the now and not continue to think about how you could be better or how you were before. It's certainly difficult, but good to remember to keep focused on the present and stop stressing over things you have no control over and just hope one day... things will fall into place.

[@bean_draws]

I struggle with the same thing, only that when I draw I stay in my comfort zone, when I wanna draw there's no inspiration and I always feel bad for not feeling inspired. This video was quite helpful, I'll try to just draw for myself again, not for others and not pressure myself as much ^^

[@kaicastle.]

Man, this is me 2 years ago.. And I just began to recover from it (slowly) the last quarter of 2023. It really sucks when this happens. When something impactful happens to you, you began to feel this way. Although I'm still struggling with it..

[@Lazy_Psyduck]

Very nice insights, Goober. I can appreciate the vulnerability, as a comrade in this creative struggle we put ourselves in.

[@kirstenkateline]

Hi Erika! Thank you for making this video. Hearing how someone whom I consider an amazing artist is struggling with the same mental spirals as I am, made me feel seen in a way I haven't before. You've given me the courage to learn to let go of self-limiting beliefs. I love your drawings and I hope you have regained a better relationship with your art. Thank you for this inspirational video and beautiful witchy scene.💛

[@erikathegoober]

I'm so happy you found it helpful! I think it's comforting to realize that no matter where you're at in your art journey, we all have similar struggles and we can help each other work through them by sharing our experiences! 💖

[@kristadraws]

It's so crazy to hear, that you felt that way, because your course on 21-draw was the one that got me into drawing a couple of years ago 😅 - it was my very first post on my art instagram & I remember that I was so happy, that you liked it! Your such a inspiration to me, so keep going 💛

[@ChantelleArts]

this drawing looks fantastic, and it's such an important topic 🥺

[@nilawarriorprincess]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, too, but I'm very grateful that you made this video. I started drawing after my health decline so much that I became homebound, spending half of my time in the hospital & the other stuck in bed. Learning to draw & paint was my silver lining. In 2021, my cat, who was my Muse & Guardian Angel, died. In 2022, I was so sick I was in & out of consciousness from April to June. As a Christian, I also really struggled with my faith. I just couldn't find comfort in drawing anymore. By January of 2023, my heart & body had healed enough to want to dedicate time to art. Yet all I can think about is how much time I've lost & how much better I could have been if I hadn't lost the past few years. I have such a difficult time completing more than a sketch. The 1st thing I drew turned out so poorly that I was sure I'd have to start learning from scratch. Thankfully, that isn't true, but that fear still lives in me. I just need art to be my stress & pain relieving safe place again

[@KarolineThePagan]

Condolences, may your cat rest in peace. You’re a strong person. Don’t forget you’re strong despite illness.

[@nilawarriorprincess]

@@KarolineThePagan Thank you. I sincerely appreciate your words.

[@hayley5257]

hi, its so nice to see you posting again! I related to this video a lot harder than I thought I would--you talking about your own experiences really vocalized what I have been feeling for eight years now. I used to love posting and creating art but I went to animation school, learned fine art/anatomy and was exposed to a studio environment early on. I didn't realize how much that experience broke me until eight years later when I haven't really felt the same passion about my art and pressure to post perfect or productive stuff since. I actually work as a professional artist too, but its a different field than studio work (photo manipulation/interior design art creation), which I hoped would give me enough distance to work on my own thing but I've noticed honestly it just makes me feel worse I'm not doing comics or animation as a career. I really like what you said about re framing posting as just being satisfied with yourself and how you did your time, that is what I have been trying to do lately though it is very hard for me personally to post online again. Another thing I have done is tried to simplify my style back to what it was before I learned fine art with the fundamental techniques I've been taught, though it makes me feel I am lesser for doing so but its a process! I also stopped taking freelancing work as I have a steady job in hopes to make art feel more like a hobby than a job. Its really about what makes you happy and your own mental health. Sorry this is so long and personal, something about your words really hit me hard and I had to fully process why it did LOL As a burn out professional to another I am wishing you the best of luck

[@erikathegoober]

I appreciate you sharing your story! 💖 I studied fine arts as well and my school seemed to always look down on stylized art 🙄 So much so that I felt I couldn’t include my personal work in my school work. But stylized art is SO much harder! It takes a lot of skill to be selective about what to leave out as far as details! I feel like social media has made it harder to have a healthy relationship with our art. I’m having a hard time letting go of the way I used to do things because on the outside, the action can look similar. For example- posting more art again. Even though I’m trying to change my mindset around posting, when I see the numbers performing lower than in the past I have part of me telling me I’m not doing enough and I need to try harder. I’m trying not to listen to it but its so hard! I keep coming back because sharing my art is something I want to do so I’m going to use posting as a challenge for me to face the part of me that is scared to not be enough. I’d say share your work when you feel like it and don’t worry about it if you don’t want to! You have to take care of yourself first! 💖

[@hayley5257]

​@@erikathegooberI just saw you replied to this oops--its especially hard to take breaks, especially someone like you whose social media is a part of your work. I tried posting a few self-indulgent things recently and got super popular, then the third thing flopped and regretfully stopped posting the lack of engagement killing any enthusiasm I had. Its so funny because I'm not even trying to make a social media career out of my art and yet is still gets to me 😅 its such a slippery slope to post in general especially if you have a perfectionist streak aaa--I'll take what you said and try to post for myself and when it doesn't feel like its hurting me or forcing myself to. Its a process to recover from burnout but a large part of it in my experience is just accept yourself and not beat yourself up over what you could be doing haha

[@AwenQ-qz7uk]

I really enjoyed that video! I do relate to some aspects of it, I used to enjoyed drawing a lot, but from when I started my studies in graphic design (even if its not totally the same field) I feel some pressure for "making each drawing perfect or at least better than the last one" and in consequence i dont draw as much as I used to... even tho I really want to, but some negative thoughts and the presence of social medias just make me stay away from the paper... anyway this was very interesting to me, thank you so much for sharing this with us!! And I hope you will be feeling better about drawing✨️

[@houndgirl7365]

Oh I kinda feel this... I just finished to help create a character for someone to me my human headshots were weak ( I ended up with a screw it moment because it was virtually done and a free thing I did because they were bullied to give up their other character which happened to be their fursona). Anyways during this project I got INCREDIBLY frustrated with myself as I noticed my line control wasnt where I wanted it to be and I was struggling with my gestures, sooo I did what any sane artist would do... I drew a butt ton of lines with end points working on line control without a programs aid in which I have depended on for a while now as I have pretty much only have been doing digital art for the past year or 2. I did not like this fact nor did I like the weakening of that basic skill. Aside from the insane amount of lines I gesture drew in my sketch books working on just getting poses down as fast as I could like I learned in my art class. That night I successfully finished my 4 suffering humanoid stickers for a TTRPG project in which I am quite happy with, but my next point of tackle is to draw characters and get more consistant. I can do it with animals (thats my strength) but people? People are my weakness and I feel like a part of art is always pushing your horizon line so you can do more. The more one does the better one gets. By pushing perspective, expressions, and trying to gain consistency one is doing themselves a service. For fellow digital artists remember to alway ALWAYS practice the basics. You know the sang "if ya don't use it ya lose it" well it true! Always stay in practice/engage your brain. If you can't physically art watch speedpaints or videos to learn :) I have had a TBI for 5 years now sometimes I can't art, but I watch videos and pay attention to colors/shapes. Its a great tool and well you might not see growth but it happens even with that step especially when combined with arting when you can.

[@mjpete27]

I believe you have overthought about being an "artist" and letting others set the bar for your idea of "success" I worked for over 30 years as an Artist. I made the transition from paper and canvas to digital and now back to paper! I find JOY in creation of even simple studies and this to me is what being an Artist is all about. I know that today's environments from university to online communities the pressure is coming at you from every direction. I hope you discover joy in creation of your Artworks and let yourself be happy! I have found your style and art to be very wonderful! You have got "it" if that is what you need to have, I believe you have that little something extra that "IT" and if you just let yourself believe in yourself, I believe you will find that JOY! I enjoy your videos and I like your art pieces! I have never stopped trying to be better, but I believe if your not trying to go forward your standing still. Now I have made some crummy artworks, but I just say I am moving and I believe this direction is forward and even if I am deluding myself, I am still trying! I do believe you will find that joy and believing in yourself is a key step! I wish you the Best of everything to you in your journey in Art and Life!

[@thecappytrails]

I've been dealing exactly this for probably a year now and no ones explained it better than you. I've been a full time artist for three years, and now that I'm on year three, I look around at those who started around the same time and see just how much further they've gotten than me. And it's hard to tell how much I need to work to get to where they are - like am I doing the same, not enough or going the wrong way? It's made me not want to make anything new in fear that it'll take too long or not be worth to sell etc. I did things differently though, spent more time doing in person things and wholesaling my products vs social media and youtube and selling retail where I'd ultimately like to be now. So I can spend all day comparing and complaining, but ultimately we're all on different paths and the grass is always greener type deal. Anyways, thank you for this! It's given me a ton to reflect on.

[@erikathegoober]

Very well said! There is no ‘perfect’ path!

[@mrs.quills7061]

It’s so so true and I’m also in the HG coaching for similar things but it’s more or less a feeling of stuckness in terms of starting my own thing. I’ve made progress and now I need to just make a KZbin channel.

[@erikathegoober]

I love HG so much! I'm so glad I found them 🥹 Best of luck starting your channel! I believe in you!! 💖

[@KSDurhamArt]

I’ve been going through the same thing. I feel like ‘what’s the point?’ when it comes to my drawing and art business because I’m not where I think I should be by now. Comparing is definitely the cause of that since it makes me feel that no one cares about my art like with others. 🥲 but now I basically just draw and update my shop at my own pace and rest whenever I want. I’ll get to where I want to be one day, no need to stress.

[@ameliaeckert3195]

thank you so much for making this video, I find a lot of what you're saying relatable at the moment, and it has really helped give a new perspective to me for my art. feeling like your behind in your journey is the worst feeling, but remembering why I started art has helped me be proud of my work now. keeping old work also helps so I can see that yes, I have improved a lot more then I believe. thank you for sharing your story with this important and Often times overlooked part of being a creative.

[@alexihowe3916]

I have never came across a video I have related to more than this one. As a 17 year old artist who hopes to become a character designer, I’m struggling to get a portfolio done for university applications. I feel behind because up until like 3 years ago, I barely did more than sketch, so now I’m giving myself burnout trying to ‘complete’ pieces and backgrounds. Thank you for addressing your issue and making me feel less alone ❤ (you are one of the major artists who made me want to become a character designer. I love you and your art so much 😊)

[@baltiir2953]

I'm 34 you are NOT behind :) good luck for the future!

[@alexihowe3916]

@@baltiir2953 thank you! :)

[@erikathegoober]

I remember feeling pressured to have everything figured out before college. It's such a stressful time! But what I've learned is that you'll never have EVERYTHING figured out. There will always be more to learn and discover! And sometimes the parts where we feel the most lost are the times where we learn the most about ourselves. Take the experiences I talked about in this video for example- even though they were some of the most difficult times I've ever experienced, the perspective and knowledge I gained from that time is invaluable. Best of luck with your portfolio btw! 💖

[@alexihowe3916]

@@erikathegoober thank you so much! 😁❤️

[@prix_Ilustração]

For me right now I only have Sundays to do my art work, cause I work from Monday to Saturday.. bit on Sundays I always try do draw something, or doodle in my sketchbook ou start a digital portrait.. at least for now is like this

[@yelloartt]

this resonated sm and was so helpful thank u!

[@scribzscribbles]

I’m havin this so intensely lately. I’ve seen people with more success and so I just really think some thing is wrong with me but I’m trying not to 😖

[@scribzscribbles]

It’s weird because I think I’m a good artist but I’m unable to make any profit and I’ve seen so many other people do it and I’m like I swear there’s something I’m not doing and it’s right there but i can’t see it.

[@mysticalteration498]

I can't say this enough but thank you for this! ​ Also, do you have any tips for anatomy? I was thinking that I could draw one body part for 1 week (ex; 10 head poses for 1 week, 10 eye poses for a second week, 10 different expressions for a third week, etc) and I would do this for a year to see how I would improve. Is that a good idea?

[@erikathegoober]

I’m so glad you found it helpful! 💖 I have a few resources on youtube but most of the ones I’ve made are on my Patreon! You can see everything I have available in my How to Draw People tutorial collection-> www.patreon.com/posts/tutorial-drawing-71992980 I think that’s a good way to practice and to keep up consistency! But just make sure you don’t JUST do that because that could take away the fun in creating! Maybe try incorporating learning anatomy in a fun way like trying to draw your favorite character in different poses based on references!

[@mysticalteration498]

Thank you, and I'll do that!@@erikathegoober

[@vedhagalaxy]

is that samdoesart ocs?!

[@erikathegoober]

yes! This was for his DTIYS!

[@vedhagalaxy]

@@erikathegoober I just saw is old vid and he loved it!