I’m NOT leaving YouTube! But I have some thoughts… // Ducky Sketchbook Session

[@JelArts]

I plan to keep posting videos for as long as I'm physically able to, but I just wanted to discuss some of the things that go through my head these days. If you've ever been uncertain about social media, experienced burnout with recording & posting your art online, or stressed over analytics... you are most definitely NOT alone! Let's all keep trying our best :) I also genuinely enjoyed drawing these ducks so much! I hope you enjoyed seeing the process for them!

[@lazo._.]

Don’t leave :D! You’re a fun human being to relate to

[@Deedeedoodad]

You have been ON THE GRIND since I first subscribed to you like 7 years ago so if you need a break take one girl we’re not going anywhere 🥹 we’ll be here and you deserve to rest if you’re tired 🫶

[@amyterhaar8302]

I know I'm late, but when drawing with waffles stopped posting I found your channel and I LOVE IT!!

[@miqolysa]

I still hope she might come back some time in the future. Did you notice her disappearing quickly? Somehow I missed and month later I noticed I havn't seen her in a while and was shocked to see nothing new came up.

[@thinkerdreamersketcherspy]

Cute duckies! 😍 The background really made a difference. As a viewer, I have to say that channels that only post challenges get real boring really fast... I've unsubscribed from so many 'art' channels over the years because of this. So if anyone is reading this and thinking about their channel -- just be you and show *your* art! It might not skyrocket your channel, but it'll resonate with the right people that much more. And hey, if you want to do challenges only, there are viewers for you too!

[@iloveshinythings3295]

I’m gonna be honest here, I heard nothing, I retained nothing. I saw the duckies, I looked for the duckies, I searched far and wide for the duckies and I’m fricking getting the duckies. They are my one and only priority, I will get my stupid little hands on them, no matter the obstacles!

[@eli_the_birdy]

People always say why you care about numbers?? but sometimes its motivating to see people care and see your art or effort...when I share and noone see I feel aboit alone....😕

[@PupperPrincess]

From the perspective of a KZbin viewer and not a creator, I’m personally really struggling to find new art creators on this platform lately. Recommendations seem so irrelevant to what I’m actually subscribed to, or interested in watching. Even when I actively search using a prompt to discover new videos/creators, I only ever see maybe 3-5 of the same creators in the search results. Including ones OUTSIDE of what I’m looking for! Maybe I’m in the minority, but KZbin definitely feels *different*. It’s a lot of the same with random, oddball, low-view videos sprinkled in. I enjoy being recommended undiscovered talent, but they are rarely in the desired interest field??? I don’t think it’s at all a reflection of what you, or many other artists are making. Which is enjoyable and high quality. I think it’s just that many internet platforms aren’t providing that same intimate, local growth/engagement that they used to. Maybe I’m just getting old, but it felt easier to establish yourself in an online community “back then” and really feel apart of it. Both as a maker and as an admirer. Just know you inspire lots of people. You’ve helped me want to become more playful in my own art and draw more animals. Your whimsy is refreshing and encouraging ❤

[@catalinaburgos6649]

yes, I've noticed this too. I think the shift started happening when tiktok and short form content started to beocme popular. So now i feel like youtube pushes videos that are heavily edited, with quite a bit of production designed to keep your attention on the platform. It has become very difficult for me to find new creators, with the type of content I enjoy.

[@emilylonesart]

I’ve been wanting to make KZbin videos for a couple years now, but I’ve been so self conscious about it and just never made the jump to do it. But hearing you talk about your experience and your mindset about it has actually given me the push and I think I’m going to get more serious about it. So thank you for being realistic and honest with us! ❤️

[@cloudlake]

I love your quiet, contemplative chat during your vids. But i would also just watch you draw your adorable art without the chat.

[@RaeanneNichol]

I think that you have voiced what a lot of people have been feeling or at least leaning towards for sometime. Well done, and I will certainly continue to follow you. Thank you from an island off the West coast of Canada. 🦆🦆🦆

[@DSh1105]

Love the way you colored the grass

[@Love2DrawManga]

Thank you for sharing. I feel like I have been in a similar state, so it's nice knowing I'm not alone. ☺️💕

[@meuikii]

This is a really interesting perspective to listen to! And the ducks were very adorable :3

[@sigisig3941]

ducks

[@LordLuciferKråka]

Saw one of my favorite animals and was like Yassss. Do not worry about us, we will stay even if you don’t do voice overs or make new shop items all the time. Seriously your content is good, better than good

[@yurinomai2789]

Hey Jel ! Those duckies are so adorable like all your sketchbook pages. Love seeing your art on YT with a cup of cappuccino, listening to your comments. I am so captivating by the pencils and brushes going through the pages, adding colours and life. Maybe you should sometimes just posting the video with a "voice intro", and just adding music to let your voice rest a bit. I would definitely enjoy this kind of stuff too. Take care of yourself, we don't want you to get sick. I'll always be there whatever you decide to do !

[@ajaybahure111]

Ignore those people's opinions on your art. I like your videos. Your art style is unique and adorable.

[@natalieastravars]

i've only recently found your channel and i've been watching every video you post not only for your art but also the vibes - your voice is calming and endearing and you speak well, giving off the feeling of you actually enjoying what you do. your worries about views and engagement are valid and i can imagine how stressful it can be to see some videos do worse than others. being a content creator is so difficult, there's so much work that goes into it from actually filming to editing to coming up with ideas etc etc, people dont even realise. and the platforms themselves dont always help, algorithms change every day and sometimes you get hidden from the feed of your own followers for no reason and that makes me anxious as a viewer, so i can only imagine how it is for content creators. also being forced to follow trends including the format of content can't be fun, at least not for everybody. i personally prefer watching longer videos these days when i have time and short form content like reels just annoys me. tho i know it's not creators' fault, they do what the platform wants them to do to be able to grow their audience and stuff. i'd also love to know what exactly helps with overall performance and engagement - is it likes, reactions, comments, subscriptions (like during watching the video), something else? i try to comment on people's content as much as possible cause likes seem to be so... depersonalized? i assume reading an actual comment even if it's something short like "hey i enjoyed your work, keep it up" is more encouraging than just seeing a like

[@prix_Ilustração]

I love your videos, I'm always re watching to get inspired to draw... I started to study animals because of your art, and I'm loving it!!!!

[@Iridescent_arts]

Your valid for feeling all these things! I think everyone worries about these things just try to keep have fun! I’ve been watching your channel since 2018 I love seeing your videos ❤

[@JelArts]

For sure!! And thanks so much :)

[@CreativeSteve69]

It's been highly impressive Jel to watch ya grow throughout the years. I remember the times ya needed to take those mini breaks in the past during art school period back in the day. You were one of the few indie artists I have ever found and followed back in 2018. It's been fun to watch you grow your own artstlye throughout the years. It's always good to take breaks if ya ever need to know and again when needed of course.

[@mysterytruck]

you have been one of my favorite youtube artist for years your videos always cheers me up and inspire. i love that you're unique and genuinely you. Whatever your decision may be I will always respect that.

[@mysterytruck]

it's totally okay to share your thoughts too.

[@trashulie]

I'm not a content creator myself, but I'm someone who does consider from time to time wanting an art youtube for the sake of being able to chronicle growth and connect with others, and something that keeps holding me back is that plaguing fear of analytics. As someone old enough to remember when youtube first came out and has watched it grow and how we went from these really low rent (affectionate) homemade videos to high production vlogs and stuff, to a point where people can literally make a living off of their art youtube channels (which is a fantastic thing!) it's put a kind of pressure on what it means to be a "content creator" and the kind of content you make. And I think it's only natural that the numbers weigh on your mind. Having those numbers pushed into your face, compared against all your other videos, makes you feel like you're being graded, like some videos pale in comparison to others. Logically, though, it's natural that certain kinds of videos or subjects do better than others, right? A sketchbook tour will pull in a lot of people, but they may not always be around for all videos. But something that you said about the analytics stood out to me - the comparison of how well a video does in it's first hour, it's first day. I'm a person who tends to save videos for the right moment - esp your art videos! I like to save them for when I'm ready to cozy down with my own sketchbook and sketchbook together! Maybe I'm having a stressful week and I want to save your new video for when I can really indulge! I think that's probably the case for a lot of people, too - everyone has busy lives, busy schedules, is doing things when the time is right, but you're shown these cold numbers that don't infer any of that, that don't reveal any of that. I don't think this is saying too much lol except to say I understand how hard it is to not be hard on yourself, but at the end of the day, that kind of burn out feels almost inevitable, when something goes from being a fun hobby to something that's pushed at you like that. Growth and reach must feel difficult, but you're right that it's the earnest, organic content that matters in the end. While I'm more of a quiet watcher and have only recently started to comment more, I've been following your channel since, I think, 2018? when I first started getting into watercolor myself! I love your candid introspection and I'm glad you share those thoughts and have that kind of outlet while you continue to share your work and process with us. I'm a long form girlie; I know why reels do so well on instagram but I'll always be a sucker for people who share their process videos (especially if they talk about it!) so I'm always grateful for your continued videos. Also oh my GOD the duckies are SO cute!!! I cannot get over them!!

[@isangelousart]

I'm really glad you're not leaving; yours is one of the first channels I go to when I want to do a draw-along, or sometimes just play on the background when I do my other work to have an inspiration spike, this video was no different too! I'm itching to draw right now, haha! I also wanted to start my own channel just for the reasons you listed, it definitely feels much more sincere. I'm seeing all these awesome people with great art and... It's a bliss to watch you all.

[@JelArts]

I definitely plan to keep posting for the foreseeable future! The twice a month schedule has been working well for me. I can't believe I used to post twice a week 8 years ago haha

[@prix_Ilustração]

I love your videos... They really help when I have a art block or don't know what to draw etc...

[@sp1ness]

I definitely prefer it when art youtubers draw/do what they want to!! I find it feels more genuine and I love learning about why artists like to create different things, especially when it's not something I usually would draw!!! (:

[@JasmineZellmer]

I love your videos, they're so peaceful and I look forward to them!

[@nurulalya8769]

Thank you for staying jel! I love your art always

[@Inculturapedia]

You're my go-to example when I think of a successful art channel that doesn't need to be bombastic. Keep doing awesome art. And I hope you get 500k subscribers and more, so your beautiful work is enjoyed by more people. 🤗

[@mevnie-enn]

Aaaa, I love the duckies!!! They're so cute and lively! ❤❤ I can't remember the exact year, but I've followed your art journey over the years and I find it very inspirational! Most likely found your channel & subscribed in the arc in my life when I was watching a lot of art tutorials and challenges online and that happened to overlap with some of your tutorial & challenge videos. It's great to see how much your video-making style has evolved over time and how you handle KZbin currently & in your recent videos! I'm very thankful for how much you've talked about important subjects, both art & creativity related but also other subjects & themes that delve into the mental health realm as well. ❤ I understand the mind's struggle in thinking about views, likes, favourites, whatever the social media platform happens to have at hand. It can be very addicting and at the same time very unhealthy to only think about the numbers and not where those numbers come from. I've found grounding oneself & checking the reality is useful. I'm not a "big online artist" and honestly, I'm coming to terms with that. If I know my online & offline friends have taken the time to watch and/or like something I've made over the years, it brings me a lot of joy, even if it's not a big number that platforms trick us into thinking is the primary goal. And it should be about a sense of community & togetherness, not isolation and harsh competition. And creating art for yourself is very important! When you have fun doing the things you do and show it to the world, the people who see you will be there to support you, in their own little ways. Thank you for showing your creativity to the world & being an inspiration for creatives out there! Have a great day & cheers from Finland 😊

[@LillFluffPotato]

It’s really hard to not think about the business side of KZbin when it’s how you make a living. Know that it’s something everyone who does KZbin full time thinks about. We’re here for you and your art. Do what makes you happy, and we’ll be happy for you

[@JelArts]

It's true, it's so tricky when it's your full time job! But luckily KZbin isn't the only thing for me, it's just a piece of the puzzle :)

[@LaurasArtQuest]

omg the little duckies are SO ADORABLE!!

[@HopefulMathGirl]

I love this drawing

[@helenkosmicki3283]

I like watching you but I think I really enjoy seeing people work through a project, series or concept.

[@paraskevikonteli6249]

Wow I love your art style and the colour you use. Those ducks are so so so cute

[@JelArts]

Thank you so much!

[@ChantelleArts]

this is honestly so reassuring to hear! I felt like I was just about getting somewhere on here but the last few months pretty much everything has flopped and it's hard to not take it personal when you put so much time into making videos 🥰❤

[@JelArts]

KZbin is definitely harder to get established on these days! Just keep trying your best, that's all we can do

[@ChantelleArts]

@@JelArts ah thank you! I really hope things will get better ❤️

[@SarahStudioArt19]

I loved watching this video-the art (I’ve been getting into watercolors) and the topic. I’ve had my channel for a little over a year now, and it’s been very slow, but I finally had a video do better this week. It’s still only at 300 views, but for me that’s a lot for a long form video. It can definitely be a pain to edit and record the voiceovers and stuff, and not that many people see it in the grand scheme of things. But I enjoy sharing my art, and I appreciate the people who enjoy it. Idk, that was a long thing, but yeah, I really enjoyed this video and hearing a big creator’s thoughts.💜

[@ktatvand8964]

This is the first time I've seen one of your videos, and I'm IN LOVE with your style! You are so inspiring

[@JelArts]

Thanks so much!! I really appreciate it :)

[@BroodMage]

Hey Jessica, you've quickly become one of my favorite artists! You great art and style is so cute it makes me melt inside. I don't normally support many people on patreon, but your rewards made me take the plunge. And if ducks are in the future, I may need to upgrade to get those stickers :) You do what's best for you and I'll enjoy what you put out there!

[@JelArts]

I really appreciate it, thank you!

[@dorenemargaret394]

Heyyy I'd like you to know, that since I discovered your channel I was - and still am - impressed by your work. And I also found for myself the style I feel the most comfortable. I usually try to do full art, which subconsciously frustrates me, but meanwhile, I am nervous about getting into my sketchbooks because I don't know what to put inside and how to work so as not to be disappointed with myself. Thanks to you I started to like sketches and turn them out with mix media - which is surprisingly nice and keeps me relaxed. Your voice sounds so nice... All the talking you record is very professional and based with a huge experience. You are a great person and I hope that anything you do will bring you joy and satisfaction.

[@gracekereen]

Your art style is one of my favorites ❤ I will say I had a period of time where for some reason your videos were showing up less on my front page feed and I had to intentionally look for your videos so not sure why but I think KZbin wasn’t promoting your uploads as much for a bit but it’s been better more recently

[@lawlielawlaw]

the duckies are so cute omg!! And I definetly feel you, I think these apps makes us focus on views and shift our view from having fun to always making better in the next creation, the next video, etc, when honestly that’s not really all that important as we think. Not to mention that lately it HAS been tiring to post online with so many problems with AI and etc If you’re in need of a break, definetly take one! I’ll still be here watching your videos always

[@AnnaAttemptsArt]

It’s kind of comforting to know that nearly every creator is also insecure about their views, although it’s not really good thing, it’s nice to know we’re not alone 😅 I’m just going throw my 2c in, in general film what you enjoy, show us the process of making shop items or show us how you manage your shop 😊 With the analytics, I try to have a “trust the process” mind set lol, I think it helps a lot when views are low, “just keep swimming” Also maybe don’t look at your views look at your living situation? Are you happy where you are? Do you need to keep growing to maintain your life? Or do you just need to maintain what you have? I hope that doesn’t come across as rude, I love you and your channel ❤ Take a break if you need it we, will be here when you get back 😁

[@Wrathgir]

Love the ducks! The watercolors are so nice added into the sketchbook. Also I understand your point. I just want to show work and not care about numbers. I haven’t posted much art videos as of late, but maybe will someday get the time to make videos again. Just been mostly streaming on twitch.

[@saraalbirawi]

Cute ducks, especially the one sitting

[@warmyellowshade]

Thanks for voicing the problem with the youtube studio app. Its such a distraction - and so hard not to check all the time. 🥴 It must be something else to look back on your giant catalogue of videos. The duck fellahs were adorbs. ❤

[@CreativaArtly]

The ducks are so cute. The duck And frog especially is a favorite.

[@JelArts]

Hehe thank you!

[@miiaproductions]

Love your sketchbook videos 🩷

[@JelArts]

Thank you! Glad to hear it :)

[@SketchesnScrubs]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts 😅 my art channel has been in a dip ( though i love my community ) - it can be discouraging to see the 10 /10 on the YT studio 😂 you making this video does make me think though lol because I’d assume that this “feeling” stops once one reaches a certain milestone but I guess it stops when we stop it (😅 this May only make sense to me but i hope it makes sense to you). Thank you for sharing x

[@JelArts]

I think that's true! Any goals you set in life, once you achieve them, you're always gonna look for the next thing you want to achieve. Same with follower counts/likes/views!

[@RosieRomanoff]

You do beautiful work. Fun, colorful and expressive masterpieces. If you find any of the topics interesting below, i'd love to see your take on them. Ultimately love just watching you create what makes you happy. -winged mammals/fish -animals and fruit -animals and your favorite foods -cute foods and baby animals -flavored fish -Squid/ random weird deep sea fish looking forward to see you drawing everything that makes you happy. Thankful you help inspire me to sketch.

[@MariesArtEST2017]

i enjoy you videos.

[@CarterTheGinger]

It's mainly algorithms that play a role in how videos circulate throughout. Over the years, social media has definitely made it more difficult for artists/animators/content creators. Being fixated on the views & numbers can negatively impact the pursuit. Treating it as a portfolio makes it more tolerable but comparison is rough.

[@JNDS.Creates]

Breaking in has been the hardest part of all social media’s and the grind is so slow. All us artists want is to be able to support what we love. A lot of the time I feel I missed the boat but I post the videos any ways.

[@OHeyChrissy]

I've thought about doing similar videos of just showing myself drawing but I'm extremely insecure. I don't like my voice or anything so I'm nervous about doing it lmao I do love watching your videos. They're relaxing and fun to watch. Your artwork is adorable❤

[@lincolneyar8269]

I'm a little ducky, swimming in the waterrr

[@JelArts]

I'm a little ducky, far far in the distance

[@autumnmeep]

Hi JelArts, thank you for another video for us to watch. Regarding your thoughts about viewer numbers and stuff. I am one of those ppl who binge some content creators and then life gets busy and I have long stretches where I simply open 500 tabs with videos I want to watch but don’t have the time or energy to watch right now. I know that is a very tricky kind of viewer, because I am skewing the numbers of those ppl I like and then the statistics “lie” to the creator. I think it is important to remember, that these statistics are meant to compare videos based on the very limited analytics yt can digitally collect. It does not show how ppl are still interested in your content but have differing priorities over a stretch of time. I hope this might help you contextualize your numbers in a different light and takes pressure away from having to make a video so you can rest at the place of wanting to create. :3 best regards and stay as awesome! I really love the very simple shapes you use, while adding detail and texture with color! I want to try that sometime myself. :3

[@koteleskristof]

As a viewer I just get so overwhelmed with the amount of art related content constantly getting pumped out everywhere online.. I think my attention span and my passion for art weakened and I just don’t binge art videos like I used to

[@DavvyKat]

The thing I would be worried about is the the content policy, and while I don’t condone posting harmful content, sometimes I get really anxious when I post my Timelapse art videos on my KZbin channel and scared that my channel might get taken down. I mean, I really enjoy doing making Timelapse art videos but the thought of my channel getting taken down makes me anxious. Still I don’t condone posting harmful content but I just want to keep making Timelapse art videos and create the kind of art that I care about.

[@Tigermaster2002]

I liked the series where you would paint on pantone swatches, it'd be nice to see that again

[@rhaenysdraugwen]

I love your videos, and hope you do whatever you ned to do to make them as easy as possible for you! You could have less voiceover, or no voiceover, or switch to streaming and I would stil be happy. Also I know I am not an average youtube user, but I only watch videos from my subscriptions page, and I will watch them chronologically so even if I get behind I still watch everything. So I don't often watch things right away and contribute to those analytics.

[@collection_of_cells7973]

Kind of off topic but how do you make sure your sketchbook pages don’t smear onto one another?

[@Insidious1987]

Ohh, I'm not author, but I saw someone using this thing called mod podge, it's like glue sealer, it might help, but it gives kinda glossy look to pages

[@catalinaburgos6649]

hey, so I started thinking about what you said about the views in your channel and I think I figured out why the views are a bit different than before. There was a point in time that you uploaded a LOT of tutorials and "how to" style videos or like videos with tips to improve a certain thing in art. Those types of videos are the ones people search for, you search: "how to find my art style" "sketchbook tour" "tips on improve my art" So, people that searched that come to your channel and then if thay like you or your art they subscribe and keep up with your content regularly. Nowadays, you've been posting content that's a bit different. For example, this video is not something that people would search, so only the people that enjoy watching you regularly or care about you would watch it. Which is not good nor bad, it's just a different type of audience. Idk, I bet there are still a lot of people that are subscribed that did it for the art tutorial and tips....So maybe if you once in a while you could do a tutorial or even remake old tutorial/tips videos with maybe new information that you've learned since then. And only make this type of videos if you feel like filming something like that or if you want to..... Anyway, this is just what i've noticed.

[@bitteralmonds5717]

Is it worth just completely hiding the analytics somehow? I don't know if that's possible but honestly it really does just seem to grind everyone down 😅

[@JelArts]

Honestly it's useful to tell what kind of content does well and to look for ways to improve your channel, but it's a blessing and a curse lol

[@lamplol7120]

first thing first! the duckies are so cute i wanna eat this spread!!!/pos second thing! i think the reason of this limited reach of your videos is the audience! i found your channel years ago when art advice and art process videos were popular on youtube, so i believe the problem is that your current content is simply not appealing to general audiences nowadays (aka children and teens) although i don’t see that as a problem personally because i don’t want to watch the “popular” art channels because that content isn’t appealing to me. basically i think adding things that would be more appealing to younger audiences would help boost your channel if ur ok with that change.

[@dawnthediver]

well what if you use those prompts as what they are? prompts. pick one out, and let your creative mind steer you in the direction you actually want, that developed from this prompt. and maybe - take that Creator app off your phone? if you have it just on your desktop you'll likely see it less and therefore it will effect you less, or remove them all together. im not a creator so I don't know what things you use that app for, maybe there is some value in it, but if its just gauging our (your viewers) interest or delight, what if you just asked? let us comment and steer your output. I really appreciate your art and your content, specifically for your honest chats and easy sketching. every time I watch your video I'm immediately inspired to pick up my sketchbook and just do art and have fun. the people who see value in your creations will stick around regardless of the quantity or "themes". I think the most healthy way to look at your production as an artist/content creator is: what brings you joy to make, and what your audience that have stuck with you enjoy. also, since you brought up Instagram, I'd love to hear your thoughts on their recent announcement of using all our art and content to feed their ai. again, thank you for sharing what you do, you are one of my absolute favorite art channels here on KZbin and I get great value from your content.

[@BellasArt777]

Seems like the highest my video views get is like 400 .. not much. I'm slow in growing my channel..