Am I wrong to feel this way about art?

[ST-84 Sahelanthropus]

Many people say they look at artists and feel inspired and motivated, and that they want be like them. Unfortunately, when I view talented artists, submitting drawings on FA and DA like it is no problem, I feel intimidated and discouraged, like I'm facing a wall of Police in riot gear, and I think "This is what I'm up against? This is what I have to compete with?" And it seems like while I'm very slowly improving (NOT), they are always going to be miles ahead of me. They'll be like  Iman Maleki and I'll still be 'sketching' (Kinda looks like a sketch by your standards, but it's actually the best I can muster) elementary rubbish. I know it's not a contest, but when you're not nearly as good as everyone else, you go un-noticed. No one cares about your doodles when that's all you can do.

A lot of people say they enjoy drawing, and that it's fun to do in their spare time. Since I'm unemployed and don't go to school (But I want to), my schedule is free as can be. Only thing that gets in the way of total freedom with my time is sleep. If you know me, then you know that sleep is like my arch enemy, and that I want it to go the way of Smallpox and 'GTFO' just for robbing us of a third of our lives. (Sleep: ~Eight hours. Eight times three equals twenty-four) I feel very strongly about that. So, when I get bored of games on the Xbox 360 and I've 'exhausted' my supply of new and interesting YouTube videos, I'd rather pace around the house and talk to myself like an idiot. I'd rather do what I can to get back into contact with a really good friend that blocked me for seemingly no reason, but it's been months since we last talked, and it feels pretty damn hopeless now. I'd rather SLEEP the rest of the Goddamn day away, than pick up a pencil and draw.

Lots of people say they love art. I used to. I used to go to school, and the one thing that made it all worth it was art. Not recess, art. A few days ago I just cried and cried over how inept I am in almost everything I do (Less than 1.1 kill / death ratio in Halo 4 War Games. What good is that? I pretty much might as well have not done anything in every match I played in) and at how my dreams and ambitions are so far-fetched (President of a New World Order? I'm almost 20 years old with a ~third grade education, because I 'dropped out' of school when I was around 10 or 12, because my stupid-ass parents think I'm **censor** retarded and need special education, but they can't find any in Redondo Beach) and how my life is pretty much a wreck. (No driving license, no job, no home of my own, no money, and I never learned cursive because I was a stubborn little brat that thought "Cursive is stupid," so I don't have a signature, which is a NECESSITY in adult life, and because I've used keyboards so much in the past 8 years, my handwirting is slow and ugly anyway) Not trying to sound like a tough guy (Clearly not, when I have mental breakdowns over this shit) but I haven't really cried in many months, maybe a year or two. I don't know.

Don't give me anything like "Practice makes perfect," because that crap's older than dirt and more annoying to me than the phrase "Epic win" on the Internet, and no "Maybe it's not for you," because that really just pisses me off more than anything.

I don't know what I want to hear from you people. I don't want pity or reassurance, I guess I just wanted to vent this emotional garbage or something. I feel like I need a heavy hand, like a 'Gunnery Sergeant Hartman' ordering me around. I feel like the only thing that will help is if I'm forced to draw. I 'want' to be in a setting like a classroom where I have to do my work with no other alternatives. If there's a computer, game console, or even a bed around, like there is at home, I'm not gonna do my work. I've thought about a private tutor, where there's no other students around to bother me, but I realise that other students might actually be a good thing for my progression. Sadly, I think a "Do your work and become an artist, or get picked on and ridiculed by the other kids" scenario is what I need.

[AlmarRaccoon]

I'd say that a lot of training artists feel intimidated by the professional grade art up on FA or DA. I'm not a very good artist myself, I always have detailed pictures in my head, but when I try to draw them they just turn out cartoony like how my avatar turned out. I also commonly feel like I'll never learn, but I think the trick is not to compare your art with other artist's, but instead to recognize and develop a style of art this is fun for you.
(And yes, it does feel good to type out a long rant )

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

I know the feeling, but you just have to learn to see past those kinds of negative feelings. I get discouraged all the time, but I just choose to not let that bother me and see it as a way to learn and how to get better. But that's just my 2 cents.

[Ventus Fall]

I just want to say, at the moment I feel pretty discouraged too, even though I still like to draw and try out new things.
I too get discouraged by seeing amazing artists, some even (close) friends. They have their own defining style and have it worked out pretty well and are able to still continue working on it.


I must say though, there is one artists who is my favourite, for more than one reason.
I know there is a big chance I'll never be able to reach her quality, which is very frustrating,
seeing the time and energy and motivation I sometimes put into drawings.


But when it's different is when I look at her page. Whenever I see her work it looks amazing. And, of course she isn't the only one that makes great works.
But somehow her art makes me happy, encourages me even to try and keep on going.


Maybe you need someone to find, some artist that you can look up to and not feel discouraged by it,
like I do this this certain artist I'm referring to

I wouldn't say 'practise makes perfect', I'm never one to say that. Practise can make someone make better (art)work though, this goes for all things.
Some people are indeed plainly not cut out to be a writer, musician, painter or  even a lawyer, plumber (maybe not the best example?), etc. You can think of almost anything, some people aren't simple not meant to be, no matter how much they try.
However, they can improve and become better, and I think you should strive to become the best of what you can be and try.
Not to be perfect, maybe not even to what you want to eventually become, but I think it should also been seen as something fun:
trying to have fun in the learning process.
I do, which is probably why I keep on drawing, even though there are so many things that can discourage me (and do indeed do so too).

This is just my personal thought on he matter, and even though you said you didn't want reassurance/pity, advice or tips, etc, I still hope this helped you in some way
Like I said, this is my personal matter and I figured I;d share it with you, seeing as I'm kind of in the same pickle at the moment ^^;

[Keo]

I guess I know how you feel
I'm like 19 and it was only about 2 months ago, 2 days ago I did my first drawing *points a paw to pic*. I haven't had any time to draw since, cept on drawspace and I keep looking at furry art but I've found that I like very specific things and when I get better I may well introduce those themes/styles into I guess "my own"? Tbh, I find it helpful to remember my goals - I don't feel I need to be the best of the best, if I were then I fear I'd lose interest in others' art may be - I just  want to, hopefully, be able to express myself, just enough, to enjoy my results. Still, the fact there's others well more experienced gets to me when I'm depressed, it's like they've been doing what they do since they were young and I can't find time (especially when parents are about) among other stuff to even learn or simply doodle. My only advice to you (and me) is to not give up and find confidence . What other way is there anyway? Giving up... What'd that achieve?


Welp, I'm a noob still but I can empathise

[WingedZephyr]

There are some things you have to be able to accept if you're going to be an artist long-term.


1. There will always be people who dislike, or even hate, your art. No matter what you do, someone's personal tastes will be different from yours. You will have to be okay with the fact that some people will just not like what you do.

2. There will always be someone who's better than you. It's impossible to be the best artist ever, because there is no such thing. There will always be artists who you envy, and it is up to you to see their work as inspiration or discouragement. And that is definitely a choice you can make, though not always an easy one. The goal is not to be better than anyone else, it's to be better than yourself as you are now. To be able to look back to where you were 5 years ago and see how far you've come.

3. There will always be room to improve. There is no point where you reach perfection. There will always be something that you could do better, and you have to see that as a challenge you're eager to meet.

4. You need to be able to listen to, and even seek out, constructive criticism. It's wise to avoid trolls, but foolish to ignore comments from someone who is honestly trying to help you improve. Even people who can't draw themselves can often help spot errors or things you could improve. Don't immediately blow someone off just because they don't shower you with praise. Listen to them and use it to better yourself.

5. Art is not a glamorous profession. Everyone loves to enjoy artwork, but the artists themselves are a very abused and unhappy group of people as a whole. Some people get lucky with it or work hard enough to make it into a healthy profession, but many struggle trying to meet their own basic needs for living. If you make a career out of it, it has to be because you love it and couldn't stand doing anything else. Otherwise, it's probably best to keep it as a hobby.

[ST-84 Sahelanthropus]

Sorry for the late reply over a week later, but thank you all for your time.