Lonely, Sad, art-less, and hopeless

[Lovelife090994]

I have been losing my drive for art lately. I'm in another deep block and this time I'm not wanting to do anything. I have no clue what to draw or paint, I hate my art and style, and wish I were quicker and better. I can't seem to stay motivated in much of anything anymore. I can't seem to find passion in life. I am only getting more depressed and alone. All the colors are fading to gray, and even in gray I can't find anything. I look at all this great art and wish I could do the same. I know as an artist you never compare yourself but I can't help it. I feel so lost and unsure about everything right now. At this rate, not even sketches work and that's never been my thing. What's worse is that I have never been able to let my emotions out in anything, not even art. I hate how my art only gets negative critics but the critics are right, I'm not good or great and am too confused and hopeless for art. At this rate I may retire art for good and just forget I ever was an artist, like everything else. I just feel so useless and sorry.

[Desuetude]

I know how you feel about it being hard to stay motivated and I understand that replated to art as well. All I can say is don't look at other artists work because it does make you feel like shit and it does force you to compare yourself to someone that's so much better than you. Thing is every artist has their own style, even if you think you're losing yours now it's hard to compare that to someone else. We all have our different strengths. Watercolours are the bane of my existence but oil paints and chalk pastels are the best (also most expensive) mediums I've worked with. That'll be completely different for you and every other artist so comparing your watercolour painting to mine isn't going to be a fair comparison, is it? Again, the same thing with the critics. You're going to hear people talk shit about your work but you know what? You painted/drew/sketched that for you, not for them. As long as you're happy with it, you've done your best and you've got to the place where you want to be fuck what they think. You need to be selfish because art is selfish. It's about the artists and their perspective on something, using the mediums that they like. It's not about what someone else likes.

All I can say about you losing interest in it is stop pushing yourself to like it. Take a break and focus on something else for a while. If you're made to do something or push yourself too hard then you're just going to find it to be work instead of enjoyable and that's not going to help your motivation and that's not what art is about. You're not useless or helpless. Art can be anything, absolutely anything. Have you seen the exhibition with a bin tipped over and rubbish spilling out? Yeah, that's considered art. if a pile of rubbish is considered art then anything you've created is going to top that.

Don't give up being an artist. Take a break and come back with a clear head. Maybe find a different hobby to take up in the meantime so you have something else to do?

[Lovelife090994]

I know how you feel about it being hard to stay motivated and I understand that replated to art as well. All I can say is don't look at other artists work because it does make you feel like shit and it does force you to compare yourself to someone that's so much better than you. Thing is every artist has their own style, even if you think you're losing yours now it's hard to compare that to someone else. We all have our different strengths. Watercolours are the bane of my existence but oil paints and chalk pastels are the best (also most expensive) mediums I've worked with. That'll be completely different for you and every other artist so comparing your watercolour painting to mine isn't going to be a fair comparison, is it? Again, the same thing with the critics. You're going to hear people talk shit about your work but you know what? You painted/drew/sketched that for you, not for them. As long as you're happy with it, you've done your best and you've got to the place where you want to be fuck what they think. You need to be selfish because art is selfish. It's about the artists and their perspective on something, using the mediums that they like. It's not about what someone else likes.

All I can say about you losing interest in it is stop pushing yourself to like it. Take a break and focus on something else for a while. If you're made to do something or push yourself too hard then you're just going to find it to be work instead of enjoyable and that's not going to help your motivation and that's not what art is about. You're not useless or helpless. Art can be anything, absolutely anything. Have you seen the exhibition with a bin tipped over and rubbish spilling out? Yeah, that's considered art. if a pile of rubbish is considered art then anything you've created is going to top that.

Don't give up being an artist. Take a break and come back with a clear head. Maybe find a different hobby to take up in the meantime so you have something else to do?

Thanks but it's just that arr was all I had. I don't know what else to do. And I really want to stay an artist and to draw and do fantasy, people, furr, yaoi, and other stuff but I am never satisfied and never up for drawing. I hate hobbies since I can never stay in them or happy. I cant help but compare, I always do and cant stop. And I do feel hopeless and sad always, Lide's so bleak here and I want something, art was it. I dont want to lose it I want to create but I lack motivation.

[Karkat]

I feel the exact same way. I always hate creating art anymore because it gets so little positive reception. I've thought about giving up photography as well (which would be a mega bummer because I've got a shiny new Canon Rebel T5...)

I've thought about giving up singing and guitar playing so many times it's not funny. There were days I wanted to sell my guitars and rip out my vocal chords. I found the sound of my own voice so aggravating and disgusting that I became suicidal.

I don't even have a bad voice. Mostly.

I've felt that way about my writing as well. My writing has toppled me over the edge before, because I felt my voice was so pretentious and smug that I couldn't live with myself anymore. I became enraged with my writing personality.

But you know, I've never really given any of it up. Not really. I always try to go back to it, even if I'm scared it'll hurt, or feel like a chore. And lately, my guitar playing and singing has really improved for it.

Don't give up yet. You might wanna take a break, step back, refresh for a bit for the sake of your own sanity, but don't give up.