Same here Sypris, I have stacks of things that have never been seen by anybody but me (not all because they didn't turn out but some just weren't composed enough to bother posting/sharing...I guess I'm sort of lazy that way lol).

I could totally understand how having an artistic role-model find flaws would be unsettling, I can't remember that happening to me before but I'm sure I would feel the same, even if I know I shouldn't.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Yeah, that makes sense Jin (do you prefer Saosin or Jin?).

"or they are over-confident and want to appear less confident"

Hm, that would be sneaky indeed. Thanks for that angle Fish, I hadn't thought of that.

Self criticism is more common than you'd think Quad, but I'm very glad to hear you're working to feel better about your work. I've always been fond of your writing. Thank you for sharing that.

I also tend to not view work if the title contains something negative. I also find that if I really like a piece, and the artist goes on and on about how bad it is, it's almost like they are saying I have poor taste? Silly maybe, but art is so much about emotional response, I'm very amazed how the way art is presented is almost as important as the art itself.
Thanks for the post Shaku, it's has given me more to ponder.
(and no worries about the typos xD lol s'what I get for posting before reading over!)

For me... I do say my work isn't very good/I suck at drawing. Granted, when I do produce something that I'm proud of... and show people, most of the time all I get is a "cool" or "looks good", nothing like "WOW! Amazing!"(Other than here, I've gotten some really nice comments here)... so that does sort of make me self conscious. I know I'm not on that 'artistic level' of greatness that some are, I can not do full body, full color, realistic drawings, and in return for that it is the kind of art that gets sort of swept under the carpet compared to something better.

All I can do is keep trying, though, and no it isn't some form of trickery or manipulative way to gain attention, or what have you. - Although, after Chickenwhite pointed out that it may be a self conscious issue with me and that art is supposed to be fun, I have since yesterday been drawing all kinds of things that I am especially proud of, because they're right, art is about having fun. I'm going to remember that every time I pick up a pencil or my tablet pen now.

Do you find this takes away from your experience of the artwork? Not really. It doesn't really affect it. I know a lot of artists say their work is bad, when really it's very good.

Does it make you feel the work is better, in comparison to the bad artwork you were expecting? No, I don't think so. Any expectations I have are based on previous work by that artist. If it's someone whose work I haven't seen before, I have no expectations prior to viewing it. I don't expect something "bad" just because the artist says it's bad.

Do you as an artist find yourself calling your artwork bad? Yes. Or rather, I often say that about certain aspects of my art. Such as if I see a flaw in anatomy or just in a certain area.

Does this sort of thing impact your views of the artist themselves? Not really.

Do you not care at all? Well I wouldn't say I don't care, because I understand why people put down their own work, but I have seen this kind of thing so often, I know that even if an artist says their art is "bad," it won't necessarily be as bad as they say. In fact, it's often very good. I'd say my reaction when I see that is usually along the lines of "we'll see about that."


It is not a "trend." I think it's normal, and very common, for artists to lack confidence in their own ability, or at least to see their own work as being bad when others think it's good.

Part of it is that, when you're working on something, you might see flaws other people don't notice. Especially if you spend a lot of time on something. And I think most artists struggle with something at some point. You might be trying for certain results, but just can't seem to achieve them. If something doesn't come out looking the way you want, it's easy to see it as being "bad." And part of it is just perception. I guess you could say as an artist you are too "close" to your work to be able to see it the way others do.


edit: Actually if I see something in the title that claims the art is bad, I'm likely to look at it anyway just to see for myself whether or not it's really that bad.

Shamiya: "art is about having fun. I'm going to remember that every time I pick up a pencil or my tablet pen now." <- That, that right there, is awesome. I'm so glad to hear it because art should be fun. The reason I tend to take art a little more seriously is because I'm at university for it and the expectations for me are to take it seriously and think more seriously about it. Sometimes I need to be reminded that not everybody else is like that lol xD.

Kittyo8: Indeed, that's a good point. Usually when I'm in a critique at school I will mention one thing that I think I could have done better, to sorta open up the piece for analysis. Not off topic at all.

nuevapaz: I think the term trend has been corrupted and has earned a slightly more negative connotation on this site, I'm meaning more a behavioral trend, an action that continues to be done within a certain cultural sub group (in this case artists). I'm not trying to say that one artist saw another artist do it and is doing the same, just that a lot of people seems to be doing it. [/ramble]

"Part of it is that, when you're working on something, you might see flaws other people don't notice. "
That's a very good point as well, thank you for bringing that up.

Chickenwhite: My artistic ego-popping mantra is similar lol, but why not just call the pieces experimental instead of bad or failures? If you learned something new, even the smallest amount, is it still a failure?

Perfect sense Minimuuh!

I tried writing something for this blog but kept erasing what I typed.
It's just hard for me to explain but I'll try anyway.

This,

Also the fact that I see an awesome image inside of my head and wonder why I am not able to transfer it onto paper.
It is extremely frustrating.
Do I lack discipline to put it on the paper?
The ability?
Is there something in my brain that I lack to do this?
Is it my hand?
I ask myself these questions so much and I eventually just don't like it, and it turns ugly to me.
Doesn't necessarily mean it is ugly, but usually I think so.

I hope I answered this blog correctly.

Unplugged: I think it's fine to justify aspects of art if say, you were experimenting or trying something new and it didn't work. Who knows, by saying what you had trouble with you might get some good tips from people in your class who've maybe done the same thing before. There's a difference between justifying and making an excuse for something that didn't work out.
You made me hack on my pop in laughter, the word 'drawer' does it to me every time! xD

Ravynn: Thank you very much for taking the time to compose a comment, there isn't any wrong answer either I just wanted to see how people would respond.
I totally understand.
Sometimes, if I've been looking at something too long I get fed up and can't see the good in it anymore. It's so easy to think a great artwork, but making it is a whole new problem.

SilverSAV: Tis not the tools that makes the craftsman great, but the skill with which he wields them.
I'm glad you're becoming more confident about your art though, self-worth is very important.

Well I myself, if I see one of my drawings heading in the wrong direction, then I simply won't finish it. But if I do attempt to save it and I'm still not happy with it, then I don't post it. x3 I don't really have much to say about the topic, since I'll just be repeating what others have said.

I hardly ever post anything I'm not 80% or more happy with; personally. So when I see someone overly bash themselves/their skills/artwork it really makes me roll my eyes, especially if they post it in a public place where people are obviously going to see it whether or not you think it's good or not. You posted it. So, I agree with something someone said quite a few comments above, about trying to appear overly humble about something. Genuine humility is hard to come by, and as much as it makes me sad to say it; more than half of the artist's I've met lacked a lot of those "common" qualities.

I don't have a problem with people being happy, excited, or proud of their work. In fact it makes me interested and makes me more eager to see the picture-- much more than when people are close to crucifying themselves over something they "hate"; yet still posted.

I like to hear about a piece of work, seperate from the artist. I want to hear more about how the picture was inspired, what struggles had to be overcome to create it and the overall process of creation. Too often I'm disappointed when I visit museums/art galleries and read the plaque on the wall next to a piece of art I genuinely love and find a short biography of the artist, when they were born, when they died and the title of the piece they created. I don't want to know about the artist, I want to know about the art. Sort of like I want to know about the life of the athlete that made the winning goal... not the parents who created them. e__e;;

edit: Though the common: "Hey, not too happy with this, but I think it turned out alright." is fine! I never find my artwork perfect. I've been very proud of things I've created, but I don't think I've ever created a picture that I was completely and unconditionally happy with, I'm a critical person when it comes to myself, but I accept my faults; and the faults of my creations... what makes me roll my eyes (and avoid commenting on the topic all together) is when it gets out of control, or even moderatly so.

"This picture is total crap, I don't even know why I bothered to show it. Well, here anyway, hope you like it."
"Gosh I really like the eyes on your deep it's so pretty, and the hooves are so nice looking! Good job!"
" I hate the hooves, and the eye is total fail. Thanks anyway though."

No.
You are human, you are not perfect, and anything you create wont be perfect either. There are faults in everything, even when on the surface it looks perfect. Take a little pride in what you create. It makes the people around you feel better about giving you a compliment, at the least. Or are you telling them they have horrible taste in art?

Gah anyway. XD /rambleramble