#drawing feels

[worldofcopperwings]

How to make an artist / writer / creator on tumblr smile:

How to make an artist / writer / creator on tumblr love you & get them to create more:

[paigebraddock]

It’s hard to draw a feeling... I was trying to illustrate what it feels like these days to follow the news...

[worldofcopperwings]

I’ve seen a few posts around tumblr, saying things like, “fandoms need more f/f content!” or “the rarepairs need more representation!” or something along those lines.

Which I completely agree with, but.

When one then writes or draws f/f or rarepairs and it gets next to no hits or notes, it is discouraging. It’s easier to revert back to the popular pairings, because that way you get feedback. 

At this point, you’re probably muttering to yourself that writers and artists should only create for themselves and not for someone else; there should be no need for external validation. And I partially agree but also disagree. See, while the initial spark and motivation in all creative work comes from within, it is reinforced and fed by external motivators. It’s hard to create in a vacuum with no feedback. 

Some content creators might be in it for purely self-indulgent reasons, which means they do not care about external validation. They do not care about things like hits or notes or comments or kudos. They create purely for themselves, and they will continue creating even if no one reads their fics or reblogs their art. I salute these creators for their divine internal motivation.

But as for the rest of us mere mortals, we are powered by kudos, notes and comments. When our work gets noticed, it motivates us to create more, and reversely, no feedback makes us shy away from creating more content for those neglected rarepairs and f/f ships. (Actually, the same goes for any content, really.)

So if you cry for more f/f or rarepairs or any content that you want to see, you need to act accordingly: leave kudos and comments on those fics. Reblog that art. 

In short: support and promote the content that you want to see.

(...and/or create it yourself.)

[worldofcopperwings]

I understand you, for me it's weird to have more than 1 or 2 likes, and much more to have reblogs, it's so sad when you put so much effort on something and nobody cares about it, just to be there, like if that thing didn't exist...

Yeah, when you put a lot of effort into something you create it’s natural to want recognition for your hard work. I myself sail between two extremes all the time: on one hand I’m like, I don’t give a damn about what anyone thinks, I will create what I want, and then at the other end of the spectrum I’m sobbing into the void, begging for people to notice and validate my hard work. It’s very conflicting.

I guess the only thing we can do is either let the lack of acknowledgment get to us and stop creating, or continue creating and getting better at what we love doing. While I sometimes feel like giving up, I love drawing and writing too much to quit, so I know I’d continue creating even if no one ever noticed my work. I try to keep in mind that first and foremost, I create for myself, even though it’s hard to face the feeling of failure upon posting something that no one seems to like. When that happens, I try to move on and experiment with something new, and learn from each piece I create. We can only get better at what we practice!

Stay positive, anon! You keep doing what you’re doing and I’m sure your love and dedication will be acknowledged one day. <3

[worldofcopperwings]

me, drawing: but I’ve already drawn otayuri kissing like 12,059 times, isn’t this a bit too much already?

my brain: NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH OTAYURI KISSES. NOW DRAW.

[worldofcopperwings]

Drawing three people making out is like... there are THAT many hands, oh jeez, where the HELL am I going to put all these? Wait, is that an EXTRA HAND WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?? WHAT IS GOING ON, WHICH ONE OF YOU IS A THREE-ARMED MONSTROSITY WHAT.

(Thanks @blownwish-blog, ily and I’m actually enjoying drawing your request but, SO MANY HANDS :’D)

[worldofcopperwings]

me: *posts a drawing*

me, five minutes later, looking at the drawing: oh my this is goddamn awful garbage how could i ever post this it’s so messy and the proportions are way off now let me just dig myself a pit of humiliation and curl up in there bye