Dude, I'm twenty, and in the same spot as you. I can tell you right now, that I KNOW what you're going through. I suppose the real question you should ask yourself is, "If I stop, what else will I do?"

So you're not the best, no one ever is anymore. The people you look up to, have people they look up to, and so on and so forth. What you have to do is realize that everyone is jealous of someone, and it's that jealousy or envy that can help push them to greater heights.
Sure you may feel like you'll never be better than someone else, but I can tell you this, it's possible. People you envy can become the ones that envy you, if you progress well enough.

I guess what I'm getting at is, even though you may feel like you're not better than this one artist, there will still be one person who feels you're better than them. And if they won't give up, then you shouldn't either.

Heh, i've suffered alot of downs during my first trying years of my artwork, i mean sure it's not much now, but it's getting there. It's all about not trying to focus on taking on the rest of the world with art talent and skill.

It's all about doing what you like best and love to do. Not trying to improve via forced motivation to be the best or better at least. I mean first time i saw your works were a-ok.

Should try and have a nice little chat again like we used to. It's been a long while since we have.

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<sub>- To be creative is to use a composite of what you imagine and experience on canvas.

- But to depend on being in a singular mood to do such things would be exposed to easily having a artblock.

- My way is called "Creative Alternative"</sub>

Try not to be discouraged Rai. In my opinion, you've become quite the avid artist, to the point where you have a style all your own. To me, it just seems like acknowledging whether it exists or not is getting in your way. It may be hard at first, but believe me, don't give up. There is a reason why you are one of my number one favorite artists.

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Now playing: Persona 4 (first run, Hard), Infinite Undiscovery (first run, Normal)

Hoping to play: Eternal Sonata and Tales of Vesperia (PS3)

it happens to everyone (the "image-not-coming-out-right part and the feeling-inferior-to-some-artists issue)

no one is really the best, but ur definitely WELL above average, so dont be so hard on urself

heck i feel intimidated by alot of artists' stuff everytime i browse xD (ur one of those too, be glad )

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"When life gives you trouble, pull a Dragon slave."

Hmmmm, as far as I'm concerned, the art not coming out as you envisioned it is... well... "art". To me half the fun is trying to touch up what didn't come out as I liked it. It happens to us all, and as far as style... You have one all your own man, you succeeded in making the starts of one... just keep practicing ^..^

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"You know what makes up the sands of time? The ashes of the fallen."

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Hey bud. I know in my last journal I've said I'm taking a break from DA, but yeah.

My perception of my own work is of the same as yours, too. To place it next to a professional piece, and feel our style is still of something that can be like a 'casual' level.

And its good to see you're still going on, six years and still pushing forward.

I know a lot of responses have (and probably will) continue to encourage you to never give up, and to do what you love to do, without comparing yourself to the rest of the world and.. and. etc...

And if you're sick of seeing that someone around you who is 'better than you', then I'm also guessing that such comments wouldn't push you as much as they used to.

You mention that "whats worse is that..." you'll always be behind them. One thing that jumps out there, is also the fact that someone can come to say "that there'll always be someone to challenge and try to better." or if not, they can say "whats better is that there'll always be someone there to look up to." There are many passing artists who come by your place, and feel they need improvement, myself included.

And well, a lot of artists, when confronted with this situation - also ask "why continue drawing? You'll always be worse than someone else."
One thing that such a question does, is make the artist focus on the comparison with others out there, and it de-motivates artists to keep going.

Although, the ones that keep going, usually remember a major reason why they keep going - because they love art. Its not always that they're good at it, but its because they enjoy making it - regardless of style, content, and whatnot.

Many a times, I feel what you feel about my own work, too. Its actually part of the reason why I wrote my last journal and took a break from DA, too.

But yeah. As a final note, you'll find that to become a someone, you'll also have to accept and be happy with your work as it progresses, not just the end result or goal. Because if you're always unhappy with your progress, and the final of that particular piece - other's will also be unhappy with you. And you'll be known for being unhappy.

Thats 'being known' for all the wrong reasons.

When you go from standing on the shore and pushing the tide out to the ocean, to being in the water and pulling it towards the sea, the job becomes a lot easier. Not to mention a lot more rushes your way than you'd first expected.

So yeah, there are some who look back on their galleries and think "wow, what a journey. I was really that bad back then? LOL"
and there are others who beat themselves over it, thinking "man. I was so crap back then, and I've barely moved since. dammit."
Those who remain unhappy with their work, will 'always' feel that it is true, despite what other's say. (Which plays upon the "I want to be a someone" part. If you always feel that you're a nobody, despite what people say, if you dont believe you are, you'll feel that's true until you finally decide you're a someone, which only you can ultimately do.)

So yeah, long babbling from some random deviant like myself. But yeah. If there's anything I'd probably want anyone to take from this weird and long comment, it'll be "to be satisfied with at least something in your works. Because you'll pretty much never see that same satisfaction in that piece ever, ever again."

Hokay. My two cents on that. All up, indeed buddy - don't give up. You're one magnificent artist to many of us out there.
Take care, be safe.
TN

Meep. I be 24 and everyone appears to be a billion times better than me. It's been enough to get me to stop drawing quite a few times, even though I want to be good at... well... something. I just don't know what my Niche is supposed to be... I have areas I want to explore, but I feel like a lame duck when I compare myself to others, especially yourself. You've done art that bobbles my head... and I do have a bit of envy. *rumbles*

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Everyone can be a jerk. You have to be born a bastard.

heh dude your better at what you do then I am; my life has been filled with everything BUT art for most of it; highschool i was majoring in tv and film instead of art and because of it ive felt majorly behind ever since...ive onlt been SERIOUSLY pushing myself to be better and draw more often for the last 2-3 years dude.

and i still feel the same..its like a high while your drawing something..and it ends as soon as you submit your art to your peers..then you feel the drop..like it wasnt worth it. but i say keep trying anyways..with that drop of confidence it just makes you strive to do better the next time :/

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"...Was It A Dream...Or Was It A Nightmare?...Sometimes You Can Never Tell..."

"...W E L C O M E T O M Y P A R A D I X T I O N..."