Ever think you're better than you are?

[Zanconato]

I was recently looking back at some of my old work, and i remember thinking ages ago that at that time it was pretty good, but now I realize it wasn't, even for my age. Then I started to think maybe we think that the work we produce today is actually better than it is, and its only untill some time has past you see the truth.

Anyone eles feel this way? Im starting to think that I might be going down a path that I beleive I can get too, but in reality I have no chance.

[Infinit]

this is pretty normal
it's your own brain blocking of the negative thoughts a bit to avoid depression (some kind of build in frustration firewall ^^)

esp children behave like that, they almost never are unsatisfied with their results
it protects them, and us but not so much like back then

[Crash]

When i was in my early teens i thought i was pritty awesome, lots of self confidence. Then when i was around 18 i looked on my older stuff and i hated it, hated it so much i got really depressed. And still today im to hard on my self, i rarely get shit done.

[Zanconato]

Thanks Mike, really. I do find myself constantly doing what you mentioned, comparing myself with others, almost competing with others heading in the direction I want to go. This is gunna be a hard habit to break, I can just tell.

I just finished watching the Marko dvd just now, and that kinda intertwines with what you were saying about setting goals, being positive, saying "I can make it". I should stop trying to be the "best" and just be the best that I can, work the best I can, and achieve the best I can. ugh, i've got butterfly stomach.... wierd.

Thanks again guys.

[Ilaekae]

I will never be as good as I think I am.

I will never be as good as I want to be.

I will definitely never be as good as others think I am.

I don't care. All that matters is that the thing I did today is better than the thing I did yesterday. Which is stupid, because it isn't as good as what I'm going to do tomorrow.

To the good side, I know that I will never be as bad as others think I am...they're idiots with no fuckin' taste... ;)

[Hyskoa]

Life philosophy: "I can already do godlike work, it's just doubt, frustration and reality that is stopping me from making it. My ego said so."

hehe.

[Goog]

Yeah, I used to do the same thing till I saw one of Bobby Chiu's painting vids where he said to not compare yourself to other artists, the best person to compare to is yourself. linky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAn-YRCezQM) if you're interested.

[embee]

i wanted to post those as well, damn! ;-) Everybody has to watch and LISTEN... awesome vids/audio. I think the audio is way more helpful to me than the painting

[Dan_Grr]

Thats why I trash all my drawings, save for those who go in my sketchbook.

[v0rbiss]

Never felt that, the best I ever thought about a work of mine was "it's semi-decent" or "not all bad"...the fact that there is some improvement after all keeps me going. :)

[asoir]

Depends on the amount of ass-pattery =]

[Mitchell]

Yeah, I used to do the same thing till I saw one of Bobby Chiu's painting vids where he said to not compare yourself to other artists, the best person to compare to is yourself. linky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAn-YRCezQM) if you're interested.

haha that is a great video. Funny as hell too "If i'm living in a place where the young people are afraid of the old people stealing your clothes, that's getting pretty ghetto." never thought I would hear those words in a digital drawing video.

and on topic, I have this feeling somewhat, I never feel it at the time though. I never feel "satisfied" with my work, there will just be some things that I draw that I feel better about, but usually by the next day, I think it's the biggest peice of crap ever. Bobby chiu is on point when saying never be satisfied. I think you should always be your biggest critic.

[JM]

I think I should be alot better than I currently am, so I see all my work as crap which leads me to not do too much at all.
My problem being that I do compare myself too much to others and think about what others will think.

[HunterKiller_]

My pokemon brings all the nerds to the yard, and they're like, "you wanna trade cards?" "damn right, I wanna trade cards. I'll trade this, but not my Charizard."

Ahahahahahahaha! Omg that's so good! XD

I think it's safe to say that all artists thought their beginning works were good, if not fantastic.
As we get older and learn more about art we gain a better sense of judgment for the subject, so that even if you put your blood and sweat into a piece of art, you can still look at it in the end and think it's crap (although that is very depressing when it happens).

[creatix]

Im starting to think that I might be going down a path that I beleive I can get too, but in reality I have no chance.

What is reality? Perhaps it is nothing more than what you perceive to be reality. Therefore, perhaps reality is nothing more than what you "think" it is.

The key here is thought, and that leads to focus. My wife is a Pediatric ICU Heart Nurse. She tells me of children that don't know they are supposed to suffer yet physically they are. They have a level of pain that physically should be overbearing on the body yet they carry on with a smile and act as though its no big deal. Meanwhile, some people have a headache and they gripe and moan as though they are dying. What is the reality of it all? Is the pain truly that bad or is it only perceived to be as bad as what your mind tells you. Remember, if you are supposed to feel something physically (and therefore in reality) your mind will have to make up stories and justify it otherwise you might go insane.

I can ramble endlessly about mind over matter, people that live in freezing weather yet convince themselves that they are warm and the concept of putting your mind somewhere else to ignore pain.

All I know is:
There are soldiers in Iraq that will smile.
There are people in Disneyland that will be frowning.
There are people that think the glass is half full.
There are people that think the glass is half empty.
There are people that want to draw even when they know they are gonna suck.
There are people that will only draw when they know it will be good.

If your mind cannot truly tell whether something you imagine is real or not, then why not imagine the best possible outcome?

I am not going to say to a person that just had their leg cut off with a steak knife "Dude, its all in your mind - block out the pain" but in the instance of what you mentioned...

You are already generating an entire mindset based upon a reality that hasn't happened yet.

If you focus on what you don't have and what you never will have then what do you think your physical body will be drawn to?

On the contrary, if you focus on pretending that the path you dream of going down is already happening then your body can do nothing else but find a way to give you evidence of that. When you focus on the best possible outcome (the dream, the goal, etc.) then you will physically start to manifest things to justify what your mind is telling you.

Each day that you wake up pretending to live in this amazing world you will be looking around for all of these little opportunities to prove to you that this world exists. At some point, you begin acting on these opportunities. You have now bridged the gap between mind and body. Now that your body is on the same page you will someday schedule it to happen.

Once you schedule it, it happens. Once it happens, then and only then does it become REALITY.

But I can't.
But I shouldn't.
I have to wait.
The time isn't right.
It is not for me.
I am afraid.
Maybe I'm not good enough.
I don't have enough money.
I am too old.
It's to late.
What if I fail?

Those are all things you say to avoid PAIN. It is human nature to avoid pain. Fuck all that. Fear is the mechanism that helps you avoid pain. The interesting thing is that while it helps you avoid pain now, you never realize that it kills you...It just kills you much later in life.

I've rambled enough. Take it as you will but good luck in it all.

[Nerahla]

That is possbily some of the best advice about life I've read anywhere on a forum recently. Excellent words Creatix.

[young paddy1]

You can be way to into doing something to notice the flaws that are blatantly obvious to those around you.

Some people's self belief shelters them far too much from the realities of creating art, it's not necessarily the best piece of work in the world just because it was created by you.

Constantly re-evaluate your own work and don't always believe everything you hear from other people, especially family members, they have a tendancy to either put you down or build you up just as a matter of course.

some people are just way too far up their own arses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1hrb2H9p3k

p.s. I know my stuff is just a mildly polished turd, which I suppose is better than the plain ordinary turd it used to be.

[blacky]

I most often think I'd be better than I am
I couldn't explain why else I boast and brag that much with my shit

between:
You ever have those moments when you're like, DUDe you're a genious!!! (specially on completion of a paint)
and then, the longer you stare at it the more you would go like; geez that sucks, go shoot yourself....
?

[asoir]

I most often think I'd be better than I am
I couldn't explain why else I boast and brag that much with my shit

between:
You ever have those moments when you're like, DUDe you're a genious!!! (specially on completion of a paint)
and then, the longer you stare at it the more you would go like; geez that sucks, go shoot yourself....
?
yeah that always happens, especially if you go browsing here afterwards..

[guggemmaneuver]

whazzuh huh really?

[Lohan]

i think its good motivation to compare yourself to others. thats like 50% of my motivation is trying to get better than the others around me. and it works.

[Inkfish]

...
some people are just way too far up their own arses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1hrb2H9p3k

...

Oh my god. That's got to be the most annoying promotion video ever, i wanted to punch the creator in the face. " When people view my digital paintings for the first time it's hard for them to understand that they were created on a computer. Instead of painting with oils, I use digitally infused light." Indeed.

[Ilaekae]

I sooOOOOOOOooooooo wanna sit on this guys chest and slowly choke him to death "...from beginning to end."

[fedezz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1hrb2H9p3k


Who the fuck is that dude? His ego is a little big for someone who smudges photos. And calling himself the "rembrandt of the digital age" might be a little over the top:P Makes me wanna punch him in face, seriously.

[Justin.]

What is "Digitally infused light"? Does he mean "Dodge and burn?"

And actually "Trend Hunter" Magazine calls him that- It is amazing that when someone peddles to them, they listen- they don't go out and look for themselves, for SURELY if they type in "Digital Artist" in google, they would eventually find people like Mullins-

And yet, after about 12 pages of "Digital Artist", on Google, I haven't seen David cock's webpage.

Actually, I searched for his name and found his site.

It is that Youtube video, and a biography with an email address. It is amazing a digital artist won't put up his work on the nets.

But really, what is "Digitally infused light"?

[Stark]

I never think I'm better than I am anymore. I used to challenge others in my classes while in HS to draw against or with me, just to see where I'm at. I now just work until I feel I am satisfied with what I have produced thus far. I always find something wrong with my drawings...ALWAYS! I am never quite satisfied, let me take that back. I am always looking at the future, seeing where Marko, Mike, Chuck, Mate, Dave Olsen, etc are and then strive to hit that mark until I am able to pass them (which I doubt will happen in this lifetime, since they rock out hardcore!), but it's a goal I want to reach before I turn ashes to dust.

I just say sketch and sketch and sketch. You'll never be satisfied with whatever you create and will only hurt yourself in the end. And don't mentally surpass your real/true talents (READ: Don't think you're better than you are) because someone may come along and criticize too harshly and crush your dreams.

[Simon.Rain]

Ohhh shit, you should have seen my face at the Montreal workshop... I was amazed at how much I suck... hahah

and my girlfriend asked me to compare myself to the others there ... I laughed out loud and told her the amount of talent I seen there was like a punch in the face... nothing motivated me more =)

[Icon]

as long as you don't turn to that "rembrandt of the Digital Age" it's ok! The worst thing you can do to yourself is also go overboard and say shit like "I'm the rembrandt of the digital age"..... what an idiot! Oh god..that damn video...and his blog profile...AARGH!!!!!! I want to stop him from breeding more idiots! >.<



....in any case, like it has been said above...I don't like to compare myself to anyone, but I do like to compare my technique to others.
I as an "artist" have my own personal vision that I don't compare against anyone..it's silly. Now technique is different, because I see technique as my tools to make my vision... and if everyone has super special shiney tools and get the job done better, why shouldn't I work harder to get those special tools? I hope that's not an akward analogy...anyway it keeps me motivated to practice further. I set myself small goals to reach, and keep at it... It works for me!

[Simon.Rain]

Who pretended they were the "rembrandt of the Digital Age" ??

wow, show me links =)

I know one who was pretending to be the new giger ( he was featured in the thread about worst of ca... http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_6356_profile.htm )
ohhh... took him FOUR post to get banned, I still can't believe it


a quote from his website
I HAVE SURPASSED Being referred to as the "H.R Giger of digital". I am now myself. I follow no one or emulate them.

[NoSeRider]

Ever think you're better than you are?

Yep, probably, but I look at people that are better then me to get myself grounded. I just don't like it when people that are better then me start thinking that too......but then again, they don't like it when I think that way.

It's a vicious circle.

Artists in general seem to depend on their egos to push themselves forward. It seems like their force of will is what perpels them?....maybe?

I think if you treat art like Math or a Language and be aware that you're not using your vowels corrrectly or that 2 + 2 does not equal Pi, then I guess that grounds you. Basically, being aware that there are rules to art, or at the least become aware.

Treat art objectively. Math and Language are objective. You're either right or you're wrong.

[2100]

Well, I don't want to grow up yet, thus I AM BETTER THAN I THINK I AM AND BETTA LOOKIN' THAN THE REST OF YA. Bahahaha!

[JustinBeckett]

Whether this was the intent of the topic or not, this was what came to mind when I saw the title. A lot of times we look at other artists work, or where another artist was at the age we are at and compare their talent and skills to our own.
Don't worry about that and focus on your own goals and stick to your own ideas and style. Unconsciously we're always going to be influenced by the world around us whether that includes another artist work or a particular moment in life. Just don't let those influences concerning another artist rule your own outlook on your career. Stop trying to play "catch up" and focus more on who you are instead of comparing yourself to the work of others. It's ok to understand where you need to head and what your up against in a similar field but don't let that depress you if your not there yet.

It's healthy to have the mind set that " I can do that if I want to " and to say to yourself " I know I can practically do anything if I try ". If you want it bad enough and put in the time and understanding of what is needed to achieve certain goals it's possible. It may seem cocky or egotistic to think, hell if that artist did it in 20 years I can do it in 5 but it's better to think that way over thinking "I'll never be that good". Depression and a lack of motivation are what kill a lot of artist from becoming what they can be, instead of getting stuck in a rut for the next 30 years.

I never think I'm better than I am, but I think I need to push myself to become what I want to be. To look at your work and realize all the flaws, the mistakes and the problem areas is a natural characteristic of an artist who will continue to improve because they realize they are not "the best" and never will be. It's that drive and continued dedication to push yourself to become better and to fix those problems that help us succeed.


Look no further ^

[fattkid]

"Ever think you're better than you are?"........That's a good thing when you realize that. That means you are progressing! It means you see your weaknesses. Now the next step is to address them. I'm spending my christmas break studying some perspective videos I acquired from a local university library, as well as Scott Robertson's Gnomon shading & lighting DVD's. After the workshop, and talking to Marko, Andrew, Jason, Ron, Wes and Kevin, and some others about my sketchbook, I realized what I need to work on next and what the next year or so of my drawing/painting life is going to entail. (Lighting/Rendering/Shadows, animal anotomy....in case anyones interested.) Anyway, your on the right track, in my humble opinion. I still have a long ways to go though, so I could be mistaken.

[Magic Man]

Every artist will at times think of themselves "better" than they are, just as they will at times think of themselves as "worse" than they are, its part of the nature of art. The secret to remaining sane is to try to have a happy medium slightly behind "I think I'm pretty good", because then you will always realise that you can spend extra time studying and getting better.

The day you stop trying to learn new techniques and skills, will be the first day that your skills will flounder.

[Snuggles]

Oh dood, I used to do this all the time. Only apparently a lot different than some of you mugs. I've always had vivid thoughts in my head about what I could produce if I could sit down and concentrate, but I've always been too depressed/ADD to be able to. Only turns out once I finally try I end up somewhere in the middle of where I was and where I wanna be. SO yeah.

[M.C.Barrett]

I don't think of my abilities as better or worse than anything. I simply have a desire to draw something cool, to give light to the worlds and peoples in my imagination. I'm seeing things in my mind, and comparing my work to my imagination as I go. My measure of success and ability is how vivid the image is after I've poured it out of my head, and if it's a miss, the problem is not with my technical mastery but with how clearly I'm seeing things in my mind, how far my imagination goes in dressing out the worlds it creates. Not that I don't struggle and strive to improve my technical abilities, but this is how I work, and for me it's far more important to have a sharp creative mind, which probably isn't quite as easy to gauge in relation to either myself in the past or to my peers. My exercise is to explore the imaginations of others through literature and art, as well as space out and dive into my own sketch/doodle/writing/daydreaming sessions. I'm not cool. I'm a space cadet. I yak at my friends about the things I've created as though I just discovered them, because after a certain point that's exactly what it feels like. When a world reaches a certain level of complexity, it starts inventing details as a matter of course, and that's when I know I'm keeping my imagination sharp enough- when it's sharper than I'm even conscious of. When it's anything less than that, it doesn't just feel like I'm falling behind, it feels like I'm losing touch with entire planets and civilizations. That's some motivation, at least for a space cadet.

[evildisco]

Age old question. Know this: you will die unsatisfied.

[NicoRaven]

My sig says it all. I want to be better than the next guy but there will always be a next guy to be better than.

Basically as artists we tell ourselves one more sketch then when its done say it again one more then when this ones even better one more til like Alex Roth we die on the drawing table dreaming of the next sketch, eternally pushing for a personal "better" and not being satisfied with a personal best.

You can jump the five foot hurdles "wow totally awesome" now try the six foot one then so on and so forth til you tripping and falling but trying nonetheless.

[Dile_]

Well.. as long as your learning, and as long as you doesnt have your head
all the way up in your ass (big damn ego) IT kinda doesnt matter
if you think your better then you are or not.
Im always been a competitor, and Im always been tryin' to get better
then that guy a head of me. Thats it. And it has nothing to do with
my ego, Only one of my way to motivate myself.
However, back to topic** There is times when I thought *wow, this start to look good* and Im thinking it looking good and that its gonna be my best piece ever.. although, Im still very openminded and tryin' to see my own
faults all the time, and dont limit me to some sort of ego.
I dont think my work is awesome.. it starting to look "good" though, but, that
depends on who you compare with. If you compare with myself, yeah, then im always tryin' to make my new piece better then the last.. whatever im focusing on for that particular piece. Thats my way to compare with myself at least..
I have tons to say bout' this topic, but uhm... its like asking "you ever got a big ego ?" you have to stay very openminded, and as I said, it doesnt really
matter if you thoughts so, if your goal is still to improve, and get better.Then Dont get stuck with "I dont need to work, im damn 100% awesome, better then anyone" and you will probably be alright ;)

cheers

~Dile

[Evil_Sloth]

From what i've heard, Foster always down plays his obvious talent. Everyones different though, maybe the trick is not to care and just keep on drawing?
I don't think down talking your own stuff is good, bit emoish, so I just find people who crit the sh*t out of my work. So I will just keep on drawing and painting until eventually (when flying cars are running over jet pack cats) I make them STFU. Davi said the other day that there are like levels that you move up. You start out learning the basics, then you get encouragement, then you get good enough to start recieving mild crits, then you start getting medium crits, then you get "WTF I spent 7 hours on that and your saying it doesn't work with the composition!?" crits, then you are pro... I think.

[sciboy]

The Thunderdome should keep you in check.

[Dile_]

Thanks mr.Sloth :P I felt like that just yesterday.. I be a pro any day ;)

"WTF I spent 7 hours on that and your saying it doesn't work with the composition!?"

really...exactly like that , also, i spend 7 hours ( :painting: ) on that damn piece and i still didnt got any asspats... *dissapointed* :P

*just kidding..asspats are for the most skilled, and for these who need encouragement.*

I like your list though ;)

[Flynn]

"Ever think your better than you are..?"

Awesome I am, no really.

Every day I wake up, Im depressed or happy depending on what I banged out the day prior. Theres been some awesome advice here that holds true, if you truly dont wake up in the morning and start planning how your gonna become that awesome guy, your fucked.

Even more, if you dont hold true to youre plans, you know what I mean, you plan to do this an that before next weeks deadline is even near because you saw this awesome piece you wanna try get near. Your worse than fucked.

If I handt changed my outlook and stuck to my old ways like above, I know for a fact il be stackin shelves for life. I have an awesome mate who saw my plight and took me under his wing, his a great mate who pushes and pushes creatively.
I serously thought that when I came to University id have the good fortune of meeting awesome people in my animation class. I couldnt of been more wrong, I can count on 1 hand the amount of people I respect in the class who arent naieve kids. The majority of the class, turns up to lecture draw for 5 minutes and bugger off, only on deadline days do you see anything resembling a class, everyone asspats everyone elses awesome flash stickmen done in 20 minutes.

This depressed me beyond belief, my drawing skills are crap but Im gonna change that at the minute and for the past 3 years just havent had the luxary of a stable study time to keep my sketchbook going, thats why it starts and stops but no more! my 3rd year and i WILL become an awesome egotistical twat ;) . Christ ive rambled on again...:$

[Chris Bennett]

Really interesting thread this with some fascinating posts.
I always feel that you should never let the daydreams of what you wish to become justify the actions you take today.
Translated into one's view of their own artwork this means that your most steadfast guide is your enthusiasm for what is right in front of you, there and then as you put the next mark down.

[Swift (BM)]

This summer, I thought my people drawings were cool but when I compare them with my current ones, you can see such an improvement.
Compare my old sketchbook with my new one and you'll see what I mean.

[EKU_11]

I remember being told thought out school that I showed good aptitude in art especially drawing but for some reason I was really stupid and decided to rebel again it my art teacher was always disappointed in me for doing that. Plus I was never really that confident in my skills. But not I have totally change in my direction and attitude not to the point were I think I'm all that and a bag of potato chips I still have my day of doubt and time when I cant produce one piece of work but its only going to make me better for it.

[FabianV]

Some amazing comments in this thread that proved to be a very interesting and motivational read.

Mike - Every word you said is so true.. you really explain it so well.


As for me, yeah.. I have always had the problem of thinking I am better than I really am. There was a time about 4 years ago where I would stick every picture I created on my wall and praised myself for creating what I thought back then were amazing images. It was almost like a paper wall of comfort around me giving me a sense of security. Luckily my gf does not take bullshit and quickly told me I was a fucking crap artist and after that it opened my eyes. Sometimes you need people to bring you back down to earth and that is exactly why I decided to join up to this community.

Through the years I'd say my biggest problem was my level of procrastination. I still face situations where I look at a piece too long and my brain tells me that what I've created was good when in actual fact its a crock of shit. I find that a bit of relaxing inbetween or having some fresh eyes on your work usually helps.

I now inherit the type of attitude Mike speaks of.. just keep thinking you you can always do better and be your own critic whilst balancing that out by having more experienced people (not your family.. they usually talk bullshit and cant give useful views on your work) Never think you're too shit or too old to do anything - believing in yourself is the best thing you can do whilst keeping things real.


:^^;:

[ikuru]

Just read this whole thread, basically Mike had some good pointers in the fourth post and then allot of people said a bunch of stuff.
So here is my take on this.

I think I’m better than I am. No..
Let me rephrase that.
Actually I KNOW I’m way better than I express right now, I always knew and one day I’m gone be here to prove it. Actually I’m proving it to myself as I go along. Day by day. And yes, I am gonne be one of the best one day.

Some days you feel like shit and other days people will get pissed at you for having a BIG EGO.
But, fuck that.
People who go all the way, always where the ones who thought they could get there!
They were people with BIG Ego’s.

There is a children story about a frog race, that goes a bit like this..

The frogs where climbing something really steep one day, and soon enough some of them started falling down…
The masses on the ground, where going crazy by now yelling, "HEY! Stop CLIMBING! YOUR GOING TO KILL YOURSELVES!"
And one after the other the frogs gave up realizing how dangerous it was to climb the steep, all but one, he kept on climbing and sooner than he new it he had gone all the way to the top and was now able to stand up there and enjoy the solitude and amazing view.
Later that day when he got down they all wanted to talk to him, asking him, you crazy ass fool! how on earth did you do that? and he just stared at them, adrenaline on his face, smiling.
Eventually he’s mom came up to the crowd and explained to them. “He cant hear you!”, what do you mean? The crowd where asking… “He’s Deaf!” the mom explained, and the shocked crowd did leave him at that…

What I do see in my art, is My own radical progress since I started this.
Less than six months ago I had nothing, most of the time my latest painting is way better than the one before.
Not as good as my vision of perfection, but a little bit closer to the level I aim for.
And when this happen I feel like “Fuck yeah… If I can progress all the time like this than I’m really not that far from my goal”. Other times I do see that the goal is pretty far away… But the happiness of progress is stronger than the defeat…
What I’m trying to say here is this. That the dream, stop being a dream the day you start believing it, when you see a way to get there and start walking the path.
Your now living it.

About my art then…
I decide to post my first picture in the COW (Creature of the Week) and get like zero votes, next week I work my ass off and get One vote (I think to myself I deserved more). Again, the next week I post, this time I got like five votes, some other guy got like twenty-five votes, then I tell my self "Next time I’m gone drop some AMAZING Shit!" And I believe it. It might not get the votes in the end (time will tell), but the picture will still be better than my last..

So you see my the Ego become my motivation.
My "failure" become my success, since It makes me want to "show them" next time... And this makes me stubborn, and that’s one of the traits you Need to go anywhere.

I think I always had that feeling, its like "yeah, you might think your better than me now.. But just you wait! Next time… I’ll show you..."

What it comes down to is this. Once you see your path and tell yourself that “Fuck em all! I’m going all the way with this!” than you will develop MUCH, MUCH, faster than you used to do.
No one will be able to stop you, once you got it straight in your head. Determination is a pretty strong force. And It’s probably in you. I will not preach though. I’m just talking about myself here. We are all unique.

Big egos are useful. People who got them should be thankful. And not try to hide them or kill them. If your trying to kill you ego, trying to repress it, or to put it out like fire, your basically trying to kill yourself. Or at least your hurting yourself (To hide the ego resides in allot of religious or moral stuff that we all have well rooted within our selves and in our culture, weather we like to belive it or not. But I’m not gone go in to that.)
Using your ego as a vehicle to get you towards your goal is the key.
You might only get halfway there.
But remember that Your only gone be as good as you think you can be.
No one is gone believe in you, (well maybe your mom) you have to do it for yourself.

And it will piss people off when you boost your ego. But this will not really get you down (well actually when people hurt your ego, You feel hurt, and it is painfull but you will heal and rise above it eventually, your ego never dies), it will be your fuel of inspiration.
You’ll be posting a picture in the COW´s or whatever, get no votes and be like WTF! No votes?!? Is something wrong with this peoples monitors?
Then you know your not as BIG as you EGO, yet... Don’t worry though, you will grow to match it eventually.

But first of all you have to make up your mind.
You need determination.
If you have no vision, you have nothing.
Nothing will happen for you.
You have to work for it.
Your EGO is USELESS if you don’t have a GOAL.
Ego without vision, is blind and furyous, self-loathing, hurtful and very destructive.

If you got this far, then thanks for letting me waste your time.


/Ikuru

[Ilaekae]

Ikuru, if you could spell, you'd be fuckin' dangerous...

I agree with your entire pile of babble...if an artist-wannabe has NO ego, he/she will NEVER become an artist. It's ego that makes us crawl on our hands and knees toward the winner's cup, and it's ego that keeps us getting back on our feet everytime the bastards think we're finally dead from the stoning. Fuck 'em...wha'd they really know about what we're capable of?

[ikuru]

Ikuru, if you could spell, you'd be fuckin' dangerous...

I agree with your entire pile of babble...if an artist-wannabe has NO ego, he/she will NEVER become an artist. It's ego that makes us crawl on our hands and knees toward the winner's cup, and it's ego that keeps us getting back on our feet everytime the bastards think we're finally dead from the stoning. Fuck 'em...wha'd they really know about what we're capable of?
You nailed it man... :D
Thanx for that post! Its NIce to hear that after a whole day of stonening.
By the way I cleaned up the spelling and some.
Could we please say Im dangerous now? ;)

[FabianV]

I agree with what ikuru wrote, as long as you dont come across as a pompous prick and keep it subtle (or to yourself) :teeth:

Thanks for the inspirational words.

[hp]

we've been cleaning out my house and actually i came across some old sketchbooks. wow...so bad ^^ i remember totally thinking some shit was cool and i'm totally expecting that it will be as i'm flipping through old stuff...and i'm like. wow. this is crap. :D

anyways, how about ppl start posting their "journey"? they did this on some other sites...like one pic per yr.

like this:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/38767759/?qo=190&q=quest+for+improvement&qh=boost%3Apopular+age_sigma%3A24h+age_scale%3A5

but...not liek that :( god it's hard to find stuff that isn't furry or anime...)

[sve]

I think for some motivative force is an ego, for others some other things. And I'm pretty confident in this, because I knew few wonderful artists who are rarely happy with their art, their ego is small and they like mostly process of creation. Excellent artists, I ask to believe me, please.

I know an artist with a beautiful, original, unusual art who rarely even thinks about how his art will be accepted, he has very independent, analytical nature, he paints because it is his pleasure and need, part of his life. he tried to live a different, regular life, without painting, and he always returned to art.
He is doing fine too.

I'm afraid you are talking about a talent to promote your art, to sell, more than artistic talent, very personal manner to see and depict world around you and in your fantasy.. Those are as bit different things.
For some motivation is to tell his/her story, his/her vision

[foggle]

great post ikiru, personally I'm not a big fan of the big ego - every time I try and big myself up I get uncomfortably self-concious, but without a shodow of doubt, a huge ego is an awsomely powerful tool.
I was in a team doing some military/fitness competition last year, and when we first started training, everyone was very down in the dumps, and moaning about how shit we all were. But 6 months later after going running every day, cross country tabs with bergans and hundreds of brutal fizz sessions, our egos were on the rampage cos we all thought we were so awsome (and we were!) When we finally got to the competition weekend, other teams would come up to us and cos we were feeling so pumped up an arrogant, we would just blank them or nod and smile then walk away.
This is a really over the top example, but in the end we steamrollered the other teams, cos even though wed probably done similar amounts of training to them, we went in fully expecting to win cos we thought we were so good. If you're convinced that you're good, you will be, and vice versa.

[dragon4lunch]

One thing to keep in mind is what is said of Leonardo DaVinci:

When he was an old man he is said to have begged God for forgiveness, feeling that he could have done so much more in his life.

So keep in mind, part of it all is simply being productive! DO SOMETHING GOOD!

[Carnifex]

happens to me all the time.
in one minute i think i'm the new marko and in the next i realize i'm the new rob liefield. then i rub my eyes thouroughly,crap on liefield and realize i can be the new marko. (but different)
i adapted my own lil motivator from something android once said to me ("no excuses!"): if you have to make up excuses to yourself,then you're doing something wrong.
and on the point of ego,i also thought of something that works pretty much perfectly for me every time (although i hardly say it out loud): this is what i am,this is what i like;deal with it,or get the fuck outta my face.
nice stuff to read here :) but wow,i need sleep now.