"I've done a lot, God knows I've tried
To find the truth, I've even lied
But all I know is down inside I'm bleeding."

"And Super Heroes come to feast
To taste the flesh not yet deceased
And all I know is still the beast is feeding."

"And crawling on the planet's face
Some insects called the human race
Lost in time, lost in space
And meaning."

My favourite track on the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack. I mean, I love it all, and can sing almost everything, but this song just strikes me.

I have to say, that for a so-called "community", deviantART has somewhat let me down.
From what I can tell, this site is composed of a group of people all striving to build up large "favourite" galleries of fan art. And on top of that frustrating habit of collecting others' artwork, there is stunningly little actual SUPPORT by the other artists. There appears to be a long standing competition between warring individuals, angrily fighting for pageviews, or more-comments-than-so-and-so. So strong is the competition, that few actually stop to appreciate the artwork of someone else. At least, that is the impression given.
I do not exclude myself from the masses, I admittedly am as guilty of fav-ninjaing as anyone else. But I do try to comment, when I see something truly outstanding. Or a drawing that is outstanding, but has few comments already. Or an aspect of the image that is truly original and deserves vocal praise!
So I am disappointed in you, my fellow artists. I am disappointed that nobody has risen to the occasion, and SAID SOMETHING! We all claim to be outspoken people, but are too locked in our own little worlds to really notice and help one another. I thought this was the problem! I'm sure we've all received startling negative impact, enough to force us into a shell--again, I am no stranger to being rubbed in the dirt by a complete stranger. I've had my crap LAUGHED at, by teachers, peers, and even prospective employers. But I'm still here, throwing my best onto paper and begging for just a little love.
Tell me what I'm doing wrong, tell me what you like about my stuff! Just TALK TO ME! Don't make me beg anymore.

In a desperate attempt to pry some sort of creative respite from my mental backlog, I'm revisiting some old ideas. I even have some fan-collecting little fanart tidbits waiting to be blown up and refined. If only I can get up the gumption to complete them.
Thank goodness I write (or draw) everything down. My brain would be rather crowded, otherwise.

Oh, and on a side note--to all you wonderful amazing faithful watchers who actually care: what do you think about my Foal? Do we like her? 'Cause I do, (a lot, if you hadn't guessed.) Do I post her too much? Are we ready for Angela to move on and draw someone else, like more fan art?
I have a two-page exercise on panel work started, describing somewhat her shaved-headed beginnings. (I think it's well proven I need to work on paneling stories.) I don't WANT to stop drawing her, but it seems nobody cares that I do. I mean, I know I'm drawing for ME in the end, but it would be nice to get some response once in a while. We artists crave feedback like nothing else, and sometimes I wish I had more. Often I wish I had more.
So, SOME FEEDBACK PLEASE FOLKS! I want to know what you think. Honestly.

And please, be honest. Nobody ever really gains anything from lies.

Thank you!

I'm sitting here, and practically pulling my hair out in frustration.
This is just another in a long string of many many nights where I park myself in front of blank paper, and stare at it. Nothing is coming out. Even my normally fruitful visits to the gym, or the toilet, are for naught--no ideas spring forth in vivid colour, ready to be spilled onto the paper.
I feel the pages are beginning to mock my failure. Taunting me with the blank whiteness, insulting my lack of inspiration. My sketchbooks are full of old ideas, jotted down in a moment of overwhelm in an effort to preserve the concept for a time like this, but even old ideas fail to get my fingers moving.
My poor Copics are gathering dust in a corner, and it hurts my heart.

I notice that the ninja problem seems to be getting worse, or maybe it's just me. And, having said that, I know I'm as guilty as some of those out there for committing the crime. Maybe it's 'cause I'm not well known, maybe it's 'cause I only draw little silly things and I have so few watchers, that I feel the problem more intensely. But as someone who loves to hear criticisms, I DO try to help my fellow not-as-popular-as-Teruchan by commenting on pics I love and fav, but that have few comments already. At least this way I'm not crowding up inboxes of the really popular people (who probably don't want to have to delete your "ur pics the best sooooooo kawai" EVER so helpful comment from their inbox), and the ones who appreciate it the most really get the praise and critique they deserve.
So, to all those (fellow) ninjas out there--tell the artist what you like, so we can keep doing it. Don't just fav-and-run. It doesn't help anybody.

Isn't this supposed to be a community, after all?